Mateo’s Letter — Issue #1
February 2026
Hello and welcome to my newsletter – let’s call it Mateo’s Letter.
After some preparation in January, I finally launched my blog in February. My goal is to publish at least one article per week, but this month has been quite intense! So, instead of four articles, I’ve managed to publish seven. You can check out what they are about below.
What will the structure of this newsletter look like?
In the intro, I’ll share what’s new and sometimes give you a glimpse of what to expect from the previous month’s articles. I will also pick a meaningful quote I’ve discovered in my reading or elsewhere.
Each issue will include links to my latest articles. I’ll also include one bonus article from previous months that relates to current topics.
Additionally, I’ll share a few inspiring and useful links, tools, or websites from elswhere that I believe could help improve your life or the world around us.
I’ll also feature the book I’m currently reading, highlighting a specific part that caught my attention and challenged my thinking, as well as any TV series I’m watching or have recently discovered.
Finally, I invite you to follow me on social media or subscribe to my Substack or Medium if you’d like to read my articles as soon as they are published.
I hope you enjoy this first issue!
Mateo
“Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”
Henry David Thoreau
February’s Articles:
Why I Write
It would be nice to be able to make a living from writing and finally feel free. But as Derek Sivers reminded me in his text: it can be something like an art—like a self-perceived meaning or purpose, maybe even useless to others.
Grindr became unusable. I quit.
It’s like a casino without a jackpot. Only annoying ads. Sometimes hookups. But probably no chance to find a real partner there.
mateofreeden.com/grindr-became-unusable-i-quit
How We’ll Make a Living When AI Does All the Work
If AI is not just another technology that replaces some jobs while many new ones are created, then we will need a new economic model.
mateofreeden.com/how-well-make-a-living-when-ai-does-all-the-work
But What If We Truly Could Live Almost Forever?
Just imagine.
In the 20th century, we doubled the length of human life. Maybe we could do it again. But thanks to AI, not in a century—rather in a decade. Exponentially. Over and over again.
mateofreeden.com/but-what-if-we-truly-could-live-almost-forever
14 Ideas to Make Your Valentine’s Day Unforgettable
(Make it 14 Days, Not Just One Day)
Imagine waking up to a home transformed by love—soft candlelight flickering in the windows, heart-shaped notes scattered like breadcrumbs leading to sweet surprises, and two whole weeks stretching ahead filled with romance, laughter, and connection.
mateofreeden.com/14-ideas-to-make-your-valentines-day-unforgettable
A Four-Day Workweek Should Have Been the Global Standard Already
Let’s be honest: the way we work today is not normal.
It’s a historical relic, a biological mistake, and a moral failure.
mateofreeden.com/a-four-day-workweek-should-have-been-the-global-standard-already
Why I Watch the Olympics — and Why It’s Worth It
The Olympics aren’t just a sports broadcast. They’re a reminder of what matters — in sport, and in life. They only come around every two years. Here’s how to actually experience them — not just watch them.
mateofreeden.com/why-i-watch-the-olympics-and-why-its-worth-it
Useful Tips & Tools:
- YearCompass – Have you evaluated and planned the year already?
What I recommend from elsewhere:
Dario Amodei — Machines of Loving Grace
How AI Could Transform the World for the Better
www.darioamodei.com/essay/machines-of-loving-grace
Book of the Month:
Have you ever heard of the Teotihuacán social housing project? More than 100,000 people lived in standardized apartment compounds (85% of the population). This system lasted for around 400 to 500 years, starting in the 3rd century CE. I will definitely explore it a little bit more in my future articles.
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
“A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution—from the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequality—and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation.”
www.goodreads.com/book/show/56269264-the-dawn-of-everything
TV Series of the Month:
Actually, I found this series by accident (or maybe not, depends on who is behind the algorithms, haha). I was procrastinating on YouTube, watching some catastrophic videos about the future or something, when I saw a scene from one of the best-rated episodes. The official description doesn’t really do it justice, but if you like series like Under the Dome, Silo, Fallout, or House of Cards mixed with crime investigations, give it a chance!
Paradise
“A Secret Service agent investigates the murder of a former president in a seemingly peaceful community.”
www.imdb.com/title/tt27444205/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
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