Chapter 1: A Personal Awakening

This morning, I shared with my wife how elated and grateful I am to have become active on Medium since last November. This platform has turned into a unique sanctuary in my life, offering therapeutic, spiritual, and even entertaining experiences that are overshadowing my Netflix habits like defeated soldiers in a retreat.

Although I have been a member of Medium for a decade, I never truly engaged with it. The constant barrage of “10 ways to do this” and “20 ways to do that” articles failed to resonate with me. There are a few exceptions—I've consistently enjoyed pieces by Sean Kernan and Francis Laleman over the years.

Most social media platforms are inundated with similar content. While I was very active on LinkedIn, which has its advantages and has significantly contributed to my career, the platform mainly features a cycle of superficial self-help, fabricated success stories, and toxic positivity.

I wasn't interested in another venue that merely recycled these narratives in a longer format. I noticed the news about a new CEO for Medium but didn’t pay much attention.

However, today, I find myself pleasantly surprised by the platform's evolution. I had been oblivious to its positive transformation during my period of inactivity.

Wow!

I am genuinely encountering authentic human stories.

Every individual has unique experiences to share, and it's refreshing to read them without the pressure of deriving specific lessons from them. Just yesterday, I met someone who recounted a wild encounter with a hippo in Africa while under the influence of marijuana.

I also spoke with an elderly gentleman who shared memories from his school days, painting a picture of a time long before my own existence. An American woman with ADHD recently showcased remarkable bravery by singing a Bollywood song on stage.

Another day, I encountered a woman writing about her daily life in India, with no particular "takeaways." Instead, the experience was like basking in the winter sun while savoring oranges—purely therapeutic!

Additionally, I met a talented 16-year-old named Pahal, whose writing captivated me with both her skill and insightful observations.

Of course, there are also those who produce excellent content on careers, technology, and self-help.

Medium, you are triumphing in the battle against other online platforms—not in a quest for numbers or profit, but in a fight for authenticity, genuine storytelling, and wisdom grounded in real-life experiences.

You have fashioned a microcosm of the world on this platform, celebrating diverse stories from every corner, free from the burdens of advertisements, clickbait, and commercialization (though I recognize this will always be a challenge).

It fosters a genuine sense of community, making me feel as though I'm not merely reading, but truly meeting people. This is why I’ve used the word "meet" in my examples above.

I gain insights into others' lives, walk alongside them, and often connect on a spiritual level. Simultaneously, I acquire valuable knowledge on how to build a writing career, launch a newsletter, or develop a software product.

This platform enables me to explore a wide range of topics—from "5 ways to launch a product" to "my dog was jealous when we got a new puppy."

In the words of Medium's CEO, Tony Stubblebine, paraphrased for brevity,

"What I take the most pride in is moving away from the attention economy. The issues plaguing the internet stem from ad-driven models that prioritize attention over substance...

Currently, the internet favors authors who also act as marketers. However, the majority of those with compelling stories aren't equipped to navigate SEO or audience-building techniques… Everyone should have the opportunity for their great stories to be heard."

You can see the interview here.

Before I forget, while Medium is thriving, I am also triumphing in another personal battle—reading.

For a long time, my book-reading habits have declined. I buy books only for them to gather dust. There's a Japanese term for this: Tsundoku (積ん読). That's what it's called.

It makes me feel guilty.

But the good news? While I may not be reading traditional books, I am engaged with the diverse stories and articles on Medium. What a victory!

A heartfelt round of applause for this platform and all the writers whose contributions are rekindling my reading passion.

With that said, I sincerely hope that Medium continues to prioritize the needs of both writers and readers.

Amen.

Notes and Disclaimers:

¹ Listicles, when executed properly, can be impactful. However, I refer here to the repetitive, low-quality content that often circulates.

² I'm uncertain if tagging numerous individuals in an article is advisable, as it may come off as an attempt to draw their attention. Hence, I've only tagged the youngest writer mentioned to allow interested readers to discover her work.