Ingrid’s Confession
What Substack Made Me Do
I swear “ultimatum” has lost its hold on me. It used to make me move like my life depends on it but for a while now, that kind of trick isn’t working. I wonder if I have overused its effect? Have you ever experienced it too?
You see, last year, when I started my Substack , I had no foresight for this whatsoever. It’s just me and my curiosity and my expired enthusiasm for “Medium” that led me to finding out about this app.
At one point, my folks even thought I was working again.
Not gonna lie, it did make me work without pay but I was producing something. I have an output. Something I’m proud of. Before I knew it, I was spending late nights again not because I have a deadline to beat but in a way that empowers me and makes me feel excited.
Isn’t this how all the gurus said it’s supposed to be? Do something that makes you excited to get up in the morning. Something that will make you forget the concept of time because you are so absorbed in what you’re doing?
Well, I guess I did it. Another check in my life experiment. ✓⃝
But then, that feeling slowly ebbed away. All this matrix I’m seeing, ( • ᴖ • ｡) dashboard figures that make me feel like a dot in a paper full of wonderful calligraphy… I couldn’t gather my thoughts properly let alone write with as much enthusiasm as I used to.
My mind is suddenly filled with all my half-finished goals and underbaked projects that it feels like I have wasted my time entirely.
God, by Christmas this year, I want to have found my footing. I want my solid ground and my busy schedule and Jesus Christ I never thought I’d say this but I’d love to be around people again, well not all the time (I’ve already beaten personal record of isolation).
I love the quiet but I could use some noise. °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
I guess what I’m saying is I need movement. Go out again, travel, mingle, live. Keep my mind busy and for Christ sake, produce something that doesn’t end at the mere press of Enter.
Busy but make it version 2.0
Not the kind that will kill me and send me back to the ER.
Just, you know… busy making life wonderful again for myself, for the people I love, the people around me and the people I am yet to meet.
Redefining purpose. What works, what doesn’t work, keeping what does and letting go of what doesn’t.
Recalibrate. Overhaul. Makeover. Change.
٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´- YES, I’m keeping substack. ( ＾◡＾)っ NO I’m letting go of the dashboard.
And I’m making the art of letter writing alive again.
Drumroll please 🥢🥢🥢🥁💃🎶
Something new is coming.
Can you guess what it is?
🐌 + 💌 + 🪩🫧🍸🥂🫧✧˖°
Cheering you on from my side of the world,
BY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, I hope you get what you want. ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺
As always, this is Ingrid, your delulu bestie who retired before retirement, lived it, and came back with receipts. Now I'm here relentlessly triggering you to action. Let’s move those dreams to existence! 🎄
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Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ingrid Dy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Ingrid, this was such a beautiful read. I love the idea of keeping Substack but letting go of the dashboard. Keep the part that gives you life, release the tiny numbers goblin. Very healthy but also quite difficult. I'm rooting for your version 2.0. 🩷🦩
I felt a little lighter, a little more bounce in my step after reading this. Wonderful read ❤️