Derek Thompson

Number one,

I think it's important to say here, and correct me if I'm wrong, the changes that you're observing might have been accelerated by the pandemic, but the beginning of those changes predate the pandemic.

This is a common phrase in lots of psychological and mental health changes that we've seen in the U.S.

But before I ask my actual question, is that right, that these changes both predated the pandemic and were mildly accelerated by them?

So let's focus on the second idea that Lisa suggested, which I think is really interesting and surprised me.

But it's one that I just started to think about a little bit more.

Again, quote, the rise of a wellness industry that is often heavily focused on the self as opposed to being focused on others, end quote.

So small spoiler alert, John, I am working on a piece right now about wellness and exercise.

It's incredibly interesting to me that by all accounts,

exercise rates and the number of people who say they participate in exercise or working out is rising across the population in the US at the same time that socializing is falling.

That's a really interesting juxtaposition.

And I don't wanna say that one is to blame for the other, right?

That like, if someone enjoys running three miles a day, that means they're antisocial.

That's not my claim.

But the juxtaposition is,

of a rising wellness industry and declining sociality.

That is an interesting one.

And I wonder if there's anything that you want to pick up on there.

And exercise is a wonderful thing.

You said physical fitness, you mean social fitness, I suppose, that the exercise industry doesn't talk about, doesn't emphasize the social dynamic of it?