Consumerism 今天聊聊消费主义为什么让我们不开心。一些笔记和大家共享一下。不是完全对应的字幕，但至少可以参考一下！ I want to try harder to say no to consumerism and materialism. Every day we are bombarded with all kinds of ads, selling all kinds of products, and our world is flooded with advertising. Advertising really plays on our fears and the need for social acceptance. When we are told that a product will give us youthful skin or help us lose 30 pounds, we start questioning how we are now, are we not good enough, what should We buy to impress people more? Things like that, and it will result in low self-esteem. One phenomenon I really dislike on social media is the prevalence of haul videos. Haul videos are videos in which the influencer shares with the viewers Various items she/he has bought at a given time from a given brand. Many haul videos or cosmetic videos are sponsored by a specific brand. Influencers are rarely paying full prices for all the products. In fact, they’re often getting paid by making the video. This is something you don’t know behind-the-scenes but by watching this kind of videos every day all the time you start normalizing this kind of behaviour. Studies show that comparing ourselves to the flawless influencer and celebrities we see on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and depression. #OOTD . Influencers are wearing special occasion outfits that are being passed off as an everyday look. It heightens the pressure of not wearing the same clothes twice, leading to over-consumption. 1. Sleep on it, give yourself a waiting period 2. Try to spend cash rather than a digital wallet or credit card. 3. Learn to say No to your friends. 4. Set a bigger goal, a more meaningful one. Like a trip abroad, an expensive art course, a house. Focus more on enriching your experiences; expanding your skill set; investing on yourself; and increasing your wealth(if that’s something very important to you and also makes you truly happy)

宝子们我终于更新啦！

好久不见啦 老铁！今天来唠唠我的近况：）

之前发的和美国朋友聊天的视频在别的平台被网友攻击，说什么的都有。我知道上个视频里我因为太兴奋，一直在叽叽喳喳，很多时候没有让人家把话说完。我自己事后编辑的时候也感觉很扎心+羞愧。但是评论里有几个网友说：你是Non-native，所以你就闭嘴吧，把你和你的chinglish藏起来，我们要听native说话，听你说话没有意义。 Excuse me?中国人就这么没有自信吗？就因为我的脸和肤色，就自动把我划入“不值得一听”的行列？我可以很自信的地说，我说话比很多平均水平的native English speaker都更条理清晰、吐字准确。和他们说话，我是200%地有自信的。 也请各位关注我的宝宝们自信起来，想清楚：你在用的外语和别人的母语说话，你该为自己感到骄傲！每一个人的声音都值得被听到！请不要在语言学习过程中搞什么“阶级划分”。太low.

Today, my friend Sienna and I touch upon several IELTS questions in the speaking test. We use everyday conversational English and discuss some really interesting topics. 1. On what occasions do people like to make friends? 2. Is it important to have the same hobbies and interests when making friends. 3. What qualities make true friends? 4. What kinds of people are easy to get along with? 5. Do people have times for themselves nowadays? 6. Do you like talking to older people, and why?

1. Stop competing yourself with others. Focus on becoming a better version of yourself. And remember to practice gratitude. 2. Learn to focus. 3. Keep learning, developing and advancing yourself.

2021年，我和丈夫做出了人生的又一重大决定：在宝宝才8个月的时候举家从加拿大搬到西班牙。我们的好哥们Tony一直在搬家的过程中提供默默支持，就像我们结婚的时候他做见证人一样，是我们坚实的后盾之一。11月临别的夜晚，他来到我们在多伦多暂住的酒店，和我们进行了一场深入的对话。这是最好的纪念，也是留给彼此最特别的临别礼物。 44" -7'19”朋友对我们“离开加拿大来到西班牙的决定”的想法与感受 （2'43" 儿子睿宝抢话发言） 7'20” -9'59”为什么一些人（尤其男人）针对生活的重大选择/变化会有滞后反应； 执行一个决定和感受一个决定之间是怎样一种关系。 10’ -12'34” 不要害怕变化，因为唯一不变的是变化； 经历更多的变化，让我们不再惧怕变化 12’35” -14’44” 我谈为什么选在搬去Bilbao； 让我憧憬的东西有哪些 14'45”-20'34” “想要住在一个很棒的居住环境里”是一件很肤浅的事情，还是一种动物本能？ 20’35”-22'23” 物质化生活和极简生活（非物质化生活）是一个二元选择吗？有所谓的中间地带吗？ 22’24”-24’57” 房、车、物实际是我们自我意识的延展，是我们定位“小我”的一部分 24'58”-26’35” 炫耀物质和炫耀知识、智慧、眼界本质是一回事，都是出于优越感需求 26'36”-结尾 : 渴望更好物质生活的背后，如何界定“肤浅”与“非肤浅”意愿之间的区别

这期音podcast里面我们探讨了“友谊”。 Why do friends drift apart?

全英文碎碎念，关于新年愿望和计划。