Always a treat! I’d forgotten how vital smell is to memory and pleasure. And the second half of your essay was thought-provoking and relatable. I remember how disillusioned I felt as a young person. After high school and definitely college, I really believed that stuff just stopped. But it never ends. It’s gotten worse.
My pharmacy work gives me practice speaking up and questioning things. Groupthink can be dangerous in high-risk healthcare settings. But of course I’ve fallen victim too. I got stuck following some self-care guru people in my early 40s and didn’t realize how bad their advice was until I broke away. And I’m still very susceptible to it when it comes to people I’m close to, but I’m getting better. Because I keep practicing. So glad you’re feeling better Amy :)
Thank you so much for adding your thoughts, Daphne! I think we're all susceptible to groupthink, especially, as you point out, with people we're close to. Humans are such social animals and we want to belong. I've also fallen into some self-care and "wellness" guru traps (more times than I even care to admit). I guess the good thing is that once we notice it, we can try to be self-aware and practice self-trust and discernment. We got this!
This was marvelous - both the first and the second part! As a fellow food lover, I so identified with the panic of losing the sense of smell! It was my main fear with COVID! Death? Not so much! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
And the second part also heartened me greatly - I, too, have given up on extremism on the left - it is truly shocking. So happy for you - it makes life so much less angry, and so much more rational. Inch by inch, we are taking back sanity. Long may it prosper!
Thank you so much, Peggy Jo! I'm with you—I never feared death, only an impediment to my foodie senses!! You are so right and wise when you say that giving up extremism makes life "less angry and so much more rational." Thank goodness!
Thank you for reading and commenting, Elle! I *so* relate to your description of "floating away into the balmy consensus" of one tribe or another. I haven't read that Cherniss book but I definitely will. I use liberal as the most convenient/closest-to-accurate description for my belief set but the truth is, like you, I'm more politically homeless than anything. Maybe that's the wisest place to be . . .
Always a treat! I’d forgotten how vital smell is to memory and pleasure. And the second half of your essay was thought-provoking and relatable. I remember how disillusioned I felt as a young person. After high school and definitely college, I really believed that stuff just stopped. But it never ends. It’s gotten worse.
My pharmacy work gives me practice speaking up and questioning things. Groupthink can be dangerous in high-risk healthcare settings. But of course I’ve fallen victim too. I got stuck following some self-care guru people in my early 40s and didn’t realize how bad their advice was until I broke away. And I’m still very susceptible to it when it comes to people I’m close to, but I’m getting better. Because I keep practicing. So glad you’re feeling better Amy :)
Thank you so much for adding your thoughts, Daphne! I think we're all susceptible to groupthink, especially, as you point out, with people we're close to. Humans are such social animals and we want to belong. I've also fallen into some self-care and "wellness" guru traps (more times than I even care to admit). I guess the good thing is that once we notice it, we can try to be self-aware and practice self-trust and discernment. We got this!
This was marvelous - both the first and the second part! As a fellow food lover, I so identified with the panic of losing the sense of smell! It was my main fear with COVID! Death? Not so much! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
And the second part also heartened me greatly - I, too, have given up on extremism on the left - it is truly shocking. So happy for you - it makes life so much less angry, and so much more rational. Inch by inch, we are taking back sanity. Long may it prosper!
Thank you so much, Peggy Jo! I'm with you—I never feared death, only an impediment to my foodie senses!! You are so right and wise when you say that giving up extremism makes life "less angry and so much more rational." Thank goodness!
P.S. My husband said I was pulling an "M. Night Shamalan" with my abrupt tone shift here 🫠
Thank you for reading and commenting, Elle! I *so* relate to your description of "floating away into the balmy consensus" of one tribe or another. I haven't read that Cherniss book but I definitely will. I use liberal as the most convenient/closest-to-accurate description for my belief set but the truth is, like you, I'm more politically homeless than anything. Maybe that's the wisest place to be . . .