The world begs us to define ourselves in 280 characters or less, depending on the social media platform. Brand yourself. Drill it down. Keep it short. Optimize for SEO. Make it catchy, but not too avant-garde. What the hell does that even mean? Do I make something up? Distill myself down to my professional title? How do I take all the little bits and pieces of who I am and weave them in? I’m complicated. Wildly curious. Human. A chaotic collage of infinite interests with a brain that fires off zany and creative ideas at lightning speed. How do you…
The social media landscape is the metaphorical equivalent of a fun house lined with reality distorting mirrors. I don’t need to write some apocalyptic introduction about the state of surveillance capitalism for you to know that these tech platforms have devolved to markets that specialize in the trade of human futures. Depressing, I know. The commodification of the human experience has coincided with the exploitation of psychological vulnerabilities that enable companies to predict our behavior and sell us solutions to problems that they fabricated for profit. The line is blurred between fantasy and reality.
That’s what happens when brands leverage…
chicken soup for the soul 2.0. a curated collection of thoughtful content from some of the most progressive authors, storytellers, and creators. snack sized bites of soul food.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “normal.” It’s a fully loaded word that we throw around so casually. “When things return to normal, I’m going to… [insert a random list of things that we’re going to do, say, be].” Or, “Why can’t [insert the pronoun/noun of your choosing] just be normal?”
But what the hell is normal?
Exactly.
I hate that this messy, enigmatic word is used as a barometer for acceptance and belonging. By definition, it’s inherently flawed. A byproduct of power. A means of control. A way to ascribe power…
chicken soup for the soul 2.0. a curated collection of thoughtful content from some of the most progressive authors, storytellers, and creators. snack sized bites of soul food.
In a world that’s reeling from unprecedented upheaval, I’m privileged to even have a moment of quiet contemplation. I know many people are working 50–80+ hour weeks, playing ten different roles in a show that repeats on an endless loop. Many are worried about their health and fear losing someone they love. Some are working on the front lines, fighting a ruthless, invisible enemy. Others are working tirelessly to keep our system afloat, stocking grocery store shelves and delivering packages to keep hordes of thankless Americans sane. I’m deeply indebted to every single one of them. I know that the…
Against all conventional wisdom, I’m 100% that person who talks to strangers. Just ask my friends- I’ll chat with anyone.
I thrive on connecting and learning from others. Whether it’s my local barista, a Lyft driver, or a new co-worker waiting in line at the Bevi machine, I live for it. At this point, you might be thinking that I’m from Mars, but I don’t care. …
Natalie Audelo
brand marketer & unabashed history nerd running on caffeine & endless curiosity. forever geeking out over the transformative power of great storytelling
