How A Murderer's Final Words Got Me to Re-Launch My Substack
it's been a long time coming, but baby, im back and ready to yap.
Hi friends. I re-vamped/re-branded my Substack from 2022. So, if you subscribed then, you’re still subscribed now. But if you don’t wanna be, that’s totally fine. Unsubscribe. I’ll see you in hell! JK LOL No for real, I won’t take it personal. ILY <3
Did you know that the man behind one of the most famous brand slogans of our time is a MURDERER? In the late 80s, an advertising agency, Wieden & Kennedy, was tasked with developing Nike’s first major television campaign. The night before a meeting with the team, advertising exec. Dan Wieden decided the commercials need a tagline. The final words of American murderer Gary Gilmore came to mind — “Let’s do it.”
He rephrased to “just do it” and the rest is quite literally history.
What the team (probably) didn’t know was that those words were inspired by a man sitting on death row who was accused of many crimes, including murder x 2. Just do it would go on to become not just the slogan for our favorite running/in the clerb sneaker…it’s like, legit life advice. Shoutout to Gary Gilmore????
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I actually launched a newsletter on Substack back in 2022 called ‘off socials’. In a nutshell, my intent was to build a community that connected outside of social media. The newsletter would have been an extension of that. Or vice versa? Idk, I don’t remember. But during these last few months, the urge to write has been strong. A part of me really misses it! Another part of me still fears getting excited about starting new things because I usually lose the motivation to keep it going. I’ve spent 4 months brainstorming and writing down potential blog titles. And if I’m being honest, it’s really been about a year.
I’m someone who desperately waits for that feeling you get when something just feels right.
Well, a lot of those titles felt right, and yet I still struggled to make a choice and follow through. I’d sit with with one, forget about it, and think of an even better title 19 days later. add to list, sit, forget , re-think, repeat.
Of course I reminded myself that it’s just a blog and I can always change my mind on whatever I want, whenever I want. But couldn’t bring myself to do it - choose a title and write. Until this past Sunday that is!
I was laid up in bed thinking about everything I didn’t do that day. Didn’t save the world, didn’t figure out why it’s so hard to get the Talenti tops off the gelato, didn’t name my Substack... and then, I kid you not, my next thought was “eh…duly noted…BITCH WAIT.” I pulled my phone out to Google the definition and my girl Merriam was there to lend a helping hand, per fucking usual:
Duly Noted: The expression duly noted is a way of saying that something is “officially recognized” or “understood in full.” In its most neutral use, duly noted is a way of saying “noticed and worth mentioning.” This use is often official or bureaucratic in tone.
Did I (finally) name the Substack?
Let’s back up for a second. ⏮ Rhiamkdfmkmsfjnsfn.
If you’ve been around and clownin with me for some time, you know that I’m not new to the blogging game (some of yall were around for Cinnabons & Shea Butter, very much real ones!) So, after polling my Instagram audience to ask what I should yap about, I got things like:
“thrifting and food in the city”
“Everything!!! I love your work.”
“Life”
“Always down to hear about your full-time freelancing ventures. ALWAYS.”
This is why I fuck with my followers, we are on some of the same accords. This blog is a connection outlet, something I want to always feel at ease coming back to. These are things I’ve been sharing via blogs & socials for years, so this feels like a homecoming of sorts...except I’m easing in. Forever trying to be more intentional. I’ve spent my most creative years trying to fight the power of niching down. Do we have to? Or is a personal blog its own niche? It’s real life, it’s vulnerable, it’s inspirational, it’s kinda funny, it’s community building…it’s all of that.
Nike’s First Television Commercial - AHHH NOSTALGIA
Well after deciding that I am the niche, I started to consider the imaginary future of the blog, you know…the merch, the event series, the book, the tour, the things I literally never wanted. My brain just likes to consider many, many options on where one idea could maybe, possibly land. I’m sure it’s fear or anxiety based, blah blah, she’s getting her funds together so she can find a nice therapist. But the takeaway here is that I want to get back to connecting through words, not just posts on social media.
I couldn’t give myself too long to sit with duly noted as a title. It would have been another 4 months of me telling people “yeah I think I’m trying to get back to blogging” LOL like girl, they’re tired of hearing that. Plus, it felt right!
I’ll be writing about things like…
Life as a single, 33 year old, creative freelancer who loves thrifting, trying new coffee shops and taking really long walks in the middle of the day. Who grew up in the church and still wonders “but what IF hell is real?”, yet continues to read her horoscope every morning. What it’s like being an (undiagnosed) ADHD girly who could eat chicken tenders every day of the week and does this hair pulling thing when she’s bored or anxious. An “idk about kids but maybe????”, oldest daughter/middle child who loves to try new recipes, listen to true crime podcasts & gets high all the time type of person.
In this blog, digital diary if you will, you’ll find me. Someone who is probably very similar to you. And if you’re anything like me, you’re waiting for something or someone to tell you to go for it. Well, here it is. Today is your day. Today is our day.
Hi, I’m Pariss. This is my new blog and I’m encouraging you to just do it. Whatever it is.
Your voice is so strong. This literally felt like you were talking to me! Already a Duly Noted's stan.
I’m the same way. I do it when it feels right. Like right now I am focusing on growing my YouTube but I’m not recording content just for the sake of it. It has to have meaning and purpose.