its not about fame.
in fact i hate the idea of being known just to be known.
but here's the thing—
to affect change in the world, you have to communicate. you have to say something.
and when u say something loud enough (or for long enough), people notice.
and thats weird.
bc i dont particularly care for the ideas of fame.
i just want to make/create/build things that matter.
i want people to feel something. i want to be apart of a shift.
maybe experience the world a little differently.
but to do that, in this society?
you have to be seen.
and being seen feels like selling out sometimes.
like your chasing attention when all u wanted was connection/collaboration.
maybe fame is just the tax you pay for having something to say?
or maybe im justifying why i have to do the thing i dont want to do.
either way—silence is preferred, but we live in a strange time.
think about it.
most communication now is one-way.
user to the world. the world... holds breath. nothing.
bc in reality everyone's talking at the same time.
we listen to others talk at us, but the dialogue?
fragmented. broken.
we used to use follows and likes to communicate.
that still exists sure, but now its more like impressions and views.
if people view it, thats conversation?
in a way, that’s kind of what it is.
so where does that leave us?
the ones who want to create.
who want to talk and engage in dialogue. who care about doing quality work.
but dont want the spotlight.
dont want the performance.
dont want to become the brand.
idk.
maybe the answer is just... do it anyway?
that’s what i landed on.
make the thing. say the thing. let it reach whoever its supposed to reach.
and if that means some level of visibility? fine. but not in a way that feels like chasing views or clout or whatever. the fame isn't the point.
the work is the point.
the communication is the point.
the connection—even if its messy and one-sided and filtered through screens—thats still the point.
fame? thats just a side effect maybe.
but using your voice matters.
and i keep telling myself that — keep talking, keep making, keep showing up. but honestly.. is that advice or is that just me trying to convince myself it's worth the discomfort?
and the attention thing.. i want to say "don't confuse attention with intention" bc that sounds right. but idk if it's that clean. sometimes they blur. sometimes you start with the work and end up chasing the numbers anyway and you dont even notice the shift.
so i guess just.. pay attention to that? or try to.
—riley