Hello, friends. The year-end is upon us, and I was thinking about doing a trend post but instantly got bored. Trends are more flash in the pan right now, and honestly, I’m weary of the nano speed of every core, barrel-legged jeans, and TikTok dance. Silly rabbit trends are for kids. And since I’m no longer young, I’m not as interested. But this article gave me something to think about amidst this and that.
If you haven’t seen it, this piece speaks about our current pleasureless society, with the rise of Ozempic and AI. Bear with me here. As a lifelong pleasure/dopamine seeker with hedonistic tendencies, I found this theoretical stance intriguing. For instance, this paragraph:
“The co-opting of discipline to demonstrate external worth has reached its nexus. In an age obsessed with its façade, a peculiar phenomenon emerges the rise of Ozempic, also known as Saxenda. This drug suppresses pleasure for the sake of output. As a weight-loss aid, Ozempic is effective and speedy. As a measure of our values, however, it’s concerning.”
Indeed. And isn’t Saxenda a good drag name?
There is no Ozempic left for the rest of us (or even worse for people who use it to manage diabetes) because every real housewife from Manhattan to Mars is on it. And if the author of this article is correct, Ozempic causes weight loss because it simply removes the desire to eat, which, last time I checked, was one of life’s great pleasures. The article notes that Ozempic reflects a shift in societal priorities from experience to output. Our culture now emphasizes results over pleasure, seen not only in pharmaceuticals but also in the arts, where creators contend with the results-driven impact of Artificial Intelligence. If you are a creative human, you’ve either welcomed the rise of AI or feared it. After all, creativity is supposed to be a pleasure (it isn’t always, at least for me). But many creatives love the process of creating, and maybe all of this “output” is taking away the emotional “input” in favor of some race for more. Also, let’s not forget about the use of psychedelics to aid in everything from anxiety relief to trauma healing. Remember when mushrooms used to make you laugh and see pretty colors? More weight loss. More content. More cures for more ills. Repeat. And the juxtaposition of pleasure and discipline makes it feel like our society is moving toward its S&M era.
And speaking of our society, we have become so seamless/ease-obsessed/lazy. Think of everything from Uber to Seamless to Google to endless social media scrolling. You could easily argue that technology makes life easier, but I thought the other day about how “stuffed” I feel at all times, not because I’m on Ozempic.
My brain is stuffed with memes, oversized Frankie Shop blazers, and hot chocolate recipes. My social media consumption has reached tapeworm status, and I’m wondering when enough will be enough. I haven’t read an actual book in ages, but I read the news and everything else online until I close my eyes at night. Consume. Consume. Consume. Repeat.
And true, the less is more movement a la Marie Kondo, etc., is a salve for “so much.” But to strip oneself of devices, collectibles, or pounds requires discipline, as mentioned earlier, and discipline is boring. I’m sorry, but it is. I wouldn't say I like the countless resolutions and goals this time of year. If you make resolutions and are super goal-oriented, I admire you. But I am someone who does not succumb to the pressure of a specific time of year to make shit happen. Instead, I come to stuff on time and then go all in.
That said, I’m batting around a few things in my brain. For instance, I will start strength training again because my lady's bones need a boost. Second, I’m toying with growing my hair a bit. Third, I’m replacing my “manifestation” energy with “expansion” energy. There’s a big difference between “gimme more” vibes and “gimme the stuff I want” vibes. I’m hoping to expand my network next year and focus on what my output is going to be. I’m also considering where to live next, as my patience and propensity for “charming” Brooklyn apartments is thin. I’m ready for an elevator and a doorman. We’ll see how that goes.
I’m also trying my best to go easy on myself at this phase of life, where a few extra pounds, a frozen shoulder, or insomnia don’t feel great but are far from the end of the world. We need to normalize what a woman’s body encounters in midlife and stop trying so hard. Full stop. Nature and nurture, kids. Let’s be kind to our changing bodies and accept them for what they are as best we can.
As for items of interest, I’ve got a few for you.
I’m obsessed with these pants by Dorothee Schumacher, which are Ponte and have the best line.
I’ve recently worked with a great team of old friends to launch a new haircare brand called The Rootist, which uses a unique ferment to give your hair the kombucha treatment. Their hair serum BioBrew™ is excellent stuff. It takes the frizz out of my hair and makes it super shiny. Highly recommend.
I am a terrible sleeper and have rediscovered this supplement, which does the trick. Nothing is as good as an Ambien, but nothing is as wrong as it either, mainly if you take it every night. Also, I swear by this tea with a bit of oat milk creamer—nite night.
With the world in a state, why not lift the mood with a red tight like these? It’s not going to solve anything, but a bit of pleasure won’t hurt.
And since pleasure is on my mind, these socks from Bella Freud are a great gift and do the trick, albeit expensive. But the sentiment is just so good.
So what’s it all about, Alfie? Examining “life’s pleasures” has taken on new meaning these days. And in these rather unpleasant times, it’s worth a review. That’s about it for me, and I’ll be back in 2024. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a happy new year. Here’s hopin’. XO
Well I''m a holiday grinch so hate and dread them well in advance. But what a wild ride the world has become. You're right too fast and furious and not much fun. I think those magic bullet weight loss injections for people who do not have the disease for which they were intended will be kicked in the ass by them ultimately and gain back all the weight or have medical repercussions. It will be a tough road until the election and then all hell will break loose or not. My new years resoution is always the same...to get a colonoscopy and to this writing have not. And my other one was to have sex on the kitchen table but now that would mean paramedics on call or med-vac. HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and Gidget and hubby!!! Keep writing to us!!!