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Whatup Reader!

Before we hop into it today, I’ve got one MOAR resource for you to help keep the kiddos safe.

In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, two Tuesdays ago I wrote an email to you fine folks about stranger danger after I intervened in a potentially no bueno situation at the park.

My girl, Erika Mayall, responded to that email and shared with me the concept of "tricky people". This is a great reframe especially for kids who may have people pleasing tendencies.

I passed on the resource and shared about tricky people in last week's email and the good homie, Dr. Jackie Fenton, shared this video with me. It's about "circles" and can help kids understand that tricky people could be in any of the circles. It's a great resource for visual learners and can be especially helpful for kids who have zero fear of humans and will talk to anyone.

As always take what serves you and leave the rest.

Which brings me to the main message of today’s email: Create what serves you and leave the rest.

It’s no secret that since the election I haven’t felt called to create much in the way of content for Instagram.

I’ve easily kept up with this newsletter and my weekly podcast, but Instagram has felt like a weight I didn’t want to lift, and so I didn’t.

Now, this isn’t the advice that I’d give someone trying to build a habit, but for me, 10+ years into this social media thing, it’s largely akin to putting one’s bike in the garage and waiting for warm summer day to bring it back out.

It’s definitely not summer yet here in southern California, but one of those unseasonably warm spring days rolled through on Sunday and I decided to go for a ride.

It was exactly what I needed.

For those of you who I’ve lost with that rambling metaphor, I created a long ass Instagram Reel and it brought me so much joy.

I never worry about the algorithm, but this time I really said screw it and turned out a 7 1/2-minute video that took me like 4 hours to edit.

I loved every single second of it.

If you’d like to check it out, you can do so here, and yes, this email is doubling as a lesson and also a very shameless promotion for something I’m very proud of.

The lesson, again: Create what serves you and leave the rest.

Perhaps you don’t consider yourself a creator. You wouldn’t label yourself an artist.

All good.

I’m not here to debate names.

Just here to share what helped me in case it helps you.

Create what serves you and leave the rest.

Happy Tuesday, Reader.

Maestro out.

Do the thing.