What is Down to Earth?

A breezy, joyful newsletter to live happier and get more from life.

My name is Jared Young. People call me Red.

I’m a writer and community leader from New York City.

I started Down to Earth because I truly love sharing what makes me feel good. I’m living a blissful and fulfilling life these days. To be honest, it’s been very simple.

It wasn’t an overnight process, but I soon realized that life is as good as you make it. There will always be challenges. How you cope with them is where the magic happens.

Let’s take a few steps back before we get to the good stuff.

In my teenage years, (during the before times of the 2010s) I began to feel jaded.

Joey Bada$$ puts it best. “This ain’t the world we thought it was when we was in preschool.”

Straining to find optimism, I became an escapist. I embraced any and all distractions.

Instead of confronting the challenges of reality, I opted to avoid them out of fear.

I began to mismanage my time consuming, social media and developing negative online habits. I fused my identity with these behaviors.

I was dipping into unhealthy foods and losing sleep too often. Running from the truth.

Over time, I realized that I was hurdling into oblivion on a runaway train. I recognized the urgency to right course, repositioning my momentum toward a life of virtue and simplicity.

Then, I embraced dimensions of faith, health and community. The basic pillars of life.

Things began to click.

I was reading the literal writing on the walls. “Be good for goodness’ sake!” says a bathroom stall scholar. “Just be thankful,” croons William Devaughn.

When I started accepting all the cheesy cliches as true, I began to feel the benefits.

Now, at rickety ol' 26, I’m making it my mission to show just how easy it can be.

Vitality, from my understanding, comes from community and purpose. Simple joys.

Fortunately for us, there are many things to be joyful about.

It’s now up to you and I to build that community. Love and positivity starts here.

How the Newsletter Works

Subscribe at no cost, and you’ll receive a preview of Down to Earth in your inbox every weekend.

Dependable, thought-provoking content from myself and my corner of the internet. Paid ($5/month) subscribers will receive the full issue, complete with daily tools and tips for feeling better and living well. Expect healthy advice, feel-good food ideas, casual weekend plans. Down to Earth shares pieces you’re happy to read through.

Join The Crew

You’re welcome to join our community and participate however you’d like. Leave a comment, share a screenshot or support this work with a subscription.

We’re building a family here, and there’s always a seat at the table for you.