This piece is disappointing and reassuring. As someone who. has posted a few essays on Medium, I thought the low volume of responses to my work meant I was doing something really wrong or that my words were just not resonating. It made me reevaluate my every word, test new headlines, search for better images and methods of promoting. It also helped me clarify for myself that although I would truly like a bountiful monetization I get a wealth of value from my self-expression. The challenges of this past year were unyielding and it’s rewarding to get those thoughts out of my head. Ideally, sharing them offers new understanding and value to someone who knows where I’m coming from or has absolutely no insight into growing up as a Black man in America raised in the Bronx, NY when Hip Hop was everything and crack was king but is open to gaining a new perspective.