Edition #6: The Telling Of A Year, In A Word
Plus, the suitcase brand that tricked you, VR helping you face your biggest fears, and the school bus that doubles as the new American Dream
A Note from the Editor
It's official, there are only 19 days left in the year. If you've interacted with the internet at all over the past few weeks, you've likely encountered dozens of clickbait-y lists, ranking everything from pop culture moments to kitschy gadgets to your own behaviors: 100-greatest-movies-of-the-2010's, all-the-songs-you-listened-to on-repeat-for-ten-years-but-shouldn't-feel-embarrassed-about, the-most INSANE-Tweets-of-2019, etc.
So in the spirit of ranking lists as a Universal love language, I cordially present you with the most fascinating list of all: Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year. At a time where people are alleged to be reading fewer books and generally uninterested in anything that doesn't involve the internet, this list gives me hope. It's the tangible proof of our collective curiosity, proof that we're actively seeking to understand things that aren't familiar to us.
The word of the year in 2008 was bailout, in 2017 (the year after Trump's election) it was feminism. This year's word is they, the only gender-neutral pronoun in the English language. I love how these words tell a story of the preceding 365 days, the truest answer to the "describe XYZ in one word" prompt. Imagine students of the future learning about history using only the top ten most looked-up words of a year as context-- for 2019 they'd learn a great deal about our country because six out of ten words on the list are politically related, but they would also learn about the theme of the Met Gala and about one of the best selling novels of the year (that one made me smile).
Cheers my dears. What’s your best guess for 2020's word of the year?
Three Pieces of Content Worth Consuming:
The Suitcase Brand That Tricked You. Walkthrough any major airport and you're destined to spot a minimum of 25 Away suitcases. The direct to consumer company has blown up in recent years, offering Millennials stylish, affordable luggage from a brand that claims to be rooted in the importance of travel-- and maybe that's why this perception shattering article has people so fired up. Away's (now former) CEO wouldn't allow her team to take earned time off, publicly shamed employees over Slack, and built her entire brand under the pretense of positive public-facing values that starkly contrasted with the internal company culture, all in the name of selling more luggage.
Can VR Help You Face Your Biggest Fears? Most people know what virtual reality is, but I'd hedge a bet that most people couldn't tell you its practical uses (myself included). After reading this article about a year ago, I can't get over what a simple, seemingly effective solution VR presents in overcoming the common fear of public speaking. Imagine standing in your kitchen with a clunky headset strapped on, but instead of practicing your speech to a stove and refrigerator, you're speaking to directly to a crowd of SIMS-like faces in a boardroom, or an auditorium, or a classroom. You can even set the visible boredom levels of your virtual audience-- tech with the potential for good.
The Democratic Candidate Whisperer. Contrary to popular assumption, it isn't Obama who Democratic 2020 hopefuls are going to for advice, support or a stamp of fatherly approval-- it's a distinguished old man you've probably never heard of. Harry Reid is the only person Bernie Sanders would allow to visit him after his heart attack and one of the few people Bloomberg alerted before filing to run for president. He's had multiple calls with Warren and Buttigieg, chatted with Booker and Klobuchar, and he's fighting to live long enough to see how the election pans out.
Perhaps You Should...
Download This Freaky Accurate Astrological App
Download this freaky accurate astrological app and let the "this is SO me"-ing commence. I discovered the app after a wine-fueled heart to heart with one of my closest friends. The day after our exchange, she texted me a screenshot of nearly verbatim advice I'd given her the night before, and I stared at my phone in disbelief (it was very specific advice). The screenshot came from The Pattern, an app that has Channing Tatum questioning whether his phone is listening in on his therapy sessions.
(Aesthetically Pleasing) **Bonus Content**
The American Dream used to look like this: 2.5 kids, one Golden Retriever, a white picket fence, and a job that requires climbing the corporate ladder. More and more, though, the American Dream is starting to look like Fern the school bus: quit your job, sell all your stuff, renovate a small space on wheels (bonus points if the renovation is documented on Instagram), travel the country and reflect on your new minimalist way of life. Personally, I'm wholly here for this transition.
A Quote From A Book You Should Read:
"I don't have a plan, I'm afraid, but then, no one really does, no mater what they say"
-Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
This newsletter is best served with a side of conversation, so drop your opinions, reflections, and thoughts in the comments below and let’s get to talking.
Or, share the most thought-provoking piece from today’s edition with someone you love, then call them up to discuss, debate, and percolate. As a wise woman once said, “Great minds discuss ideas.”