It’s now February 2023, as of this writing.
And it’s been a while since I’ve written a personal post.
Anyways…
A few days ago, one of my blogger friends celebrated her site’s 18th year. Wow, imagine that, almost two decades of blogging. Yes, she’s one of us who started blogging in the early 2000s.
I feel so old, hahaha!
So going back, on her Facebook post that day, she said she was letting go of a few things regarding her blog. One of which was her “relationships” with PR agencies and brands that just send her press releases for her to post even if she doesn’t find the topic/s interesting. But she will maintain relationships with agencies and brands who truly value her. And that she will post more of what she is passionate about.
This blogger is one of the big ones out there in Manila. And I could say one that I look up to because of her authenticity, her realness.
Her post struck a chord in me because after more than a decade of blogging, I felt that I have lost my purpose. The reason why I built this blog. I got lost while chasing those “opportunities” that I thought would earn me those likes and follows. But I realized I was only after vanity. I forgot about substance, about purpose.
There’s a reason why I named my blog, “Hits and Mrs.”
I created this right after I got married, as a repository of things in my life as a wife and mom.
It started out that way, something personal, a place where I can just type away my thoughts without giving a rat’s a$$ of what others would say.
Then there was SEO. Then some invites and events.
Navigating them became interesting for me. Especially those invites. Because of those, I was able to explore a lot of things and, well, receive some items that I was able to use and give to others.
Next thing I knew, I got so caught up in this blogger/influencer thing that I thought was to be the end-all and be-all of my online presence.
My blogger friend’s post a few days ago shook me and woke me up.
True, I’m no way an influencer after years of blogging and posting on social media. I don’t think brands and agencies will miss me (LOL). But I think it’s time to go back to my original purpose and start over.
After all, my old voice — my true voice — was what attracted them in the first place.
I’d like to restart not because I’d like others to notice me, but because I have to be real, authentic, and true to myself first and foremost. Focus on what I really am passionate about and share them here. Regardless if it would be read or ignored by others.
And hopefully with that, I’d get my mojo back.
And with that, here’s a photo to remind myself to be real.
Cover photo by Antonio Borriello from Pexels