Blogging to Unplug

Wow first I just want to say I am amazed this site is still up and running! Second, it's a miracle I could hack my way back. 😂

A lot has changed since I started this website! It's been around 6 years, I think, and in that time, I graduated both high school and college (the first time lol. I am currently enrolled in my masters set to graduate AGAIN in the Spring.... and then applied to some PhD programs. I could graduate a few times, Lord willing 🙏🤞

As it is early into the start of 2026, I have seen and felt myself the notion of getting back into hobbies. As many young people are feeling overwhelmed and honestly over stimulated by the constant over-connection and emotional battle ground everyday has become. There's a wave of people wanting to pick up a hobby or learn a new skill to differentiate themselves, to fight against the current and prove to the world, and themselves, that they are here and alive.

It is in the spirit of this fight for autonomy that I pick up my laptop once more! (Way less umph then picking up the pen, but the similar.)

While this unplugging is associated with a separation from electronics traditionally, it has a nuanced meaning of separating from the everyday grind in an almost health-conscious way. It is this definition I will use. I am reviving this blog as a way to cultivate an old hobby of mine and to put more energy into something that brings me enjoyment. Ultimately this is the heart of the movement- to cultivate something for yourself that requires effort and time but is so rewarding in the end.

With this feeling of unplugging there is such a strong tie with nostalgia. This is because before the internet and corporate culture became the monstrosity it is, the internet was new and the possibilities were endless! YouTube was in its infancy; without monetization it was everyday people sharing things they were passionate about. Magazines and newspapers were a main form of entertainment and news, not apps pushing limitless products and services. And tactile hobbies were the main way to pass the time. Community centers, grocery stores, and other 3rd spaces allowed for real human interaction. And as time has progressed in this digital age these things have been lost. This feeling of discontentment and restlessness, I think, ultimately, stems from a craving for real intimate connection with other people and within ourselves.

My word for the year in 2026 is intentional. This to me means where I put my energy, who I let affect my inner peace, and what I spend my money on. Getting back to this website for me is not so much about who reads it, but more of something to look back on and see who I was or at least who I THOUGHT I was and what was going on in my life, a digital diary of sorts.

If anyone does stumble upon this, I hope you get around to starting or picking back up on a hobby and leave your maybe small but beautiful mark on the world!