



Business, Business, Business
Remember how at the beginning of my newsletters recently I’ve been making a business announcement stating how you can donate to the newsletter? Do you remember that? I say a big whole thing about how I don’t have exclusive content for behind the paywall yada, yada. Well guess what my dude!? We got some exclusive content coming for those who are paid subscribers! Read about it below.
Business cont. & Okay, Now the Newsletter
The past couple of weeks I’ve been focusing on expanding my knowledge in areas that come easily to me. I’m trying to legitimize what I know to be true internally into seeking real, tangible knowledge(ooo nice word play, Brookhouse). I’m thinking of this as the next iteration of my life’s work. Creating space for others that feels honest and comfy for them in their bodies through what truths I know in mine. I have a whole list of subjects to learn from. From Feng Shui, Hygge, and Wabi Sabi to the nervous system, psychology, and the emotional body.
I see a gap in the way we think about spaces in America. There’s specific rules, methods, and calculations to design spaces. Creating a ‘vibe’ through aesthetics. I see this as a manipulation of the truth now. I no longer arrange external pieces to make the internal better.
In America we focus on aesthetics. This makes sense to me, aesthetics are commodity so in a capitalistic society we would naturally focus on that. Flaunting ourselves through objectification. It’s not just for our bodies.
Here; a table is something that works, looks nice, and that’s about it. To me; a table is an opportunity to connect, an energy exchange. A table is the lineage of carpenters and woodworkers developing a craft to its most ideal. A table is their hands not even having had touched it to touch me. The idea that they dedicated their lives to make tables means that their life is also within that table, their wisdom informed the hands that made the one in front of me. I’ve been talking about it for years, Life Force is what I call it.
I want to live in a space that makes me feel inspired to put Life Force into everything I do. Therefore, I must surround myself with objects that are of masters. This is a massive ideal I have in my home. So, I want divine inspiration? Surround myself with things that were also informed by the divine. This is very obvious to me.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you don’t think about things like this, in this way, for 30% of your time like I do. I have that awareness now, and that awareness leads me to believe that this is my purpose. To put words to these perspectives, in my way, is my legacy.
Ikea, Target, World Market… All of these places manufacture style. They manufacture aesthetics so you can look cool to your friends or whatever. But what does putting these things in our home really do to us? What does a table designed on a computer, produced by machines, and made of particle board or cardboard really say about who I am and what I am willing to live with? More importantly, what does it communicate to me on a daily basis?
I’ve had these ideas floating in my head my whole life and I’m ready to get them out. In comes paid subscriptions. I’m still going to do semi-weekly free newsletters of whatever the fuck comes to me to write about, don’t you worry.
Behind the paywall you will be with me as I develop words to my life’s work. Sharing my thoughts on what I’m learning is where I’m going to start with this. Right now, it’s Feng Shui. I don’t know how I see this playing out. All I know is that it’s important and I must say it. I need a space to flush out these ideas but it will only work if I get something from you.
Behind the paywall I want to have a dialog with you; I want to know what resonates, what feels off, what is too conceptual, where I need to draw hard lines. So comment, please. I’m thinking about using Substack’s chat feature as well and getting some community discussions going.
I am an open recipient to your honest and respectful commentary. I will not accept disrespect, but we cross that bridge as it comes.
If you’re a close friend who cares about what I’m up to and wants to genuinely be apart of the process, consider being a paid subscriber.
If you’re a stranger that met me through my workshops and cares about living life thoughtfully, consider being a paid subscriber.
If you’re a child of trauma and grew up feeling uncomfortable in your home, consider being a paid subscriber.
If you’re a hater that likes to see people fail, consider being a paid subscriber. I dare you.
If you don’t care about how you feel in the spaces of which you reside, consider being a paid subscriber.
If you get off to Ikea(the meatballs are delicious!), consider being a paid subscriber.
If you’re a person I went on a couple of dates with and it didn’t work out (please know I don’t feel awkward about our connection at all AND), consider being a paid subscriber. Lol.
Subscriptions are:
$8 a month
$80 a year
$240 as a founding member
Self Pep Talk
Something I must say for myself is. I commit to writing this content for paid subscribers because I know that my thoughts, no matter how preliminary, are worth it. It does not matter how many people pay, I will continue to produce the work. I must continue especially if no one sees it. And if I’m really being honest, I don’t want anyone to see it anyway. Feels a little like an over exposure, like I ‘need to have it figured out more’ before sharing. So a slow start, would actually work for me. Now that we’re at this point I want to reiterate for myself: It would be okay if no one signed up as a paid subscriber, the count of people’s eyes on my words does not equate to my value and the value of what I’m working on. You will not let ‘low numbers’ dictate your actions in this way. It’s not that deep, dude. I love you, we can do this safely.
What I’m Working On This Week:
Personally: This week was pretty packed, my first week in Des Moines where I have multiple social engagements! YAY!
Art: Been focusing on other things, I trust I’ll connect with my creative practice soon.
Work: Abundance vibes!!!!!
Purpose: It’s cool to be honest with myself in what I believe my life will look like. I’m really practicing being open to timeline and it feels good, experimenting a lot.
Events I Have Coming Up:
Yeah yeah, still haven’t done this. Gonna give grace and maybe open myself up to the option of hosting a live workshop in Des Moines. We’ll see.
Thank you so very much, you mean more to me than you know.
-Alex