This mirrors almost exactly the conversations I’ve been having with friends lately. It’s so hard to parse through because on the surface, these things are “healthy”…but is it really a life (or even YOUR life) if fear is driving the ship?
My pre/peri wellness experience was actually really fucking damaging. Like, there are soooo many people telling you soooo many things are bad that you end up eating nothing, refusing to take meds, and think shoving a crystal up your pussy will solve your problems. I’m so glad I’m on the other side of it and it’s funny now to see people still in “it”.
AMEN! I never went down this path, but I have many friends who did, including one who had to go to rehab for orthorexia. The problem, as you say, is there's no end to it. You keep trying to "perfect" and "optimise" every element of your health, and it ends up being a totally miserable existence.
Great read! I don’t think I ever fell too deep into peri-wellness because of all the things you said about what you feel in post-wellness: the juice of a fruit falling down your wrists, the croissant that feeds your soul. That is life 🩵
I really enjoyed thinking about this, but I especially wanted to compliment your construction here. You say that there’s a greater story with far more nuance around your note, then you integrate that note into a greater story with far more nuance than your note.
Good job reaching post-wellness, good job building out from that note so effectively.
I felt so SEEN reading this piece. This summer, I'm aiming to embrace the soft, feminine, slow moments in life vibes, while also trying to navigate how to be an authentic 'wellness professional' moving forward. So much to brew on. Over a cup of super nutritious, all-organic loose-leaf herbal tea, obviously. 😉
It’s wild how quickly wellness became another form of perfectionism, a constant loop of fixing, improving, and self-surveillance that left so little room for joy, spontaneity, or actual connection.
What resonated most was the idea that living well can mean saying yes to late-night laughter, buttery pastries, or lying in the grass without turning it into a “grounding session.” I think so many of us are waking up to the reality that true wellness isn't found in rigid routines, it’s found in presence, in pleasure, and in people.
Very familiar. I also don't think recovery is linear... I consider myself 'post-ish'. I can see it for the consumeristic scam it is - but still fall for it from time to time. Or freak out because I haven't meditated today (irony much?!). Also I went home early at the weekend when I was having a really fun time - and now hard regret it! We live and learn...
Great post and reflects a lot of what I've been seeing in friends / family / patients over the past couple years. Reminds me of the experiences written in The Gospel of Wellness by Rina Raphael - how "wellness" started with (mostly women) trying to manage a chaotic life, but it ended up morphing into almost entirely a for-profit industry.
We crave realness, not following a trend, which, if you think about it, is so utterly dull. how many of us over many years have done this and stripped ourselves of the essence of who we are. Such a waste. Lucky are those, who have crawled it all back slowly, but confidently. I also feel with getting older there is a real chance to start over, get back to how you were meant to be, but an opportunity many miss yet again.
100%. So funny— I was just thinking about this exact thing earlier this morning. How if people just follow influencers and tends, they’re left with a hollow life that’s not really theirs. Just a hollow interpretation of someone else’s.
This mirrors almost exactly the conversations I’ve been having with friends lately. It’s so hard to parse through because on the surface, these things are “healthy”…but is it really a life (or even YOUR life) if fear is driving the ship?
I’m glad I’m old and never bought into any of this in the first place.
Just listen to your body and don’t eat nothing but cheese doritos
My pre/peri wellness experience was actually really fucking damaging. Like, there are soooo many people telling you soooo many things are bad that you end up eating nothing, refusing to take meds, and think shoving a crystal up your pussy will solve your problems. I’m so glad I’m on the other side of it and it’s funny now to see people still in “it”.
AMEN! I never went down this path, but I have many friends who did, including one who had to go to rehab for orthorexia. The problem, as you say, is there's no end to it. You keep trying to "perfect" and "optimise" every element of your health, and it ends up being a totally miserable existence.
I’m obsessed with this take. “Intuitive eating” was my gateway out of the peri-wellness phase.
Turns out you can intuitively exercise, drink and smoke, too.
TOTALLY. But it takes a lot of learning—and continuous learning—to get there!
1000%!
Great read! I don’t think I ever fell too deep into peri-wellness because of all the things you said about what you feel in post-wellness: the juice of a fruit falling down your wrists, the croissant that feeds your soul. That is life 🩵
I really enjoyed thinking about this, but I especially wanted to compliment your construction here. You say that there’s a greater story with far more nuance around your note, then you integrate that note into a greater story with far more nuance than your note.
Good job reaching post-wellness, good job building out from that note so effectively.
Thank you Michael! I appreciate that
Second this!
I saw your original post and agreed 100% and now this. All so true! Made it through and it is lovely on the other side!
I felt so SEEN reading this piece. This summer, I'm aiming to embrace the soft, feminine, slow moments in life vibes, while also trying to navigate how to be an authentic 'wellness professional' moving forward. So much to brew on. Over a cup of super nutritious, all-organic loose-leaf herbal tea, obviously. 😉
It’s wild how quickly wellness became another form of perfectionism, a constant loop of fixing, improving, and self-surveillance that left so little room for joy, spontaneity, or actual connection.
What resonated most was the idea that living well can mean saying yes to late-night laughter, buttery pastries, or lying in the grass without turning it into a “grounding session.” I think so many of us are waking up to the reality that true wellness isn't found in rigid routines, it’s found in presence, in pleasure, and in people.
Very familiar. I also don't think recovery is linear... I consider myself 'post-ish'. I can see it for the consumeristic scam it is - but still fall for it from time to time. Or freak out because I haven't meditated today (irony much?!). Also I went home early at the weekend when I was having a really fun time - and now hard regret it! We live and learn...
Post wellness: saying no to Botox, fillers, lasers. It’s wanting to have a human face.
Great post and reflects a lot of what I've been seeing in friends / family / patients over the past couple years. Reminds me of the experiences written in The Gospel of Wellness by Rina Raphael - how "wellness" started with (mostly women) trying to manage a chaotic life, but it ended up morphing into almost entirely a for-profit industry.
Money talks; ultimately, everything can be monetized. Then we lose trust. The menopause marketing machine is now in full force.
THIS. 👆
We crave realness, not following a trend, which, if you think about it, is so utterly dull. how many of us over many years have done this and stripped ourselves of the essence of who we are. Such a waste. Lucky are those, who have crawled it all back slowly, but confidently. I also feel with getting older there is a real chance to start over, get back to how you were meant to be, but an opportunity many miss yet again.
100%. So funny— I was just thinking about this exact thing earlier this morning. How if people just follow influencers and tends, they’re left with a hollow life that’s not really theirs. Just a hollow interpretation of someone else’s.
It is quite a strange and deeply psychological phenomenon of our times
Incredible