I’d Rather Lose Subscribers Than Lose My Voice

I’m losing subscribers.

Turns out the truth isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Once I decided to begin sharing my true self and my real story on this platform, I knew that was the risk I was taking.

Oddly enough, my followers grew.
I’m almost at 1,000.

I consider them my “I’m down enough with you to want to pay attention” followers.

And I’m down with them too.

The clincher that helped me come to absolute peace with this was Nat Sang’s frank expression article, “The Level of Inauthenticity on Substack Is Out of Control.”

I’m good with writing my truth, in truth… yet I know everyone won’t necessarily be good with reading it.

And that’s okay.

The truth isn’t supposed to make everyone comfortable.

I’m not here to tell you smooth things or present something so polished that what’s real to me sounds like a fairy tale to my readers.

On the flip side, I want to read your real and raw truth.

That’s what gives form to the story you’re sharing.

I’m okay with my circle getting stronger, as long as I’m surrounded by my tribe.

Write the anger.

Pen the sadness.

Script the joy.

Let the story out of you.

AI is my administrative assistant, my organizer, and my grammar checker.

Every time I give it something to edit, I close with this reminder:

“…without taking the Joi out of it.”

Afterwards I read both versions side by side—
noting the comma that was inserted, the new paragraph that appeared—
and making sure the Joi is still there.

Tell me the truth…

What changed in your life when you finally started telling yours?