12.31.20
The 33 Project
It’s the last day of 2020! I’ve spent a lot of time this week reflecting on the year, on my business decisions and work and trying to think ahead. As a freelancer, it’s always rocky. I never really know what I’m officially…doing. With work, with my life, with my future. This year was especially challenging, of course. That’s nothing new. It felt like the amount of time to lounge sluggishly and scroll indefinitely amplified this year. That time then spent wading through comparisons, feeling competitive with no outlet, feeling lost and unsure. It’s hard to live in that muck. But, it’s not forever. This year was a true test in understanding the mortality of all things. Of our time and choices and lives. Let’s hope we can invigorate movement and joy and active, healthy life in 2021. Here are my final recommendations for 2020:
1 / This piece on “Bro culture” was excellent. I’ve long understand the power of this subset of Americans: straight, young cis men. I think it was really pointed out to me when I saw the startling rise of Casey Neistat on YouTube. There’s…um…a lot of them. This piece is a deep dive on that subset of Americans. On the intersectional aspects of their existence and their interests. I think Patrick Wyman’s writing is especially special on the subject because it completely lacks judgement.
Here’s a closing argument from the piece I found noteworthy:
“But this kind of Bro Culture is also intimately connected to the emergence of a new kind of American ethnonationalism, rooted in its peculiar conception of masculinity, its collection of lifestyle products, its worship of guns, and its aversion to self-reflection. Maybe you can just have the big dudes lifting stones without the drive to pardon Navy SEALs convicted of horrific war crimes; but then again, maybe the algorithms make them impossible to separate.”
It’s a solid read and I could use a full book on the matter.
2/ This piece on abortion was really moving. In a way, it helped deepen my understanding that the fight over abortion is not simply a ‘this vs. that’ battle. I’ve always felt that the two sides were arguing different points. Of course you could be for a woman’s right to chose and personally against ending life.
I’ve long sided with choice out of compassion for the woman making it. I’d also never really dug into the extent of the horrifying alternatives to safe abortion in such specific detail. The use of lysol. The broader physical complications and pain. But often that rage, that anger at the mistreatment of women has blinded me from understanding the Pro-Life argument.
This pull quote really stood out:
The truth is that the best argument on each side is a damn good one, and until you acknowledge that fact, you aren’t speaking or even thinking honestly about the issue. You certainly aren’t going to convince anybody. Only the truth has the power to move.
3/ Finally this profile is beautiful! It’s a moving must-read on Simon Gronowski, a holocaust survivor who has taken to playing piano for his neighbors during lockdown. Gronowski’s story is truly incredible and totally worth your time!
That’s all for today and for 2020! Thank you for reading and I hope you’ll stick with me as this project continues to evolve. Please feel free to share this with others looking for recommendations and further content. Happy New Year!