Are We Entering Our Kaos Era?
And tackling the generational divide...
Hello friends!
If you're thinking, "it's been a minute," you're exactly correct. I've been focusing on trying to do only what I feel like doing these past few weeks, and last week, post-Labor Day weekend, I simply couldn't find it in me to write, so I didn't. It's also quite hard writing when I'm not on a show schedule. But this is in line with my new experiment, which is to try to do only one thing at a time. I'm the king of multitasking. It's in almost everything I do, from my hobbies to my free time to my career(s). And while it is really incredible for productivity, I'm also learning that it is also pretty incredible for burnout. I get excited about a number of projects, start them, and then have trouble keeping the plates in the air long enough to see them through. Combine this with less-than-hoped-for returns, and you will find me sitting in a corner, thinking about why I'm doing so many things if they just stress me out. So here's to minimizing in the fall and focusing on one thing at a time. (Even this edition is different because I usually write these during shows, which is great, but now we're trying deep focus and deep work on a Monday afternoon). Dive in below for:
Letter Writing
Something I Read
Kaos
Generational Divides
I'm writing this before the debate, but you'll get it after the debate so I won’t have any hot takes on it. I hope you watched because we all need to be locked in as civic members of society. And if you didn't read an article about it! This week, I want to talk to you about Vote Forward. Vote Forward is one of my favorite orgs and it's all about letter writing. You adopt voters in various swing areas (I recommend a state you have a connection to) and then print out the letter templates and handwrite your own little message. This is great for people who don't like to talk on the phone, and while the rate of return isn't as high as phone banking, it's worth it in elections that are as close as a few thousand votes. So click through below and just take a peek. It's a great way to get involved!
Netflix's newest ambitious offering is a modern-day take on the Greek gods called Kaos. I'd put Kaos in the same ilk as Wednesday, Squid Game, 1899, and The Boys. It loosely follows the myths of Orpheus & Euridyce, King Minos & the Minotaur, and Icarus & Deadulus, plus a fair amount of new connections and storylines. The cast is led by Jeff Goldblum as Zeus and rounded out by some incredible talents such as Suzy Eddie Izzard, Killian Scott, Janet McTeer, Misia Butler, and Aurora Perrineau. In addition to it being an addictive watch, it is also some of the most creative, seamless, and positive trans representation I've seen. Obviously, the Greeks had a pantheon of sexualities and genders, and this show does not shy away from any of it. Misia Butler plays Caeneus, an Amazon warrior who is exiled from the band of warriors because he was born a boy in a woman's body. The original myth says that Caeneus was born a princess, but after having sex with Poseidon, she asked to be turned into an invulnerable man so as not to have POseidon's baby. Whatever the source, the show handles this plotline with such care that it warmed my heart. It also made me so happy to see Suzy Eddie Izzard in their classic gender-bending self onscreen and being referenced only by she/her pronouns. It's a win all around, and I sincerely hope Netflix renews it for a second season. Check out the trailer below.
You get more art this week! This article caught my eye as I was loading this all into Substack and so I wanted to include it. It’s a fascinating account of one man’s journey through testicular cancer and how it affects his sex life. It’s a great read, breaks down some stigma, and is a great window into someone else’s experience.
It's been a minute since I've answered one of these! I missed them!
Dear gb: I am almost 60 years old, and I have grown children in their 20s. My question is, what do you wish older people better understood about millennial/Gen Z relationships, sexual orientations, and/or gender identities?
First off, I love that you asked this question. So often, the intergenerational divide is the hardest one to combat, and so bridging this feels vital as we navigate our shifting world. The biggest overarching wishes I have for this on both sides are grace and empathy. There's no way that everyone will understand what everyone else wants or is going through, but we need to engage with each other in good faith. I'll break this response down into two categories that you mentioned: relationships & sexual orientations and gender identities.
Relationships: Most young folks these days are living their lives in response to the relationships that they saw and the chaos that surrounds us in our daily lives. Millennials, Gen Z, and Alphas (the generation below Z) all grew up with this looming sense of dread about climate change and sort of where the world is going and what it'll look like as we get older. Combined with our dopamine-rich lives, our relationships are changing. Polyamory and atypical relationships are becoming quite more common as we look for what gives us stability and comfort in a chaotic world. A lot of young folk don't see themselves on the 'traditional' path of job, spouse, kids, or retirement. It just isn't as feasible or easy as it once was. So we're buying homes with our friends or dating many people at once. And within that, we just want support. Our relationships may not look like yours, but if they're making us happy, then that's all that really matters.
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity: Sexual orientation seems like the much easier of the two. Granted, being non-straight is still a challenge in this world, but it's nothing compared to being non-cis. So, for this, I beg of you kindness and support. Trans and gender nonconforming folk wake up every day to new laws being passed stripping them of rights, their siblings being murdered without justice, and just casual hatred from the right online nonstop. So show them support. And if there is something about someone's identity that confuses you or a pronoun you've never heard, it is okay to ask. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, Google is right there to answer your questions. But having your obvious support is the most helpful thing that you can do right now. Buy a sticker, buy a flag, and tell these people that you love them. You never know how powerful that could be, and it could literally save someone's life. One of the best Secret Santa gifts I ever received was a donation to the Pulse Foundation in the years after the shooting. So maybe this year, if you know someone who is gender nonconforming, show them your support in a way that really matters.
Well folks, that’s all from me! I hope you have an incredible week and I’ll talk to you soon!
All my love, Aidan
Gonna have to check out Kaos! Sounds amazing.