Edition #7: What It Means To Be An American
Plus, the rise of Instagram face, the absolute dream job from Trader Joes, and a beautiful letter
A Note from the Editor
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be an American, clinging to the shared ideals that bind us as a country but that seem to be getting more and more loosely threaded. I've always felt immense pride in my American culture; the precious freedoms we're granted, the idea that no matter what circumstances you grew up in, with hard work and perseverance (and a little luck) you can make a real future for yourself here.
Maybe it's the overall political climate or maybe it's my newfound vested interest in politics, but I've started to consider what a "better" America would look like: a working person could find an affordable place to live, they could get both healthcare and childcare, they could go to college without amassing crippling debt and maybe they could even have paid time off to spend with their newborn baby. To most other first world countries those circumstances are a given, yet for the self-proclaimed "greatest country in the world", that isn't even close to reality.
How did we get here? I keep asking myself that question, and fear is the only logical answer I can come up with. It's the capitalism-or-socialism-can't-be-both-that's-not-American rhetoric that feels remnant of the World War-related propaganda we learned about in elementary school. And while we may feel like we're too smart of a nation to be influenced by fear-based tactics, this article demonstrates that maybe we're looking at things all wrong. Maybe we can be a financially booming country and still provide livable conditions to our people. Maybe it doesn't have to be this way.
Cheers my dears. What does being an American mean to you, whether you live in the US or are an outsider looking in?
Three Piece of Content Worth Consuming
One Brand New Face, Coming Right Up. Have you ever scrolled through your Instagram feed or walked into a particularly trendy bar and wondered "how can everyone possibly look so similar?" It's not just the cropped flare jeans paired with clunky white sneakers or the perfectly contoured makeup, it's an uncanny similarity in facial structure. Meet Instagram Face, the phenomenon to account for the pouty-lipped, tiny nosed, cat-eyed, prominent cheekboned perfection around that surrounds us. All you need to achieve the look is a picture of your favorite Kardashian, tens of thousands of dollars, and a willingness to go under the knife.
Who Said It: Regina George or Trump? You didn't think I was going to ignore the fact that today is the day after the third-ever president of the United States got impeached by the House, did you? You can find a carbon copy of the same headline plastered all over the news today, so take a break from your enthusiastic or outraged reaction to the impeachment announcement and enjoy this fun parlor game. Can you guess all 10?
The Absolutely, Positively Perfect Job. As if you needed another reason to love Trader Joe's, this podcast episode will leave you hungry, swooning, and looking into the feasibility of a career change. Meet the two women responsible for circumnavigating the globe in the name of finding the most delicious, interesting foods from around the world for Trader Joe's to recreate and sell in stores. Not only is this a fascinating process for developing products, but it's also a testament to how doing things differently really does influence the end result.
Perhaps You Should...
Try A News Source That Doesn’t Align With Your Beliefs
Subscribe to an email newsletter that doesn't align with your political beliefs. Don't mistake this as an exercise trying to shift your ideology; this is simply an attempt to understand how the "other side" thinks, speaks, and talks about the issues. I started doing this a few months back, and while sometimes the newsletters leave me infuriated, it's been eye-opening to understand the (very) different ways the same story can be told. If you're liberal start here if you're conservative start here.
**Bonus Content** (to Make You Smile)
Sure, we might be living in heavy times, and there are weeks when every day feels like an impeding disaster. But whenever I feel disenchanted by societal circumstances that are out of my direct control, I bring myself back to this beautiful letter. It reminds me that even in the worst of times, there are freshly baked almond croissants and lazy, sunny Sunday morning-- and that we are very, very lucky to be here.
A Quote From a Book You Should Read:
"It's good enough for her to know, sitting in there in the dark, that if she really wanted to she could get out. The knowledge is as good as freedom."
-The Power by Naomi Alderman
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.”