I came of age during the 80s but was a huge consumer of books and movies and magazines, and even from that I realized how much of my life was cut off from authentic experience because of my preconceived notions of how things were supposed to go. Looking back it's clear that there were a lot of connections I didn't make because they didn't look like what I thought they should, and that is a tragedy.
As I read this essay, I was nodding along and thinking, good god, it has never been more important to get people to meditate. Was glad to see it cited as a remedy at the end.
I don't know where in the world you are, but you're welcome to come sit with us at Angel City Zen Center in LA anytime. You can also do it via Zoom.
I thought this was very insightful. Two additional ideas to add to your list of what to do:
1. Find something meaningful to do that pulls time away from social media.
2. Spend your time with other people who aren't constantly on social media. I was struck by the universalist language in this piece: "everyone struggles with this", "few will now admit", "we’re absorbing so much". These do not apply to me or most people I know, but we are not on social media so you don't see us. I don't care if you like apothecary stuff!
Starting a family checks both of these boxes.
Also 3. Get sufficiently disgusted by mainstream cultural pettiness that you leave social media more or less for good.
It was so cathartic, I've read it for 2 years now. I met someone who reminded me of both characters in the narrative- so I tried sharing it with them. Maybe a rework?
I came of age during the 80s but was a huge consumer of books and movies and magazines, and even from that I realized how much of my life was cut off from authentic experience because of my preconceived notions of how things were supposed to go. Looking back it's clear that there were a lot of connections I didn't make because they didn't look like what I thought they should, and that is a tragedy.
As I read this essay, I was nodding along and thinking, good god, it has never been more important to get people to meditate. Was glad to see it cited as a remedy at the end.
I don't know where in the world you are, but you're welcome to come sit with us at Angel City Zen Center in LA anytime. You can also do it via Zoom.
I thought this was very insightful. Two additional ideas to add to your list of what to do:
1. Find something meaningful to do that pulls time away from social media.
2. Spend your time with other people who aren't constantly on social media. I was struck by the universalist language in this piece: "everyone struggles with this", "few will now admit", "we’re absorbing so much". These do not apply to me or most people I know, but we are not on social media so you don't see us. I don't care if you like apothecary stuff!
Starting a family checks both of these boxes.
Also 3. Get sufficiently disgusted by mainstream cultural pettiness that you leave social media more or less for good.
Really enjoyed reading this. What happened to the "quiet death of stability" essay? I loved that essay
Thank you - I didn’t feel right leaving that one up
It was so cathartic, I've read it for 2 years now. I met someone who reminded me of both characters in the narrative- so I tried sharing it with them. Maybe a rework?