The Disintegrating Illusion

One thing I've come to really enjoy about this year is the authenticity that has risen from our joint struggles. When I talk to people, it's rare to find them pretending to be "fine." Nobody's fine, and now that we all realize that, we can finally let go of pretending.

When I was at the nail salon the other day, getting my first pedicure in what felt like a million years, I started chatting with the girl. I've talked with her a few times, and we've always had fun, but this time, she completely let her guard down. We talked about traumas and being multi-cultural and pervy old men. We talked about loving tradition and hating how Asian and Indian cultures treated women. We dove into what might've been considered unsettling conversations in the before times without hesitation.

I loved it. I smiled a few times noticing the difference. I've noticed it in all my recent conversations.

A perfect example of this illusion being shattered on a global level is Kate McKinnon's performance of "Dr. We Know This" on SNL a few weeks ago. I love you Kate, and I'm sorry to be amused at you cracking, but to me, it just showed without inhibition how fucked we all feel that we literally can't even pretend anymore. It's sort of beautiful, don't you think?