going slow

my sincerest apologies for the silence. Rather think of my silence as listening really well

Speed and efficiency are the promise of modernity. But speed and efficiency are all destination and no journey. And it is journey that gives life meaning.

How do we reclaim the joy of doing something slow and difficult, the satisfaction of not doing what is easiest? If more effort is wasted doing things that don’t matter (doomscrolling for hours)... See more

The modern makers’ machine does not want you to create heavy things. It runs on the internet—powered by social media, fueled by mass appeal, and addicted to speed. It thrives on spikes, scrolls, and screenshots. It resists weight and avoids friction. It does not care for patience, deliberation, or anything but production .

It doesn’t care what you... See more

Light mode is fast and iterative, producing work that’s quick to make but just as quick to fade. It’s the mode of rapid experiments, side quests, and prolific posting. Heavy mode is slower, deliberate, and intentional (often hermit mode). It’s the mode of deep work that builds over time and carries lasting weight.

I both have so much to say and nothing to say. Perhaps it is that some of what I have to say simply requires more time and space to marinate than these weekly letters allow; perhaps it’s that some of what I have to say isn’t meant to be said to 23,000 people but instead to my partner, or my child, or a friend, or in a longer-term project. Perhaps... See more