I never actually expected myself to keep up with this site as much as I did. That is not self deprecation, that is historical evidence. I have attempted to make personal sites before. I would mess with layouts for a week straight, post maybe two entries, and then slowly forget it existed. Another abandoned project in the void of many.
I am genuinely proud of myself for making something and not dropping it the second it stopped being shiny and new. I set a goal of one blog post per month, which felt realistic but still slightly ambitious for me. Nineteen posts in a year is not groundbreaking, but for me it is consistency, and proof that I can build something and maintain it without immediately self sabotaging.
Well, that snuck up fast.
In the first year of having this site I have:
- Done 1 complete site redesign
- Added the astro framework
- Learned how to use git and github for fast deployment (barely)
- Joined 3 webrings
- Wrote 19 blog posts
- Made 2 shrine pages (only one is finished tho LOL I need to get on my akechi page’s main content)
- Received 7 messages on my guestbook
- Made 6 site graphics
- Updated my status 38 times
The guestbook messages mean more to me than they probably should. Seven is not a huge number. But they are real people who took the time to say hi. That is more meaningful than a few passive likes on a feed that will bury your post in an hour.
Future plans
- Make it so that only the middle part scrolls and the sidebars are sticky
- Make a better mobile layout… (sorry mobile users…)
- Add comment interactivity to blog posts (like https://chxshire22.com/)
- Edit my Mind Palace page so either the images are all optimized, or its just a better layout, (maybe actually both).
- Make it its own library page or something. Library (or Project?) page I think I like the way library sounds better though; With links to separate pages
- like ‘my favs’ with characters, foods, media.
- Another separate page for game log.
- Put my shrines on this combined link page too for consolidation purposes.
- A web quizzes page.
- My site graphics can have their own page too. like simple again same text box and style (just separate my god damn website better.)
- Make it its own library page or something. Library (or Project?) page I think I like the way library sounds better though; With links to separate pages
- Add some analytics (for fun!)
- Also might want to finally get around to adding meta descriptions to my pages. Sending others links to my site is kinda sad rn.
This space matters
I want to thank the indie web community for being so supportive through all of this.
I used to cope through the internet in extremely unhealthy ways. I would vent publicly on Twitter, overshare constantly, post every breakdown in real time. And because it was Twitter it attracted exactly the wrong kind of attention. Older men, predators, people who saw vulnerability as an opening for their own sick ideals.
It took me a long time and a lot of people screaming at me while I covered my ears and pretended not to hear to recognize how unsafe that environment was for me. I officially quit all social media
This site is different. It is mine. It is not built for virality, not optimized for engagement, there is no algorithm rewarding my worst impulses. I still post pessimistic complaining and still overshare (I have not magically transformed into a mysterious private person.)
The difference is that here, if someone reads my words, it is because they chose to click. Because they are also wandering the indie web. Because they are curious and not because the algorithm shoved my vulnerability into their feed.
Having a space that is mine, controlled by me, free of predators and engagement farming, has been freeing in a way I did not expect. It feels quieter, much safer, and much more intentional.
I did not expect to keep this site alive for a year. Right now though, it seems I will maintain it for many more to come.