Welcome to Moxie

My new, consistent, newsletter!

I am Hannah Stella. When I was 25 years old, I quit a job that was a very poor fit for me and was working part time as a tutor while I figured out my next move. To make a very long story very short, I met a guy, never went back to ‘work’, and we got married. Six years after we met, three and a half years after we got married, we broke up. 

Do I regret marrying him? No. Do I regret not working? No. Am I scared because I am a 31 year old woman with minimal career experience and essentially zero structure to my daily life? I am absolutely terrified. Do I have a plan? Yes! Is it a good plan? I have no idea. 

Welcome to Moxie, my twice weekly newsletter. I want this to be the place where I share my plans, my advice and life experience, my silly and serious thoughts about pop culture. I am eager to create a space where I can share with more context than tiktok and instagram allow. I am proud of my sense of humor and my voice, I think both of those will develop here. 

Every Thursday, I will publish a free essay about whatever feels important and topical. Sometimes it will be an advice column, sometimes pop culture, and often it will be a personal essay about what I am going through. I feel my most valuable expressions are the ones I write, I hope you all find them valuable as well. I am hopeful that you’ll learn from my mistakes, laugh at my missteps, find guidance in my advice– even if your gut tells you not to take it, and that some of my reflections will help you reflect as well. Nearly everything I know, I learned from reading something and then thinking about it. I hope that this space will give you something to consider. 

In addition to my Thursday email, I am launching a paid subscription service that includes an additional email every Tuesday and a monthly podcast. I will share more personal and vulnerable essays here and write in response to subscribers' specific requests– both personal questions and requests for advice or thoughts on popular topics and society. I also plan to launch a monthly video call with paid subscribers where we can chat, hang out, and talk like friends. 10% of Moxie subscription revenue will be donated every month to a charitable organization. 

Several months ago, I sat on my friend’s couch and said, “Christie, I think I might get divorced.” She said, “Hannah, you are so brave.” I don’t know if that’s correct but, God, I hope it is. I hope my outlet helps some of you a fraction as much as it’s helped me. I hope we can all be brave enough to make brave, interesting choices that are right for us. I hope, my girls (and guys, and theys) that we all find our moxie. 

All my love and gratitude, 

Hannah Stella (yes, I’m keeping the name)

PS: my first free essay, in earnest will be sent tomorrow (September 8)