
After writing yesterday’s post, I realized I might have been overreacting.
Behind the scenes, a few folks emailed me with what I’d call “strong” opinions and suggestions. Instead of hearing them as friendly nudges, I took them as commands. And if there’s one thing I don’t respond well to is being told what to do.
I’ll admit I’ve got a streak of rebellion in me. If someone says, “You gotta do this…you should do that,” I’ll almost always do the opposite. Even if their advice makes sense.
Recommendations and requests? Usually welcome.
Mandates? Usually not. Unless it’s the right man on the right date.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about consistency. YouTube doesn’t hesitate to punish creators who fall off their posting schedule. And I’ve noticed a similar dip on Substack while focusing on my health and the move.
I can’t say it’s a surprise—making fewer videos naturally means making less money. But stepping back was necessary, and I’m better for it.
For me, consistency isn’t about following orders or living by someone else’s rules. It’s about showing up for my own goals again and again, even when my mood tries to pull me elsewhere.
And speaking of moods, I’m in the mood to recommit to a couple of things:
Counting Calories: I dusted off my trusty Lose It! app. Do I love logging every bite? No. Does it work? Absolutely. And since I need to werk/twerk the runway like a Supermodel soon, I’m sticking with what works. Between a friend’s wedding in October and a few upcoming doctor visits, I’ve got plenty of motivation to get in better shape.
Being Open To Freelance Gigs: As much as I love creating and curating on Substack and YouTube, the truth is I’ve been barely scraping by most months since starting Collide Press. I know I’m doing better than many, so this isn’t me complaining. Just being real: I don’t want to survive—I want to thrive. I want to enjoy life more. And maybe taking on a few clients will help me move forward, both financially and creatively.
The trick, I’m realizing, is learning to separate external and internal pressures from true commitment. Just because someone makes a suggestion doesn’t mean they’re trying to control me. And even if they are, I still have the choice to ignore it and do what I want to anyway. There’s no need to react…or overreact.
So here’s what I’ll be focusing on:
Letting go of knee-jerk rebellion against advice.
Practicing consistency in the areas that matter most.
Counting calories again, because it keeps me honest.
Saying yes to freelance clients, because I want to thrive, not just get by
The real act of rebellion isn’t ignoring good advice. It’s refusing to give up on myself.
Thank you for being a friend!
Clint 🌈✌️
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Thanks Clint. Love light health peace and strength to all. 🎹👀🌈🏳🌈💋❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤
The part about just making ends meet, but not quite thriving financially, while focusing on running a Substack publication is so, so real. I hope more people come to understand this and become willing to open their wallets. And I appreciate you focusing on the four things you named! Always good to find a few things to focus on. -max