Show Summary
Twitter was all aflutter when a young woman posted a description of what she hoped her adult life might be 15 years from now: “LADIES imagine this, it’s 15 years from now—your son is up to bat, your husband is the hot 3rd base coach, your little girl is cheering on her big brother at the fence and you are team mom, taking pics with a fancy camera, & keeping the scorebook. THAT WOULD BE LIVING MY BEST LIFE.” The raucous wasn’t because she dared to dream but for the content. Her dream was assessed to be achingly mundane and shallow, with its hot husband, sports-playing son, cheering daughter, and photographer/scorekeeping mom. The snapshot cast is of the seemingly perfect family in their picture-perfect roles, exuding perfect happiness and harmony. The idealism was met with great scoffing and ridicule.
In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson consider the components we embrace for living our best life and what those components say about our values, our dreams, and our vision of the good life. How do young people cultivate and nurture dreams about adult life without adults tearing it all down? How does online imagery influence and shape the hopes we have for living our best life? What does our scoffing at the dreams of others say about the cynicism of our age? Listen in to all this and more, and then continue the conversation on Twitter @PersuasionCAPC or in the CAPC members-only community on Facebook.
And be sure to answer our question of the day: What has most surprised you about adulthood?
Your Hosts
Erin Straza: Web / Twitter
Hannah Anderson: Web / Twitter
Episode 137 Resources & Links
Those ‘living my best life’ fantasies sure took a weird turn, Twitter
How the Mom Internet became a spotless, sponsored void, The Washington Post
Did you enjoy this episode of Persuasion? Give these a listen!
Persuasion 135: College Students Beware! Real Life Ahead
Persuasion 125: Post It Online or It Didn’t Happen
Persuasion 23: Angry on the Internet
Theme music by Maiden Name. Produced by Jonathan Clauson.
Sponsorship Details
If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of Persuasion, please email us for available packages and rates.
PERSUASION 