I’ve been having a bit of a social media crisis lately. I blame tiktok. My For You Page is filled with home decor experts, ridiculously talented artists, angelic singers, fashion connoisseurs, skilled chefs and doctors espousing actual expertise. People are so amazing, I think to myself, as I simultaneously take myself out of that same bucket. Then there are the weddings, the new babies, the weight loss transformations, the business success stories, the home renovations, the major lifestyle changes, etc. After ten years of sharing my mundane, suddenly it feels like you need more talent or bigger news to have something worth sharing. Usually I’m good at making the most out of a small story, but for much of this summer, I felt tapped out. Until yesterday, when something incredible happened.
I was riveted by this story. 😆 And honestly, one of the reasons I love following you is because you seem like a friend I might hang out with. TikTok is fun, but I don’t feel connected to influencers whose lives are perfect or so different from my own. Keep being yourself, it’s all we want!
I honestly smiled this entire story. It sounds like something I would do. And also, if you watch the game show network you realize that is also geared towards old people. So many commercials about walk-in tubs!
Darn you! I just downloaded it and found out my husband has been playing for a bit and is considerably more skilled at these games than me so I really have some catching up to do! 🤣
I’m gonna push back and say this is absolutely time we’ll spent! I mean think about it, we’ve all been trying not to die of covid, Afghanistan is something we have zero control over, hurricanes, wild fires, smoke, global warming… it’s too much. As I type I am away from my family for three nights at the beach by myself because I just needed to set down the mental load for a moment. I think our brains need a break for shit that matters. I think we are past meditating the shit away. I think we all need to find what our version of journey is and focus on that! Because let me tell you, I’m exhausted by being angry at the anti-mask anti-vaccine crowd. I’m exhausted by what I see happening on the other side of the world. I’ve been in this hell for a year and a half and somehow I need to get back to finding the fun in things like Halloween costumes and house projects but I find it hard because I am feeling screamed at by the state of the world and my daily life obligations. And if that’s how I feel as a person with advantage, I can’t even begin to imagine what someone who doesn’t have my resources of time, finances, and community must be feeling. So yeah, six days or twelve days or however many mental vacation days you took… bravo! Well done! Summer is almost over so way to go in squeezing out that big of it! I’m here for it!
Seinfeld was about nothing and was one of the biggest sitcom successes of all time! Your success is that you are very relatable. Most people are not experts at anything and neither am I. If I surrounded myself with only well accomplished people that would make me feel worse. I learned to focus and find satisfaction with the things I’ve done well and I avoid dwelling on my failings otherwise I’d be depressed.
Oh how I feel this. I started playing Animal Crossing in January of this year and as a 44 year old woman I take way too much pride in my accomplishments. I have a secret list of notes in my work notebook to help me complete my Critterpedias (if you know, you know).
You are the only 'online person I don't know but feel like they are my friend' because you are such a good writer. I have followed you since Harlow was a baby. I worry sometimes I waste too much time daily being obsessed with the NYT Spelling Bee game, haha!
I love this! I had to share with my husband because it is *so* us. We play the New York Times Spelling Bee, among other games. Years ago we competed with 2048 too. He’s so much better than me at most of these games but we are both very competitive.
I'm not American, I'm from Finland and I somehow stumbled upon your instagram a few years ago, probably through Babysideburns and it's just fun to follow someone close to my age from a different country and see how they live :D I just paid my subscription so expecting quality content!
My game is called Hay Day. It's an online farm that you start building from scratch - you buy farm animals, grow crop, decorate your farm, and you can join a neighborhood and complete tasks together and get prizes that will advance you in the game. Neighborhoods also compete against each other. Some of my friends play it too and we have a neighborhood together and take it very seriously! :D Especially two of us (they're sisters) are extremely competitive and tell each other and others off for not paying enough attention to the tasks sometimes (but in the end it's all good fun). I know someone who works for the company that made that game and he once told me they call it their soccer mom game :D Oh well - I guess they got the demographic correct ;)
My daughter and Harlow are the same age so I've been reading for 8+ years now. I wasn't sure if I was going to become a paid subscriber when you launched Apparently but I've been reading all summer and just paid! You are a great writer and I love your community and I want to continue to be part of it!
This is exactly why we love you so much, Ilana! I’ve been following you since Harlow was a crib baby and this is why. I identify with this story so hard. And, I grinned the whole time I was reading it. Thank you for creating this corner of the internet for all of us.
I was riveted by this story. 😆 And honestly, one of the reasons I love following you is because you seem like a friend I might hang out with. TikTok is fun, but I don’t feel connected to influencers whose lives are perfect or so different from my own. Keep being yourself, it’s all we want!
You do have an amazing story telling talent. Often times I find my thoughts in your very nicely articulated writing.
I honestly smiled this entire story. It sounds like something I would do. And also, if you watch the game show network you realize that is also geared towards old people. So many commercials about walk-in tubs!
Loved reading this! Everyday stuff is just as exciting as big time achievements!
Darn you! I just downloaded it and found out my husband has been playing for a bit and is considerably more skilled at these games than me so I really have some catching up to do! 🤣
I’m gonna push back and say this is absolutely time we’ll spent! I mean think about it, we’ve all been trying not to die of covid, Afghanistan is something we have zero control over, hurricanes, wild fires, smoke, global warming… it’s too much. As I type I am away from my family for three nights at the beach by myself because I just needed to set down the mental load for a moment. I think our brains need a break for shit that matters. I think we are past meditating the shit away. I think we all need to find what our version of journey is and focus on that! Because let me tell you, I’m exhausted by being angry at the anti-mask anti-vaccine crowd. I’m exhausted by what I see happening on the other side of the world. I’ve been in this hell for a year and a half and somehow I need to get back to finding the fun in things like Halloween costumes and house projects but I find it hard because I am feeling screamed at by the state of the world and my daily life obligations. And if that’s how I feel as a person with advantage, I can’t even begin to imagine what someone who doesn’t have my resources of time, finances, and community must be feeling. So yeah, six days or twelve days or however many mental vacation days you took… bravo! Well done! Summer is almost over so way to go in squeezing out that big of it! I’m here for it!
Seinfeld was about nothing and was one of the biggest sitcom successes of all time! Your success is that you are very relatable. Most people are not experts at anything and neither am I. If I surrounded myself with only well accomplished people that would make me feel worse. I learned to focus and find satisfaction with the things I’ve done well and I avoid dwelling on my failings otherwise I’d be depressed.
Oh how I feel this. I started playing Animal Crossing in January of this year and as a 44 year old woman I take way too much pride in my accomplishments. I have a secret list of notes in my work notebook to help me complete my Critterpedias (if you know, you know).
You are the only 'online person I don't know but feel like they are my friend' because you are such a good writer. I have followed you since Harlow was a baby. I worry sometimes I waste too much time daily being obsessed with the NYT Spelling Bee game, haha!
I love this! I had to share with my husband because it is *so* us. We play the New York Times Spelling Bee, among other games. Years ago we competed with 2048 too. He’s so much better than me at most of these games but we are both very competitive.
I'm not American, I'm from Finland and I somehow stumbled upon your instagram a few years ago, probably through Babysideburns and it's just fun to follow someone close to my age from a different country and see how they live :D I just paid my subscription so expecting quality content!
My game is called Hay Day. It's an online farm that you start building from scratch - you buy farm animals, grow crop, decorate your farm, and you can join a neighborhood and complete tasks together and get prizes that will advance you in the game. Neighborhoods also compete against each other. Some of my friends play it too and we have a neighborhood together and take it very seriously! :D Especially two of us (they're sisters) are extremely competitive and tell each other and others off for not paying enough attention to the tasks sometimes (but in the end it's all good fun). I know someone who works for the company that made that game and he once told me they call it their soccer mom game :D Oh well - I guess they got the demographic correct ;)
Oh - and everyday life is what I'm here for :)
My daughter and Harlow are the same age so I've been reading for 8+ years now. I wasn't sure if I was going to become a paid subscriber when you launched Apparently but I've been reading all summer and just paid! You are a great writer and I love your community and I want to continue to be part of it!
You are an amazing writer. I vote you write a book.
This is exactly why we love you so much, Ilana! I’ve been following you since Harlow was a crib baby and this is why. I identify with this story so hard. And, I grinned the whole time I was reading it. Thank you for creating this corner of the internet for all of us.
I am a glutton for punishment. I have now downloaded the game, even though you told us not to! LOL
This was WordBrain for me. My husband couldn’t keep up. I kinda miss the competition though.