Ever feel relieved when no one’s paying attention to you? That was me in NYC earlier this month.

But first, here’s one of my favorite souvenirs from the trip:

(The photo, not the lady. I found her on Hinge.)

This photo came after dinner with friends and before we took the subway back to Jersey City.

Amidst passengers sleeping, taking selfies, or playing air guitar, I disappeared into the anonymity of the packed subway car. It felt like when you first push your head underwater in the bath—silent, consuming.

I was the least interesting person on that subway, and it was wildly freeing.

The other extreme? Rural North Carolina 🚜

From Newark, we hopped a plane to rural NC to visit my partner’s aunt and uncle, where the social currency flipped.

“Yes ma’am” and “sir” everywhere, exuberant friendliness, neighbors who knew everyone’s business, and my partner’s 78-year-old aunt wearing a hat with pink stitching that read, “Bless your heart.” 😬

Here, being personable was the fabric that held the community together. And it felt freeing too: to be seen, acknowledged, and known, even briefly.

The paradox in copywriting 🌀

The contrast reminded me of a truth in writing: the balance between writing what feels true to you AND shaping it so your reader feels seen.

On one hand, your words are just one passenger on the metaphorical subway of content consumption.

But they may also be the exact message someone’s been waiting to hear.

Back home, I slipped into my fall rhythm. 🍂

The whirlwind of travel feels like a dream now, but the photobooth strip on my desk reminds me it was real.

So does the less tangible subway souvenir: anonymity.

Maybe that’s what this season is really asking for: permission to be the least interesting person in the room.

To stop performing.
To stop smiling on cue.
To stop second-guessing every word.

To sit quietly in your own space and trust that what comes out of the stillness—whether your big idea, your copy, your marketing—will be enough.

Perhaps, the most interesting thing we can do is stop trying to be interesting at all.

Q? -- Does this season feel like an invitation to pause quietly in your own space, or to lean into being seen and authentically known? Hit "reply" to let me know.

xo,
Ari

P.S. If 2026 feels like your year to be seen, check out my Pitch Party on Nov 5th. It’s part workshop, part co-working, and a way to plant seeds for more visibility next year. Registration opens very soon!

What is it: A focused, supportive 90-minute container where you’ll:

• 🎤 Find 2–3 unique angles only you can bring
• 🌀 Learn my 5-Step Authentic Pitch Process for win-win pitching
• 📝 Use my Pitch Blueprint to draft your pitch step by step
• 🎯 Get 1:1 hot-seat coaching and group feedback so your pitch is clear and compelling

You'll be able to choose a ticket price between $17-$57, based on your financial reality and lived experience. Registration opens very soon! Sneak a peek at the full workshop title below. 👀