In 2024, @jo-scho.bsky.social thought about her first love: Oasis. Tonight, she's off to see 'em.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about my first love www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-firs...

Autocratic weeknotes.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · last yr.

Breaking News: Elon Musk said federal workers must summarize their accomplishments for the week in an email or be forced to leave, a tactic he used after buying Twitter. Follow live updates.

Breaking Bluesky silence to ask for reading recs on Kendrick Lamar. Mostly commentary on his cultural commentary but also Super Bowl subtleties I definitely missed (US flag >> swastikas?!)

Not a particularly useful button then. Help? Help.

Thanks for including this @amymcnichol.bsky.social @allconsuming.bsky.social ❤️ My first love was Oasis. If you didn't like Oasis, this essay is also about nostalgia and optimism, and hopefully you can substitute [oasis] with [your first band]. If you did like Oasis, press play on 'Whatever'.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about my first love www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-firs...

By my husband who bench presses 80kg, has had watery eyes over his Grandad this morning, and is now smoking half a side of salmon on the terrace. Masculinity isn't toxic by default.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"How can the strength of my testosterone-fueled vessel co-exist with my tenderness? Where does the need for control and competition meet my delicate emotions and thoughtfulness? Why do we treat men with privilege, yet our number one killer is ourselves?" www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/muscles

Every year, @madebysheppard.bsky.social says there's one essay that just gets him. This is that one: honest. Heartbreaking. Funny.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about my mum, her Alzheimer’s, and the Gregg’s sausage roll scam www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-mum-...

Challenging to edit when the essay is about indifference and apathy around the subject. How might we encourage people to engage?

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

Last year, I saw a bloodied, dead baby outside a hospital. I've been seeing dead babies quite frequently since, and I've noticed a lot of people seem to ignore them. Maybe they don’t see them at all. www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/why-i-a...

🌝Today's essay is by 2024's oldest contributor. It's got a touch of the Mighty Boosh and a whiff of the wacky backy about it but it's just lovely. Gentle. In awe of the universe. Incredulous at their insignificance in the vastness of the universe ☄️🌟 and thrilled to pieces with how lucky they are 💛

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about markers in time and space www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/markers...

"Ghosting needs a rebrand. The term feels too cute – a bit silly. Stick your tongue out and wink ghost emoji. But it is serious, it takes a real mental toll." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/ghosting

🌟 Here is your last-post-before-Christmas warning!🌟 We have a few copies of the I Thought About That A Lot book left (like, I can count them on my fingers). If you'd like one in time for Christmas, order your copy before 2pm tomorrow (Friday 20 December). www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/shop

⚠️ WARNING❗❗❗ This essay may compel you to bin your desk job, chuck your laptop in the pond, take a sabbatical and live your best creative, arty-farty, explore-all-the-galleries, do-some-journaling, free-your-mind life. Inspired by The Artist's Way (fondly referred to as 'The Dickhead's Way').

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about creativity and self-discovery woo-woo www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/creativ...

Loved working with this contributor. She's 66 and hadn't worked with an editor before but had a lovely balance of strong narrative voice and openness to trying new stuff. I'm glad she's found some peace this year.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"At 17, Dad wound up on the Arctic Convoys which sailed to the Soviet Union in perilous conditions, and under heavy threat of German attack. Dad’s ship was torpedoed and he survived by clinging on to a plank of wood. He was one of only six survivors." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/why-my-...

Fun to edit and lots of amusing quips but these days we would call this child abuse tbh.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"I’ve never really had an OK time at the dentist – not since The Incident back in 1971 at the hands of my mother and Mr E. This year, some rather unfortunate dental activity in the top right corner of my mouth has triggered some terribly bad memories." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-top-...

"While the decision to be child-free was always pretty clear for both of us, its ripple effects through our social lives have been more surprising than we anticipated. Here's how things have changed for us as the dominant draw in our clique has transferred from friends to family." So well-written 👏

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about friendship in my child-free forties www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/friends...

🤩 @mollywj.bsky.social, in her 'middle-age mum era', has written about fandom as grown up. "It feels special to be on the inside of something as remarkable as what she’s created, but also objective enough not to buy into every last element of it." Publishing today, on Taylor Swift's 35th birthday

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Most new music’s not aimed at us Millennials. While I can appreciate Sabrina Carpenter’s lyrical quips, the teeny-tiny outfits age me out. I like Charli XCX, but I’m too tired to have a brat summer... But Taylor manages to feel like she’s for everyone." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/taylor-...

🤯 Professional experience being dismissed by young prat 🤯 Pandering to fragile ego cos: = easier life 🤯 Lack of research and awareness around menopause 🤯 Catholic guru creating balkanisation between women Too fucking right we still need feminism 👏 💯

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about why we still need feminism www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/why-we-...

In April, I saw ex Match of the Day mag writer @christowers.bsky.social post about his painful loss on his Insta and asked him to turn his post into an essay. Oh man, he didn't disappoint. You don't have to like football, #Arsenal or even scarves to appreciate this – it's just lovely.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Losing a bundle of red and white woolly fibres may seem trivial, and mourning its loss perhaps childish – but do NOT mistake a football supporter’s scarf for simply being a piece of functional, mass-produced and easily-replaceable clothing." i-thought-a-lot-about-that.webflow.io/2024/my-lost...

To be kept in mind for your next jaunt: "If we engage more meaningfully with the culture and residents of a place when we travel, we will become more empathetic to the impact that us being there has on both." Thank you to Rosemary Evans for the edits.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about TikTok tourism www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/tiktok-...

Friends! We only have a handful of books left. They include good words, 162 pages of munken pure rough 120gsm paper, lots of white space and cute illos. TL;DR: they look and feel nice, and therefore make gorgey Christmas presents. www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/shop

Shop – I thought about that a lot

A new anonymous essay published every day in December in the countdown to Christmas.

ithoughtaboutthatalot.com

Do you know what a pouch of Douglas is? If you don't, find out in my short advent blog. It could come in useful one day... www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-pouch-of-douglas #endometriosis

It’s the second most common gynae condition in the UK but takes ~9yrs to get a diagnosis of #endometriosis. 🤯 Somehow, @kerry1yons.bsky.social has written with humour on this – despite experiencing years of medical gaslighting. She's thought a lot about others who are un/misdiagnosed this year.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

The nurse was holding my hand as I opened my eyes. She leant in close. “The operation was a success,” she whispered. “You’ve got endometriosis, but we’ve removed the cells we found. They were in your pouch of Douglas." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-pouc...

Yep I know it is ironic staking claim to an anonymous essay I wrote about shutting up but I've wanted to write for @allconsuming.bsky.social since @amymcnichol.bsky.social started it and after @jo-scho.bsky.social managed to make this readable I am quite proud of it!

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"I became addicted to the dopamine hits from interactions with my content. As my profile grew, I found my career started to benefit and I leaned in more and more... But now, as the poster child for openness, I want to close myself off." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/shuttin...

Soz, off to join this contributor in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, USA. Brb... (or will I?)

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about what home feels like for a nomad www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/what-ho...

Another Christmas cracker from fashion darrrling @hardyps.bsky.social 💅

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Some buyers think I am both a chat facility and an Evri delivery driver coordinator. There are those who haven’t bothered to read my crafted sales copy, and send 1 word Qs about my wares that remind me of my time on dating apps: “Length?” “Size?” www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/selling...

Both me and Rosemary Evans found this a fascinating one to edit... Thank you to the anonymous contributor who trusted us with this one.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about my dad reincarnated as my son www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/my-dad-...

This one is written by my GCSE English teacher. A self-proclaimed feminist, he pushed us to challenge patriarchal values and gender binaries in class discussions in the early 00s. He and his classes have had a profound influence on the values I hold today. His essay is terrifying.

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Our male students are using expressions such as ‘alpha’, ‘simp’, ‘sigma’ and ‘lone wolf’ – the same words that Laura Bates discovered are part of the language incels use about themselves and other misogynists." www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/boys-wh...

With Gladiator Fire* Montell Douglas being voted off Strictly Come Dancing last night, it seemed only right to publish this essay today. *and also, former Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder 🤩🏅👏

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

In 2024, I thought a lot about Gladiators www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/in-2024...

My favourite thing about December is this collection of anonymous essays. ♥️

I thought about that a lot@allconsuming.bsky.social · 2y ago

"I don’t think my childhood was unhappy. Mum took us on trips to the beach and we camped and cooked outdoors. Christmas always felt magical. What I am unhappy about is my dad. I would have liked to have had a better one." ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/saying-bye-to-a-dad-i-never-knew