Powerful essay! Coincidentally, I’ve written about a similar theme this week but from a different angle - the idea that colonization never really ended. It seems to me the divisions we feel among us as well as inside us come from the same “divide and conquer” strategy that colonizers used to conquer land. Except now they’re conquering people, weakening them, disillusioning them, depressing them, forcing them into desperation. And then what? A saviour will arise? Another Covid-like scare with a desperate, pliable crowd ready to follow his/her instructions? I know this used to sound like the stuff of conspiracy theories, but I mean…does it still? We know too much now. We can’t unsee things. Great article, Cody! And so much food for thought.
Cody, you said it... so glad you did. Wake up!!! You know that I am all about love and love means open, courageous mind - the strength to get out of the conditioned way. There is nothing more dangerous than constantly stressed, scared, insecure humans. Or maybe there is - when these humans need to drug themselves with meds, mindless consumption of everything (from black fridays to bingeing on series to the poison we call food), and one distraction after another in order to keep on going. Life is not this. I return to love as my point of reference. If it does not feel loving it is not for us. We should not feel intolerant of life. We need to seriously take a zillion steps back and love ourself and our loved ones (the world) enough to say this is not okay. I am going to do what I can right now. I deserve better. Thank you Cody for always giving us an opportunity to reflect, share, and hopefully stimulate change.
Cody, I can relate to the pain, the burnout and the loneliness. Who's there when you're down on the ground? People go in hiding thinking they are safe from pain and that it will never happen to them. Thank you for sharing! I don't hide from the truth and it's painful. No pretending with me. You can only lie to yourself and others for so long and then it catches up to you.
“Every day, millions of Americans wake up exhausted, drag themselves to jobs that don’t pay enough, perform wellness while feeling terrible, scroll through highlight reels of other people’s fake lives, feel guilty for not being happier, and go to bed wondering if this is all there is.” It’s sad, really.
Because... Americans don't want to let go of their ego, their identity and the dream of being an all powerful superior rich person.
Everyone who wants that, deserves to suffer with their burnout, their loneliness, and their personality disorders.
Fuck 'em.
You wanna believe free will, not care about evidence and be cruel to your fellow humans, you deserve to damage your own prefrontal cortex by moral injury.
You wanted to be capitalists wanted to be better than every one else and grind poor people into the dirt, blabbing on about how merit makes you such a great person. Keep telling yourself that.
If you're lonely, burned out and hate yourself ... You deserved it.
"America's IS having a nervous breakdown" and we are all aware of it. We need to be honest and not say we are OK or fine when we are not. Admit, out loud, to what you are actually feeling or experiencing in any given moment. I will start: I am not OK or fine today. I am grieving the loss of a dear friend of over 30 years. And I am
angry that I only found out by getting a letter and a form to fill out because I am beneficiary on a life insurance policy!! No one contacted me to let me know. I had spoken to him a week before he passed and he was fine. We had a great conversation. I miss my friend deeply.
This is the main thing affecting me today. Along with the daily BS in this country that we are all feeling if we are in touch with ourselves and others. I will keep working through my grief at my own pace.
My hope is that we can all be honest with ourselves and each other about how we really are feeling every day.
Mary, I can relate. When people ask how I am doing, they hear the truth. I am no good at pretending. What you see is what you get. I am going through burnout and DV and I am empty. So many losses and so much grief. I found out through reading obituaries that some of my family members passed away. Nobody called me. And my best friend friend in the world passed away 2 years ago. December 1st is his death anniversary. I miss him deeply, too. I hear you loud and clear about being truthful. People who care will want to know more about your pain and those who don't care will turn away and we don't need those people anyway. Sending you blessings of hope and a big hug. Thanks for sharing. I have been through that road many times and I am too familiar with the pain.
You conclude with the following: 'We’re lonely. We’re broke. We’re burned out. We’re divided. We’re scared.'
There are 350 million of you and you're the richest country on the planet. But I'm looking at you from Europe, which suggest to me that your post has more to do with feelings than facts. I love the USA and I've been visiting every year for several decades - at least I was until your current President was elected. and I won't be back until he's gone. A comment I've made before is that as a species we have a strange capacity to inflict harm on ourselves, to elect leaders who are completely unsuited to the task. It's a sad truth that if you're lonely, broke, burned out etc., it's largely self-inflicted. I just hope that you, and my many American friends, can get through this.
"America is having a nervous breakdown." And we're all along for the ride. Great article.
Powerful essay! Coincidentally, I’ve written about a similar theme this week but from a different angle - the idea that colonization never really ended. It seems to me the divisions we feel among us as well as inside us come from the same “divide and conquer” strategy that colonizers used to conquer land. Except now they’re conquering people, weakening them, disillusioning them, depressing them, forcing them into desperation. And then what? A saviour will arise? Another Covid-like scare with a desperate, pliable crowd ready to follow his/her instructions? I know this used to sound like the stuff of conspiracy theories, but I mean…does it still? We know too much now. We can’t unsee things. Great article, Cody! And so much food for thought.
This whole piece reads like Tyler Durden decided to narrate America’s group therapy session… raw, unfiltered, impossible to look away from.
Honestly, even referencing it feels like I’m breaking the first rule of Fight Club… but here we are. 🙌🏻
“This is individuals holding contradictions inside themselves at the same time.” It’s so true :/ many people live their whole lives like this
You mean we aren’t ok? I am okay, you’re okay, it’s all okay. Right? 😬
Cody, you said it... so glad you did. Wake up!!! You know that I am all about love and love means open, courageous mind - the strength to get out of the conditioned way. There is nothing more dangerous than constantly stressed, scared, insecure humans. Or maybe there is - when these humans need to drug themselves with meds, mindless consumption of everything (from black fridays to bingeing on series to the poison we call food), and one distraction after another in order to keep on going. Life is not this. I return to love as my point of reference. If it does not feel loving it is not for us. We should not feel intolerant of life. We need to seriously take a zillion steps back and love ourself and our loved ones (the world) enough to say this is not okay. I am going to do what I can right now. I deserve better. Thank you Cody for always giving us an opportunity to reflect, share, and hopefully stimulate change.
Cody, I can relate to the pain, the burnout and the loneliness. Who's there when you're down on the ground? People go in hiding thinking they are safe from pain and that it will never happen to them. Thank you for sharing! I don't hide from the truth and it's painful. No pretending with me. You can only lie to yourself and others for so long and then it catches up to you.
There comes a time when you just can’t pretend anymore. It’s scary to open your eyes, but then enough is enough.
Well said: 👏🏻
“Every day, millions of Americans wake up exhausted, drag themselves to jobs that don’t pay enough, perform wellness while feeling terrible, scroll through highlight reels of other people’s fake lives, feel guilty for not being happier, and go to bed wondering if this is all there is.” It’s sad, really.
Because... Americans don't want to let go of their ego, their identity and the dream of being an all powerful superior rich person.
Everyone who wants that, deserves to suffer with their burnout, their loneliness, and their personality disorders.
Fuck 'em.
You wanna believe free will, not care about evidence and be cruel to your fellow humans, you deserve to damage your own prefrontal cortex by moral injury.
You wanted to be capitalists wanted to be better than every one else and grind poor people into the dirt, blabbing on about how merit makes you such a great person. Keep telling yourself that.
If you're lonely, burned out and hate yourself ... You deserved it.
"America's IS having a nervous breakdown" and we are all aware of it. We need to be honest and not say we are OK or fine when we are not. Admit, out loud, to what you are actually feeling or experiencing in any given moment. I will start: I am not OK or fine today. I am grieving the loss of a dear friend of over 30 years. And I am
angry that I only found out by getting a letter and a form to fill out because I am beneficiary on a life insurance policy!! No one contacted me to let me know. I had spoken to him a week before he passed and he was fine. We had a great conversation. I miss my friend deeply.
This is the main thing affecting me today. Along with the daily BS in this country that we are all feeling if we are in touch with ourselves and others. I will keep working through my grief at my own pace.
My hope is that we can all be honest with ourselves and each other about how we really are feeling every day.
Sending blessings of hope to all on this day.🙏🫶
Mary, I can relate. When people ask how I am doing, they hear the truth. I am no good at pretending. What you see is what you get. I am going through burnout and DV and I am empty. So many losses and so much grief. I found out through reading obituaries that some of my family members passed away. Nobody called me. And my best friend friend in the world passed away 2 years ago. December 1st is his death anniversary. I miss him deeply, too. I hear you loud and clear about being truthful. People who care will want to know more about your pain and those who don't care will turn away and we don't need those people anyway. Sending you blessings of hope and a big hug. Thanks for sharing. I have been through that road many times and I am too familiar with the pain.
Is it peak burnout at 25, or is it simply a quarter-life crisis rebranded?
You conclude with the following: 'We’re lonely. We’re broke. We’re burned out. We’re divided. We’re scared.'
There are 350 million of you and you're the richest country on the planet. But I'm looking at you from Europe, which suggest to me that your post has more to do with feelings than facts. I love the USA and I've been visiting every year for several decades - at least I was until your current President was elected. and I won't be back until he's gone. A comment I've made before is that as a species we have a strange capacity to inflict harm on ourselves, to elect leaders who are completely unsuited to the task. It's a sad truth that if you're lonely, broke, burned out etc., it's largely self-inflicted. I just hope that you, and my many American friends, can get through this.