About 15 years ago or so I wrote a lot in the online community. I've only had a handful of "handles," my most favorite is Swanpetal that I have used since at least 2005. It is so me, so inspired by roses and swans and so poetic. When I created that name, no one else had it. It was unique and a beautiful identity to go by. These days, I still use the name I have created. Others are using it as well. Ever hear of Warrior Cats? Apparently there is a cat with the same name. There are others grabbing online identities of some version of the name. I can't keep up with it all but I think I have all the main bases covered.
The times was different back in the early 2000s. I was different. So was the internet. There wasn't Facebook, Twitter, or many of the popular sites that there are today. A lot of writers like myself had their own pages or blogs online, sometimes in a community with others. We let strangers read our diaries, if you will. We posted inspiring art, quotes and music. We shared our own photography. The good writers didn't do it for "views," they did it for self-expression, inspiration and perhaps to connect with others through shared interests such as art, music, feeling and poetry.
As the way with things and life though, websites come and go, people come and go. Things and places evolve. Generations evolve. People start to lose touch with each other and with themselves. People get busy, life happens. Little fragments of our past lives get left behind. Forgotten feelings and inspirations left in an abandoned hallway of a deserted castle full of shadows, dusty corners, and fragile cobwebs in every corner.
In a world so advanced and technology driven, the simpler pleasures of sharing online have dwindled. I remember reading a lot of blogs of creatives posting deep thoughts, poetry and wonderful art. Most of those blogs do not exist anymore and the others haven't posted since the late 2000s. These days everyone is showing off their lives, posting video after video of everything they did for the day. Most of it is poor content. Yet these days no one cares much for quality and sophistication. We press a like button, maybe post a comment consisting of a sentence and move on. The new generations seem to be participating in some sort of popularity contests for views and likes. A downside of using sites such as Facebook or even Instagram is lack of control over your content. The feel of your profile, even the colors. Granted anything posted online is most likely forever out there, but if it's going to be out there, it might as well be presented beautifully the way you want it, not the way others want it. It should reflect your style and personality. It should breath your words.
If you are here reading this, I am opening up my journal again for myself. For expressing my thoughts, sharing my writing and if you are inspired, that is wonderful too. A place to create beauty in this fast-paced world. A place to slow down, pour a cup of tea and dwell among poetry and feathers, swans and petals.