When I first started on Substack a few months ago, a new subscriber was a big deal. Like, a genuinely exciting thing. I’d click their profile, read some of their work, wonder what brought them to mine.

I’m still just as excited for every new subscriber and comment. But somewhere along the way, something shifted.

Fifteen reads used to feel like fifteen real people choosing to spend time with my words.

Now, if a post doesn’t cross a certain number, a small voice in my head thinks: this one didn’t do well.

I try not to think like that. I mostly don’t. But it’s there.

I find it kind of funny, honestly. Not funny-good or funny-bad. Just funny that a few months is all it takes for the extraordinary to become the baseline. And for the baseline to slowly become the floor.

Is this just the human condition? I’m guessing I’m not the only one.