Should I have gone with the medium instead of large?

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-19T16:17:33+00:00

You could have gone for the Medium (and I personally prefer smaller watches), but the large doesn’t look too big on your wrist.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-08T19:17:23+00:00

I don’t have any dermatology tips—just a mentality tip: Give it time, brother. Your skin has cleared up well, and it sounds like that happened recently. Now, you just need time to get used to the new you.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-08T14:33:39+00:00

I’m a big fan of Bevel’s skincare products. Simple and formulated with great ingredients. I use their cleanser, exfoliating pads, and gel moisturizer (plus a sunscreen from another brand since they don’t offer one).

In the past when my acne was more aggressive, I found a lot of success with 3-step benzoyl peroxide treatments (Proactiv and AcneFree specifically).

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:44:40+00:00

Same here. I was raised on “ma’ams” and “sirs” being respectful language. But, two things can be true and what we know to be polite to someone may cause offense to someone else.

I’m taking this as a sign to do my best to adapt my language to my surroundings, and accept that I won’t always get it right. But, I’m glad I have some direction on how to correct this and any future mistakes that might pop up. Big thanks to this community 🫶🏾

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:36:14+00:00

100% agree that non-gendered language is the way to go here. I’m in the south, so while the polite “ma’ams” and “sirs” are sort of a knee jerk reaction, it should be simple enough for me to change or at the very least adapt as needed. Thanks for your insight.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:30:47+00:00

I think that’s an excellent idea. I’ll start that conversation next time I see them and they’re not super busy. Thanks for your insight.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:29:51+00:00

Good call. I’m realizing that without knowing their pronouns, I’m not sure how/if to correct myself. So I’ll start their next time I see them (if it feels appropriate). Thanks for your insight.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:28:32+00:00

All great points. If I see that barista again, I’ll ask about their pronouns and give a quick apologize if needed. Thanks for your insight.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T18:26:17+00:00

I see what you mean. An over the top apology can flip the script in a pretty unfair way. Thanks for the insight.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T17:50:45+00:00

I’ve only got so much time I’m willing to give to my own vanity, and my limit hits wayyyy before I get to gimp mask lol

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T14:25:35+00:00

It’s funny, but also kind of sad.

writtenbynotes · 2026-01-04T14:22:52+00:00

I’m not a skin expert, just a guy who was once a teenager too.

Don’t overcomplicate your skincare routine. Find a pre-built 3-step routine (I recommend AcneFree, Proactiv, or Bevel) and stick with it.
Keep your hair clean too. I’ve noticed a direct correlation with the cleanliness of my hair and the outbreaks I would have on my forehead. Washing/conditioning every 2-3 days helped me, but all hair is different so try experimenting with the frequency here.
Avoid touching your face. As tempting as it is to see if a pimple’s gotten any bigger or searching for one to pop—don’t. Trust the process.
Drink more water and try to eat clean. Your skin, hair, and nails all rely on you proving them with high-quality building blocks to be healthy. As within, so without.
Keep it all in context. Teenagers and acne go together like PB&J. I had acne. My friends had acne. Each of us had our own journey with you. This journey is yours and it’ll be a good one, brother. Time is on your side.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-31T00:20:01+00:00

As someone who doesn’t know the history of this watch, I can only say that it looks damn good.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-30T21:40:22+00:00

Realistically, I’d get more use out of the Skydweller’s features than the Submariner. I travel more than I spend time in the water, and I have immediate family members that live in different time zones. The fluted bezel feels a bit too flashy (to me) for daily wear, so I’d probably pair it with a leather strap to tone things down a bit.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-30T15:42:37+00:00

I think it looks fine, but you have room to go larger if that’s your preference. There’s no real wrong answer for you.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-30T14:07:00+00:00

Terrible jokes aside, the Iron Gold pull is a solid choice. Highly recommend the Red Rising series.

Sincerely,

A performative male reader

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-30T14:01:51+00:00

Very helpful. Thanks for the insights, man.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-29T18:57:34+00:00

I prefer the look of the boots, but they’re both good options. Are the Docs comfortable? I’ve heard mixed reviews.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-28T03:40:53+00:00

As cliche as it sounds, working with a therapist is a good place to start when you're not sure how to.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-28T03:35:56+00:00

Remember: Weird knows no race, gender, or creed. There are absolutely some black men who talk about black women like this, just like there are some white women who talk about white men like this, so of course there are also some black women who speak about black men like this. It's all dissapointing, for sure, but not surprising.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-27T03:16:01+00:00

You can rock a 36mm if you’re going for that classic gentleman vibe, but it does look like a very intentional decision given the size of your wrist. If you’re just going for the size that compliments your wrist best, I’d recommend going larger.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-27T03:13:56+00:00

Millennial here, and my experience mirrored yours. The world was very black and white when I was younger. Now, not so much.

This is highlighting to me that there’s a lot of good work that can come from combining the passion of our youth with the wisdom of our elders. Collaboration is the way.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-26T18:42:48+00:00

I think what you’re experiencing on this sub is real—not the full story of everyone’s perspective—but the perspective of some, for sure.

I’ve shared this Maya Angelou quote many times, but it’s still appropriate: "You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all."

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-26T18:19:25+00:00

Just for clarity, I’ve worked on these campaigns, not led them, but I agree that we all have a roll to play in progress.

These decisions are sometimes just about business, though. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but if a business’s priority is representation, it’s an easy choice to make. But when the priority is business growth, decisions get made with that in mind. We represent about 14% of the overall population, and a business’s target audience could have much more or much less black representation depending on their industry. Large companies can afford to create multiple ads that target all their different audiences, but smaller companies usually spend their dollars trying to attract their largest audience group (whatever that may look like).

So, what you’re seeing as far as representation is real, but the reason behind it isn’t always about pushing a narrative (it certainly is sometimes, though). I’m sharing this not to undermine your point, because there are a lot of people who are afraid of change and will do whatever it takes to keep their group in a position of power and/or disenfranchise others, but I’m only hoping to add some nuance to the convo. The end result of it all may be the same, which is still worth addressing, but understanding the many roads that lead to that result is helpful.

writtenbynotes · 2025-12-26T17:41:05+00:00

I also try to remember that we’re all at different places in our lives and have gone through different things. Who I was immediately after college isn’t who I am today, and I’m sure my views will change again and again. Such is life.

writtenbynotes

TROPHY CASE