Friday Musings—07/06/24

How’s your week going? Hit reply and let me know—I read every email.

What's new with me

In my latest post, I shared a challenging interaction I had recently. Switching from curiosity to judgment allowed me to make the experience less unpleasant and learn more about myself.

I've also been addressing my recurring health issues and took some hormonal tests to understand why I keep struggling with acne and hair loss. I also had my first meeting with my new psychotherapist. I've mentioned before that I've been doing art therapy with an English woman I met at a meetup, and it's been great. She works with the Gestalt association in Turin, which offers affordable psychotherapy sessions, so I decided to give it a try. I had no expectations, but my first impression of the psychotherapist they matched me with has been positive, and I look forward to our next session.

 Will Google save the web, or destroy it?

One of the things I like to reflect on (and I wish I could have more of an informed opinion on) is how new technology is shaping the way we live, interact and exist both as individuals and as a society. So I'm really curious to see how the new updates to Google Search will affect the way we look for and receive information. These changes could have a huge impact on many online businesses, including content creators. In theory, they aim to tackle the issue of people focusing on search engine optimization rather than content quality. But whether it will now be easier for the best content to emerge remains to be seen.

So far, the rollout of Google’s new AI Overview product has been messy, with users being told to put glue on their pizza and eat rocks. While I enjoyed reading about those ridiculous answers as much as anyone else, I do wonder what the future will bring and what the Internet will look like in a few years.

The art and the artist

Should you separate the art from the artist? A politician from their conduct in their private life? Or, in today's world, a content creator and the facade they present from what they're like in "real life"?

In this article, the author reminds us that ancient philosophers believed one should be judged both by the quality of their arguments and the quality of their life. Over time, though, philosophy became more about professional discourse than living virtuously. Where should we stand now that anyone can become a public figure and influence millions, and private life is becoming less private?

In past editions of my newsletter, I shared that I occasionally listen to the Huberman Lab podcast, which tackles health, wellness, and personal development topics and is run by a Stanford neuroscience professor. It appears Huberman's private life isn't exactly irreproachable, which prompted this reflection. Should this make any difference? For instance, can his advice on relationships still be valid despite him being (allegedly) a serial cheater? Should we trust people's advice even if they turn out to be hypocrites and don't practice what they preach?

I don't have a definitive answer, and I don't believe in definitive truths anyway. However, I think it's worth questioning where we stand from time to time and comparing our viewpoint with others, so I'm genuinely interested in your opinion.

Healthier, more sustainable chocolate

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but when it comes to chocolate? Yes, please. However, I'm aware that the chocolate industry has many sustainability and ethical issues, from deforestation to child and forced labor. So, I was glad to read that they're working on making chocolate that is more nutritious and also more sustainable and ethical. The new chocolate would be “basically identical” to dark chocolate, which is my favorite. If all goes well they'll be launching it in Switzerland—let's hope they can then scale it up.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"Integrity is the essence of everything successful".  (Richard Buckminster Fuller)

As always, I welcome your insights or questions. Which musing was your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Don't forget to share this with someone who may find it interesting.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML