Hello Family,
This week’s deck of found notes explores fearless love, the power of words and more. At the end of this email, you’ll also find a reflection on my experience navigating this newsletter’s growth from 22 to 300+ subscribers over the last two months.
With Love,
Jamal
That Time I Got My Ass Kicked by
Why we must keep art taped to the fridge by
Respecting and Protecting Mother Nature by
Ghostwriting by
I'm Still Not Sure I Know How to Love by
My newsletter has grown 1100% 🙃
On March 3rd I sent my tenth email out to 22 of my friends. Today, over 300 of you are getting this email thanks to others graciously sharing my work. With your support has come a wave of confidence I never expected to know as a poet. But, as blessed as I feel, the intoxicating nature of rapid growth isn’t all niceties.
Over the last month, I’ve also built an unhealthy attachment to this platform. While I’ve still written and spent time with my loved ones, those moments have been littered with distracted glances at my phone.
It wasn’t until this past week, during one of my many longing glimpses at the bell in the corner of my phone screen, that I realized something was wrong. My focus was no longer on the play of my craft or the joy of connection. I had become obsessed with something other.
At that moment, I saw myself. Despite all of the healing I had enjoyed before starting this newsletter, I was still human and susceptible to the dopamine obsessed cravings digital interactions give way to.
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”
Fred Rodgers
I am thankful for this revelation, but as it stands today, my reckoning with self is still at hand. There is internal work to be done and boundaries to be set as I navigate the psychological ramifications of my habitual check-ins.
I am hopeful though. Like my triumphs, this too is a part of the creative journey – one I won’t run from.
Enjoy this week's deck of notes? If so, show a little love and hit that heart 🥰
Man, fearless love. What a beautiful concept. Here's a gem that has lived rent-free in my mind since reading it late last year...
"True strength is not found in the side that responds to hate with more hate, but with the side that responds to hate with love; until there are no sides, only one whole. One heart. One mind. Love in this sense is an act of rebellion, be a rebel then. Dare to break the cycle." (Tommy Rivs).
That dopamine hit is no joke. I have to consciously turn off my phone periodically because I do get sucked in. Thankfully I am only down to Substack (and occasionally Facebook). I have relieved myself of Instagram which has been hugely helpful. Dopamine is dopamine though, and we are all addicts. Naming and noticing, however, gives you power over it. At least temporary power. Know that you are not alone in that.