Introduction: Welcome Back to Blog Land!

I am beyond thrilled to be able to resume online writing or blogging. Due to some unpleasant life circumstances, I stopped blogging halfway through 2012. 

Why did I stop blogging?

I was disheartened by the absence of my husband and my father's illness, which ultimately resulted in his untimely death on the very last day of December in 2012. I lost two important men in my life: one I lost contact with and one I totally lost in this lifetime. My world turned into nothing but pitch-black. I no longer enjoy participating in any of the activities I used to enjoy so much. I simply stopped caring about life. All I did was sulk in a corner, cry, and overthink. My depression and anxiety plus OCD developed altogether simultaneously.

Why did I decide to get back into blogging?

To put it bluntly, to make money! 

That, in fact, is one of the primary reasons. I will not deny that. But besides that, I really enjoy writing just about anything, including my family or our gossiping neighbors, a new keychain or any item I bought, a recipe I tried, a television show that piqued my interest, or simply my personal daily life.

People may not read what I write but it is alright. It is more about self-satisfaction for me. I enjoy doing it and the result makes me happy. Writing for me is like a sharpener. It sharpened my skills in the language, in forming paragraphs and composing an article entirely that makes a bit of sense. I know I can write but I also know I am not an excellent writer. I am still confused about subject-verb agreement, passive and active voices, and grammar and punctuation. Through blogging, I can share my thoughts and opinions and at the same time, I can also develop my skills.

How did you grow interest in writing?

From reading. I started getting my interest into reading at 8 years old. It all started with reading comics. Do you still remember those Php15.00 comics sold in various comic stands back in the day? Oh god, brings so much nostalgia! So I used to buy those comics in various genres; horror, love story, suspense, and romance. That's where I first read the phrase "I love you", which I still vividly remember I read innocently into syllables, as in "I lo-ve yo-u" and I did not even know its meaning. I even made profits from those comics by putting them up for rent in our store. I rented those out for Php2.00 each with a strict policy to read and return in just a day. 

From comics, I opted to read thick books on various topics. I had this self-made quote that says, "The thicker the book, the better". I used to visit our town's public library after school to read and borrow books despite my mother's punishment for coming home late. If not the library, I sourced our rich neighbors' trash bins for thrown books (clean and packed in plastic bags). I didn't know but I was really drawn into books and my mother then started finding it unhealthy. I was merely an elementary student at that time who only wished to read good stories so I could story-tell to my little siblings and to other kids in the neighborhood who were often excited to hear my stories.