Yesterday, it was warm in New York City. It was also sort of dark, the skies squinting against the sun, the wind whipping. I played dungeons and dragons with my friends on some blankets, ate big sandwiches with arugula and horseradish mayo, drank cola flavored seltzer. I discovered a few hours into the game that another group of friends were just on the other side of the bridge legs that we were nestled between. Seemingly out of nowhere, a cold wind chased us out, a reminder that spring is still new, and that it may, at any point, recede for just a few more weeks.
I have been gone for nearly eight months - absent from any semblance of typing into the void, it feels. Not that you readers are a void. Although, maybe to the writer you are - when we are not interested in engagement? When we are only interested in being read and perceived.
Last June, I began to feel strange about using Substack. As more and more features were added, I feared I had left social media only to step into a new one - one that felt, in some ways, more nefarious about its intentions. I was drawn to the platform by other writers, artists, and some influencers from the spaces I was preparing to drop away from.
Then I became afraid of switching again because I have a few paid subscribers here. (Obviously, the way that I froze and panicked and stopped writing because of these worries is ALSO a negative response for these subscribers).
But Substack has more features than I want or find necessary for my own writing practice.
But times have changed. TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
For the first time in my life - oh god do I say that phrase a lot - for the first time in my life, I am less afraid about money. As a kid, we lived in several homes that were foreclosed on. My parents sometimes skipped dinner. The electricity was turned off on us only twice but I remember. As a young adult, I developed unhealthy spending habits and made under $300 a week.
Now, until at least my country takes it from me, I am a teacher with a retirement fund. I do not spend 1/3 of my total monthly income on rent. I do not need to hang on to a platform because I need small sums of money from my readers, my audience, or my friends.
I am moving away from Substack.
I am committed to writing one newsletter a week. For your eyes and my sake.
You don't need to do anything to come with me. I have already pulled everything over - AND I will no longer be holding a paid subscription list. At least for now, in my current circumstances. If you have already paid for a specific period of time and would like a refund, please respond to this email. If not, I appreciate your support, but there is very low pressure!
I have some other newsletters in the works with topics that vary wildly but all have one thing in common - they will talk about community.
This email is just a quick hello and an update. You can expect a full newsletter from me on Tuesday, sent via Buttondown, the client I am moving over to.
Here's a little peek into some newsletter titles in the works (they’re so bad!! I go through so many before I the final draft):
"Adolescence Cynicism & Mutual Aid in the Classroom"
"Oral History, The Art Room, and Teaching Teens into Liberation"
"Materials to Make Yourself Sane"
"Losing Your Parents but They're Still Here"