stickboss

My YouTube – get your shit together!đŸ«”đŸ»

As I continue charging headfirst at the impossible—trying to build momentum on my channel—I’m starting to see some growth.

Trying to stay relevant as a boomer on YouTube is
 ambitious.
Honestly, it’s probably easier to win the lottery. With worse odds.

I went into this “hobby” knowing that 99.99% of these channels fail, which weirdly makes everything easier. When success is unlikely, the pressure to make money completely disappears.

And yet—here we are.

I’m finally seeing growth in views.
Not subscribers.
Not monetization.
Views.

Monetization is still a distant fantasy, but as of 06/28/2025, the numbers are moving in the right direction—and I’m still stepping up to the plate.

Helmet on.
Bat in hand.

Here are the latest numbers!

đŸ«Ą

The below updated edit is from 07/07/25!

Ten-day statistics:

Added 214 videos (20% increase)

11 subscribers (8% increase)

Added 40,238 views (34% increase)

Five weeks later, 08/13/2025 …

I hit 200K+ views! đŸ«”đŸ»đŸ˜Ž

I’m getting some genuinely positive feedback—and a lot of thumbs-up—which tells me people are actually taking the time to say, “Yeah, I enjoyed that.”

I know, it might sound a little childish, but knowing someone is watching does help me keep putting in the time.
I am, after all, a human being.
Mostly.

The ironic part? Friends and family don’t watch at all.

Instead, the views are coming from like-minded strangers from all over the world, which somehow feels even better.

Another unexpected realization has been which videos people actually watch.

The video below has been viewed over 20,000 times, in more than 50 countries, and is still being watched a week after posting.

Turns out, the internet has a mind of its own—and apparently, it found this one interesting.

It’s almost embarrassing how simple it was.

I was just buying a coconut in Vietnam—and somehow that turned into new subscribers and a flood of
đŸ‘đŸ»đŸ‘đŸŒđŸ‘đŸ‘đŸŸđŸ‘đŸż

No edits.
No hot take.
No algorithm whispering.

Just
 coconut.

What’s even more interesting is seeing who watched it.
YouTube Analytics doesn’t just tell you how many people watched—it shows you where they’re from, and the audience spread genuinely surprised me.

Apparently, a guy buying a coconut in Vietnam is internationally relatable content.

I currently have 1,300+ videos on my channel—which sounds impressive until you remember how the internet works.

I’m heading to Europe in September 2025, then Japan and Korea in February 2026. After that, I’ll reevaluate this entire shit show and decide whether this is a content strategy
 or a cry for help.

Until then, the numbers don’t lie—no matter how confusing they are.

Here are my Top 10 most-watched videos on the channel as of the blog.

So until further notice, I’ll continue being annoying AF—posting on Facebook, Instagram, and sliding into PMs like a man fully committed to this experiment. I’ll keep filming, posting, and seeing what sticks, because apparently a coconut in Vietnam can outperform ~1,599 other videos. 

Worst case? I tried. Best case? The algorithm blinks first.

Come on—hit follow.
You’ve already read this far, you’re clearly invested, and I’ve got 1,600+ videos proving I will not stop.
Follow now or I will continue being annoying AF across every platform until morale improves.

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com 

#NorthAmericanDarrell

www.Youtube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

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www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

air1

If tomorrow never comes …

I saw a post today from Claudia, who was my Airbnb host the first time I visited Puerto Vallarta over five years ago, and I couldn’t help myself—I had to write about it.

Thank you for the powerful message, Claudia. And here’s to you traveling exactly the way we talked about all those years ago. 🙌

I have this little schtick I like to play: “Live life to the fullest.”
I’ve said it so much that I actually tattooed it on my left calf.

Ironically, it was also my mom’s most annoying saying when we were kids. I’d roll my eyes and say, “Yes, Mom.” I didn’t really get it—until I unexpectedly lost her on July 1st, 2019. Looking back now, she couldn’t have been more right.

To be fair, she wasn’t all motivation and sunshine. Later in life, she had no problem telling people to kiss her ass, so there was balance. 😄

Every time I hear about someone dying—no matter their age—that phrase comes back to me. I’ve had too many family members whose lives were cut short in one way or another, so it always hits close to home.

That’s what pushed me to write today. Stories like these are reminders—not in a dramatic way, but in a quiet, unavoidable one—that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. And that makes today matter a whole lot more.

So yeah

Live life to the fullest.
Roll your eyes if you want.
I did too.

Until I didn’t.

I have this little schtick that I try to play, “Live life to the fullest!”  So much so, I even got it tattooed on my left calf!

It was my mom’s most annoying saying to all of us kids.  I would roll my eyes and say Yes, Mom.  I never realized it until I unexpectedly lost her on July 1st, 2019; she couldn’t be more right.  She would also tell a lot of people to “Kiss her ass” later in life, so she was not all motivation.  LOL

Every time I hear of someone dying, I always think of this saying, no matter the age. I have had so many family members’ lives cut short one way or another, so it does hit home for me.  

These stories from the horrific Air India plane crash made me blog today:

Air India plane crash

For some, it was just another breaking news headline.
For me, it was a stark reminder of how fragile—and unpredictable—life really is.

Four lives. Four stories. Four lessons that reshaped how I think about time, purpose, and grace.

First:
A family who waited years to fulfill their dream of emigrating to the UK. Life kept getting in the way—responsibilities, delays, decisions. When they finally boarded the plane, they believed the hard part was over. They never reached their destination.

It reminded me how often we postpone our lives for “someday.”
If we keep waiting, someday can quietly become never.

Second:
A woman who was supposed to be on that flight—but arrived late. She begged to board and was denied. Angry. Frustrated. Defeated. Only later did she realize that the delay may have saved her life.

We don’t always get what we want because we don’t see what lies ahead.
Sometimes a door closing is protection.

Third:
A man who survived. The plane broke apart, and he happened to be in the section that didn’t catch fire. He walked away from something no one expected anyone to survive.

It didn’t feel like luck. It felt like timing.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
It simply wasn’t his time.

Fourth:
Those who didn’t make it. People with dreams. Families. Unfinished stories.
Someone kissed them goodbye that morning, unaware it would be the last time.

Their lives remind us of a truth we often avoid: time is not guaranteed. We are not promised old age. We are not promised later. What we have is now—a breath, a moment, an opportunity.

So while you still have today:
Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Live now.

Because life doesn’t always come with warnings.
And sometimes
 next time never comes.

Whatever “live life to the fullest” means to you — just fucking do it.

Sometimes tomorrow never comes.
Sometimes planning tomorrow assumes you even get one.

Stop waiting for permission.
Stop waiting for perfect timing.
Stop waiting for approval.

Just let it happen your way.

Because life doesn’t ask when you’re ready.

Whatever “live life to the fullest” means to you — just fucking do it.

Not someday.
Not when it’s convenient.
Not when everything lines up perfectly.

Sometimes tomorrow never comes.
Sometimes planning tomorrow assumes you even get one more day.

Stop waiting for permission.
Stop waiting for perfect timing.
Stop waiting for approval—from your boss, your family, society, or the version of yourself that’s “more ready.”

There is no finish line where life suddenly begins.
There is only now.

Make the trip.

Do it scared.
Do it imperfectly.
Do it your way.

Because life doesn’t ask when you’re ready.
And the only real failure is never showing up at all

Don’t forget to post about it to keep your haters updated!

IMG-20250507-WA0005

AZ: PT home, PT Airbnb & FT awesome!

This is the large, heated pool and hot tub right at the front of the property. There’s also a smaller pool in the back, and my condo sits perfectly between the two—which is honestly the ideal setup. Maximum pool access, minimal effort.

This is the view the moment you walk in the front door.
Pools. Palm trees. Adult beverages.

That instant “I’m definitely not at work anymore” feeling never gets old.

And if you want to work from paradise, I’ve got that covered, too.

The setup includes a proper sit/stand desk and an ergonomic chair, so it’s an actual work-from-home space—not a balanced laptop on the couch pretending this is a fine situation. It’s comfortable, functional, and easy to settle into.

Now imagine the water-cooler conversations when people ask how work is going
 and you casually mention sunshine, pools, and palm trees.

Yeah—those stories tend to make friends, family, and coworkers just a little jealous. 😎

Less than a 30-minute drive puts you at the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, where you’ll find one of Arizona’s coolest—and most unexpected—surprises: wild horses roaming freely along the river.

You can kayak, paddleboard, float, or just hang out by the water, and there’s a very real chance they’ll wander right past you like it’s no big deal. No fences. No zoos. Just horses doing horse things with desert cliffs in the background.

It’s one of those only-in-Arizona moments that sounds fake until you see it for yourself—and even then, it never really gets old.

Less than a couple of hours’ drive from Mesa puts you in Sedona—a place that almost doesn’t feel real the first time you see it.

The red rock formations are absolutely captivating. Whether you’re hiking, driving through town, or just pulling over to stare at the scenery, Sedona has a way of slowing everything down. The light changes constantly, the views never repeat, and it somehow feels both grounding and otherworldly at the same time.

It’s one of those places that makes you grateful you didn’t stay home—and a perfect reminder of how much variety Arizona packs into a short drive.

Book on Airbnb—or reach out directly for Friends & Family pricing—and come experience Arizona for yourself.

Beautiful landscapes, endless adventure, warm weather, and wide-open space are all waiting. Arizona is ready when you are. đŸŒ”âœš

Photo tour – Listing editor – Airbnb

Wide-open space, warm weather, endless adventure—Arizona is ready when you are. đŸŒ”âœš

My nephew and his GF visited from Canada and had an amazing adventure during their visit in the Spring of 2025!

Click below to book your stay or send me a PM from the contacts on the homepage with any questions.

Photo tour – Listing editor – Airbnb

There is nothing like the top off a Jeep and driving through the AZ mountains with the tunes cranked.

Arizona can fix this situation—at least temporarily—if you’re lucky enough to stay at my Airbnb. 

Side effects may include:

 Constant happiness

Hiking locally or a road trip to Sedona

Paddling the Salt River with the wild horses

Cold pool drinks by the pools

Planning another trip here before you leave.

Photo tour – Listing editor – Airbnb