how you're all helping me get my brain back 𓆩♡𓆪

starting 2024 being earnest (and with a sale)

I wanted to send this email because I am simply blown away by the support you’ve all been sending me over the past month or so. Every time you send me an email after a uni lecture to tell me you thought about me when you were learning a new concept, send me an article to broaden my perspective on something, or even just send me mundane poll ideas - it’s a truly unique and special thing we’ve got, some may call it parasocial, I call it friendship!!

As you all know (due to this friendship) I’ve been having a bit of a hard time lately. And that’s ok - we all do sometimes. But the reality is, I’m having to change a few things because of it.

Like bowing out of the social media rat race for a bit. I’m not going to fully make an exit - just try to take the pressure off a lil. Having to keep your engagement rate up on social media means trying to get as many comments as possible, which means posting provocative things and letting people say whatever nasty or equally provocative things they want to each other (and to me), which is something I don’t really want to do anymore. And when you don’t keep those ‘rates’ up people don’t want to work with you. And then there’s the algorithm emotional jump rope where every time you post something you’re proud of and it ‘flops’ you feel like shit. Then you post the stupidest meme in the world and it’s blown out of the park - but it’s not saying anything important!!! You can’t win and you never ever ever feel good.

And so, to the people who pay to support this newsletter, you’re genuinely supporting my life, and actively helping my mental health by letting me spend less time on the places that make me feel like shit.

One place I always feel GREAT is in this newsy, which will stay the same (actually, I fear it’s going to get BETTER) with more supporter-only essays, a ramped-up version of the Book Club (where you get to choose what we read) and with a hot new Sunday newsletter from Bel. I’m super pumped for all of that.

All of this is to say that to keep SYSCA (and my brain) going, I do really need you! So, if you’re into supporting the lil media company (or person) you love, please please please consider becoming a paid supporter (and here’s 25% off annual subscriptions because, life - I get it.)

Also, I’ve been getting a few questions about donations, which is SO generous, but I’ve had a better idea. If you are in the position to, you can donate a subscription so I can gift it to someone who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford one!

Goes without saying that I love you all with every inch of my being. See you in the weekend for a big Book Club reading list!!!