the mayfly letter.

words worth passing down.

old wisdom,
in fresh ink.

The best advice you've ever gotten probably wasn't new. Someone just finally said it in a way that stuck.

That's what The Mayfly Letter is all about - digging up these little snippets of wisdom, and delivering them straight to your inbox and doorstep – wrapped in stories that'll make you think, nod in recognition, and most importantly, laugh a little.

If you want to be someone who always knows just what to say, this little magazine is for you. No clickbait, no noise—just the stuff worth passing down.
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the idea.

Every essay starts with one piece of timeless wisdom — the kind of thing your grandma always said that proved itself right over the years.

Think hand-me-down advice like: "people remember how you made them feel" (Maya Angelou), or "how we spend our days is how we spend our lives" (Annie Dillard).

Simple truths that sound obvious until you realize you've been ignoring them.

the story.

Ideas don't stick without a vehicle. So each one gets wrapped in a true story from history — or occasionally a parable — that makes it memorable.

Fred Rogers asking an Emmy audience for 10 seconds of silence.

The NASA janitor who told JFK he was helping put a man on the moon.

The man who planted a forest alone, one tree a day for 40 years.

You come for the narrative, you leave with something useful.

how to read.

The weekly email is free.
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The print edition is $30/month.
‍It's a handsome little magazine on real newsprint — for those who want to hold it in their hands and support independent writing.

what is The Mayfly Letter?

a quick note from our editor, John

Hey - John Conrad here.

This little publication was born from a simple realization: we're all searching for timeless wisdom that actually works—those insights that help us navigate relationships, find meaning in our work, handle stress, or just feel more at peace with ourselves.

The problem is that these nuggets of wisdom aren't always where you'd expect to find them, and yesterday's noise often drowns out centuries of good advice.

‍The Mayfly Letter is my attempt to uncover these simple, enduring truths and deliver them to you with fresh perspective (and yes, a healthy dose of my characteristic, trying-too-hard humor).

We'll explore everything from how to handle interruptions gracefully to why talking to strangers matters more than you think, from the lost art of weak ties to what John Wooden knew about socks that you don't.

In a world of clickbait and hot takes, consider this your sanctuary for ideas that matter.

A mayfly spends a year preparing for just a short, single day above water. In the same way, those before us have left behind more than enough wisdom to prepare us well for our lives ahead.

So pull up a chair. We saved you a spot.

‍John Conrad‍
Editor, and Overthinker-In-Chief

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‍The Mayfly Letter.

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thank you for supporting
‍The Mayfly.

I'm incredibly grateful to have you here as we explore ways to make the most of life, and of course, to have a good laugh along the way.

Your support means everything; it allows me to keep writing and doing what I love.

John Conrad
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