+1
Seems to me that two of the most important things one can learn in life is first, to stop listening to all of the opinions you see in the "news," and now that includes all those memes and "quotes" popping up in social media. And second, to be able to see whatever the current situation is in an historical perspective.
During and after the election my millennial son, seeing all the hatred, division and anger in the country, feared we might be on the verge of anarchy or dictatorship or the country breaking apart. He told me he thought this was the worst it has ever been. I had given him the book "1968" and told him to finish reading it, and asked him to think about the great depression of the 30s, the rise of the KKK, about how things looked in 1942, when it looked like we could actually loose the war, in the 50s during the McCarthy era, during the 60s when we came so close to nuclear war.
I told him that now was not the time to dwell on current events, keep informed if you want, but no need to dwell on the negatives. Now was the time to concentrate on his career and his continued learning, and if he had to worry, worry about the things in his life over which he actually had control, his job, life, music. And to have some fun. That this time he is in now, whatever happens, will simply look like a blip in history and that nothing is as bad as it seems at the time. Our country and institutions are strong and resilient.
Happy to say he seems to be listening, now most of our conversations center on his job, career, music and life. Just a few years out of college and he has saved a lot, invested in index funds in his 401k and IRA and looking forward to the future.
I am still amazed today how many people, on both the political left and right, much older than my son, in their 50s and 60s still are unable to keep a perspective on what they see and hear in the news. And maybe some of their excessive spending habits and inability to invest are predicated on their belief that the future looks bleak. I dunno, maybe I'm just rambling....