Less Tiktok, more?
Good morning,
Welcome to week thirty-two of The Bright Side. It's mid-January. How are you?
In today’s piece:
The TikTok ban debate has sparked something deeper, for me—not about apps or politics, but how we navigate a world that's constantly tugging at our focus.
What happens when we get space to think? When our minds aren't being pulled in a thousand directions.
One of my goals for 2025? Talking with you about how attention shapes who we become.
Are you in? Keep reading. ;)
At age 22, I rode my bicycle cross-country, from Seattle to Atlantic City, 3,400 miles in 47 days.
Small towns, fast cities, and mind-blowing sunrises felt real from my handlebar view at a top speed of 12 mph. I absorbed the sound of crickets, heat rising from pavement, the laughter of farmers telling stories in small bars.
Stepping beyond the screen reveals meaning we’ll never find in notifications. This social media moment isn't really about TikTok. It's about owning your attention.
Each generation faces challenges in defining adulthood and purpose, revealing a deeper story about creativity, connection and who shapes the (digital) spaces where we gather.
Young creators are building movements, businesses, and authentic communities through these platforms.
Meanwhile, others find their mental health hijacked by algorithmic feeds or toxic trends designed to keep them scrolling.
The world is so focused on what we might miss online, we forget what we're missing in the quiet.
What if this is an invitation to reimagine how we experience life?
Because the most valuable things in life don't ping for our attention. Creative sparks. Deep connections. Moments that can change everything - they emerge in the spaces between.
The real question isn't whether to engage with digital spaces, but how to do so intentionally.
While millions debate which app to migrate to next, what if there's another opportunity? To realize our ability to choose, and remember that every hour shapes who we are becoming.
Maybe the richest moments aren't in the content we consume, but in the life we give ourselves time to experience.
Your attention shapes who you become - regardless of your age or circumstances.
So, what might you discover in your quiet?
MICRO-ACTIONS
⏳ Give yourself 5 minutes without input. No goal, no plan - just space to notice what surfaces when you finally pause.
👩🌾 Audit your favorite digital space. What stays? What goes? Your attention is worth being picky about.
🎸Ask someone (maybe a stranger, maybe your grandmother): "When do you feel most alive?" Trade stories about moments that make time disappear.
🔑Resource you might (really) love
Jérôme Brouillet’s winning photo of Brazil’s Gabriel Medina after coming off the back of a big wave in round three of the men’s surfing competition at the Paris Olympics.
🙋🏻♂️Reader Poll
If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do with it? Click here to let us know!
In your corner,
Kate Larson
Founder
Want the back-story of how my impatience for adulting in my first job out of college ended with this adventure? Just hit reply. I'll tell you more...