returning to the quieter, simpler days of social media

Remember Xanga (yeah, I'm old!)? Back then, you could blog whatever came to mind - no theme, no niche. It could be a single sentence, a long-winded rant, or just a photoblog of recent adventures. I actually wrote some meaningful stuff back in the day, when there were no pressures of fitting everything into a neat little box.

As social media evolved, so did my writing - it evolved so much that I stopped writing altogether, aside from the occasional long Instagram caption. Social media has been a constant struggle throughout my creative journey: the overthinking, the imposter syndrome, feeling like I'm just shouting into the void. There was this endless pressure to "keep things fresh", to post for the algorithm, to adapt to the ever-changing features (I'm looking at you, Instagram).

For a little while, I actually enjoyed creating Instagram Reels, but now I'll spend an hour editing just to get 40 views, compared to the thousands I used to get a couple of years ago. It’s discouraging - not because I’m trying to be some viral internet superstar (ugh) - but because I'm simply trying to share the beauty around me in a way that isn't so… jarring, loud, or flashy. You know, the opposite of peaceful.

This quote by Rick Rubin sums it up:

“As artists, we aim to live in a way in which we see the extraordinary hidden in the seemingly mundane. Then challenge ourselves to share what we see in a way that allows others a glimpse of this remarkable beauty.⁣”

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to return to those quieter, simpler days - where I blogged for myself…and maybe, 10 other people. If you're also tired of Instagram and keen on adding a bit of beauty to your inbox, I invite you to join me. Thanks for being here!