3 lessons and a birthday ask
A birthday message from me as I turn a year older and get into my feelings about life
Dear reader, I am sorry.
I have been thinking about what to say to you over the last six months. I have been MIA and feel awkward coming back like this. But what better day to do it than on my BIRTHDAY? (You can’t be mad!)
No, but seriously, thank you so much for being a supporter of my work. Some of you are probably new and are already hitting the unsubscribe button. But before you do, I would like to share some parts of my story and the lessons I’ve learned as I turn one year older.
My name is Rahim — and if you know me, I say that all the time so people can remember and pronounce it right — and I am a creator-journalist. I am someone who, for the longest time, has believed that legacy media has ignored the voices of the powerless. Who didn’t see people who looked like me in the mainstream media.
And I am also someone who was never invited to the stage to talk about how to address that.
Maybe because of my race. Maybe because of my age. Maybe because I am too damn stubborn to believe that I could change things, not to sound cliché, but it seems that the people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world are the ones who actually do — right?
But nobody talks about how hard that is.
The constant struggle to survive. Reader, I used to work multiple jobs in college just to make it out. The amount of rejection you have to face — did you know I was rejected from my college newspaper? (A Jordan-esque story, if you ask me.)
The sacrifices it takes just to reach your goal. To be quite honest, it’s been a challenge.
And so today I want to share some lessons I have learned along the way. Some guiding principles that have kept me going, in addition to your love and support along the way.
But before I get to those, I need to shamelessly ask for a birthday gift. Here are some ways you can make me a bit happier today and maybe get my dog some treats.
Become a paid subscriber (I really need some new equipment)
Donate (buying me a cake would be nice)
Buy a shirt (this is the BEST way you can support my work — you promote my brand and get something in return)
My dog Kobe helping me promote our shirts
If you have already contributed, contribute some more (jk… unless?). Seriously, thank you so much. Even just subscribing means a lot because I don’t take it lightly. Especially to those who are my OG followers — even though I know so many of you left TikTok.
I don’t know much in this world. But what I do know is that you and the people I have been meeting nationwide are the reasons why I keep going as I try to rebuild journalism for the next generation.
And so here are three lessons that also keep me going.
“Shoot for the stars — if anything, you will land on a building.”
When I first started out, never would I have thought I’d be part of building the ecosystem I always wished to be a part of. It’s crazy where life takes you. But I have always been a believer in dreaming big — and worst case, you land closer to the moon, or you come back to the ground. But you can’t get buried. You may not get to the destination you want. But damn, you will get somewhere even more beautiful.
“Rest at the end. Not in the middle.”
Reader, this may not be a lesson for you. To be honest, if I had a choice, I would rest 24/7. But I don’t. I don’t take vacations (besides my birthday haha). I don’t take much time off because the mission of changing the media industry is bigger than my comfort. It’s a stupid philosophy to many. But my biggest strength has always been my ability to outwork people. I was never the smartest. Never the richest. But the only thing you and I can control is how hard we work at the things we love.
“If you can’t be the sun that shines upon the earth, be a lamp and light up your street.”
To be honest with you, this quote is from a Bollywood movie — but I say this quote pretty often. It’s an important one that has defined my love-hate relationship with the scope of my work. I know you want me to cover national news. But everyone is doing it, and there is nothing I can say or do that will make a difference there. But I can make a difference in Boston. I can make a difference connecting sports and the news.
I can be a lamp.
I can make a difference rebuilding journalism. If you can’t tell already, I’ve always tried to challenge myself and not chase the masses. Is it because I’m a moron who isn’t clout chasing… 100% — but it’s also because of the unmatched power of going local. To light up your street is something else entirely.
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. (get the joke?!)
To be quite honest, reader, I don’t know if this project will be around next year. Life changes a lot as we get older, as you may know. Priorities shift. Shit happens. But I can promise that I am giving it everything I have every single day. Life can be tough — I know that. But know that I am always here (not in some parasocial way, please) — if you know me, I will always be your friendly neighborhood journalist. Always.
With love,
Rahim