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Lord Gloom's avatar

It's great to read something like this that doesn't just call for a return to feudalism, which is a subtext I've detected in other pieces that have riffed on similar themes. Yes, something needs to change. But what? I feel like it's one of those decisions that's going to be made for us - just like nobody really opted into the industrial revolution.

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Clarissa Mejia's avatar

Reading the part about how hunter gatherers only worked for 20 hours makes me think that capitalism calling people who realize this as “lazy” is a form of gaslighting. They’re gaslighting us 🫠 this was very eye opening, thank you!

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Sascha Camilli's avatar

I....have no words. This is such a great post, and I've thought of this so many times. Sure, the past was not perfect. People died at 35 for completely avoidable reasons. But the way we live now isn't better. Especially community is missing. I felt this so strongly during the lockdowns, when everyone was just expected to get on with not socialising for months. Being with other people is essential to our survival. Telling entire countries not to engage in community, without offering any mental-health support whatsoever, is absolutely insane.

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Erin Nystrom's avatar

I (unsurprisingly) agree. But I think it opened a lot of eyes as well.

Thank you Sascha!

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Sarah Nash's avatar

This is incredible! I've been feeling the dread of all of this for a long while, and you so perfectly put it into words that I wish I wrote lol, but so happy you did. Amazing

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Hannah Lewis's avatar

Movement makes me feel free and in my body, exercise makes me feel rigid and in my mind. Loved this! And would love for you to expand on each in full.

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Zan Tafakari's avatar

I adored this - it was fantastic Erin. I love that we both converged to the same idea - prioritizing the idea of movement rather than "exercise" is incredible powerful. THANK YOU for sharing this.

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Erin Nystrom's avatar

Thank you, Zan!!

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Hannah Wilkinson's avatar

“We are not designed for this” 📣📣 Really loved this piece Erin!

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Erin Nystrom's avatar

Thanks Hannah!

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Laura's avatar

Loved this so much Erin! Encapsulates so much of what I think a lot of us feel in our bones, that inexplicable overwhelm and dissatisfaction, that something is just *not quite right*. I look forward to reading anything further you write about this because it's exactly the stuff I'm constantly thinking about and trying to rework my life around.

I followed along with Sarah Wilson's serialisation project here on Substack, where she wrote in real time as shit's been hitting the fan. She talks alot about community building and simplifying, it may resonate.

From posting on one of her blogs I formed a community group of like-minded locals here in Melbourne and it's been really affirming to connect with others who are awake to this kind of stuff and are on the path to change!

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahwilson/p/table-of-contents?r=9rxj2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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