This is issue 01, the first one. Honestly, I've been putting this off for longer than I'd like to admit. Not because I didn't have anything to say, but because fear has a way of making you feel like you're not ready. Turns out, you just have to start.

A little while back, I had a health scare. I won't get into the details, but I will say this: there is nothing quite like a moment that forces you to sit with yourself and reckon with how you've been spending your time.

I realized I had been waiting… waiting to feel ready, waiting for the right moment, waiting until things were perfect. What that health scare did was rip away the illusion that there's always going to be more time. There isn't, not guaranteed, anyway.

So I started leaning into the things I'd been putting off, to the parts of myself I'd been ignoring: creativity, expression, connection. This newsletter is one of those things.

This self-titled newsletter is an outlet. A place where I write about tech, leisure, and lifestyle as i'm actually living it. No filter. No performance. Just honest writing from someone who finally decided to stop waiting and start showing up.

What you can expect from every issue is simple. An opening note to set the tone, one main piece where I dig into something real, one thing I'm currently into, and a closing thought to sit with. that's it. four sections. no fluff.

I'm building this as I go. and I want you here for the journey, not just the destination, because that's the part that actually matters.

If this resonated with you, come find me. I'm building in public and sharing the journey along the way. Follow along on all my social media accounts linked below. Same handle everywhere, easy to find: @johndontebanks

Let's connect.
The community is just getting started.

And if you're thinking about starting your own newsletter, I'm using Beehiiv and it's been the move so far.