So I took a little unscheduled break

Hello, friends.

Gosh. I’m not sure where to begin.

As I said in the title of this post, I took an unscheduled break all through October, and intended to restart again in November. That was the plan.

But as with all best laid plans, it went awry and before I realised, November is half over!

As I have received many messages of concern as to whether I’d return to blogging (yes, I will), I figured that I owe you an explanation 🙂

So, hello! What’s been happening? 🙂

Much has been said about 2020, and how challenging it has been for us all on all fronts. Our life and plans have been curtailed and what started out in March as a rather exciting little adventure has settled into a rather tiring little routine of staying home, wearing masks and avoiding social gatherings.

While I was rather upbeat the first time lockdown happened, I felt rather out of sorts when they put us under controlled movement again in October.

Perhaps it was fatigue. Perhaps it was frustration at the system and the politicians, and the feeling that we are merely pawns in their game. Perhaps it was the feeling of helplessness, at not knowing what will happen or for how long we will be stuck in this time warp.

Either way, I was in no mood to write, or share on Instagram. I was still online, still keeping my finger on the pulse, but I wasn’t in the mood to share or have a presence.

The truth is that I feel rather insipid talking and thinking about beauty products, when so much more is happening around me. People losing jobs, not having enough to eat, businesses closing, and here I was telling you about a blush that costs RM260.

I couldn’t stomach it. So, I shut down.

In the past month, I’ve used products without thinking too much about them. I’ve thrown out bags of empty bottles and tubs, without feeling that I should talk about them. I’ve done complicated skincare routines, and I’ve done simple routines.

I basically had to go and find myself again, because the truth is that the constant feeling that I had to be online, to post on Instagram, or to share an Instagram story began to overwhelm me.

And that explains the unscheduled break. I woke up one day and decided I’d take the time off. I needed to reset my mind, and to reconsider my priorities.

I must also apologise here for failing to reply many recent comments. Most of you know that I am a stickler for replying to comments, but I slowed some time in the middle of the year, and I never managed to catch back up.

This guilt at not managing my comments section better ate at me, and was part of the reason I felt awful opening up my blog to write. I was simply overwhelmed.

What I will do now is to go back and answer questions that need answering, so I’m afraid not every comment will receive a reply. However, I will promise you that going forwards from today, all new comments will receive a reply, as I have been doing all these 13 years I’ve been blogging 🙂

While I took a break from the blog, I’ve channeled my time and energies to building my little dog treats brand. I’ve had to learn much about e-commerce and online marketing in a very short time. It’s been rewarding but tough! 😛 I know that there are many among you who have given me your support, and it warms my heart to know that your pups are enjoying what we’re sending out. Thank you!

As busy and challenging as the new business is, I decided that it was time to return to writing again. It is my one true creative outlet that brings me more joy than mere imagery.

So here I am 🙂

Hello again. I hope you are well 🙂

xoxo

Paris B