voyage life meaning

The Voyage of Life - Youth

• Thomas Cole

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The Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole is a series of paintings that represents an allegory of the 4 stages of human life: old age, manhood, youth and childhood. The series traces an archetypal Everyman's religious journey.

The paintings were executed in 1842 and depict a voyage travelling in a boat on the river through the mid-nineteenth century American wilderness. In all the paintings , the voyager is seen riding his boat while a guardian angel accompanying him. The landscape plays an important part in conveying the story.

In childhood, the child is gliding from a cave into the rich, green landscape. Youth is also showing the rich, green landscape, but the view and the voyager's experience have widened. The youth is firmly grabbing the tiller as the angel waves and watches from the shore, which allows him to take control. A ghostly castle is hovering in the distance, which is a white, shimmering beacon representing the dreams and ambitions of man. The painting is located in the National Gallery of Art.

To the youth in the painting, the calm rivers lead right to the castle. But looking at the far right side of the painting, the viewer can glimpse the river as it's becoming choppy, rough and full of rocks. Cole stated that the scenery of the painting, including its clear stream, transparent atmosphere, its unbounded distance, its towering mountains and its lofty trees, shows the romantic beauty of youthful thoughts. This is when the brain elevates Common and Mean into the Magnificent before life experience teaches the Real state of things.

In manhood, the man relies on religious faith and prayer to sustain him through a threatening landscape and rough waters. The man finally grows old and the guardian angel is seen guiding him to heaven. The river flowing through the canvas reflects the twists and turns of life, while the time of day and season mirror each stage of life. From the childhood innocence to the glow of youthful overconfidence, and through the middle age's trials and tribulations to the triumphant salvation of the hero, The Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole seems intrinsically associated with the Christian doctrine of resurrection and death.

The artist's intrepid voyager may also be interpreted as the personification of America at an adolescent development stage. Cole might have been giving a dire warning to people caught up in the frenzied quest for Manifest Destiny: The unconstrained westward industrialization and expansion would have tragic outcomes for nature and man.

Cole was self-taught as a painter; he relied on studying the works of other artists and reading books. Cole derived the theme from the allegorical traditions, such as Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan's popular narrative. He influenced his artistic peers, particularly Frederic Edwin Church and Asher B. Durand, who studied with the artist between 1844 and 1846.

Article Author

Tom Gurney in an art history expert. He received a BSc (Hons) degree from Salford University, UK, and has also studied famous artists and art movements for over 20 years. Tom has also published a number of books related to art history and continues to contribute to a number of different art websites. You can read more on Tom Gurney here.

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The voyage of life: symbolic and stunning, four pieces of art that showcase the joy, hardships, and glory of life..

Before I begin discussing this work of art, I'd like to advise everyone who lives near the D.C area to visit the National Gallery of Art. It has artwork for everyone to enjoy and it's the best museum in the D.C. area... and it's also free. Now that I'm finished geeking out about the gallery, now it's time to geek out over these works of art.

Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life" has four different pieces divided by different segments of our life: Childhood, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age. It depicts the journey a baby boy takes on a raft of time through the metaphorical river of life. Cole paints intricate backgrounds for the separate segments to add to the meaning of how life changes on top of physical aging. The vibrant and lush surroundings of Childhood are in direct contrast of the gloomy, dark ocean of Old Age. Cole asserted that landscape paintings could impart moral and religious values (link ) and the message of faith in times of hardship is the message Cole was aiming for.

The first painting sets the common themes for the next three. The child wades out on the "River of Life" on a vessel that illustrates the deities of time (the front of the canoe has a figure holding an hour glass). The guiding angel leads him out of a dark cave, highlighting the mystery of human conception, into the vibrant world ahead. The landscape shows the playfulness a child views the outside world. The child is ready to explore the new world it has just discovered.

Now, the adolescent has taken control of the vessel with the angelic figure giving her best wishes, much like a parent watching their child leave to college. A cloudy palace is placed before the voyager to show the ambitions of fame and glory most people that age have. The scenery remains vibrant and alive to align with the adolescents world view. But the imagery of the palace being a cloud showcases how these dreams are mere illusions to the winding river of life that will soon turn turbulent.

The tone has changed. Now the voyager is bent down praying for protection in front of a turbulent passage on the river. His guardian angel now watches over him from above, knowing he must face these trials alone. The demons of suicide, hatred, and envy loom over him towards the middle of the painting. The colors are harsher and it seems the world has changed to a more dreary and dark place. To reach the tranquil ocean, he must survive the hardships of adulthood, depicted as the dangerous passage ahead of him.

The hour glass at the front of the vessel has broken off, signifying that the voyager is out of time. He now rests in a more relaxed state with his hands remaining clasped to signify that he remained faithful till the end. The turbulent trials of manhood have ended and the river of life ends at the calm sea. His guardian angel returns to guide him on a new journey. A basking light, emanating with angelic figures, shines on him to show that he has been granted the ultimate gift: eternal life.

These analyses only scratch the surface of these masterfully drawn paintings. I truly recommend taking a closer look at each of these paintings to find out your own interpretations of the varying symbolism and metaphors utilized by Thomas Cole. It's this personal detective work that makes art appreciation really worthwhile.

The Voyage of Life is the perfect example of art that is more than just beautiful images but a means of transmitting a message... and I have no doubt that its message will remain timeless.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble.

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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The voyage of life: childhood (first set), the voyage of life: youth (first set), the voyage of life: manhood (first set), the voyage of life: old age (first set), about the series: the voyage of life, return to the voyage of life: childhood (first set).

Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life , 1839-1840. Oil on canvas, Museum of Art, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute

In the late 1830s, Cole was intent on advancing the genre of landscape painting in a way that conveyed universal truths about human existence, religious faith, and the natural world. First conceived in 1836, the four pictures comprising The Voyage of Life: Childhood, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age fulfilled that aspiration. Cole may have derived the theme from any of a number of allegorical traditions, including John Bunyan's popular narrative, Pilgrim's Progress . Cole's series traces the religious journey of an archetypal Everyman along the "River of Life." The river flowing through each canvas reflects life's twists and turns, while the season and time of day mirror each stage of life. Many of Cole's poems and journal entries explore the idea of aging and the passing of time, and the notion of mortality seems to have preoccupied him from a relatively young age. In a poem written four years before he began sketching The Voyage of Life , Cole reflected, "The eager vessel flies the broken surge / The surge that it has broken—so my soul / Leaving the stormy past does onward urge / Its course through the wild waves that roll."  1 

Samuel Ward , a wealthy and deeply religious New York banker, agreed to pay Cole $5,000 for the completed series. Ward intended to hang the paintings in his art gallery, where his children and visitors could study them for their important moral lessons. Unfortunately, just as Cole's patron Luman Reed had passed away while the artist was working on The Course of Empire four years earlier, Ward died before even half of the series was finished. Disappointed yet still committed to the project, Cole completed the series, exhibiting it in a one-man show at the National Academy of Design in 1840, despite legal troubles with Ward's estate.

Cole feared for the fate of his masterwork after the untimely death of his patron, and before leaving for his second trip to Europe in 1841-42, he created tracings of The Voyage of Life so that he could paint a copy of the series in Rome. He exhibited this second set twice in Europe to much acclaim, although it failed to sell. The later works were then shown in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and again in New York, from 1843-46, accompanied by a program of Cole's own interpretations of the paintings.  2 

• Voyage of Life: Childhood (Second Set)
• Voyage of Life: Youth (Second Set)
• Voyage of Life: Manhood (Second Set)
• Voyage of Life: Old Age (Second Set)

By the mid-1850s, engravings of all four paintings in The Voyage of Life were widely available to the American public.  3  The moral message appealed to many Americans, who hung these inexpensive reproductions in their parlors. As a result of this wide distribution, Cole's allegorical lessons were carried to many future generations.  4 

• Smillie, Voyage of Life: Youth (engraving)
• Halpin, Voyage of Life: Childhood (engraving)

Cole's Process

Cole painted The Voyage of Life in his "Old Studio" at Cedar Grove . This space lay at the west end of a storehouse constructed in 1839 by the owner of the property, his wife's "Uncle Sandy." Cole wrote to his fellow artist Asher B. Durand that he was at work on "his great series" in this "temporary painting room" where "unplastered brick with the beams & timbers [are] seen on every hand."  5  The studio, filled with Cole's collection of art instruments and source materials—plaster casts, illustrated books and manuals, printed reproductions, paints, brushes, palettes and easels—has been restored and is now open to visitors at Cedar Grove ( Thomas Cole's Studio ). Here Cole undertook a laborious process characteristic of art-making in the early nineteenth century. During this time of technological transformation, some art materials had begun to be available commercially. For example, by the 1830s, painters could purchase already-stretched and prepared canvases. Cole bought such goods from Edward Dechaux, a "colorman" firm in New York City. Previously, artists had to size their canvases with a solution of glue to strengthen the support ; otherwise, the linseed oil used in mixing pigments would quickly destroy the canvases. Next, several applications of solid color (a ground , often a plain or tinted lead white) was necessary, followed by a long drying process. Colormen sold canvases already processed in this way, saving painters much time and effort, although Cole complained on occasion about the quality of these pre-prepared materials.  6 

The convenient collapsible metal paint tube was invented in 1841 but not widely available until several years later.  7  Evidence from the collections at Cedar Grove suggests that Cole ground and mixed his own pigments (composed of minerals such as ochre, malachite, and azurite) in the traditional way. This process involved using a muller (glass bulbous instrument) on a flat marble grinding stone. The artist ground the colorful powders with a linseed oil binder in order to make the paint stable and viscous. Initially, a mortar and pestle might be employed to pulverize large chunks of pigment, but the muller was the artist's most important grinding instrument.

Cole's Words:

I have received a noble commission from Samuel Ward , a commission to paint a Series of Pictures the plan of which I conceived several years since & had an opportunity of presenting to him this Spring. The Subject is to be executed in four pictures about 6 ft. 6 in. or 7 ft. long each, and is entitled the Voyage of Life.

I earnestly & sincerely hope that I shall be able to execute the work in a manner worthy of Mr. Ward's liberality and honourable to myself. The Subject is an allegorical one, but perfectly intelligible & I think capable to making a strong moral and religious impression.  8 

I shall take the series to England & shall endeavour to dispose of them there. I have but little hope of doing so. The fashionable taste (if I may dignify it with such a name) is for works of another order[,] pictures without ideas, mere gaudy displays of colour & Chiaro Scuro without meaning, showy things for the eye. If I do not dispose of my pictures in England I must take them home & hang them in my own room & content myself with the conviction that the time will come when they will be more valued...  9 

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Definition of voyage

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of voyage  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

• peregrinate

Examples of voyage in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'voyage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English viage, veyage , from Anglo-French veiage , from Late Latin viaticum , from Latin, traveling money, from neuter of viaticus of a journey, from via way — more at way

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing voyage

Dictionary entries near voyage.

vox populi vox Dei

voyage charter party

Cite this Entry

“Voyage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voyage. Accessed 9 May. 2024.

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Kids definition of voyage.

Kids Definition of voyage  (Entry 2 of 2)

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Nglish: Translation of voyage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of voyage for Arabic Speakers

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The Voyage of Life: Youth

The Cover Section Editor: M. Therese Southgate, MD, Senior Contributing Editor.

If, to the English, landscape was a religion, then to the Americans it was their bible. The English celebrated their landscape in Constable’s tidy countryside scenes and in Turner’s stormy seas. In literature, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress became their moral guide through the wilderness of life. It took newcomers to America another century or so to catch up, so awed were they by the vastness of their adopted country. A wilderness heretofore only imagined became nothing less than the voice of the creator. Some set out to discover its limits, others preserved it in essays and novels. Thomas Cole (1801-1848), a transplanted Englishman, painted it. His Voyage of Life , an allegorical work of the mysterious progress of human life through all its vicissitudes, captured America’s imagination. In a sense, it might be called the pictorial expression of the familiar Pilgrim’s Progress .

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Southgate MT. The Voyage of Life: Youth. JAMA. 2005;294(9):1005. doi:10.1001/jama.294.9.1005

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Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound.

What's the meaning of this quote?

Quote Meaning: The quote "Life's a voyage that's homeward bound" encapsulates the profound essence of life's journey and its ultimate destination. At its core, the quote speaks to the idea that life is a continuous expedition, much like a sea voyage, and the inherent purpose of this journey is to find one's way back home. However, the concept of "home" in this context extends beyond the physical space of a house; it delves into the realm of self-discovery, inner peace, and a sense of belonging.

Consider life as a vast ocean, and each individual as a sailor navigating through its unpredictable waters. The journey is filled with various experiences, challenges, and encounters that shape and mold the character of the sailor. In this metaphorical voyage, the notion of being "homeward bound" suggests a return to the authentic self—a destination that transcends the external trappings of success, societal expectations, and material pursuits. It is a return to a state of self-awareness and alignment with one's true purpose.

The quote encourages introspection and reflection on the nature of one's life journey. It prompts individuals to contemplate what constitutes their personal "home" and what it means to return to it. Home, in this context, signifies a place of comfort, understanding, and acceptance of oneself. It's the space where one's true identity is embraced without the need for external validation or conformity to societal norms.

Furthermore, the notion of being "homeward bound" suggests a sense of closure and fulfillment in the journey of life. It implies that the purpose of life is not just to wander aimlessly but to embark on a purposeful expedition that leads back to a core sense of self. This doesn't negate the importance of growth, change, or evolution; rather, it emphasizes that these transformations should be in harmony with the authentic self.

In essence, the quote encapsulates a philosophical perspective on the cyclical nature of life—a continuous journey that, despite its twists and turns, challenges and triumphs, is ultimately directed towards self-discovery and a return to the essence of one's being. It invites individuals to navigate their lives with a sense of purpose, mindful of the destination that is not a physical place but a state of profound self-awareness and authenticity.

Who said the quote?

The quote "Life's a voyage that's homeward bound." is often attributed to Herman Melville ( Quotes ). Herman Melville authored "Moby-Dick," a timeless exploration of obsession and the human condition.

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[ voi -ij ]

Synonyms: cruise

• a passage through air or space, as a flight in an airplane or space vehicle.
• a journey or expedition from one place to another by land.

the voyages of Marco Polo.

• Obsolete. an enterprise or undertaking.

verb (used without object)

• to make or take a voyage; travel; journey.

verb (used with object)

to voyage the seven seas.

/ ˈvɔɪɪdʒ /

• a journey, travel, or passage, esp one to a distant land or by sea or air
• obsolete. an ambitious project

we will voyage to Africa

Discover More

Derived forms.

• ˈvoyager , noun

Other Words From

• voyag·er noun
• outvoyage verb (used with object) outvoyaged outvoyaging
• re·voyage noun verb revoyaged revoyaging
• un·voyag·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of voyage 1

Idioms and Phrases

Synonym study, example sentences.

The preserve is such hardy stuff, in fact, that Christopher Columbus packed it alongside salt cod and hardtack on his transatlantic voyages.

Other data do suggest that ancient humans could have deliberately made the voyage to the Ryukyu Islands.

It is unlikely that ancient mariners would have set out on an ocean voyage with a major storm on the horizon, say paleoanthropologist Yousuke Kaifu of the University of Tokyo and colleagues.

Days after the Diamond Princess evacuation, a ship from the same company, the Grand Princess, set sail from San Francisco on another ill-fated voyage.

A statue of its namesake explorer stands in the lobby, near a chart of Cook’s voyages.

It used to carry livestock but sailed its final voyage with a hold full of Syrian men, women, and children.

People might be surprised that during that period “Maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.

It has now been revealed that Princess Beatrice will not be among those who will ultimately voyage with Virgin Galactic.

The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.

The voyage is a new one, certainly for Tambor, but also for Hollywood, in many ways.

Roman Pane who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage alludes to another method of using the herb.

Henry Hudson sailed from Gravesend on his first voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to India.

I shipped for a voyage to Japan and China, and spent several more years trying to penetrate the forbidden fastnesses of Tibet.

The Swedish boatswain consoled him, and he modified his opinions as the voyage went on.

Capt. Ross sailed from Shetland, on his first voyage for the discovery of the north-west passage.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

25 Metaphors for Journey

The journey of life is a rollercoaster ride, much like a marathon through a treasure hunt of experiences. It’s a pilgrimage we all embark on, a voyage across the sea of time.

Sometimes, it’s a road trip filled with hikes and safaris through the wilderness, while at other times, it feels like a journey to the center of the earth. Metaphors provide a unique way to understand and describe the various aspects of our journeys in life.

In this article, we’ll explore 25 captivating metaphors for a journey, each with its own distinct meaning and a sentence to illustrate it.

Metaphors for Journey

1. the journey of life.

Meaning: This metaphor refers to the entirety of a person’s life, from birth to death, and all the experiences and events that occur along the way.

In a Sentence: The journey of life is filled with both joyful moments and challenging obstacles, all contributing to our personal growth.

2. A Rollercoaster Ride

Meaning: This metaphor refers to the ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected events that can occur during a journey.

In a Sentence: Last year felt like a rollercoaster ride, with unexpected job changes, family surprises, and travel adventures.

3. A Marathon

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a long and grueling effort that requires persistence, endurance, and determination to complete.

In a Sentence: Pursuing a Ph.D. often feels like running a marathon, requiring years of dedication and hard work.

4. A Treasure Hunt

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is an exciting and adventurous quest to find something valuable or sought after.

In a Sentence: Exploring the ancient ruins felt like a treasure hunt, as we searched for hidden artifacts beneath the layers of history.

5. A Pilgrimage

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made for a spiritual or religious purpose, often involving a long and difficult journey to a sacred place.

In a Sentence: The pilgrimage to Mecca is a deeply spiritual journey for millions of Muslims worldwide.

6. A Voyage

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves traveling over water, often involving a ship or other vessel.

In a Sentence: Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean was a transformative voyage, allowing me to connect with the vastness of the sea.

7. A Road Trip

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made by car, often over a long distance and involving many stops along the way.

In a Sentence: We decided to take a spontaneous road trip, exploring hidden gems along the scenic route.

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a physical journey, often over rough or challenging terrain.

In a Sentence: Hiking through the rugged mountains gave me a sense of accomplishment and an appreciation for nature’s beauty.

9. A Safari

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made for the purpose of observing or studying wildlife, often in an exotic or foreign location.

In a Sentence: Going on a safari in Africa allowed us to witness the majesty of wild animals in their natural habitat.

10. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring unknown or hidden depths or depths of the earth.

In a Sentence: Starting a new business feels like a journey to the center of the earth, with unforeseen challenges lurking beneath the surface.

11. A Journey Through Time

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves traveling through different periods of history or different stages of life.

In a Sentence: Visiting historical landmarks is like taking a journey through time, as you immerse yourself in the past.

12. A Journey to the Stars

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves reaching for the heights or exploring the vastness of space.

In a Sentence: Pursuing your dreams can often feel like a journey to the stars, filled with infinite possibilities.

13. A Climb Up a Mountain

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights or accomplishments.

In a Sentence: Graduating from college felt like a steep climb up a mountain, but the view from the top was worth every effort.

14. A Journey to the Top

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves striving for success or reaching a high level of achievement.

In a Sentence: Climbing the corporate ladder requires dedication and hard work, as you strive for your journey to the top.

15. A Journey to the Bottom

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring deep or hidden depths or uncovering the truth about something.

In a Sentence: Investigating the unsolved mysteries of history often leads to a journey to the bottom, where hidden truths may lie.

16. A Journey Through the Desert

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a difficult and challenging experience, often involving isolation or a lack of resources.

In a Sentence: Starting a small business during a recession can feel like a journey through the desert, with scarce opportunities.

17. A Journey Through the Jungle

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is an exciting and unpredictable experience, full of dangers and unknowns.

In a Sentence: Navigating the world of startups is like a journey through the jungle, where you must adapt to survive.

18. A Journey Through the Darkness

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves facing challenges or obstacles that are difficult to see or understand.

In a Sentence: Overcoming personal struggles often feels like a journey through the darkness, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

19. A Journey Through the Wilderness

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring uncharted or unfamiliar territory.

In a Sentence: Venturing into a new career field can be a journey through the wilderness, as you navigate the unknown.

20. A Journey Through the Looking Glass

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves entering a world that is different or strange in some way, often involving a shift in perspective or understanding.

In a Sentence: Traveling to a foreign country is like a journey through the looking glass, offering a fresh perspective on life.

21. A Journey Through the Maze

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a confusing or convoluted experience, involving many twists and turns.

In a Sentence: Navigating the complexities of bureaucracy can feel like a journey through a never-ending maze.

22. A Journey Through the Underworld

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring the depths of the earth or facing dark or difficult challenges.

In a Sentence: Recovering from a severe illness can be a journey through the underworld, battling against the odds.

23. A Journey to the Promised Land

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a quest for something that is desirable or sought after, often involving a sense of hope or optimism.

In a Sentence: Pursuing one’s dreams often feels like a journey to the promised land, where success awaits on the horizon.

24. A Journey Through the Fire

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves facing difficult or intense challenges that test one’s strength or resilience.

In a Sentence: Surviving adversity is like a journey through the fire, where your inner strength is forged in the flames.

Metaphors for journeys enrich our understanding of life’s diverse experiences. Each metaphor provides a unique perspective, allowing us to relate our personal journeys to familiar concepts such as rollercoaster rides, treasure hunts, or voyages. Whether we’re climbing mountains or navigating through mazes, our journeys shape us and define our stories.

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25 metaphors for poetry, 25 metaphors for kids.

Song Meanings and Facts

Meaning of “Voyage, Voyage” by Desireless

by SMF · Published August 7, 2017 · Updated September 8, 2020

Voyage, Voyage is a song performed by French singer Desireless . The lyrics of the song, which are entirely written in French, talk about traveling – traveling to many beautiful, wonderful and sacred destinations all over the world. The French word for “travel”, as some readers might already know, is “voyage”. So the English translation of the title “Voyage Voyage” is “Travel Travel”. Lyrically, Voyage, Voyage encourages the listener to travel and travel and never stop traveling

In the song, some of the notable and wonderful places mentioned include the following:

• Mount Fuji (Fujiyama), which at a height of 12, 389 ft, is the highest mountain in Japan.
• The Ganges (also known as Ganga), which is a famous river that flows through Bangladesh and India. The Ganges is one of the largest rivers in the world and a lifeline to millions of people in the two countries that it passes through.
• The legendary Amazon rainforest located in South America.
• The Sahara desert, which is located in North Africa. The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world.

The lyrics of Voyage, Voyage basically encourage eternal traveling, through the above wonderful and breathtaking places and many more.

Facts about “Voyage, Voyage” by Desireless

• The song was the first song Desireless released as a professional musician. The song came out in December 1986 and was a single from her debut album François .
• Contrary to popular belief, Voyage, Voyage wasn’t written by Desireless (whose real name is Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop). The song was written by songwriters Dominique Albert Dubois and Jean-Michel Rivat, who handled the production of the song.
• Voyage, Voyage was one of the most popular songs in Europe in the 1980s, reaching the number one spot in several European countries, including Germany, Denmark, Spain, and Greece. Ironically it failed to reach number one in her own home country of France.
• Till date, the song, which Desireless sang entirely in her native tongue French, remains one of the few non English language songs to have been able to achieve the remarkable feat of becoming an international hit.
• Voyage, Voyage was so successful it sold over 5 million copies globally, making it one of the most successful French songs ever written.
• Since Voyage, voyage was released in December 1986, the song has been covered by several artists. The most famous cover of the song was by Belgian singer and songwriter Kae Ryan in 2008. Kate’s cover was also very successful in Europe.

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Thank you I always wondered what the song was about, now if only someone could explain the video LOL

Yeah! Especially with the globe inflating guy next to the tall super random dancing guy

Travel abroad gives one new perspectives and you’re exosed to new ideas.

Thus enabling you to recognize the Insane Asylum you escaped from.

This song, in my opinion, is about totally the opposite of encouragement to travel. It is a twist.

The fact that the artist is also called Desireless (without desires) points to a different meaning. The song is about being drawn by the external World and the senses, where people loose themselves in desires. At a point you can see a reference to a Hindu God in those images on the wall, which might point to a more philosophical interpretation as well.

There is also this part of lyrics: “Travel, travel, further than the night and the day Travel, in spaces unheard of by love” “spaces unhears of by love” seems to point out that those travels, which people are supposedly encouraged to, are actually worldy things that take them away from Love – the true meaning of life.

Notice also how the artist is stopping and looking directly at you with a cold look, possibly asking you: “do you really think that those travels and pleasures bring you closer to love and life?”.

What do you think?

i think you got the key

Reminds me of 1980s ski trips

@daniel michalski very thoughtful and intelligent comment, thank you. True Art is seldomly one dimensional so it revers the piece and the spectator to inspire those interesting insights.

Intelligent comment and thank you for sharing. Here is my interpretation of the video. I see people gambling with a love of money, people eating like a glutton, people kissing…doing strange things and then all these people end up meeting in front of the slide show. sometimes we are too caugh in our lives and “desires” that we forget to “open” ourselves and see the real world….The lyrics evoke travel departures while implicitly evoking a spiritual dimension via the inner journey. Desireless is seen singing while slides of different destinations are projected behind her. In the background, she invites travelers to reach a tropical destination. The other option is that This clip is set in a mental hospital, is much darker than it looks

I agree! Especially with: “The lyrics evoke travel departures while implicitly evoking a spiritual dimension via the inner journey.”

I think Daniel is pretty spot on with the meaning. Only listening to the lyrics and watching the music video are two entirely different songs. Regarding the video, it seems the song is more sensually oriented. The lyrics: “Travel Travel Voyage, voyage

On the sacred water of an Indian river (journey, journey) Sur l’eau sacrée d’un fleuve indien (voyage, voyage)”

seem to encourage this type of pursuit, although it will in the end be fruitless. You have an old businessman dancing with a young man and kicking the world away, like he does not care. It all seems very French hah!

[…] is a French singer best known for her smash hit single Voyage Voyage from her debut album titled François. Voyage Voyage was so commercially successful it sold […]

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August 7, 2017

 by SMF · Published August 7, 2017

Voyage Voyage by Desireless Lyrics Meaning – The Anthemic Ode to Eternal Wandering

January 16, 2024

 by SMF AI · Published January 16, 2024 · Last modified April 25, 2024

Song Meanings & Facts

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Definition of 'voyage'

voyage in American English

Voyage in british english, examples of 'voyage' in a sentence voyage, trends of voyage.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

In other languages voyage

• American English : voyage / ˈvɔɪɪdʒ /
• Brazilian Portuguese : viagem
• Chinese : 航程
• European Spanish : travesía
• French : voyage
• German : Reise
• Italian : viaggio in nave, nello spazio
• Japanese : 旅
• Korean : 긴 여행
• European Portuguese : viagem
• Spanish : travesía
• Thai : การเดินทาง

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• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'V'

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

How Everyday Rituals Can Add Meaning to Your Life

Are there things that you do in certain settings, at particular times, that evoke a feeling and remind you of what is important? When I step up to bat in softball, I tap the bat twice just past the plate, “squish the bug” with my back foot, and pinch the brim of my cap. I jiggle a ribbon with little charms on it that hangs from my rearview mirror before starting to drive—and more vigorously after a near miss. As monthly as I can manage, I walk with my kids and siblings to a special hill to watch the full moon rise, eat round cookies, drink hot tea from a thermos, and honor my late mother.

A 2002 article by Barbara Fiese in the Journal of Family Psychology concluded that people who engaged in more routines and rituals felt more competent at parenting and more satisfied with their marriages, and had children who were more well-adjusted. Other evidence suggests that rituals bring people together through physically synchronous behaviors, shared beliefs and aspirations, and a warmhearted blend of humility and common humanity.

In his new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions , Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton shares the real benefits to cultivating and regularly engaging in rituals. I spoke with Norton about what that looks like in our lives and at work.

Emiliana Simon-Thomas: What is a ritual? How do you even define the term?

Michael Norton: The thing that comes to mind if we say the word ritual is people in robes, candles, chanting, maybe in the mountains somewhere. And those are rituals, for sure, but the kind that I got really interested in are mainly the ones that are a little more everyday, particularly those that we make up ourselves. They’re often extremely mundane, but we imbue them with a lot of meaning.

The very same boring task can be just that—a task or a habit—or if it takes on a special meaning, then it can start to become a ritual. I was talking to athletes the other day, and I asked them: “How do you tie your shoes?” All of them had a very specific way of tying their shoes, which shoe first and the laces and how tight. And then I asked: “How do you feel if you do it a different way?” And they were like: “I never have.”

When you get more emotion and more meaning, that’s when things move away from a dry habit—it’s more than just getting the thing done. It’s how you do it and how you feel about it.

EST: Why is having a ritual instead of a habit or routine helpful? Why is it good for well-being?

MN: If your habits are just habits and you just go through them like a robot, every single day, always get up at 6, then always go for this run for this amount of time, always eat lettuce, whatever it might be, it’s an emotionless day. If you lived a whole life like that, I think you might look back and be like, I wish I had done more different things than just perfect habits .

Adding ritual to those things fills them with emotion. All of a sudden, tying your shoes makes you feel like “I’m gonna win this race!” But if you can’t tie your shoes the way you want, then you feel off. So you can’t just add rituals to life and then you’ll be happy for the rest of your days. When we add rituals to our lives, they come with real possibilities, but also some drawbacks. Rituals don’t always help, and sometimes they can get in the way.

There’s some very cool research on baseball players when they’re at bat. On average, this sample of baseball players made 83 distinct movements before each swing: touching their hat, adjusting their batting gloves and the bat, and all this stuff. They’re doing these rituals that they’ve been doing for years to feel like, OK, I’m ready. Now I can hit a 100-mile-an-hour fastball . That’s a hard thing to get amped up for. There’s a story of a baseball prospect and the scouts basically said, “This guy has so many pre-at-bat rituals that he can’t get out of his head.” If you kept doing them while the pitch came in, obviously you strike out, right? So we know there’s a limit on rituals where they get to be interfering rather than beneficial.

EST: It sounds like rituals help when they’re calming in contexts where there’s uncertainty. Is this why rituals are so prominent in religious and spiritual contexts—because they’re about mysteries of what it means to be human and alive?

MN: Yes, I do think that we turn to rituals when there is more stress and more uncertainty. There’s really fascinating research on rain dances across cultures, across the world. You see that partly it’s predicted by not just regions that don’t have a lot of rain, but regions that have a lot of weather variability. If there’s never any rain, we can just plan that we’re just never going to have rain. But if maybe we’ll have a lot of rain, maybe we’ll have no rain—that kind of uncertainty—those are the cultures where these kinds of practices are most likely to emerge.

EST: Can you tell me about rituals in workplaces? Does ambiguity of the marketplace ever prompt something akin to a rain dance?

MN: At the New York Stock Exchange, there’s the ringing of the bell, where different groups come in and sometimes celebrities come in—a “let’s bless the day by the ceremonial ringing of the bell.”

Rituals can come into play even in contexts that are supposed to be rational and financial. But the main place we see rituals at work is actually in teams, and then also how people leave work behind at the end of the day. If we just ask people, “Do you and your team have any activities that you do regularly that are special, that are unique to your team?,” teams that say yes tend to report that they find their work more meaningful than teams that don’t have something like that.

EST: How would you recommend a company create a new ritual that would yield these benefits?

MN: The rituals that employees tend to tell us about are ones they came up with themselves. It’s less that I would go to a company and say, “The research shows that if you do seven stomps and 12 claps, that’s the key thing everybody needs to do,” because that’s not what we see. Instead, give people space and time to see if they have a ritual already. You can ask them, “What do you do when you start meetings? What do you do for lunch? Or do you have any inside jokes?”

There’s usually a culture on teams, and you can give them the space to come up with it themselves. First off, it’s more fun, but also it’s less mandated and it comes from them instead of from management.

EST: Let’s imagine there’s an energized employee who has rituals and fulfillment at work, and then they drive home and their home life feels very mundane and tedious. Do rituals also enrich personal relationships?

MN: Even on the way home, we see people engaging in rituals to try to separate work from their home life because we’re supposed to be a different person in those two contexts. We also want to leave work behind—the stress and the worries—so that we can be present with our family.

We did some research with emergency room nurses. We asked them, “What do you do at the end of the day?” And they had some very elaborate rituals to try to leave work behind. One person came home, always took a shower, and had a beer in the shower. They imagined as the water swirled down the drain that the hospital and the stress were swirling down the drain, as well. People who do these kinds of activities have a little bit better separation between work and home.

We ask couples and families the exact same question that we ask teams at work, which is, “Do you have something that you make sure to do regularly, that’s very special to you, that’s unique from other couples or families?” My favorite couple has this ritual where before they eat, they clink their forks together, which is so random. What could be more boring than a fork? But they’ve turned it into this cute little thing that nobody else does.

Looking at the data, couples that say they do those things report higher relationship satisfaction than couples that don’t. And we see the same thing with families. If we ask about Thanksgiving, people who say they have rituals are both more likely to keep gathering as a family, and the day is less stressful. 
 In my family, we do gratitude at the beginning of every dinner: “What are you grateful for?” Other families do other things; some families call out a win that they had that day and celebrate it. With these little rituals, you’re signaling that you’re a family, you’re signaling who you are as a family, and what you value and that you love each other.

We don’t know, however, if it’s families who already like each other who create rituals [or vice versa]. But you do see this really strong signal that when rituals are present, they’re associated with benefits for not just us as individuals, but our romantic partner and our kids, as well.

EST: What about life transitions or formative moments—is that a time when people are more likely to have certain kinds of rituals, and do those help?

MN: Sometimes people say, “I don’t have any rituals.” But I’ll ask them, “Have you ever finished something and then for some reason got a really ugly-looking robe and a hat that has a square on top of it with a tassel hanging off of it? And did you then in front of everybody go up on a stage and shake hands with someone and grab a scroll of paper that’s from the 14th century? And then take your hat off at the end and throw it away up in the air?” 

Of course, we’ve all engaged in rituals: if you’ve been to a wedding, if you’ve been to a funeral, if you’ve blown out candles on a birthday cake. We use these rituals when we make big transitions in life. Most cultures have something for kids, roughly between the age of 12 and 16, when they go from being a kid to an adult. All religions, many cultures have this kind of rite of passage in place. We do them many times in life; it isn’t just that one time and then we’re done.

Another big change in life is grief and loss—and we have rituals around that. Most cultures in the world, for example, have a color associated with a funeral. In the U.S., it’s black, but in other countries it’s white. Some countries it’s red; some countries it’s green. You wear these colors on the day of the funeral, and then there’s practices where you continue to wear that color for a little while afterward, so that people can see you’re grieving. If you’re still wearing black, then I know that you’re grieving. If you haven’t shaved in a very long time, I can guess that perhaps you’re grieving. The gatherings themselves give us social support, they pull us together with everyone we know, and then if we continue to wear the color, others can continue to help us with our grief.

EST: Is there anything else that you think would be valuable for readers to know?

MN: As a first step, I think about it less like “I’m going to come up with nine new rituals and start doing them” and more about taking an inventory of what you already do. Think of your morning, what do you do? When you get to work, what do you do? What do you do in your teams at work? What do you and your spouse do that’s special? What does your family do with your kids that’s special? Just see them; they’re happening already. If you don’t think you have them, you can ask your spouse or your children or your coworkers. They’ll tell you all your rituals.

It’s helpful just to own them, to recognize them. When you enact them intentionally like that, they can have a greater resonance. After they think about a ritual they’ve been doing for a while, people often laugh at themselves a little bit, in a nice way. Like, oh, we’re doing more fork clinking again . It adds something to the experience that’s free. If we can recognize it and name it, I think it can give it even more meaning.

About the Author

Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas

Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas, Ph.D. , is the science director of the Greater Good Science Center, where she directs the GGSC's research fellowship program and serves as a co-instructor of its Science of Happiness and Science of Happiness at Work online courses.

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Is 'Hot Girl Summer' still a thing? Here's where it originated and what it means.

If Michael Jackson was the king of pop, Megan Thee Stallion is certainly the queen of the hot girls. 

The 28-year-old rapper from Houston released “Hot Girls” in 2018 and “Hot Girl Summer” in 2019. Her fans are aptly known as “The Hotties” and she’s even trademarked the phrase “Hot Girl Summer.” Dictionary.com added it to its official memes dictionary in 2019. 

But what does it mean? Here’s a crash course on how you too can have a certified “Hot Girl Summer.”

What does 'Hot Girl Summer' mean?

“Hot girl summer” comes from Megan Thee Stallion’s song of the same name.

Here’s the definition Meg gave The Root in 2019: “It’s just basically about women – and men – just being unapologetically them ... You definitely have to be a person that can be the life of the party.”

After 2020, USA TODAY interviewed young people scrambling to make up for lost time by partying, socializing and having their “Hot Girl Summers.” For some, this meant saying yes to plans, meeting new people and committing to having the best summer of your life.

Dictonary.com defines it as “feeling confident in who you are and having fun and looking good while doing it. It often involves women posting selfies with summery swag and style using the caption (I heard it’s) hot girl summer .”

“ It's a Hot Girl Summer, so you know she got it lit ,” Ty Dolla $ign sings in the chorus of the 2019 hit. 

'Girl dinner,' 'lazy girl job' Why do we keep adding 'girl' to everything?

How to have a 'Hot Girl Summer'

Good News – anyone can have a hot girl summer. 

In “Hot Girl Summer,” Megan encourages being yourself, living confidently and truthfully and being the life of the party. The phrase exploded online in 2019 – the inaugural Hot Girl Summer – with memes and videos of people prepping for the “Hot Girl Summer” of their dreams. Fans told VICE in 2019 it’s a season for good outfits, for “women to do what they want to do” without worrying about male attention and for an attitude fueled by becoming the best version of yourself. 

The most important thing, Megan told singer Kehlani at BeautyCon LA in 2019 is “You just have to be you.”

Here are some other tips Megan shared with Variety in August 2019 for having a “Hot Girl Summer:”

• Be the life of the party
• Be confident
• “You have to like to drive the boat” – a phrase that Megan Thee Stallion and Kodak Black are often credited with creating. It has to do with drinking straight from the bottle, so we’ll leave this one up to you. 

“Hot Girl Summer” is sometimes associated with embracing being single and flirty . But even if you’ve got a significant other this hot girl summer, the queen of the Hotties says you can still partake.

Is 'Hot Girl Summer' over?

“Hot Girl Summer” had its moment in 2019, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. 

#hotgirlsummer has 3.7 billion views on TikTok, with videos from this year teaching users “How To Prep For Hot Girl Summer.” It doesn’t matter how many years past Meg’s hit it is – you can all but guarantee to be inundated with link-in-bio, self-care content in late spring warning you “Hot Girl Summer” is on the horizon. 

Even if “Hot Girl Summer” ceases to exist, it spawned several offshoot seasonal trends – “Short King Spring,” “Soft Girl Spring” and even Megan’s own “Hot Nerd Fall.” Last year, “Barbiecore Summer” exploded.

Hot Girl Summer Tour: How to see Megan Thee Stallion and rapper GloRilla

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What does camp mean?" to "What does OTP mean?" to "What is the hottest planet?" , we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you. 

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Meaning of voyage in English

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• break-journey
• circumnavigation
• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled

voyage | American Dictionary

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relating to or caused by an earthquake

Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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A Guide to the Planets in Astrology and What They Mean in Your Birth Chart

"We reference the planets as symbols to better understand our lives," PEOPLE's resident astrologer Kyle Thomas says

We're all affected by the planets in our solar system.

Astrologically speaking, planets possess great significance, boasting specific meaning as they travel through different zodiac signs as they move through the sky. Mankind has followed them since ancient times, in addition to our two luminaries: the sun and the moon.

PEOPLE's resident astrologer Kyle Thomas explains how early humans noticed repeating patterns in the stars. Upon studying them, he says they realized the planets' movements had "effects on Earth" and "connections to personality."

Astrology has evolved into an art form, especially due to the planets' predictive nature. Not only can they be used to describe people's "astrological compatibility," but they can also be used as "a guide to how life will proceed at any given time."

"The planets and luminaries are characters in the theater of our lives, and the zodiac signs they dance within are like costumes and props," says Thomas. "The houses they reside within are like the acts, scenes and stage they are seen."

Ultimately, he says "we reference the planets as symbols to better understand our lives."

Read on to learn about the planets and luminaries' significance and their respective effects on your daily lives.

iStockphoto/Getty

The sun is a luminary, considered the greatest beacon in our solar system. Without it, Thomas says "we would not exist" and "our solar system would not have formed as it has today."

The Earth takes 365 days to orbit the sun. It moves through each zodiac sign for about a month within the year. 

What is the meaning of the sun?

The sun is "vibrant and powerful," both physically and energetically. In astrology, Thomas says “it connects to leadership, vitality, confidence, power, fame, expression, individuality and consciousness.” 

He adds, “The sun often represents men or masculine figures,” noting, “It can also tie to one’s ego.”

How does the sun affect your daily life?

In a birth chart, the sun is referred to as as the Sun sign. Thomas says it’s “one of the most important factors" of who we are, as it "ties to our life force, self and identity.”

No matter the time, Thomas says the sun “colors the general collective’s energy and focus” every day. “The sun rules Leo,” he adds. 

Our radiant moon is our second luminary, despite its glow reflecting off the sun. We have 12 to 13 full moons in one year.

The moon’s lunar cycle is around 28 days and spends approximately “two to three days in each zodiac sign,” says Thomas. 

Depending on the cycle — beginning with its new phase, culminating with its fullest phase and repeating — Thomas says, “We experience powerful energies that she amplifies.” 

What is the meaning of the moon?

The moon has several meanings in astrology. It is particularly known for being “deeply connected to the people.” 

Thomas points out “emotions, habits, behaviors, instincts and the inner world” as a few factors affected. He says the moon “also aligns with family, our domestic or private lives and the past.”

In contrast to the sun’s masculine energy, Thomas says “the moon is often seen as a feminine figure.”

How does the moon affect your daily life?

In a birth chart, the Moon sign aligns with our inner worlds, says Thomas. Its energy reflects “the general mood that the human collective is experiencing on any given day.

“This aligns with your soul and can tie to your intimate, emotional life,” he continues. “The moon rules Cancer.”

Science Photo Library RF/Getty

Mercury is known as “a personal planet,” similar to Venus and Mars. This is because they are closer to the sun and the earth astronomically, while astrologically, Thomas says they “align with more immediate, daily situations.” 

Aside from the moon, Mercury is the fastest-moving planet in the solar system. It retrogrades more than any other planet, which can affect the time it spends in each zodiac sign (typically, Thomas says it stays “three to four weeks” within a sign).

What is the meaning of Mercury?

Mercury has ties to “many of our daily affairs,” says Thomas, noting how it “aligns with communication, business, ideas and social connections.” It also has ties to “technology, academics and legalities,” in addition to “the media and the economy.”

In comparison to the sun’s masculine energy and the moon’s femininity, Mercury is viewed as a neutral force. Kyle says it is “not malefic or benefic, and neither masculine nor feminine.”

How does Mercury affect your daily life?

Mercury aligns with “your mind and how you communicate,” says Thomas. This depends on whether it is in retrograde or not, plus the zodiac sign it’s in. 

During retrogrades, Thomas says “situations and conversations often return from the past.” He notes, “Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo.”

Venus, known as the “lesser benefic,” is a personal planet. Thomas says it rules “relationships, love, connection, beauty, art, fertility and profit.”

Therefore, the planet “is deeply connected to what makes us happy in an immediate way.” He notes its energy is often “indulgent, hedonistic and sensual.”

Venus spends around “four to five weeks in a zodiac sign,” says Thomas, noting that it takes “roughly eighteen months to go around the sun due to a retrograde phase.”

What is the meaning of Venus?

“Venus is a feminine force,” says Thomas. It is “the planet of beauty” and “aligns with harmony, peace and pleasure.”

Thomas says “love” aligns with Venus. While he notes “romantic attraction” is especially felt from the planet’s energy, he says “all kinds” of affection can be felt.

How does Venus affect your daily life?

Venus’ energy can impact romance sector on the day-to-day, depending on which zodiac sign it’s in. Thomas says that planet also “ties to one’s love languages, style and aesthetics.”

When Venus is in retrograde, Thomas says it’s likely we “cross paths with people from previous relationships or past life connections.” He adds, “Venus rules Taurus and Libra.”

Mars, a personal planet and the first “malefic” planet, is the opposite of Venus. While Thomas says it also “holds ties” to relationships, its “more often” connected to sex or conflict. 

Mars is also seen as a “timekeeper” of the zodiac, he says, as he takes “roughly two years to go around the sun.” It spends “roughly six to seven weeks” in a zodiac sign.

What is the meaning of Mars?

Mars is “a powerful masculine force” deeply tied to action, says Thomas. It can symbolize “courage, strength, competition and aggression.”

Also symbolizing passion, Thomas says it can “reveal desire, hunger, drive and one’s sex life and libido.”

How does Mars affect your daily life?

Mars can reveal “vitality, strength and ego,” says Thomas. As an energy of fire, he says it can also put forth “focus, attention and level of aggression at any given time.” He adds, “Mars rules Aries and Scorpio.”

Jupiter is often called “the Great Benefic,” says Thomas. It is the planet of “expansion, luck, growth and blessings.” 

Typically, Jupiter takes approximately “twelve to thirteen months” to go around the sun. It spends “about one year” in each zodiac sign or house in our natal chart. 

What is the meaning of Jupiter?

Jupiter is “a highly spiritual planet,” says Thomas. It’s connected to “wisdom, hope, spirituality and joy.” It often delivers our “greatest heights of prosperity and influence,” he adds. 

How does Jupiter affect your daily life?

According to Thomas, “Jupiter tends to bring more blessings, growth and opportunities” wherever the planet travels. In fact, he says it may feel as though we have “a winning touch” at that point in time.

Jupiter has the potential to “expand” anything it effects, better or worse. But fear not! Thomas says the planet’s energy “more often aids us in joyous ways.” 

Depending on where Jupiter resides in your birth chart, Thomas says we “often experience luck and abundance.” 

He adds, “Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces.”

Saturn, known as the "taskmaster" and seen as a malefic force, ties to “society and larger structures in our lives." Thomas says this goes for all outer planets: Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

“Jupiter and Saturn are the only outer planets that the ancients were aware of in previous times,” explains Thomas. 

Saturn takes approximately “28 to 29 years” to go around the sun and it spends about “two to three years” in a zodiac sign.

What is the meaning of Saturn?

Saturn is considered “one of the strongest” planets of them all because it’s “significantly tied to time and structure.” 

Meanwhile, Thomas says Saturn is “a planet of karma and teaches through hard life lessons.” Therefore, he notes its association with “perseverance and restriction," plus “hardship and obstacles.” 

Through its connection to “maturity and those who are old and wise,” Thomas says Saturn “can also align with law, government, authority and tradition.”

How does Saturn affect your daily life?

Saturn is a planet that makes us earn our glory! Despite teaching through challenges, Thomas says it "often delivers our greatest achievements that we’ve had to work tirelessly to achieve."

On a collective level, he says the planet "aligns with global structures, governments and karma." Saturn rules Capricorn.

Uranus, the first “modern planet," is a higher vibration of Mercury. It is often titled the "Great Awakener.”

While the planet is known for bringing "liberation, freedom and bringing visions of the future," Thomas says it's also "the most unpredictable planet." This, meanwhile, can often "trigger surprises or chaos."

Uranus takes "about 84 years" to go around the sun and spends "about seven years" in a zodiac sign.

What is the meaning of Uranus?

Uranus focuses on "the unknown and freeing us from the past;" therefore, it often connects to "invention, humanitarianism, change and technology."

Interestingly, Thomas says the following areas are connected to Uranus: astrology, the internet, space and AI.

How does Uranus affect your daily life?

Uranus can have a personal affect on everyone, mainly revealing how we "seek freedom and pursue a progressive, future-oriented path." Thomas explains further, "It also aligns with how one embraces their utmost authenticity and eccentricity."

Thomas puts its simply: "Uranus is all about thinking outside of the box.” He adds, "Uranus rules Aquarius."

Neptune, another modern planet and nicknamed "the Great Dissolver," is the higher octave of Venus. Thomas says Neptune radiates the energies of "personal love and art" on a spiritual wavelength, which can bring "great beauty and love" — but also "fantasy, illusion and delusion," he notes.

Thomas says Neptune takes "165 years to go around the sun." It spends approximately "10 to 12 years" in a zodiac sign.

What is the meaning of Neptune?

Neptune is tied to "magic and spirituality" therefore, Thomas says it's generally linked to "dreams, religion and the mystical."

The planet is known for bringing "great visions" to those who are visionary artists or psychics. At the same time, however, Thomas says "it can also bring charlatans, deceivers or weakness."

How does Neptune affect your daily life?

Neptune's effect on your daily life depends on where it resides. On one hand, Thomas says there can be "great breakthroughs or ideas generated." On the other, he says "it can reveal what is being dissolved and scattered."

The themes of "religion and spirituality" will also be in effect depending on where Neptune stands. "Neptune rules Pisces," he notes.

Pluto, the higher octave of Mars and last modern planet, is regarded as "the greatest malefic of all." While it can be known for bringing "darkness," Thomas notes it can also "aid us in growing and being liberated from what no longer serves us."

The planet also aligns with "major power," he says. Among the areas its energy can be felt include "corporations, banks and dictators" — in addition to "those who dig to the greatest depths," like "psychologists, spies, detectives and thieves."

Pluto takes "roughly 248 years to go around the sun," says Thomas. It spends "about 12 to 15 years" in a zodiac sign. 

What is the meaning of Pluto?

Pluto is tied to "transformation, death and destruction," says Thomas. "It is an energy that forces us to change regardless if we want to or not."

Therefore, Thomas says Pluto "aligns with generational evolution... also connecting to the subconscious, too."

How does Pluto affect your daily life?

Pluto collectively represents "great power in our world," says Thomas. Personally, it reveals "pain" that can "transform" each of us.

Its energy is present daily, specifically when we are "exerting power or experiencing power struggles." Thomas says, "Pluto rules Scorpio."

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I lived in Cuba for 20 years. Moving back to the US has me questioning the meaning of 'home.'

• At 32, Conner Gorry left New York and moved to Havana for a job as a journalist.
• After living there for 20 years, she saw herself as an immigrant, rather than an expat.
• Since her return last year, re-learning how to live in the US has been difficult.

Whitening. Herbal. Charcoal. Color changing? I'm in the toothpaste aisle at Target, dumbfounded by a selection that runs several shelves long and as many high. After more than 20 years in Cuba , where Close-Up and La Perla were the only choices for most of that time, I'm overwhelmed by the number of options. If Target triggers paralysis, I shudder to think what terror Costco might elicit.

I was 32 when I left New York after the World Trade Center attacks. I was looking for a more humanistic and peaceful place to call home. A place where telling a good joke and checking in on older neighbors means more than what car you drive or the whiteness of your teeth. I was hankering for more community and less consumerism.

In early 2002, the door of opportunity swung open: I packed a single suitcase and a box of books. A reporting job was waiting for me in Havana .

Adjusting to life in Cuba brought laughter and tears

The first Cuban saying I learned was "no es fácil." No, it's not easy. I resigned myself to eating rice every day, sometimes twice, to quiet my stomach. I had no cellphone or internet — technologies not yet mainstreamed in Cuba — or even a landline. Instead, I leaned on friends with connectivity — a hard, early lesson on the favor economy that keeps Cubans afloat.

I rode the bus and took collective taxis, usually a 1950s Detroit hunker with wire hangers for door handles. I thought my Spanish was OK, but Cubans laughed when I spoke, including the kindergarten crowd.

It took years, but I pushed through tears and despair to adapt and thrive. I covered Cuba's medical disaster team in post-earthquake Pakistan and Haiti, crossed the island on a 1946 Harley-Davidson researching a book, and had an 8-hour marathon meeting with Fidel Castro , among other adventures.

There's a difference between an immigrant and an expat

After spending two decades in a country so wildly different from my own and experiencing more than most, I didn't realize how "Cubanized" I'd become.

Related stories

Back in the US, where privacy, personal space, and punctuality are prized, I'm realizing that in Cuba, I was more of an immigrant than a visitor or an expat. The distinction is nuanced but important: immigrants integrate, visitors and expats replicate. Diplomats, retirees, and business people living abroad often try to recreate a semblance of home.

In Cuba, there are upscale "foreigner" neighborhoods — like Siboney and Cubanacán — and international schools for children. There are specialty stores that stock familiar items, making it possible to approximate a more-like-home diet. Some of these expats may not even make an effort to speak Spanish. As an immigrant, on the other hand, I made efforts to adapt, sponging up all the information and mechanisms for how to get along in my adopted country.

Alas, with my sponge saturated and my family needing me, I moved back to the US last year.

Throughout the transition, I've been finding my Cuban ways — things like throwing toilet paper in the trash can, kissing everyone hello, dropping in on friends unannounced — raise eyebrows. And sometimes hackles. I stand too close to people, I make eye contact, I talk to strangers, and I'm 15 minutes late to everything.

The physical move is easy, re-acculturation is tougher

When you've spent almost as much time outside your birth country as in it, like me, the physical move is the easy part; re-learning how to live in the US , has been harder.

Touchless technology confounds me, so I eavesdrop on people using Google Wallet to learn how it's done. Is cash still king, I wonder, or should I tap the suggested tip showing on my server's screen? Those Amazon Go outlets in airports — where you wave your palm over a sensor, enter a well-stocked, unstaffed store, and take what you like — frighten me silly.

I am wholly unaccustomed to finding free stuff everywhere — chopsticks, bookmarks, napkins, Dijon mustard packets, even! — and load up where I can. Cue the sidelong looks.

On the flip side, I'm saddened that college tuition , doctor's visits, and ambulance rides — all free in Cuba — can bankrupt a family in the US. In Cuba, moreover, women have full autonomy over their bodies, which I feel is the only way it should be.

Focusing on what's great about the US

When my brain threatens to short circuit over the differences and contradictions, I focus on what I missed about the US . Here, I'm grateful for fantastic public libraries, fast WiFi, spaying and neutering of pets, littering as a sanctionable offense, dengue-free mosquitoes, and artichokes. And I deeply appreciate my independence; here, I'm not reliant on favors or beholden to anyone for the basics.

What has changed most since I've lived away is me. I realize now that re-adjusting to US life isn't a flip that gets switched, it's a process. Right now, I feel like a newcomer in my own country, baffled by toothpaste selection. I grab the cheapest just to get it over with: cinnamon-flavored Close-Up.

Got a personal essay about living abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: [email protected] .

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Idaho college murders: Former King Road roommate recalls learning of killings

It could have "happened while I was there," Ashlin Couch said on "GMA."

More than a year after her friends and former roommates were killed in an off-campus house in Idaho, Ashlin Couch said she wished she could have said a proper goodbye.

Couch had lived until May 2022 in the sixth bedroom in an off-campus house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Four University of Idaho students were killed in the house months later, in November 2022.

"It crosses my mind more that that could've happened while I was there," Couch said in an interview on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. "And, you know, you never know, like how long someone is watching your house."

MORE: University of Idaho murders 1 year later: Where the case stands

Police arrested Bryan Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University, in December 2022 and later charged him with first-degree murder and burglary . A judge entered a plea of not guilty for Kohberger in May 2023.

Couch had moved out months after graduating in December 2021, but kept in touch with her former roommates, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, she said. Both were killed in the house, along with Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in November 2022.

Couch recalled getting a text from the University of Idaho alerting her to a suspected homicide on King Road. She recalled texting a thread with her former roommates on it, she said, asking if anyone had "heard from Maddie?"

"And I remember, like my last text message to her was like, are you OK?" Couch said. "And, I feel like right then and there, I kind of just knew that something was wrong."

The three-story house where she had lived with her friends was demolished in December 2023.

The killings were often on her mind and, more than a year later, she was still having difficulty walking to her car in the dark, she said.

But she also wished she could say a proper goodbye to her friends.

"And that's one thing that I just wish that I could do at least one more time," she said. "Like, you know, just give her one last hug. Just to be able to say goodbye.”

ABC News' Emily Shapiro, Sasha Pezenik and Kayna Whitworth contributed to this report.

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A Wealth Shift That Could Leave Some Younger Americans Behind

Assets held by baby boomers are changing hands, but that doesn’t mean their millennial heirs will be set for life.

By Martha C. White

Alainta Alcin has heard about the huge transfer of wealth from baby boomers to their millennial children that is underway — a move that has been called the largest shift of assets in history. But Ms. Alcin, an analyst for hospital systems, says it bears little resemblance to her own family’s experience.

“Unfortunately, my mom is one paycheck away from being unable to pay for anything,” said Ms. Alcin, a 34-year-old resident of West Palm Beach, Fla. “There’s nothing to transfer.”

Baby boomers have trillions of dollars in wealth that some economists predict will have a significant impact on their millennial-aged children when they inherit the cash, homes, stock portfolios and other assets their elders hold. But experts say that the narrative of millennials’ paying off debts and wielding greater spending power over the next two to three decades is complex — and leaves out families without enough assets to pass along.

As a first-generation American, Ms. Alcin saw her mother struggle to raise herself and five siblings after her father died. The elder Ms. Alcin had menial agricultural jobs — work that, at the age of 67, has become more difficult to do, even as she tries to make higher payments on her home’s adjustable-rate mortgage.

“She only has a limited amount of time where she can continue to work,” Ms. Alcin said. “It just seems as though economists miss a part of the hidden stories of people where there’s no wealth to begin with.”

In particular, young adults who are providing for aging parents while trying to establish their own retirement nest eggs worry that this inflection point will leave them further behind. Federal Reserve data shows that the average net worth among those aged 65 to 74 in 2022 was nearly $1.8 million. This figure is skewed by those at the upper end of the wealth spectrum, though. At the median, the average net worth of this age bracket was roughly $410,000, a figure that includes the values of homes and investments.

Estimates of how much wealth will be transferred over the coming decades vary widely, but even low calculations suggest that tens of trillions of dollars will change hands as baby boomers die. Some $84 trillion is expected to pass from older to younger generations between now and 2045, with $16 trillion of that taking place over the next decade. The rise in real estate values and the historically long bull market predating the pandemic, along with the shift from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution plans like 401(k)s over roughly the past generation, has made it possible, experts say.

Many monthly pension payments cover most or all of the cost of day-to-day living expenses, but with rare exceptions, payouts terminate after the worker or that person’s surviving spouse dies. Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts, though, are treated differently.

“One of the interesting things about 401(k)s is that, unlike pensions, they can be handed down,” said Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, an associate professor of economics at Boston College. “There’s the opportunity for there to be this wealth transfer.”

And some boomers have both pensions and 401(k)s, giving them the flexibility to live on their pension payments and Social Security, and to save the defined-contribution balance for their heirs.

Even in families that have been able to accumulate some wealth, research suggests that millennials might be overconfident when it comes to expectations about how much they’ll inherit, though. A survey conducted two years ago by Alliant Credit Union found that just over half of millennials who anticipated inheriting money expected that they would get at least $350,000. However, 55 percent of boomers who say they plan to bequeath assets to their children or other younger family members say the amount will be less than $250,000.

“Parents have less money than their kids think,” said Sumeet Grover, Alliant’s chief digital and marketing officer.

A generational divide, and agreement

Boomers say their children live beyond their means. Millennials say their parents don’t have a clue how expensive it is to raise a family today. Beyond that, financial advisers who work with each generation say they see a widespread lack of transparency — although, again, they differ on what creates this divide.

Sophia Bera Daigle, founder of Gen Y Planning, a financial planning firm in Austin that works mostly with millennials, suspects that the appeal of holding onto the family purse strings for boomers is too strong to relinquish. “I think a part of it is control,” she said. “They really like having that control, being able to dole out those gifts if, and when, they want, or when they see fit.”

Boomers might also be unfamiliar with what young adults have to pay for homes, child care and college, even when those young adults are their own children, Ms. Daigle said.

In some cases, that disconnect extends to boomers’ own finances.

“In the ’90s with the tech boom, I think a lot of people made a lot of money and expected that same amount of money” would be available to them in the future, she said, but everything from recessions to health crises to divorce can crack those nest eggs.

Boomers counter that they are acting in their children’s best interests.

“In some families, it gets into the parents’ perception of the child’s work ethic and spending habits,” said Scott Oeth, a financial planner in Edina, Minn. “They don’t want it to seem like their kids are depending on their inheritance.”

Where the generations do agree is that virtually nobody talks about this.

Alvin Carlos, a financial planner in Arlington, Va., said only about 10 percent of his millennial clients had talked to their parents about estate planning. “I think a majority of our clients think their parents are in a decent financial situation, but they don’t know that for sure.”

Ms. Daigle also said she saw generational differences in comfort with discussing financial matters. “I have yet to see a boomer be extremely transparent with their finances for their kids, unless that parent is living with them,” she said.

Mr. Grover, of Alliant, suggested that millennials were comparatively more open about their finances because, as a generation, they had been conditioned via social media to obtain and share information readily. “When you look at millennials, they’re extremely comfortable talking about money,” he said. “I think one of the reasons for that is the internet,” because young adults are used to sharing so much online about their personal lives.

The cost-of-care conundrum

One of the biggest risks that comes with not sharing financial and estate-planning information is the prospect that a parent could wind up needing lengthy nursing home care.

State-administered Medicaid programs are often families’ only options for that care, but eligibility requirements mean spending down savings and selling off or liquidating assets.

“That next generation needs to wait longer and may get less because, in the last few years of their parents’ lives, they had all those expenses of long-term care,” said Steve Parrish, co-director of the Center for Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services.

People who want to leave an inheritance to their children and minimize taxes and delays on the transfer often establish trusts for their assets. But this supposes that these families are wealthy enough to afford to hire an estate lawyer. Middle-class millennials who might otherwise inherit a home and perhaps the contents of a bank account are the most vulnerable to seeing that value get depleted in order for their parent to qualify for Medicaid.

And some aren’t expecting anything at all.

Joyce Hahn, a first-generation American, said she worried about her father as he approaches age 80. Although he held a plethora of jobs since emigrating from South Korea in the 1970s, Ms. Hahn, 39, said she didn’t believe he was ever able to save for retirement.

Ms. Hahn, a Census Bureau employee and resident of Washington, D.C., already splits the cost of her father’s housing, in a rent-controlled senior living apartment in California, with her younger sister. She also pays ancillary expenses not covered by insurance, such as dental care. “We never really talk about those kinds of things,” she said. “We were raised in this Asian mentality of taking care of your elders,” she said.

She said she wished she had more visibility into her father’s finances. “I don’t imagine he’ll get to the point where he needs long-term care, but I don’t want to be surprised by it.”

Significant as the impact of long-term care costs can be on affected families, social policy experts warn that there is a much bigger pool of people who could be hurt by the way this wealth is transferred: Those millennials whose parents were unable to accrue wealth in the first place.

“It just exacerbates the wealth inequality that’s been growing worse over the last several decades,” Mr. Sanzenbacher said. “It becomes harder and harder to compete for resources.”

Marsha Barnes, founder of the Finance Bar, a financial planning firm in Charlotte, N.C., said many of her younger clients worried about outliving their 401(k) balances.

“Many of my clients are Black,” said Ms. Barnes, who is also Black. “They maybe started a little later in life with saving money in their 401(k),” she said, because many had to support their parents in retirement.

“I have a client who’s in her early 30s, and now she’s helping her mom because her dad passed away — she just feels that level of responsibility,” Ms. Barnes said.

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of a financial planner. Scott Oeth is in Edina, Minn., not Lake Edina.

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