Dear World
Our world is always changing and are we keeping up with what is currently “Trending”?
For some, this mini presentation of what is actually going on may be funny but it is not. This is Serious and it is all happening.
Trending means it’s IN and that means it gathers momentum and more people are joining the trend – whatever that may be.
Trending does not have to be something on Social Media – it can be what is going on in our Neighbourhoods or Communities and before you realise, it has spread and it has reached others – Fast.
Social Media we know is a big contributor to what is trending, but it is worth observing what is trending right under our nose – on our streets and in the Supermarkets and in our daily life.
The following are some great examples of what is popular generally or what is being discussed Online or getting a lot of attention.
As more join the current ‘trends’ without any discernment or consideration of the possible consequences, we end up with more and more people being swept into a momentum that may not actually be of benefit to their true health and well-being.
What is Trending
Weight Loss Drugs
We all know this is huge right now and receiving a lot of air time and Screen Time and it’s the talk about town.
We just don’t like what we see in the Mirror and we hear of the dramatic and fast reduction in the excess weight that is available so we go for it.
We are bombarded with images of the ‘before and after’ and forget that some could be digitally altered especially if they are a celeb or have influencer status on their Social Media platform.
This means they may not actually look like the photo, but hey ho this sounds exciting and a dream come true to wear clothes we never dreamt would be possible again.
Cost – well it’s a lot but surely its less than what we currently spend on over-eating every day and all those home delivery take out meals that are referred to as ‘Junk Foods’
We no longer need to fantasise as it’s going to happen and we have so much ‘trending’ news in our glossy magazines and screens that it’s a no brainer – we are subscribing.
Side Effects – we did hear about the nausea and vomiting and the fact that the weight comes back on very soon after we stop taking the jabs.
We also heard about the potential harm to our pancreas, but dropping a few sizes is worth all those risks we get warned about.
We are not interested in knowing about the cosmetic surgical tweaks to correct the weight-loss drug user’s face.
We do not want to be aware that the face fixing from weight loss drugs is in the list of top trending cosmetic procedures now, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. (1, 2)
Work
We Blame a global pandemic with lockdown for shifting our Lifestyle, to the point where we do not want the inconvenience of having to get up early and travel to work.
Why commute when we have Zoom and other platforms hosting virtual meetings and virtual anything we desire?
Saves buying clothes as we can slob out in gear that rarely sees the washing machine and the ‘new casual’ look is like a virus, as more continue to subscribe to this way of working.
We do not care at all about the services our organisation provides, as for us it’s a job and that’s it.
Yes this is all trending – so let’s not Lie or pretend it’s not going on.
We want a ‘side hustle’ to make money to help pay for the Lifestyle we Demand but this must come with high payment for little to zero work input.
We do not go to work to work.
We go to work to see what we can Get Away with by doing little or no real and proper good old fashion‘ day’s labour’.
Getting Away with doing as little as possible or not even working at all is what is trending.
Combining work with our so-called hobbies is a new trend with more jumping on the bandwagon.
Retiring before retirement age is the trend for many and we make that a goal even if it is unrealistic and of zero benefit to society.
Holidays
Sunshine Saturday is the latest trend with Christmas and the Holiday season over with our copious amounts of indulging.
New Year has passed and those Resolutions are like hard work so what is trending is the usual – we give up on that Diet or Dry January or whatever the trend is, like drinking green alkaline juice which makes us throw up.
We book multiple Holidays on Sunshine Saturday which the travel industry awaits with open arms.
Longer Holidays and further away – back in the day they were called a “Once in a Lifetime Holiday” are now the bare minimum norm.
Taking kids out of school for Family events and Holidays.
Keeping children at home as they are Tired after an event the night before.
Absence Trend is getting worse – it’s in the News (4)
We Demand and expect our employers to honour longer Holidays and we have no problem whipping our kids out of school time as it’s cheaper. There is a fine to pay but we don’t care – we get the dream Holiday.
What is trending is booking the next Holiday and the next as soon as we return from the Holiday we just had.
One Holiday a year is not enough and neither is 2 or 3.
4 is the minimum trending now and the travel industry continues to boom and profit from our Demands.
Supermarket
More sugar candies and Chocolates at the checkout
High stacking of all kinds of Alcohol to reach every cohort
Jumbo sized sweets in a bag – evidence of 26 teaspoons of sugar per pack
Coffee Shops
Triple Chocolate laced delights and so much more sugar-filled cakes and cookies.
Jumbo sized Coffee cups
Ice cream on top of the big Coffee take out first thing in the morning.
High Energy Costs
Small Businesses feel their profits are being eaten into, so they hike the prices high and the quality of what they give us goes down.
Big Businesses are trending with cutbacks that are unrealistic and with no common sense applied.
Those that make the decision have little regard for the workers at the bottom end of the scale.
We don’t like them doing 2 jobs but the pay sector of these workers means they will do what it takes and that includes ‘dodgy’ business for some to make money.
Making money fast to feed our Lifestyle is trending and will continue.
Others
Jumbo super-size soda
Fake long nails – not for cleaning or cooking
Tap tap and multiple food takeaways in one delivery
Local supermarkets in walking distance but home delivery is trending.
Kids back from school – tap the Screen and instant Fast Food delivered with the soda.
Online medication to fix the problem.
Self-diagnosis – as we cannot be bothered to go through the health system that takes weeks for an appointment.
Vending machines at the Hospital Emergency waiting area are full with Chocolate bars and jumbo size sweet packets. The other vending machine is layered with soda of different colours and the popular brown soda takes 3 shelves.
Vending machines do not lie – they simply give us a Reality Check of what the patients Demand.
People into their Screen on the train and buses.
Unaware to what is going on around them is normal trending.
Going to the office in so-called ‘formal’ wear with trainers to finish the casual acceptable look now. This is widely trending.
Designer dogs remains trending and so does dumping the dogs we got over lockdown, as it no longer works with our Lifestyle of Irresponsibility.
Vet bills soaring is most certainly trending.
High prices at the vet is now the New Normal.
Juicing without realising the serious consequences.
Somehow it is going to fix our issues and make us slim but we are still eating Junk Foods.
Now we have evidence telling us that juicing is not the way to go. (3)
Fad Diets that keep rolling out on Social Media and we jump from one to the next with no Commitment and no Real lasting results.
Lost Property on Buses – consistently Trending
Rucksacks
Mobile phones
Keys
Glasses
Prams
Suitcases
Housing
Landlords moving the goal post for genuine tenants if they can get more rent.
Poor standards in rental properties is the new standard.
Disgusting prices for rental in areas that require workers to live local for jobs. Yes, this continues as a trend.
Living with occupants above and below with no regard for noise levels. Kids addicted to Gaming and screaming at midnight when their toys are taken away. Yes, the same kids cannot wake up to go to school.
Parents unable to manage or bring order to the chaos that goes on inside their home. This is trending and super Normal.
On the Streets
Kids out of the school gates and straight to the shops for sugar.
Large family pack of crisps, multiple doughnuts and biscuits eaten in a fast frenzy. Some start eating first thing on the way to school.
Dog poo anywhere and everywhere with owners not bothering to scoop it up, like it’s out there and not on their turf so it’s ok.
Marijuana going on where it is illegal but no one dares say anything.
Fly Tipping
Household dumping rubbish including unwanted furniture, kids toys, etc outside their home on the street rather than taking it to the recycling centre or charity shop.
More and more this is trending and why not, is how some view this, if they can Get Away With It.
The list is endless when it comes to What is Trending.
What is NOT Trending – that would be of great benefit to us as Individuals and as a Society. This is the next article.
References
(1) Mundell, E. (2025, February 7). Cosmetic Surgeons Try to Correct ‘Ozempic Face’ for Weight-Loss Drug Users. www.upi.com Retrieved February 21, 2025 from
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/02/07/cosmetic-surgery-ozempic-face/1551738946662/
(2) (2025, February 4). AAFPRS Reveals New Statistics and Trends in Facial Plastic Surgery. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. Retrieved February 21, 2025 from
https://www.aafprs.org/Media/Press_Releases/2024_Annual_Trends_Survey.aspx
(3) Schamisso, B. (2025, February 4). Juicing May Harm Your Health in Just Three Days, New Study Finds. Northwestern Now. Retrieved February 28, 2025 from
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/02/juicing-may-harm-your-health-in-just-3-days-new-study-finds/
(4) (2025, March 14). Nine in Ten Headteachers Had Pupils Skip Classes for Holidays Last Year, with Absence Trend Only Getting Worse. Mail Online. Retrieved March 19, 2025 from
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14500731/pupils-skip-classes-holidays-absence.html