NALA #01 You can’t rush flavor.
Welcome to my world of exploring connections and ideas. Let’s start a conversation about honest food.
Hi, I'm An De Smedt from NALA; You might be wondering why you are getting an email from me. Well, I've moved my old mailing list to Substrack, and you seem to be on it.
If you feel like running away screaming, "Not Another Newsletter," unsubscribe, no hard feelings, I get it!
Why did I move, and what can you expect if you stick around?
For a while now, I've been looking for a way to escape sensory overload, endless social media scrolling, bite-size consumption, and digital distractions in general.
Instead, I want to create a story-driven community because I believe in the value of sharing knowledge. I want to chase ideas, not algorithms. That's how I ended up here on Substack, and in your mailbox.
My goal is to help connect the dots when it comes to honest food.
Connecting with like-minded people looking for meaningful stories and the sweet smell of the outdoors. People who prefer having off-grid conversations around a campfire. And who would love to, even only briefly, travel back in time to a simpler analog world (even if it starts on a digital device).
I always say the key ingredient in my cooking is time; you can't rush flavor. The same could be said for all my other creative outlets. I want to feel, smell, touch, experience, and connect.
This longer format might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope you can slow down once in a while and let me show you what’s going on in my mind and how I’m connecting the dots.
I'll open up my notebooks with recipes, drawings, photography, thoughts, and insights and share the inspiring conversations I have with people I meet along the way.
Creating this journal will hopefully help me finish the book I've been working on for the past few years, and it will undoubtedly give you a glimpse of what to expect.
One step at a time.
The Plan
Get a clear view of what I want this journal format of NALA to be. Where do I want it to go? It will still be ever-evolving; that's just who I am.
Creating a structure and schedule. I would love to commit to weekly posts to build writing muscle memory and inspire you. On a regular base, you'll find a fresh newsletter in your mailbox or on the app.
Over time, I want to add paid memberships, including bonus content and other features, but I intend to keep the primary newsletter free. If you feel like supporting me from the get-go, I will be forever grateful for kicking my butt to stay committed to creating.
My long-term goal is to collaborate and build a community that highlights honest food, travel, and inspiring stories.
If you want to be part of this goal, I invite you to get in touch and be part of it.What has held me back is trying to do everything at once and do it to perfection. So, my motto now is one step at a time.
Video is one of those things that seems perfect in my head, but in reality, I don't speak that language. The photographer in me is ingrained too much in how I think and communicate.
Once I gain some momentum, getting stuck into creating videos is the next step. Hit me up if you have any advice or want to collaborate.
Finish the book! There, I've said it so you can all hold me accountable.
And last but not least; I want to hear from you.
Let me know me know your thoughts, start a conversation, and share knowledge.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this, it means a lot.
Next time you hear from me I’ve got a recipe lined up.
Have a nice day!
An
