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Rachael B's avatar

I know this is not one of AHP's 'recommendation' threads but... I would love to know if there's a podcast out there that's similar to the way Forever 35 is described on its landing page, but that DOESN'T talk about self-care as necessarily involving products? I read this piece and thought: wow, these sound like people I want to listen to. Then I went over to the landing page. There's a massive heading about talking about serums. The first sentence of the next paragraph adds mascara. I am - personally, you do you etc etc - **SO VERY DONE** with the idea that cosmetics are a reliable route to 'self care' and while it sounds like they cover a lot of things I'd love to be listening to (I'm in my mid-40s), I cannot bear more product talk. Any pointers, I'd be much obliged.

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Annie Bergeron's avatar

IRL community matters so much - and parenting is a huge part of community.

We live in a big city but within, there is the neighborhood community, and at smaller scale, our street community. We care for each other. For example, three of my neighbors are widows - all over 65 y/o, and we help care for them in a myriad of small acts. We have done this for years, never expecting a return - as a way for my husband and I to teach our sons how to be good citizens. My boys shovel walks, return garbage cans to backyards, mow grass, my husband fixes the squeaky fence gate, etc.

TW~ When our older son Olivier tragically died this winter (innocent victim of gun violence), we were completely shattered - but this community we had nurtured, turned around and cared for us in a manner we never expected. Neither of us have family close by. We were humbled by their love, kindness and support. Through parenting, we cultivated an environment where mutual aid is the norm, not the exception. We dearly wish we hadn’t needed a “return on our community investment”, but the reality is that sooner or later we all need a little help from our friends. I can’t help but think that social media by robbing us from IRL interactions and thriving on reactionary content, is responsible for the empathy deficit that seems pervasive these days. And a little empathy goes a long way in creating and maintaining healthy communities. A world where widows can continue to live independently in their own homes, and where their 20 year old helpers can walk the streets at 10pm without fear of deadly violence.

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