Returning to Blogging, Personal Diaries and Notes
The Feeling of Picking Up the Pen Again
It’s been such a long time since I last picked up a pen to write a blog.
From some platforms, to Miniworld Can raising pets.
Additionally, there were Medium, Wordpress, Blogger (too many to list).
What I remember liking the most was Tumblr—I really enjoyed its simplicity and clean design.
The History of Blogging
Gradually, I don’t know why, but I noticed even with news sites, they often let you read just a paragraph or two before a pop-up ad appears: Please subscribe! (This is especially obvious with Medium, Tumblr, and some news media).
I was thinking, if this strategy were applied to real life, then department store window displays would only let you look for a second or two, before pulling down the blinds: only for in-store members to see.
Why Do This Kind of Exposure-Reducing Thing?
Back to the media side of things, I guess the reason might be that they have their own perspective. They filter and curate other information. What comes through the funnel is the distilled essence.
I agree that protecting it is good—especially since text is so easy to copy and paste.
I just feel it’s a little contradictory.
Every Creator Wants Their Work to “Be Seen”
Starting from the idea of being seen, I wonder if I myself also want recognition through my work?
That feeling of others complimenting you—even if it’s just ordinary—they’d at least say, you’ve worked hard.
Or maybe it’s that I put a lot of effort into my work, I’m proud of it, and I want others to know?
Or Do I Just Want to Be Seen Myself?
After publishing that “Golden Record” podcast episode, I felt like—well, whatever.
It’s more practical to focus on my content and storytelling.
Podcasting is probably more of an exercise in output for me.
As for my first attempt, I only hope I can keep getting better and better.
Growth Mindset?
A Fierce Self-Introduction
Recently, I’ve been expanding my online identity—my personal blog.
When browsing others’ personal blogs, I find their self-introductions so interesting. You can often tell if someone has an interesting soul from their writing or how they present themselves.
Of course, there are also many commercial souls, project-oriented souls, and marketing souls. Lately I found professional ghostwriting—writing books—as an interesting form of business self-intro.
Naturally, my own blog needs a self-introduction too. At first, I wrote a long list of self-disclosures, but later hesitated because of online information security—it was really a struggle.
From psychology I know that really, no one actually cares… everyone’s busy with their own stuff. But as an character No.2, my brain worries: what if I reveal too much? Why? Probably afraid my information could be misused.
When I discussed this with a friend, he said: then maybe you should worry about the info you already put on LinkedIn first?
Struggling… Typical Overthinking Type
I also asked the opinion of the pyramid scheme leader.
He said that for years he found it strange too, but as time passed, he just lived more transparently—after all, when you leave this world, this will be all that remains.
This reminded me of Homo Bulla—the idea that humans are like bubbles. It often appears in old artworks, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life.
Homo Bulla and the Buddhist saying “like dreams, illusions, bubbles, or shadows”—are they perhaps describing the same truth?
By the way, I recommend Rulu Floral. I was stunned by the art of floral arrangement.
I’ll write another post about buying flowers later. Many people think it’s a waste, yet flowers are present at every wedding, funeral, and celebration.
Like Dreams, Illusions, Bubbles, or Shadows; Like Dew, Like Lightning
Feels Like IG Has Changed
As an Instagram user, I always thought IG was my main online identity—because photography is truly my love.
I’ve always enjoyed developing a community there. Mostly just looking at photos, short captions, or random writing.
But now it feels like IG has become a video hub..? When I asked my friends, none of them said they actually read blog-like posts on IG.
My own habit has shifted too: from posting single photos to dumping 10+ at once—more like a monthly update.
Hopefully It Doesn’t Turn Into Flickr
About Platforms
Speaking of platforms—putting aside my past dream of developing my own apps, which I never followed through—
Isn’t it natural to want your own website, your own works, your own space?
If you can’t build it yourself, why should you rely on others?
Back then, I wanted to build my own site with Python’s Django.
I imagined showcasing my photography, or creating interactive pages like Codepen. Purely text-based platforms didn’t really fit.
In the end, after successfully building it locally, when I mentioned it in a job interview, the interviewer just said oh.
It’s not anything impressive, is it? Or just some small thing?
What were you desperately trying to show off? That you wanted so badly to be seen? Maybe you’re just not cut out for this?
Thanks to 古古 and her website-building course(Mandarian)—making something by yourself really does give a sense of accomplishment.
Even if it’s not exactly what you envisioned, at least it’s a product of your own hands.
Later, the Meta censorship issue(Mandarian) and this BBC article(Mandarian), only deepened my desire to have my own platform.
A Few Stars I Recently Encountered
I think of myself as a traveler, without any professional title attached.
In this limited lifetime, I want to record my journeys and thoughts.
By a twist of fate, as an introvert, I recently read some emails to reach out to writers, senior software engineers, and musicians.
I’m grateful for their past contributions, which make it possible for me to do what I want today.
Given their writing, thinking, and professional backgrounds—they shine like stars.
Though I’d like to let my posts sit and ferment before editing, since this is my first comeback piece, I’ll just act first.
But really, why do I need to explain myself on my own blog?