it’s funny because…

this is a short guide to my substack

a tide has turned. i have been feeling disconnected from my substack, but mostly from myself. i’ve been using the beginning of 2024 to explore those feelings. sit in them, instead of running from them.

i’ve learned a lot and have started to make changes, one of them being a shift away from ‘the afterglow’. that has been the name, the brand, of this newsletter for years now. 

say your prayers and forever hold your peace as we put “the afterglow” to a much-needed rest. i hope to put a version of myself to rest as well. “the afterglow” has represented a version of myself that has been struggling to accept the new feelings, wants and needs of my current self.

i have found myself using these three words when i dissociate or lose track of what i'm saying in the middle of a conversation. i say "it's funny because..." in hopes of remembering what i was about to say. i usually don't remember. it's a strong signal for me that i have too much on my mind and need to slow down.

i’m not just changing the name of my substack. i’m changing the way i approach each letter to you. i want this to be a reminder that sometimes we forget we can explore the little things in life to get through the hard ones.

i want to bring you real, raw feelings in combination with learnings we can take from other parts of life. it’s funny because will be informed and researched. i hope to bring a piece of my humanity to your inbox.

speaking of humanity. i wanted to re-introduce myself, i’m*:

• a lover 

• an ambivert 

• a self-doubter

• a master of none

• a linkedin fanatic

• guilty of caring too much

• a self-pessimist yet external-optimist

*including but not limited to

anyway, hope this made sense. while i get to work on releasing new letters for you, here’s some of my previous work you might resonate with :)

organizing your… routines, budgets, career, space, priorities

2023 reflections… my year, am i ready for 2024?

being present… moment preservation, thought goals, how to embrace chaos

routines… the anatomy of a routine

75hard journey… one week, halfway, 75days

by the way… my new logo is designed by london’s own @home__jab. i wanted it to represent a hug. the comfort of lying in the grass with a book and the sun beating down on you in the summer.

we worked for about 3 months to ideate and get this logo and the new logo for my work and travel substackhere nor there ready :) i’m in love with it & hope you are too!

hugs,

🫶 hannah