What friends of other ages and life stages can teach us

Many of my friends chuckled or rolled their eyes at my friendship with Dean, an octogenarian exactly 61 years older than me. And why not? Primed by years of schooling to see friendship as something that happens between same-aged peers, many young people enter workplaces feeling awkward, squeamish or worried about making friends in mixed-age environments. Some fear they won’t have things in common with co-workers or neighbors who have, say, kids or mortgages, or who remember life before the internet. 

But plenty of millennials and Gen Zers know that it’s what we don’t have in common with older people that can catalyze the most fruitful connections. This is an excerpt of Renee Yaseen’s Post Grad column. Read the rest for free on washingtonpost.com, or sign up to get the full edition sent to your inbox twice a week. 

What friends of other ages — and life stages — can teach us

You can also follow Renee on Instagram at @washpostgrad.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from a friend who’s significantly older or younger than you?

Below are two reader responses to our question of the week that stood out. To get our complete collection of reader responses each week, sign up to get the full edition of Post Grad.

“In my 20s, when nervous about a life transition, an elder told me — ‘Good. Being scared means you’re being challenged. Seek opportunities that scare you.’ I have always remembered that when running toward new life challenges.” —Melissa S., 46

“‘Be careful what you are good at’ — from an older mentor at my first-ever job, about how to continue doing what you love at your job rather than being limited to just what you are good at.” —Jackie B., 22

Read more from The Washington Post

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The growth mind-set: Why friends, family and work make a difference