Popular books like The Fourth Turning put forth compelling theories that generations throughout history follow predictable cyclical archetypes and patterns. However, in attempting to define the collective zeitgeist of an era, such broad generational archetypes inevitably overlook nuanced individual perspectives. As a “Xennial” with one foot in Generation X and one foot in the Millennial generation, my own life experience provides a counterweight to tidy narratives about either group. Rather than fitting neatly into a single generational archetype, the diversity of individual realities reveals the limitations of these convenient generalizations. Neat generational categories struggle to capture the experience of “cuspers” like myself who were born on the boundaries between two generations. With a childhood filled with analog Gen X pop culture but a young adulthood immersed in digital technology, Xennials embody aspects of both cohorts. We came of age before the dominance of the internet, but adopted digital norms. Our worldviews blend Millennial optimism with Gen X cynicism in a way that evades archetypal definitions. Just as the millions of others from in-between generations, my experiences contradict notions of neat, discrete generational turnings. As a “cusper” generation, Xennials have a unique viewpoint that combines elements of both the Gen X and Millennial experience. I came of age before the digital era really took off, but are young enough to have adapted to technology and social media. Xennials experienced a childhood without the internet and 24/7 connectivity, but became digital natives as young adults. From a cultural standpoint, Xennials recall aspects of the analog Gen X childhood, like playing outside and experiencing the pre-internet pop culture of the 80s and 90s. But I also relate to Millennial traits like being more optimistic, open-minded, and inclusive on social issues. In terms of historical touchpoints, Xennials have a foot in both generations – old enough to remember the Challenger explosion, fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11, yet young enough to be shaped by the Great Recession and current issues. You likely remember the pre-9/11 world, but came into adulthood in the post-9/11 landscape. Beyond cuspers, diversity exists within every generation that challenges monolithic stereotypes. Not everyone in a cohort shares the same touchpoints, perspectives, and values. For example, 9/11 had a vastly different impact on a Gen Xer starting a career than a Millennial child. Life course shapes perspectives as much as era. Thus, no single narrative can encapsulate an entire generation’s mentality. The subjectivity in generational definitions becomes apparent when examining life at the margins. There is often a tension between recognizing the diversity of individual experiences, versus trying to identify a shared collective zeitgeist or archetype for a generation. When theorists like the authors of “The Fourth Turning” latch onto a particular narrative or archetype for a generation, it can take on a life of its own. The storytelling can become self-reinforcing, as it gets picked up and propagated by others. Even if it is an oversimplification, it provides a compelling narrative that people then apply retroactively to view history through that lens. As an individual with a foot in two generational worlds, my own experience provides a counterweight to such narrative generalizations. I’ve lived through events that supposedly have defined both Gen X and Millennials, but my own perspective doesn’t neatly fit the archetypes. This reminds us that even when pundits or academics try to summarize a generation’s collective mentality, there are always diverse individual realities within that group. The cuspers and outliers often provide the most insightful counterpoints that reveal the limitations and subjectivity inherent in these generational theories. My unique Xennial view gives me the chance to appreciate cross-generational nuances, rather than be confined to a single narrative. The diversity of individual experiences is a valuable counterbalance to the convenient storytelling of generational zeitgeists. In the end, the diversity of individual experiences provides the most compelling counter-narrative to the convenient storytelling of generational archetypes. Theories will always struggle to capture the nuanced perspectives of cuspers, outliers, and iconoclasts within a cohort. Appreciating this diversity of worldviews leads to a richer understanding of how historical events shape a society. Though compelling in narrative, the overly simplistic generational lens ultimately fails to reflect our multifaceted realities.