Thanks for writing about this. I am continually shocked that rich, privileged people are unable to publicly admit that their success might have something to do with their family's wealth, connections or where they went to school. And I know and like some of these people! Maybe it's cos they feel they work hard (which I'm sure they do) or bcos they're afraid of backlash, but I hope some of them can start to be more honest. But anyway, aside from your terrible view on capers, good to see you owning it and calling it out.
At last! Somebody has openly acknowledged the privileges that can influence your life. How many times have I looked up an actor/director and read their parents are in the business? When I worked in advertising they had a internship, and guess who they recruited .... yes kids from moneyed families who could afford to bank roll their children. Hence the (famous) agency was jammed packed with these rich kids which didn't leave much space for the struggling out there.
A bit off subject but I've often wondered about children of the famous (fill in the profession). If they hadn't been exposed to tennis, horse riding, cricket at a young age would they success? I think the only leveller up is football. And don't get me bleeding started on photographers who take their 'hobby' into the main stream. I'm going to big myself up now ... but some pics I've seen on Insta from professionals are comparable to my ones. Only I don't have a platform or the money to stop earning a living and take snaps.
OK, rant over. Thanks Bella for teasing out of me my deeply hidden toxic thoughts.
How totally refreshing, saying what so many need to hear about the new(ish) world of influencers and the spell they cast. It quite scares me the whole manifesting bollox that is now sucking people in. As its just literally someone saying oh I hope I get xxxx. And then people selling courses and books and bullshit on how to do that. And it is always the most vulnerable who are sucked in.
I love social media, but it all has to be taken with a pinch of salt, from the perfect families and houses on Instagram, to the perfect hair and make up routines on tiktok. But we all get sucked in, buy the shit we don't need, feel awful that we haven't worked hard enough like those juggling 15 kids, working full time and they still have perfect shiny hair.
Re pilates - I found that short but daily sessions (15 to 20 mins) had much more effect than one hour once or twice a week. I got into it through following the England Cricket team on Instagram during the 1st lockdown. Jos Buttler was the wicketkeeper at the time and he joined in with his Pilates instructor wife's daily 'free to the nation' sessions. I've never done any exercise where I felt my body change the way that it did in those months.
She has a big online catalogue of courses for level of ability or what body part to focus on. And I need to get back in the habit of doing it.
My partner and I were talking about the pitfalls of comparison and reminded ourselves that we have lived genuinely interesting lives l. Lives that don't look like our friends or our families. I genuinely feel like if there were more transparency, and if we keep in mind that those 'influencers' are only sharing with us what they want us to see, then that might help with any feelings of 'why is it so hard for me?' I could also be completely full of crap and not know what I am talking about lol
I disagree about the capers but totally agree about the ‘dangerous’. I find some ‘wellness’ influencers are almost closer to pyramid schemes - “get this life by buying this” which gives me the money to live this life…
Have always thought you were a great girl … think you are fabulous now. What a truly honest piece of writing. Nothing more personable than owning your own stuff and everyone accepting each other’s reality without judgement. You are magnificent on line . Love to you and Barney
Couldn't agree more. Even having worked in the media for 15+ years, I struggle sometimes to see through all the smoke and mirrors (sometimes on this platform too). It's so important to keep pointing it out to people, I think – thanks for doing that!
Love the transparency of this piece. We all need a bit of reminding from time to time that what we see online is far from the whole story. Re Pilates - every move needs to feel like it’s working your core that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
👏 me and my husband talk about this all the time. It’s completely relative and no one is an island. You’ve articulated the conversation we’ve been having for years much better than we could. 😂
Thanks for writing about this. I am continually shocked that rich, privileged people are unable to publicly admit that their success might have something to do with their family's wealth, connections or where they went to school. And I know and like some of these people! Maybe it's cos they feel they work hard (which I'm sure they do) or bcos they're afraid of backlash, but I hope some of them can start to be more honest. But anyway, aside from your terrible view on capers, good to see you owning it and calling it out.
Love the honesty, and one of the many reasons I like you online and as an author.
Capers are my FRIEND. I'll eat yours. Love this and your Vogue piece, off to make some tomatoey beans.
At last! Somebody has openly acknowledged the privileges that can influence your life. How many times have I looked up an actor/director and read their parents are in the business? When I worked in advertising they had a internship, and guess who they recruited .... yes kids from moneyed families who could afford to bank roll their children. Hence the (famous) agency was jammed packed with these rich kids which didn't leave much space for the struggling out there.
A bit off subject but I've often wondered about children of the famous (fill in the profession). If they hadn't been exposed to tennis, horse riding, cricket at a young age would they success? I think the only leveller up is football. And don't get me bleeding started on photographers who take their 'hobby' into the main stream. I'm going to big myself up now ... but some pics I've seen on Insta from professionals are comparable to my ones. Only I don't have a platform or the money to stop earning a living and take snaps.
OK, rant over. Thanks Bella for teasing out of me my deeply hidden toxic thoughts.
How totally refreshing, saying what so many need to hear about the new(ish) world of influencers and the spell they cast. It quite scares me the whole manifesting bollox that is now sucking people in. As its just literally someone saying oh I hope I get xxxx. And then people selling courses and books and bullshit on how to do that. And it is always the most vulnerable who are sucked in.
I love social media, but it all has to be taken with a pinch of salt, from the perfect families and houses on Instagram, to the perfect hair and make up routines on tiktok. But we all get sucked in, buy the shit we don't need, feel awful that we haven't worked hard enough like those juggling 15 kids, working full time and they still have perfect shiny hair.
Re pilates - I found that short but daily sessions (15 to 20 mins) had much more effect than one hour once or twice a week. I got into it through following the England Cricket team on Instagram during the 1st lockdown. Jos Buttler was the wicketkeeper at the time and he joined in with his Pilates instructor wife's daily 'free to the nation' sessions. I've never done any exercise where I felt my body change the way that it did in those months.
She has a big online catalogue of courses for level of ability or what body part to focus on. And I need to get back in the habit of doing it.
My partner and I were talking about the pitfalls of comparison and reminded ourselves that we have lived genuinely interesting lives l. Lives that don't look like our friends or our families. I genuinely feel like if there were more transparency, and if we keep in mind that those 'influencers' are only sharing with us what they want us to see, then that might help with any feelings of 'why is it so hard for me?' I could also be completely full of crap and not know what I am talking about lol
I disagree about the capers but totally agree about the ‘dangerous’. I find some ‘wellness’ influencers are almost closer to pyramid schemes - “get this life by buying this” which gives me the money to live this life…
Have always thought you were a great girl … think you are fabulous now. What a truly honest piece of writing. Nothing more personable than owning your own stuff and everyone accepting each other’s reality without judgement. You are magnificent on line . Love to you and Barney
I do not trust capers. They’re sea creatures masquerading as tiny little vegetables, and I won’t have it. (Great article, as always!)
Couldn't agree more. Even having worked in the media for 15+ years, I struggle sometimes to see through all the smoke and mirrors (sometimes on this platform too). It's so important to keep pointing it out to people, I think – thanks for doing that!
Love the transparency of this piece. We all need a bit of reminding from time to time that what we see online is far from the whole story. Re Pilates - every move needs to feel like it’s working your core that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
👏 me and my husband talk about this all the time. It’s completely relative and no one is an island. You’ve articulated the conversation we’ve been having for years much better than we could. 😂
Oh yes I have *thoughts* re any book on ~manifesting~ written by a famous person. Ps am coming to your event on sept 11th, see you there xo
As always, I appreciate your honesty and transparency. Great article, fully agree. Thank you 😊
Love the honesty about the role of luck. Michael Lewis gave a great commencement talk at Princeton about the role of luck in his career.
https://fs.blog/michael-lewis-fortunes-cookie/