Brain Dump Vol. 1
Various thoughts on social media vices
Hello & happy Tuesday! My apologies for the late send this week. I have been running on adrenaline for the past few weeks, and as a result, am currently fighting a nasty case of the flu. Nonetheless, I hope you had a great day and are rewarding yourself with a pleasant read from yours truly. Muah!
Rewiring My Social Media Habits
One month ago, I debated deleting Instagram from my phone. I can count the amount of times I post per year on one hand, and frankly, this behavior has been consistent for a while. Not only does the app feel boring in comparison to other options, but it also seems to have transformed into a knock-off TikTok with reels that are recycled on multiple platforms. I never had Facebook downloaded on my phone because it always felt like there was no point. Although, I usually find myself stumbling on the website once a year, mostly around my birthday to reply to birthday messages I get from family members I don’t speak to regularly. TikTok consumed a LOT of my screen time last year and still does, although it has significantly reduced since the app was banned and brought back again. Something about the amount of influencers who told bold faced lies about seemingly everything they posted prior to the 14 hour disappearance of the app left a sour taste in my mouth. Almost all of them backtracked following the apps resurgence. I still use the app on a weekly basis, nonetheless, but my for you page has dramatically changed, although that is probably due to my choice in consumption rather than the app black out and reappearance.
All in all, what social media has to offer is small moments in everyone’s big lives. I guess my taste buds have just changed, and I'm searching for a bit more depth behind the grids. This is what brought me to Substack. I obviously love to write and contribute through my corner of the platform but have also really enjoyed reading about other people’s perspectives, opinions, life stories and interviews. The best, and most empowering part about Substack to me, is the fact that free writing is encouraged — you don’t need a degree to be successful.
Here are a couple of posts I’ve enjoyed recently and highly recommend you check out:
Reading aside, I’m also a big fan of long form content on Youtube. Some of my favorite channels include:
The Hollywood Reporter — I have big a massive fan of their roundtables for years. Not only do I watch these as I cozy up on the couch, but I also watch as I do the dishes, making the chore actually feel enjoyable.
Tiny Desk — linking a recent favorite of mine below
Other recent videos I’ve enjoyed:
To provide a quick synopsis for the video above — this is a conversation between Tracee Ellis Ross, who, if you aren’t already aware is my ultimate style icon, and her best-friend Samira Nasr, who is also the iconic Harper’s Bazaar Editor in Chief. In this 23 minute video, the pair discuss the story behind Ross’s multi-million dollar hair-care line, Pattern Beauty, as well as their thirty years of friendship.
There is no such thing as being “overdressed”
Speaking of social media, the word “overdressed” has been floating around my timeline for the past month. To me, this idea is ridiculous, hilarious and a complete myth. I do not believe that there is a dress code in life, and I especially don’t believe in dressing for other people. It is far more important to move according to your own comfortability rather than to appease someone else’s perception of you. In fact, if someone has an issue with the way you look because it “outshines” them, it has far more to do with that person’s own view of themselves than it has to do with your outfit.
Allow yourself to shine, no matter the place, vibe or circumstance, and especially regardless of other people. Isn’t that part of the reason we can easily pinpoint a style icon when we see one? I’m talking real-life people, celebrities, on-screen characters…each person is wrapped in clothes. There is beauty in that.
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