Feels so good to be back

I launched my first newsletter in 2014 when I was 21 and published it intermittently until the end of 2020. At the time, pandemic grief, the realities of algorithmic culture, and the divisiveness of the Trump-era internet left me feeling crushed.

My voice felt fractured and weak. I wasn't the same person who started the newsletter in my early twenties. I had to stop working as a journalist because it didn't feel viable or safe to do so in Russia. Then, I started my career in tech and moved to the U.S. in 2017. The first couple of years after my move, I was painfully aware of my new self being born. I was going through the tedious bureaucracy of immigration, figuring out my career in tech, and finding a new tone for my writing.

Today, I feel like sharing again. When I write, it feels urgent and necessary, and it’s the feeling that makes me want to push forward. It’s so naive (I know!), but I grew up with an idea of the internet that was all about the fun of exploring new things and connecting with people who share my quirks. It felt like a gentle touch or exchanging a friendly smile while making eye contact, but online. And I still think writing this newsletter is the best way to think out loud and build something that feels like a place for serendipity and delight.

What can you expect from this new season? This newsletter started as a weekly overview of articles and books about design, tech, and culture. I love the idea of keeping a log of what I read, but we'll add a bit more to it — my essays, notes, and drafts of little things that can grow and become something bigger. Please join me and don't hesitate to look over my shoulder. See you next Tuesday!