Popular culture

Popular culture seems to idolize a certain way of living. As I listened to “Pop That Pussy” by 2 Live Crew, I couldn’t help but notice the themes: open sex, partying hard, doing drugs, and living without limits. The message is clear—freedom means indulgence. In another one of their songs, “Banned in the USA,” the group pushes back against censorship, arguing that their lyrics are misunderstood and not meant to promote violence or disrespect toward women. They claim to be simply expressing pleasure and freedom in a new era, pushing against the morals of those who don’t understand—likely white, conservative America. Hearing those lyrics made me reflect on the current state of popular culture, especially from my perspective as a middle-class white guy in my early twenties. Today, in much of rap, movies, and TikTok, there’s this ever-present sense that to be “free” is to act on every desire. If you want to fuck, you fuck. If you want to do drugs, you do them. If you want to party and lose ...
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The Up and Down Cycle

I've noticed a pattern in my behavior recently. I'll start by doing something productive or positive in my life. This in turn tends to lead me to an opportunity. This period I call my up cycle. I'm positive, motivated, and have an opportunity like an interview or date waiting for me. Then comes the day of reckoning and I have to interview, or go on my date. This is typically the beginning of the eventual down cycle. The interview or date doesn't go well and I get rejected. All the work I've put in has been for nothing and the positivity I had in the prior weeks was a facade. I get demotivated and start picking up bad habits I know aren't good for me.

It's the rejection that derails me and I need to find a way to keep moving on through the pain. I think a lot of times too, I'm the one that should be doing the rejecting. The jobs i've interviewed for and women i've got on dates with have all had some red flags that I notice but don't question. I'm too focused on needing money or needing love than actually deciding if it's a good fit. 

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