amy santiago irl

hello! i just uploaded my first substack essay, where i reflect on how the ozempic beauty craze has affected my mother, and what it reveals about our culture’s obsession with thinness.

01.08.2025

what happens to the promises we make to ourselves the first week of january? among my resolutions this year are two classic aspirations—eating better and reading more. back in university, i used to complain endlessly about not having time to read for pleasure, blaming the relentless churn of assignments and exams. now, with a full-time job, i’ve realized that the excuses haven’t left; they’ve simply evolved.

toward the end of last year, i noticed something curious: i wasn’t just neglecting books; i was actively avoiding them, using “too tired” and “too busy” as flimsy shields for procrastination. reading—a former love—had somehow become a chore. but today felt different.

fueled by a hearty poke bowl, brimming with nutrients and good intentions, i finally dusted off a book that’s been staring at me from my desk for months. as i turned the pages, i felt a flicker of something familiar—an energy that wasn’t just from the omega-3s in the avocado and seeds but from the joy of reconnecting with an old habit.