The older I get, the more particular I’ve become about keeping many aspects of my life private. I’ve been chronically online since the days of Friendster about 20 years ago, so I imagine my digital footprint is all over the place. The advancement of technology, especially in AI, has made me take a step back and reconsider how much information I share online. It’s a bit oxymoronic, I admit, considering I still maintain this personal blog. But more than just securing my online presence, I think I’ve simply become more mindful and intentional about how I show up, both in real life and the digital world.
I remember a time in my early 20s when I would post a lot of things— how I was feeling, some vaguely cryptic emotional update, photo albums parts 1 2 and 3 from a single outing, complete with red eyes from camera flashes. Uninhibited and unhinged! It felt normal back then, even necessary. But looking back now, I cringe a little at how freely I gave away pieces of myself to the internet. To be fair, it wasn’t meant for the world to see. Trust me, those albums are now set to “only me”.
I once saw a documentary about Geisha culture in Japan. One of the Geishas interviewed got emotional while speaking about how the art she had dedicated her life to was slowly fading out of existence, and that when it was gone, her life’s legacy would disappear with it. As if she never existed at all. Sometimes when I reflect on why I still blog, I remember that scene. Maybe it’s the need to connect. To leave a trace. A proof of life.
A blog gives me control. It’s my space, with my voice, at my pace. It’s where I get to create rather than react. And maybe that’s what differentiates it from the scattershot oversharing of social media. Expression, not exposure. Intention, not validation.
These days, I still share, but with more care. Not because I’m trying to hide, but because I’ve come to understand that not everything needs to be seen to be real.
(Unless you’re an auditor. Then forget what I said. Document everything.)
This post resonates with me, truly. I say to friends — privacy is the new cool. Keep blogging, Trish!
Oh I like that — privacy is the new cool. You too Kuya Lance, let’s keep the blogging culture alive! 🙂