A Long-Forgotten Retreat

Hi!

I have been dying to write that “Hi!” for months. This time, for a different reason. Not because of guilt (I have stopped feeling bad for this blog since I decided to give up journaling in every kind of medium), but simply because I need to let things off my head. 

Letting things off your head? Twitter will do in a snap, why don’t you just tweet it out? Yeah…it’s more like tending my own creative outlet than merely ranting… but wait, isn’t that what Instagram does for you? Well, yeahhhh…. 

It’s just that I miss writing posts for myself, and I miss being immersed in things other than my work or personal stuff. I left this blog hanging in 2016. Actually, I wrote two posts after the last Random Shots post (that have been removed because they are too...personal). I have removed other "sensitive talk" posts too because I don't think I need to display too much negativity here. We have Twitter for that. Hehe.

Weeks ago, I read someone saying that having a hobby will make you more productive. Drawing is no longer just a hobby - it's mostly work now. I'm too busy lazy to discover another hobby, and probably too poor cheap for that (do you know how much a calligraphy kit costs??). So, blogging it is. My old love.

Why did I even leave it in the first place, though?

Instagram, of course, does take a part. The second I was typing this, kak Clara of Lucedale instantly popped up in my head - she has been sharing her daily stories on Instagram Stories and I wonder if she's still active on her blog. I bet bloggers I admired back in my uni days share the same struggle to keep up with their blogs and apparently, I'm right. I relate to kak Clara's story about her unfinished drafts and chase for perfection. Kak Diana apologizing to hot chocolate and mint for choosing Instagram is me apologizing to this blog. Given the condition that they are mothers now and have businesses to take care of, clearly it's much harder to find a quiet moment to sit and write. I love that both of them mentioned they talked to the husbands about the guilt and conflict, which I also did with my fiancé (yes I have one now...). He read my blog after the first time we met two years ago, and has been encouraging me to write more. 

I think some of us have reached the point where we think that sometimes Instagram could be tiring, because of its pace and everything. If Instagram is a big, overcrowded, hustlin' and bustlin' city, I imagine blog as a slow rural town where your small and charming cottage is, that you visit to seek some peace. 

It takes me 5 years - being the last one is my first year of freelancing full-time - to wholeheartedly realize that I need to be fueled by my blog. I need my blog to find a reason to like myself. I need my blog to ged distracted from trash thoughts. I need my blog to stay creative.

I will always find a time to write something here.

Song listened: the bird and the bee's discography (+ rain sound)

Random Shots #15

Favorite Bits of Snail Mail

Some of you might know that "snail mail" was a fad back then in 2014 among girls on Instagram. I was a part of it and greedily agreed to be pen pals with around fifteen girls right away, because I was way too excited... Later, I learned that it'd be better to keep in touch only with those whom I'm genuinely interested in.

The first mail I received from the lovely Sarah. Supposed to be the second one, but the real first letter she sent to me was gone with the wind (could be literally, because I had no mailbox back then and the postman always irresponsibly left every incoming mail on the stairway instead). Anyway, you ladies really should give her blog a visit because she has the cutest collection of trinkets, clothes and paper treats!<3 p="">

   

Favorite items from my good friend Céline, who also happens to be one of the first stranger I followed on Instagram. Met her last December and she turned out to be much lovelier in person! She is one of the best when it comes to hand-picking paper treats ;)

Letters from Madhura are also my favorite. The fact that she is much younger than me and already aced calligraphy, painting with various mediums, paper-cutting and origami-making is.....burdening me, haha! Do check her Instagram feed :)

This set is not a part of my snail mail activity, since they were sent by the most generous Kak Fitri from Secret Staircase along with my purchase. Couldn't be more pleased to buy used books from her store because the prices are reasonable, always thoroughly packaged and...she is simply the sweetest store owner ever. How I hate the fact that I can't allow myself to splurge on books for a really long time :(

Mini prints and postcards that I sent to Kate. I have been admiring her since forever (apart from her uber cool candy-colored hair and drool-worthy outfits, she is also one talented artist and got a really good sense of humour) and dedicated one drawing to her in 2014. The timing was a bit funny though, because right after I posted and tagged her on the drawing, she decided to take a long break from Instagram due to personal reasons. Everybody was heartbroken, me included... but Kate was back around a year later and she reposted my drawing on her Instagram! She also e-mailed me and kindly asked if she could buy it as a print. I didn't allow her to pay anything for it, so I mailed the drawing as a gift (along with additional drawings in my new style because a year has passed...)

(Photo by Kate and Céline)