RCLightning

Yay! Balloons.

@wisdomXplorer Yes, and no.

@RClightning83 Hope you’re okay 🙏

Hello everyone, Yes, still here. Been a rough month for me. Not everything in life needs to be a post though. Sometimes just staying quiet and private is the best move.

@OrahOnX The fams good if a but chaotic lately. Me, still working through the heavy emotions and waiting for the explosion of anger to focus onto something. Heads kinda wierd right now.

@RClightning83 Right? How are you and the family?

Fine. I’ll Ask the Question. Happy Now? Good Morning World!!! I’m thinking about caving. I know. I’m as disappointed in me as you are. I’m thinking about doing something that’s always felt like manipulation to me. Something I’ve refused to do almost every single day. Something that makes my skin crawl every time I see someone else do it… even though I know they’re just playing the game and I’m the one standing in the corner with my arms crossed like a grumpy toddler who refuses to eat her vegetables. Every time I let AI edit my posts, it tries to force this in. Every time I ask for feedback, it dings me for not doing it. “Your engagement would improve significantly if you would simply…” No. Stop. I don’t want to hear it. Can you guess what it is? It’s one of my favorite things in the world, actually. I’ve loved it since I was about four years old. It’s part of how I managed to get 5 million impressions in 14 days. It’s something almost every successful creator does without even thinking about it. And I’ve refused to do it on principle. Because I’m stubborn. Because I’m principled. Because I am, apparently, a little bit stupid. Am I just being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn? Probably. I avoid it because it feels manipulative. But then I start questioning everything. Is writing a strong hook manipulative? Is trying to make someone feel something manipulative? Is wearing matching socks manipulative because I want people to think I have my life together? When I write, I’m trying to make you feel something. Empathy. Motivation. Hope. Some days, frustration and rage. Is that manipulation? Or is that just… writing? Is a comedian manipulating you when you laugh? Is a cook manipulating you when the smell of bacon makes you hungry? I don’t know. It’s early. I’m spiraling like a caffeinated squirrel on a trampoline. Have you figured it out yet? People have told me they don’t reply because they don’t feel smart enough to add anything. Or because I’ve already said everything. I work really hard to make sure you understand exactly what I’m saying. I read my drafts looking for confusion, gaps, unanswered questions… and I fix them before I ever hit post. And apparently? That’s a problem. I’ve made my writing too complete. Too self-contained. Like a casserole where everything is already mixed in and there’s no room left for you to add your own hot sauce. I’ve gone deep on the new algorithm. I’ve asked every version of AI I can get my hands on the same question: How do I grow without selling out my voice? Without niching down? Without turning everything into short, shallow, forgettable noise? And every single time… it comes back to the same thing. The one thing I’ve refused to do. Like a splinter I won’t pull out. Like the tag in the back of your shirt that scratches your neck but you never cut off. Leave a question. I hate it. It feels forced. It feels tacky. It feels cheap. Like ending a YouTube video with “like and subscribe.” I hate that too. But if you’re still here… and bless you if you are… you’re here because you want to be. You want me to succeed. Or you’re watching the train wreck. Either way… I appreciate you. So please don’t think less of me. But I think I’m going to try it. Even though I really don’t want to. I wasn’t always like this. I think watching low-effort questions get massive engagement… and seeing AI tack questions onto literally everything… made me dig my heels in. Like a mule. Like a toddler refusing to put on shoes. Like a grown woman who knows she’s being ridiculous but has already chosen this as her hill to die on… and by God she brought snacks for the siege. But if asking a simple question helps people respond without overthinking… If it helps more people see my work… If it gets me a payout that covers more than four pizzas a month… Maybe it’s worth pushing through the ick. It’s not selling out if I hate it the whole time, right? That counts. I’m choosing to believe that counts. So… deep breath. I’m doing it. Don’t judge me. Be honest… have you ever been this stubborn about something small, or am I out here fighting this battle alone? (There. I did it. I hated it. I’m already regretting it. But I did it.) Have a great day… and may the algorithm always be in your favor. ❤️🔥

@OrahOnX I need to get back to my regularly scheduled system. RL has had me all sorts of busy and drained.

Stop Blaming the Algorithm. It’s Not the Problem. Good Morning World!!! The new algorithm is treating me well. Both as a consumer and as a creator. So, I’m going to say something I’ve been “biting my tongue” about for two years. Actually… no I haven’t. I’ve been saying it over and over like a broken record. Y’all just weren’t listening. If you’re still doing reply-guy tactics and engagement pods, the algorithm just put you in time-out. No note home. No conference with the principal. Just silence… and a very uncomfortable drop in views. And here’s the part that’s a little painful for me personally: I’ve been warning about this for two years. Two years of “hey… maybe don’t do that.” Two years of people calling me paranoid. Or dramatic. Or just ignoring me because the old playbook was still working. Well… It’s not anymore. The Old Playbook Is Dead Like… fully dead. Not “taking a nap.” Not “resting.” Dead. Deader than my houseplants. And I have killed a lot of houseplants. If your strategy still looks like: “Great post!” “🔥🔥🔥” “Agreed!” …copy-pasted across 40 accounts before 9 AM like a squirrel on espresso… The algorithm is not impressed. The new system doesn’t care how busy you look. It cares whether anyone actually cares. Likes and bookmarks still matter, sure. But they’re not the main character anymore. They’re like a participation ribbon. Cute. Not getting you to the Olympics. What matters now is predicted engagement. Will someone actually stop? Read? Think? Reply like a human? Or will they scroll past you like you’re a timeshare booth at the mall? You’re Probably Competing With Yourself (And Losing) Let’s talk about posting volume. The average person sees about 20 to 30 posts in their feed. So, if you’re out here posting 20 times a day… You’re not increasing your odds. You’re just flooding your own lane. You’re competing against yourself for attention. And you’re not winning. You’re just loud. Like a leaf blower at 7 AM on a Sunday. Everyone notices. No one is grateful. The Megas Are Melting Down (And It’s Kind of Hard to Watch) Mega curation accounts are feeling this in real time. You know the ones, the empires built on other people’s videos and a three-word caption that just says “thoughts?” They’re now getting 20K views or less on posts that used to pull hundreds of thousands. And a lot of them are still blaming “the horrible algorithm” instead of their strategy. It’s like blaming your oven because you burned dinner while you were scrolling on your phone. The oven didn’t do that, honey. You did. Don’t worry too much about them. They’re still making enough to cover their Premium fees for now… at least until the copyright reports start piling up like junk mail after a long vacation. The Timeline Feels Different… For a Reason A lot of people are panicking about lower impressions right now. I get it. I really do. It’s like stepping on the scale after the holidays. You know it’s probably fine… but you still brace yourself. But here’s what I’m seeing. The impressions I am getting? Way better. Real people. Real conversations. People who actually read before replying (which still feels illegal after the last couple years). And my timeline? Cleaner. Less noise. More actual thinkers. More people who want to build something instead of just farm impressions. I’ve said for a long time that this platform could turn into the biggest think tank in the world. It kind of feels like we’re watching that happen in real time. The Follower Test (Don’t Skip This Part) Go check your analytics. I’ll wait. Go ahead. I’ll be here with my coffee. If a bigger percentage of your impressions are coming from non-followers? You’re doing it right. The algorithm is testing you with new audiences. You’re the casserole people actually want at the potluck. They’re coming back for seconds. If it’s mostly your followers… and your reach is dropping? It’s time to rethink things. And I don’t mean tweak. I mean rethink everything. And also… just to say it out loud: Not everyone needs to be a content creator. That’s not an insult. Some people are chefs. Some people are just here to enjoy the meal. Both are valid. The Bottom Line (Coffee Is Cold, But I Have Thoughts) For those of us who stuck to original content, who actually engage like humans, who didn’t try to game every system we saw… This is a really good moment. The algorithm isn’t punishing anyone. It’s just finally paying attention. Like a parent who just realized the kids have been running the candy store for three years… and just walked in and took the keys back. And yeah. Some people are about to be very disappointed. But some of you? You’re about to find your real audience. The one that reads or watches to the very end. The one that cares. The one that actually comes back. And honestly? That’s the whole point. Have a great day, and may the algorithm always be in your favor. 🔥

@trishgray90 I can only listen right now.

@trishgray90 @trishgray90

@trishgray90 Had to switch to my computer. My Microphone isn't working right now.

I can't think of anything to post. That's it. That's the post.

@CindyColbert It's fine. Life's had me away from stuff a lot lately as well.

@RClightning83 I'm so sorry RC. I'm just catching up on notifications... haven't been online near as much and just saw this. Throwing you a big virtual hug and praying for you. 🙏💕

Lost another long term friend last night. Currently wolf in mourning. R⚡️C

That's an idea. Maybe tomorrow if the feeling continues. Tonight I think I will just spend some time on a game or watching TV with the kids. Might stop into a space later with Cindy or if Danes running one. Since I grieve in waves and more privately than others it's tough to know what helps sometimes.

@RClightning83 Maybe start a discord chat?

Kinda wish there was a way to have a private space without needing subscriptions active. If there is a way Idk how to do it. Just thinking I could use a friend or two right now. No idea what to discuss but just feeling a bit lonely and down currently.

@DaneDe4orest @OrahOnX @CindyColbert @jairomsb @trishgray90 Thanks appreciate it 🙏 Just been a really rough 4 months.

@RClightning83 @OrahOnX @CindyColbert @jairomsb So sorry for your loss RC 😞 I've been thinking of you, miss seeing you on @CindyColbert & @trishgray90 Spaces, hope we can catch up soon friend Stay strong 🙏 🤍

@jairomsb True enough. He wasn't in the greatest health over the last few years so it wasn't a complete surprise, just hoped for one last summer with him.

@RClightning83 Life has a way to give us the most painful situations without much warning. Hope your heart finds solace, my friend.

@OrahOnX Thanks 😔

@RClightning83 I am so very sorry for you loss.

What happened to the people around here?

@OrahOnX It's a big change for sure. I'm sure you'll find your way forward though.

Where Do I Fly Now That the Nest Is Empty? Good Morning World!!! I haven’t eaten or moved around much for the last three days. When I’m upset, my whole system revolts and solid food becomes… hypothetical. I’ve felt weak and weary. Not just in my body but in my soul. But today is going to be different. I’m not sure what I’ll break my fast with, but it will be something simple and sweet. And I know today is different because when I went for my morning pee, I grabbed the trash and took it out before coffee. Now, to most people, that’s nothing. But I normally do absolutely nothing between peeing, grabbing coffee, and sitting down to write. That is my sacred sequence. Breaking it? A cosmic event. Maybe it was avoidance. I’ve got a case of what I call the Big Bad Uglies. Too many emotions piled on top of each other to separate them into neat little boxes. And writing is how I usually sort the mess. So this morning I put on my Love Songs playlist, scrolled for a couple of minutes, and a post popped up reminding me of something I forget far too easily: I have made an impact. A positive one. One person at a time. And sometimes, through my writing, far more than one. That was the dream, wasn’t it? To be a writer who made people feel less alone because writers did that for me. Sitting here now, looking at the life I’ve lived and the role I’ve carried for 11 years, I keep asking myself: Who am I without all of that? What does life look like now? A lot less housework. A lot more quiet. A lot more “me” time. What do I build with that space? What projects will I invent? What will I finally accomplish? I love our house, but right now it doesn’t feel like a home. It feels like a never-ending to-do list wearing a roof. I never thought I’d want to move again, but between local politics and everything else, I’ve been itching to run since year two. I’ve felt trapped. And suddenly… I’m not. We can leave. And I don’t know where to go. Or who I’m supposed to be. Or what purpose I’m meant to step into next. Once again, my life as I know it is ending and some new adventure is waiting for me on the other side. Have a great day, and may the algorithm always be in your favor. And remember, God loves you no matter what.