Social Media Is Dead. Long Live Blogging.
Aug. 20th, 2025 10:34 pmWhere last we left, I was dealing with being laid off and the uncertainty that comes from job loss. I'm still jobless, but I'm surprisingly unbothered by it. Perhaps not unbothered, but surprisingly Zen. I know that this condition can't last indefinitely; money is important, and unemployment won't last forever. But unlike the last time I was laid off from a job I adored, I no longer feel the crushing pressure to find something, anything that will bring in cash. (Not yet, anyway.) My main frustration at the moment is that I can't freelance. I am at a point in my life and career that I'll no longer work for exposure - are publishers still running that scam? - but I can't bring in any sort of income while I'm receiving unemployment. I did that years ago, assuming that the fine folks at the unemployment office would understand that the occasional $50 check for a small newspaper article did not a job make. I learned my lesson on that one, which is why I now spend a good amount of time being frustrated that I can't rebuild my portfolio.
So, what to do in the meantime? I've been trying to figure that out.![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aseanchai have joined our local chapter of the Izaak Walton League, so I can at least put my marketing skills to work there. They need help boosting the local chapter, handling their social media accounts and publicizing their events. I'm excited about helping with that, especially since I believe strongly in the mission of the League. I learned recently that younger people are showing less interest (and a disconnect) in nature words, which most likely signals an overall disconnect with the natural world. That's something that worries me in an era of habitat loss, climate change, and mental health crises like anxiety and depression. Getting people out in nature can help with all three of those issues, so I want to do my part.
In addition to that, I've also rekindled my love for reading thanks to Bookcrossing. I managed to start a new Official Bookcrossing Zone in my area; my plan is to visit it once a month to refresh and restock the available titles. This doesn't lend itself to inclusion on a resume, but I do hope it helps inspire people and give them some respite from The Horrors, for there are many.
In addition to escaping into books, I've also started a daily meditation practice to help with stress. I discovered Natural Stress Relief while researching Transcendental Meditation; I became interested in the latter after watching a David Lynch documentary about the subject on YouTube. I'd heard mixed things about TM - everything from concerns about the cost to allegations of cult-like practices - but I was mainly concerned that the cost and my location would lead to serious barriers to entry. Natural Stress Relief was apparently created/founded by a former TM teacher, and I seem to be having some good results with the practice overall. It's a shame that the website looks as shady as it does, because it is legitimate even though it looks like something from 1998. Don't judge a book by its cover and all that.
***
I'm currently watching a YouTube video about jailbreaking your Kindle. YouTube has started serving up some interesting videos recently, including content about the indie web and "analog toolkits for digital addicts." (I haven't watched the latter one yet.) I'll admit that I'm tempted to try my hand at building a website, since it would be yet another thing to add to my resume. Coding intimidates the hell out of me, I must admit, but so did crochet when I first started.
***
One thing I wish I could do at the moment is either join or create a community here on Dreamwidth where people could share information on resiliency as we face whatever it is that comes next. I tried putting together a Discord community for such a purpose, but it went effectively silent after a while. I eventually shut it down to avoid bots or hackers getting to it, but I can't help but feel that there is and will be a need for such a thing. If any of you know of such a group, please tell me. And if you think it would be useful to get one started, let me know.
So, what to do in the meantime? I've been trying to figure that out.
aseanchai have joined our local chapter of the Izaak Walton League, so I can at least put my marketing skills to work there. They need help boosting the local chapter, handling their social media accounts and publicizing their events. I'm excited about helping with that, especially since I believe strongly in the mission of the League. I learned recently that younger people are showing less interest (and a disconnect) in nature words, which most likely signals an overall disconnect with the natural world. That's something that worries me in an era of habitat loss, climate change, and mental health crises like anxiety and depression. Getting people out in nature can help with all three of those issues, so I want to do my part. In addition to that, I've also rekindled my love for reading thanks to Bookcrossing. I managed to start a new Official Bookcrossing Zone in my area; my plan is to visit it once a month to refresh and restock the available titles. This doesn't lend itself to inclusion on a resume, but I do hope it helps inspire people and give them some respite from The Horrors, for there are many.
In addition to escaping into books, I've also started a daily meditation practice to help with stress. I discovered Natural Stress Relief while researching Transcendental Meditation; I became interested in the latter after watching a David Lynch documentary about the subject on YouTube. I'd heard mixed things about TM - everything from concerns about the cost to allegations of cult-like practices - but I was mainly concerned that the cost and my location would lead to serious barriers to entry. Natural Stress Relief was apparently created/founded by a former TM teacher, and I seem to be having some good results with the practice overall. It's a shame that the website looks as shady as it does, because it is legitimate even though it looks like something from 1998. Don't judge a book by its cover and all that.
***
I'm currently watching a YouTube video about jailbreaking your Kindle. YouTube has started serving up some interesting videos recently, including content about the indie web and "analog toolkits for digital addicts." (I haven't watched the latter one yet.) I'll admit that I'm tempted to try my hand at building a website, since it would be yet another thing to add to my resume. Coding intimidates the hell out of me, I must admit, but so did crochet when I first started.
***
One thing I wish I could do at the moment is either join or create a community here on Dreamwidth where people could share information on resiliency as we face whatever it is that comes next. I tried putting together a Discord community for such a purpose, but it went effectively silent after a while. I eventually shut it down to avoid bots or hackers getting to it, but I can't help but feel that there is and will be a need for such a thing. If any of you know of such a group, please tell me. And if you think it would be useful to get one started, let me know.
