And we’re back!

This marks two full months into doing this thing. I think I like it here - thanks for sticking around.

Before we jump in further…

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Deep(ish) Millennial Thought of the Week

Allergies took over this newsletter. A few weeks ago, AI infiltrated it. While we’ve spent the last few months fearing the rise of ChatGPT, an old familiar foe snuck back in to take us Millennials down.

First, let’s get some things out of the way. I am not a doctor and Curb Your Millennialism is not the place to come to for serious medical advice. Misinformed people can find that type of guidance currently on Twitter and LinkedIn. Smart people can seek advice from licensed professionals. I am, like you hopefully, human, and while we continue to face the challenges that technology brings with getting older, it’s important to connect with each other to complain, empathize, and ultimately help one another battle the physical nuisances that impede our ability to get anything (including this newsletter) done. As we grow older, the power of allergies to ruin our day, but also unite us, grows as well.

Allergies come in many forms. They can be omnipresent, like that food allergy that screws up every public dinner you go to. They can be seasonal and come around at different times of the year like a holiday on the calendar. Instead of an ugly sweater, this time the gift is clogged nasal passages. As negative as they can be, they are also a unifier within the Millennial cohort.

While Millennials have been battling allergies for centuries, according to sponsored content from Bayer in National Geographic, allergies were technically invented in 1906 when Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet noticed patients who were undergoing preventive care towards the elimination of smallpox via horse serum had a severe reaction to second doses of the treatment. Allergies as a concept really took off after the Second World War with the discovery of mast cells.

Fast forward to this decade, and its clear that Millennials and Gen Z have a new bonding opportunity to reach out across the aisle for as each generation, according to a 2021 Statista survey, is spending roughly $353 and $390 respectively on treating allergies annually, dwarfing the amount spent on by Gen Xers ($209) and Boomers ($143). (Need to remember the years in which each generation was born? Refer back to our Week 1 breakdown.)

As a 37 year old who now finds it it appropriate to already read AARP, it’s fascinating to learn that while 50 million Americans already suffer from allergies, by 2030, 20 percent of the population over age 65 will be impacted by them, an increase from 5-10% today. As we age, we open the door up for new reactions to occur. Just like that pile of laundry that waits for you to wash it, allergies aren’t going anywhere.

There are many things to divide us nationally right now. I won’t name the specifics. Go on to Twitter for five minutes and you will quickly be exposed to them. So, next time you are in the middle of a sneeze, consider this. Just as weather, sports, and entertainment has managed to connect us in discussion and collaboration, I implore the CYM audience to rethink how we approach personal suffering around our allergies. Instead of letting them completely ruin our days while fighting private battles, why don’t we aim to find ways to chat about how bad they make us feel? Join an online forum or Reddit thread. Start a newsletter around your specific allergy (Pardon Me, Pollen anyone?). Share tips on how to beat them, like using honey in your foods. Maybe.

In a world where we are constantly connected through technology yet many times live within our own inner monologues when it comes to personal health, finding a common bond in the suffering from and fighting of allergies give us a chance to help one another get through each and every day. After the sky turned orange, us East Coasters are way more in tune with the AQI now after all. Let’s make the best of this situation.

THE VERDICT: It’s okay to vent about your allergies. Find comfort from one another in times of heavy congestion.

Less Deep(ish) Millennial Stuff of the Week

• WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE LAB? The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of chicken made from animal cells this week, allowing GOOD Meat and Upside Foods to bring their “lab-grown” meat to fancy U.S. restaurants in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. While this chicken is not vegan or vegetarian, it is slaughter-free. Regardless, it sounds weird to me and more like something that belongs on a vintage episode of Bill Nye The Science Guy instead of my plate. Will you give it a try? Sound off on Twitter. (Forbes)

• MILLENNIALS ARE TOO TIRED TO FINANCIALLY PLAN. According to a survey conducted by Charles “Don’t call me Chucky” Schwab, both Millennials and Gen Z find making financial plans too “time-consuming” and “complicated” right now. This seems like another media smear campaign to me, but then again we’re all wasting time on Twitter fighting, so maybe? (Business Insider)

• MOSQUITOES ARE STILL ANNOYING. And the U.S. is making it easier for them to thrive. (Climate Central)

• MARVEL ANGERS PEOPLE WEARING BEANIES. Alongside the launch of its new series Secret Invasion and coinciding with my likely Friday night plans, Marvel angered artists everywhere this week by putting out a trailer for the show made entirely with AI. The artist community, already fueled by tension stemming from the ongoing WGA strike, has concerns over this being one more example of replacement through technology. My focus right now is on allergies over AI, personally. (Deadline)

Millennial Product Spotlight

This newsletter almost didn’t go out. The only reason I was able to type of few words was with the aid of this beloved classic. Every Millennial needs to own The Original Bed Buddy Sinus Pack by Carex.

As a reminder, I am not sponsored (yet) and this recommendation comes purely from decades of service from this product. Combining instant pressure relief through moist heat therapy, just pop this bad boy in the microwave for 60 seconds and be on your way to sending out a newsletter you aren’t sure you should be sending out this week in no time. Filled with all-natural grains, you can also throw this in the fridge for cooling relief to reduce swelling over your eyes.

If you take anything away from this congested-filled adventure this week, it should be a look into acquiring one of these for yourself.

Millennial Album Spotlight

After sitting on the Curb Your Millennialism porch, we decided it’s time to share more on the music we love with our official “Still Rocks” stamp of approval for the best music of the greatest generation. Today, we travel to a time where Spotify wasn’t a thing and we actually had to burn music on to compact discs. Sometimes, commercial products came our way that packaged the latest pop hits together for us to buy at once, as was the case with the very first Now That’s What I Call Music.

Originating in the U.K., Mental Floss has some fun facts to check out regarding the now famous music compilation series, which recently released its 86th edition (not counting countless spin-offs).

Standouts on Vol. 1 include my awkward middle school dance favorites like “All My Life” from K-Ci & JoJo and “As Long as You Love Me” by the Backstreet Boys, who are now selling laundry detergent. Radiohead’s “Karma Police” strangely sits next to “Zoot Suit Riot” by the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, which is really a nice parallel to how weird this time period could be for any Millennial teenager growing up.

Listen here.

That’s all for this episode…

Before I go, a little about me:

I’ve been in omnichannel marketing, business development, sales and operations for startups and big brands alike for over 15 years now. If you’d like to talk with me about consulting, find me on LinkedIn or Twitter or reply to this email. Or you can get creative, I know you have it in you!

Thanks for tuning in. Until next time, keep those sinuses clear.