Why I Said F**k It and Started an Email Newsletter
and Why You Should Give a Damn
The internet? It’s become that junk drawer everyone has but no one admits to. Random crap, a never-ending scroll of memes, influencers trying too hard, and, God save me, another ad for some weight loss tea I didn’t ask for. Amongst all this chaos, I went and did something so f**king retro, it’s almost edgy: I launched an email newsletter. Yep, just yesterday.
You’re probably wondering if I hit my head or if I’m having a premature mid-life crisis. “Why in the ever-loving hell,” you might ask, “would you dive into that outdated mess?” Here’s the thing: amidst this digital shitstorm, I’m craving something real, raw, and less algorithm-y.
Stay with me. I’m about to unveil why sometimes, diving deep into the ‘old-school’ can be the boldest middle finger to the status quo. Because honestly? The modern digital scene could use a little less sparkle and a lot more substance. Let’s get into it.
The Seductive Lure of Social Media
Social Media is like that damn bar you can’t resist hitting up. It’s all shady and likely screwing with your well-being, but hell, they whip up those mind-altering drinks that perfectly scramble your brain.
You know what I’m talking about — the insta-high of likes, the giddy buzz of comments, the heady trip of shares. Every time you post, it’s like throwing a coin into a slot machine, praying for that jackpot of notifications. And when they come pouring in? That’s the digital equivalent of snorting a line of pure, uncut validation. Sweet, right?
But, hell, there’s a dirty underbelly. For every dopamine rush, there’s the crushing low of digital rejection. Didn’t get enough likes on your pic? Might as well have walked into that bar and everyone laughed in your face. We filter, crop, and Facetune our reality until it’s just another product for consumption, peddled for some cheap digital applause.
It’s all bloody smoke and mirrors. An ever-spinning carousel of fakeness. You’re trapped in this never-ending rave where the music’s too loud, everyone’s dancing, but nobody’s really feeling the groove. It’s just noise.
Now, don’t get me wrong, not everything about social media is a trip to the dumpster. But when it starts feeling like you’re huffing second-hand smoke just to feel something, maybe it’s time for a change. That’s why I went rogue. I said, “F**k this noise” and rolled out an email newsletter. Raw, real, no BS. Because sometimes, you gotta ditch the sketchy bar and start brewing your own damn beer. Cheers to that.
Rediscovering Depth in the Age of Breadth
Let’s get something straight — the internet? It’s a blessing and a damn curse. Sure, we’ve got the entire freakin’ world in our pocket, every weird, wonderful, and wacky thought just a tap away. But what’s the downside? Depth is taking a nosedive. Our online world feels like we’re all drunk-swiping through Tinder at 2 am. We’re glancing, not gazing. We’re gobbling up, not savoring.
Now, most of these swanky platforms are slaves to those pesky algorithms that couldn’t give two shits about quality, only quantity. Instagram’s whispering in your ear, “Post, post, post!” Twitter’s got our brains in a chokehold with its tiny character limits. It’s like everyone’s screaming, but no one’s saying anything. But what the hell are we losing in this chaos? Nuance gets thrown under the bus. Depth? Pushed aside like last season’s fashion.
Here’s the raw truth: depth is the real MVP. This superficial, fast-food approach to connections and content? It’s crap. We’re wired for meaty, hearty interactions, not just digital candy floss. Yeah, memes are fun, but ever tried diving deep into a thought and sharing it? That’s the stuff that lights fires and builds bridges.
Enter the good ol’ email newsletter. Seems ancient, I know, but it’s a rebellious move. A damn revolt against the cookie-cutter BS of modern online chatter. Newsletters are like vinyl records in a world of streaming — authentic, warm, and deeply personal. It’s less of a monologue and more of a cozy fireside chat.
With a newsletter, it’s not about stuffing your face with hollow calorie followers. It’s about brewing a rich cup of community. Subscribers that actually give a damn about your voice, not just those dead-eyed scrolls on your posts. These are your ride-or-die folks, the ones who’ll stand by you when the algorithms change for the umpteenth time.
And the inbox? It’s like that old pub down the road. Quiet, intimate, no frills. When your newsletter lands, it’s not lost in a sea of memes and cat videos (shit, when I said this, I actually thought about my own messy mailbox — but ok, that aside!). It’s a one-on-one, heart-to-heart. It’s someone choosing to pull up a chair and have a chat, without the glitz and the filters.
So, why kick it old school with a newsletter? ’Cause in this mad, sprawling digital bazaar, there’s a deep, guttural thirst for real talk. And sometimes, you’ve got to say “f**k it” and go deep. Because that’s where the gold’s hidden, my friend.
The Art of Curating Content for a Select Few
So we know that every Tom, Dick, and Sally out there is pumping content hoping to get that 15-second viral fame and cater to the masses. But here’s a truth bomb for you: trying to appease the masses is a goddamn trap.
Remember that one party you went to where you tried to be all things to all people? You wanted to fit in so bad you didn’t know if you were a rock fan or a reggaeton lover by the end of the night. That’s what chasing virality on the internet feels like. It’s like desperately changing the radio station hoping someone will stick around.
But there’s a beauty in saying “F**k it,” and aiming for those few, those dedicated few, who genuinely care. Why? Because the real magic, my friend, is in the connection, the intimacy, the humanity of it all. And nowhere does this magic shine brighter than in an email newsletter.
An email newsletter is like that secret club from your childhood. It’s exclusive, it’s underground, it’s special. While social media algorithms decide what’s ‘worth’ showing to users, with a newsletter, you are the algorithm. You curate. You pick. You present. It’s pure, unadulterated you, coming straight into the inboxes of those who’ve said, “Yes, I want a piece of that.”
When you’re curating for a select few, you’re not just curating content; you’re curating experiences. Stories. Feelings. Laughs. Realizations. It’s like making a mixtape for your crush, where every track tells them something about who you are and how you see the world.
The undeniable power of newsletters is in their authenticity. No likes, shares, or retweets (people might forward that cheeky email though). Just words, stories, insights — delivered without the interference of those pesky algorithms. It’s about building a genuine relationship, one email at a time.
So, to those still in the cesspool of trying to get ‘big’ and catering to the ever-fickle masses, I say: take a step back. The numbers game? It’s overrated. The real gold is in crafting compelling narratives for those who truly care. Packed with some damn value.
Because at the end of the day, in this digital age of fleeting connections, the irreplaceable power of a personal touch, a heartfelt story, and a creator who gives a damn is a currency that’s worth its weight in gold. So, go ahead and curate your heart out. Some will stay, some will leave, but those who stick around?
They’re the ones worth writing for.
The Freedom to Fail (And Learn)
So now I’m about to let you in on a little secret that changed the game for me: saying “f**k it” is powerful. Now, I don’t mean yelling it when you stub your toe or when your coffee spills (though honestly, that helps too). No, I’m talking about the grand, existential “f**k it” — the kind you say right before diving headfirst into something new, uncertain, and scary as hell. The kind I said when I started my email newsletter bloody yesterday.
You see, in a world obsessively measuring success with vanity metrics, likes, retweets, and virality, there’s something refreshingly raw about starting small. It’s like being naked in a world obsessed with designer clothing. And man, is there beauty in that nudity!
When you strip away the pressures and preconceptions, what you’re left with is the golden ticket: the freedom to fail. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Why the hell would I want to fail?” Simple. Because failure is the universe’s way of giving you a crash course in what works and what doesn’t. It’s the gritty, unglamorous side of success that no one talks about, but everyone goes through.
I see starting an email newsletter as my ticket to this playground of glorious failures. No longer encumbered by the need to look “perfect” for a goddamn algorithm, I am free to mess up, experiment, and, most importantly, learn. It’s like being in a sandbox, but instead of sand, you have ideas, creativity, and a direct line to an audience that’s rooting for you.
Every hit-and-miss is an opportunity for direct feedback. Every mistake is a lesson. And every success is a reminder that growth is messy and non-linear.
You see, with an email newsletter, it’s not about shouting into the void and hoping someone hears. It’s about building something intimate, raw, and unfiltered. Kind of like I’m doing through Medium. Your audience isn’t just a number; they’re fellow adventurers on this wild journey of trial and error.
So, here’s my unsolicited advice to you: embrace the freedom of starting fresh and small. Value the profound over the popular. Dive headfirst into the thrilling unknown, and revel in the freedom to fail, learn, and ultimately, thrive. 🚀
Why Yesterday? The Power of Impulse and Authenticity
Here’s the thing about life: we’re all waiting for the perfect moment. The perfect moment to confess your feelings, to start that business, to book that ticket, or hell, to start an email newsletter. But life’s joke on us?
There’s no such damn thing as the perfect moment.
Sometimes, the most significant moments in our lives don’t come packaged with months of planning, a color-coded calendar, or a five-step guide. No, they burst out of nowhere, from a raw, gut-wrenching impulse. An impulse that screams, “Fuck it, I’m doing it.” And guess what? Yesterday was that day for me. Nice and spontaneous.
This isn’t about recklessness. It’s about authenticity. There’s something profoundly real about acting on an impulse. It’s you acting on your rawest emotions, undiluted by overthinking, societal expectations, or the fear of what your Aunt Karen will say. When we wait for things to line up, when we over-plan, overthink, and over-analyze, we don’t just lose time; we lose a bit of our damned soul in the process.
But when you act on a whim? When you leap without checking if your parachute’s packed just right? That’s when you’re at your most genuine. That’s when you create something that’s truly you. No frills. No filters. Just unabashed authenticity.
Starting this newsletter wasn’t about hopping on some trend. It wasn’t about chasing numbers or adding another feather to my cap. Nah, it was about that burning urge to connect. To share the mess, the chaos, the real, unpolished thoughts — the ones we usually keep locked away because they’re too “unfiltered.”
So why yesterday? Because yesterday was the day the voice inside my head was louder than my excuses. Yesterday was the day I realized that waiting for tomorrow is a sucker’s game. And yesterday was the day I remembered that some of the most groundbreaking things in life stem not from grand plans, but from a spontaneous, “Fuck it, let’s do it.”
In a world drowning in manicured images and carefully scripted narratives, there’s a desperate need for raw authenticity. So here’s to the impulsive decisions, the unplanned ventures, and the real stories. Because sometimes, “fuck it” is the most strategic plan you can have.
Final Thoughts: An Open Invitation
So, if you made it till here, it has become clear to you that I said f**k it and chose an old-school route: an email newsletter. Because genuine connection matters more than fleeting Insta-stories and mindless scrolling.
Now, here’s the real deal. This isn’t your grandma’s newsletter. No. This is a two-way street, baby. See, I might be the one tapping away at the keyboard, but this newsletter is just as much about your voice as it is about mine. I’m not here to just shout into the void, and I certainly don’t want to be the only one dancing at this party. I want your insights, your reflections, and your challenging perspectives.
Let’s break some internet molds together.
If you’re here looking for polished, cookie-cutter content, you might want to back out slowly. But if you crave authenticity, if you hunger for stories with depth and reflection, if you want to really talk, then step the hell up. Join this chaotic, insightful journey and become more than just a passive spectator. Dive in, get messy, throw some feedback at me — even if it’s a virtual pie in the face. I can take it.
For the newcomers, here’s my solemn vow: Every single time I hit that ‘send’ button, it’s with a promise of value, growth, and a connection so real you’ll feel it through the screen.
Bottom line? Life’s too short for surface-level BS. So, thank you for making this ride richer, deeper, and a helluva lot more authentic.
Stay real. Stay wild. And f**k the norms.
Until next time.
