Thank You For Making My 2024 Awesome 💖
2024 Highlight Reel: My Favorite Posts and Core Memories on Substack
I was inspired to make my own “2024 Highlight Reel” thanks to
and (I put the link to their work at the bottom of this post)~ I thought it would be a great way to reflect on the past year and welcome 2025 with a grateful heart 😊At first, I was planning to make this a recap of my top-performing posts and notes from last year, but I realized it would be much more aligned with my values to go beyond the metrics and curate the posts that have a special place in my heart 💕
I also don’t want this to just be about me, but also about the wonderful memories I’ve made with you! ✨
My Favorite Posts From 2024
#1 - What It Honestly Feels Like Pursuing My Dreams
This one is probably the closest to my heart 🥺💖
I shared how I found the courage to pursue my dreams despite all my fears and uncertainties.
Being a student achiever has been part of my identity for as long as I can remember. I felt pressured to live up to other people’s expectations of me and I was scared of what they would say about my unconventional career choice.
But I’m taking responsibility for my own life. I’d rather disappoint other people than my future self because no one else is going to live my life for me. Why should I waste it trying to please others?
It’s funny how it takes only a few seconds for people to say something hurtful, but it can take us years to move past it.
Do I really want to base the most important decisions of my life on a couple of words people carelessly throw around?They can say whatever they want, but at the end of the day, this is my life and I’m the one who’s ultimately responsible for it. I’m the one who will bear the burden of regret on my deathbed when I don’t go after what I truly want.
What It Honestly Feels Like Pursuing My Dreams
After college, I made the bravest decision in my entire 23 years of existence:
#2 - The Real Problem With Finding Your Niche
This was my second post on the topic of finding your niche. (The first one was “How to Find Your Niche When You Have Too Many Interests.”)
I noticed that a lot of us really struggle with this and I wondered why. As I was pondering on this problem, I had a sudden insight and I was so excited to share it!
That’s the problem—the word “niche” has so often been tied to the words “profit” and “success,” both of which are focused on the outcome, not the process.
The truth is, creators succeed not by finding a “profitable niche,” but by finding something they are deeply passionate about—something that drives them to master their craft and persevere long enough to achieve lasting results.
Here’s another one of my favorite lines from this post:
“What can I get in return?” is the mindset of a consumer.
“What can I give?” is the mindset of a creator.
#3 - Why Do I Create Content? (It’s Not About Money or Attention)
It’s easy to get impatient with your progress when you’re just starting out and don’t have that much traction yet.
When I’m starting to lose my way, my “Why” serves as my North Star and guides me back towards the right path.
I want a career that makes me feel alive and gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I don’t want to live a life where I dread waking up every morning, slave away at a job I hate just for the paycheck, and spend the rest of my days distracting myself from this meaningless routine.
I can’t afford to waste my time like that, not even for a couple of years.
There’s no guarantee that I’ll live to be 100.
I could die at 50.
I could die tomorrow.
I could die today.If I don’t live long enough to achieve my biggest dreams,
at least I would like to die trying.
(Before this, I wrote a similar post, “How to Find Your Why” where I shared my journal entry and the prompts I used to clarify why I want to be a content creator.)
Why Do I Create Content? (It’s Not About Money or Attention)
As a new creator, there are times that I can’t help but worry about whether I’ll be successful in this career.
Core Memories From 2024
#1 - 11.20.2024 | Welcomed by the Substack Community from Day One 💗
I’ll never forget the day that I officially joined Substack ✨
It was November 20, 2024. I was nervous because it was my first time writing online and as I’ve shared in my last post, Substack was completely new to me.
While I was scrolling through my feed, I read some notes saying that the people here are very kind and welcoming. True enough, I experienced this firsthand through my interactions with
and 💟I remember reading Jamie’s post, “All We Have Is Small: Luckily, small makes the world go ’round” and I loved it so much 💖 I left a comment but I didn’t expect that she would actually reply 😯 She even followed me then liked my first few notes and posts! I was really touched by her kindness and I felt seen as a newbie writer 🥺🤍
Claudia’s newsletter, Wander Wealth, has been so helpful for me as a Substack beginner 🤍 I was surprised to receive a direct message from her thanking me for subscribing and kindly offering a helping hand if I had any questions. I didn’t expect this at all because I was already gaining so much value from her posts! I felt her genuine care for me as a subscriber 🥹🤍
I also had a few small interactions with other writers via notes ✨ They all made me feel that I wasn’t alone and there’s someone I could reach out to if I ever needed help 🥺
Substack instantly felt like home thanks to the wonderful community here~ 🏡💖
#2 - 11.23.2024 | Finding My Newsletter Alongside Those of My Favorite Creators 🥹
I’ve already started posting since November 20, but for some reason, I did not immediately think of opening my email and reading my own newsletter there (instead of the Substack app).
While I was scrolling through my inbox last November 23, I saw my newsletter alongside those of my favorite creators. It felt so surreal that I took a screenshot and posted a note 🥹💗
Before I joined Substack, I had no idea how to even start my own email newsletter! 😅 I watched a few tutorials but I’d never actually tried it.
This was a reminder for me to celebrate my small wins and appreciate how far I’ve come 💟
Metrics should not be the only way that you measure your progress. Don’t just reward yourself for reaching a certain outcome—reward yourself for showing up and taking action too! ✨
#3 - 12.14.2024 | Mama Subscribed to My Newsletter 💟
I know that for some people, their family and friends are the first audience of their newsletter, but that’s not my case.
All my life, I’ve felt trapped by other people’s image and expectations of me. I started this newsletter hoping to make a fresh start and to freely express who I really am. I want to start writing my story from my own perspective, not what other people say about me.
I’m slowly starting to share my newsletter with people I know in real life that I trust, and I’m thankful that the first one on that list is my mom.
Her support means so much to me, especially because we come from a collectivist and family-oriented culture. I’ve been worried about not being able to make money immediately as a creator, but she encouraged me to pursue my dream career and reassured me that it’s alright if it takes me a few years before I can give back to our family financially 🥺💟
#4 - 12.20.2024 | Celebrated My First Substack Monthsary 🥳
I’ve been seeing other writers on my feed celebrating their milestones, and I wondered if it would be a good idea to do something similar. I value meaning over metrics, so would it be hypocritical of me to celebrate my milestones according to how many subscribers I have? How can I do this in a way that is still aligned with my values?
I decided that on my first monthsary, I would take a screenshot of my subscriber count regardless of the number, and I’d say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who chose to join me on this journey 💖
I also sent a message to our Subscriber Chat and I was touched by everyone’s kind words~ It takes less than a minute to say “Congratulations” but these words always make me smile 🥹
I didn’t expect
to even go one step further and write this touching note 🥹For context, Mark was one of my very first subscribers and I didn’t expect that my post, How to Find Your Niche When You Have Too Many Interests, would lead to our friendship! I checked out his Substack too and loved his writing so I subscribed. Ever since then, we’ve just been reading and commenting on each other’s posts 😊
When I look back on how I became friends with other Substack writers, the process was the same—we just kept supporting each other’s works~ I’m so grateful for all the friends I’ve made here! 🥰
I can’t mention all of you 🥲 but I’d like to give a special shoutout to the ones I’ve interacted with the most so far—
, , , , , and 💖#5 - 12.29.2024 | Inspired my Subscriber to Start Her Writing Journey 💌
I wrote this note because I was so happy that I was able to encourage
to start writing on Substack!I met Lina through her comment on my latest post. She shared that she's been thinking of writing and sharing her story as a chronic caregiver for her mom with dementia. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire and help her fellow caregivers.
Her mission is so beautiful and I'm beyond happy that she's sharing her story and voice! ✨
I believe she'll inspire so many people with her work 🙏🏻🤍
It would be amazing if you could also send her some encouragement and support 🥰
The post that I’m referring to is From Not Knowing About Substack to Gaining 45 Subscribers in 1 Month. Here’s a snippet from our conversation in the comment section:
I hope I can inspire more people to start their creator journey too 🙏🏼💖
#6 - 12.31.2024 | Ended 2024 and Welcomed the New Year with 100 Subscribers ✨
When I posted my ‘45 Subscribers in 1 Month’ note, I remember receiving comments saying that the next milestone for me would be 100 subscribers, but I thought it would take much longer for that to happen.
I was just happy and grateful for all the blessings I’ve received so far ✨
I don’t want to fall into the trap of chasing milestones that I forget to be grateful for what I have. I always try my best to cultivate a mindset of humility and gratitude 🙏🏼💖
“To be satisfied with what one has; that is wealth. As long as one sorely needs a certain additional amount, that man isn't rich.”
— Mark Twain
Focus on what truly matters and the results will follow.
When we let go of the outcome, not only do we enjoy the journey so much more but we’ll also be surprised by the blessings that come our way!
It’s not about having more subscribers—it’s about building friendships and meaningful connections. 🤍
✨ Alea’s Cabinet of Curiosities
This one’s specially dedicated to my fellow Substack writers! 🤍
💫 Where I Got The Inspiration For This Highlight Reel
💖 Some of My Favorite Works From Other Writers
(There’s a lot but it would be too much to include them all here 🥲 I just chose a few ones that left a lasting impression on me ✨)
This is it for my 2024 Highlight Reel! ✨
Once again, Happy New Year everyone! 🎆 I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your family and loved ones 😊
Let’s make more memories together this 2025! 💖
— Alea
If my newsletter has brought you value and you’d like to support me, the following would be a huge help:
Give this post a like, restack, and comment — I really appreciate your engagement with my posts and I love hearing from you too! 💖
Share and recommend my publication — If you know someone who would also gain valuable insights and inspiration from my work, please share the link below 😊
Give one-time or monthly donations through Ko-Fi — Support my mission of inspiring more creators to pursue their life’s work and make a positive difference in the world ✨
Thank you so much for your generosity and endless support! 🙏🏻💖
"I’d rather disappoint other people than my future self because no one else is going to live my life for me. Why should I waste it trying to please others?" This hits so hard! I've been trying to live this way too - I'm very much a recovering people pleaser. Boundaries are difficult but they are so, so important!
When you have found the path, the Universe continues to bring you what you need.