Anna Holmes defines 'hype aversion' as a reflex against being told what to like, suggesting that popularity can create pressure rather than signal quality. This feeling can lead to a deliberate choice to resist mainstream culture.
I see you, and it makes me so happy to see you. There is such a disconnect between what we say America is about and what it is right now. True freedom is the freedom to be who we are, and it hurts my heart so much that in some parts of this country, it is unsafe for trans people to do that right now.
The only thing worse than making a mistake is keeping it bottled up inside. Learning from the mistakes of others could help you embark on the healing journey of sharing and working through a mistake of your own, with someone you trust.
Hearing stories triggers hormones like oxytocin (associated with attachment and trust), which helps us attach importance to the lessons behind the stories and make the lessons sticky. At one time, storytelling was key to survival. After all, the cavemen (and women) who listened to the cautionary tales about not straying far from the campfire at night were the ones who dodged the saber-toothed tigers and lived to pass along their genes.
