Millennial: Entitled. Egotistical. Self Righteous. Complainer. Hyper-Sensitive. Disrespectful. Narcissistic. Irresponsible. The "me" generation.

These are just some of the words that come to mind when someone says that forbidden "m" word. We are constantly told how much millennials are the worst generation out there. We are constantly lectured to as to why we think the world owes us something and then forcefully "reminded" that it doesn't. People constantly write articles about our inability to commit or how we are unwilling to work or about how we are all just addicted to ourselves. It's almost 2017, and I would be willing to bet that we will see about that many articles, videos, news stories, columns, and more about just how much our generation sucks.

But wait. Could it be that *gasp* I am a millennial and don't exhibit these traits? Could it be that most of those born in the early to mid-90's and thereafter have had this title thrust upon them that they (shockingly) don't live up to? Being born during a certain time period doesn't determine your personality or your actions, your own personal choices do. While yes, there are different social norms that are considered acceptable during certain eras of history, you are still accountable for yourself and that doesn't waver, even if you are not a so-called "millennial".

If we want different results, we must have different actions. If you decide that all millennials are incapable and unwilling to be present in their relationships (not true), maybe you shouldn't record a video of yourself talking down to them (us) in your own self-righteousness and should instead forge ahead in your own personal relationships with us, not splinter them.

Maybe we should all have higher expectations of ourselves, our family members, our friends, and others. I know so many people in this generation that are eager to work, that are eager to please, and that are not trapped in the "self-entitled" cycle that everyone says we are all stuck in.

This generation, the one that is deemed to be so bad, this generation that is deemed "unfixable", this generation that is deemed to be the drain of society, you can do it. We can change the world. We can use our talents for good. We can prove the statistics and the opinions and the polls wrong. But. you have to wake up and do it.

Millennial: Eager. Relational. Generous. Kind. Charismatic. Creative. Ethical. Honest. Hard Working. World Changers. Caring. The "us" generation.

This can be us. This is us.