I'm 26M and never felt more terrified for my future after having a conversation with my 75M businessman father

So I had an interview for a job at the company my father works for and I was surprised when he offered to pick me up for the interview, despite being 300 miles away.<br><br>I was hesitant but he said "I need to spend time with my son." And I didn't wanna refuse my father so I agreed.<br><br>During the drive, we started talking and I told him about how I'm feeling more and more depressed about the future and how I can't see any sort of future for myself, just a neverending grind of menial work, with no room for hobbies or self fulfillment.<br><br>And my father responded, "that's normal. When I graduated college in the 80s, the average salary for a man in the United States was $19,000. I was making $24,000 right out of college and $30,000 after a few years and could afford everything I wanted, including my own business and vacation home, by the time I was your age. I see you making $40, hour, which is nearly double what I made and I know things are different for you, but I don't see why you can't see that your future is bright. You just need to work hard."<br><br>I tried explaining to him that the situation is completely different now, and that he is not in a position to understand my plight.<br><br>He responded "Well I hope that one of these days you will understand."<br><br>And I felt my eyes well up with tears. I don't think my father has ever truly understood me.<br><br>And it hit me so hard, how little my father and the people around me really understand. I don't see a future for myself. All I see is a neverending grind, a struggle to survive, a constant fight against the forces of capitalism. The world is an insane place and it's only getting crazier and I don't see any way for me to escape the rat wheel.<br><br>I'm 26M. Never felt more terrified for my future.