Oh boy, where do I even start with this one?! I have been a little confused as to where to take Voice Nodes – and what it ultimately wants to be. In my state of limbo, both with this platform of expression and in general in my life, I have begun to lean into anger as both a teacher and an outlet. The share is about something I witnessed on ABC's The Bachelorette (Season 17) that mimicked something I experienced recently in one of my friendships, and one that resurfaced a buried trauma from with my first love.
My overall sense with Millenials (and probably Gen Z's) and our collective obsession with personal development and psychology are that we are misusing trauma vocabulary and cancelling those who hurt us, under the facade of self-love. When really I believe it is self-preservation and a coping mechanism.
My interest and deep dive, in this share, aims to raise the question: Are we using boundaries to cancel others, instead of engaging in uncomfortable conversations that would exercise our capacity to embody empathy? As I say in the closing remarks, everyone is worried about the long-term effects of the COVID vaccines, and yet no one is questioning the long-term effects of their contribution to cancel culture, as social beings.
May we think twice before we comment to cancel people on Instagram. May we think twice before we share our opinions of others unsolicited, and may we acknowledge that our bias exists and it prevents us from ever fully seeing the entirety of the situation.
Would love to hear your thoughts,
Justine
