Flashback and Fast Forward

I was cleaning my hard drive today, deleting useless files, organizing folders. As I went through the process, I stumbled upon gems from the past.

At first, I came across my Odesk folder. This was the folder where I’ve put all the articles I’ve produced from various clients when I was online freelancing some years ago.

Odesk, this online job platform has since changed its name to Upwork.  Scanning the title list, napatawa ako sa mga topics that I had no choice but to research so I can write about them.

Dental xrays, religious studies, siberian tiger, travel guides to Andorra, Knoxville, Courmayeur, Utska, Jersey Shores, Zermatt, and more. It was my first time then to hear of these places, yet I am to write like an expert travel writer, lol.

Nail art, SEO, wardrobe topics, wedding favors, anything and everything under the sun. Such is a life of an online article writer – you’ve got to be ready to tackle the assign topics for the day and to keep embracing the diversity of writing subjects. Plus, it’s a “no work, no pay” world so one’s got to toughen up, research fast, write smart.

I am glad I went through freelancing before I found my own niche – that of being a website admin, writer, manager for own web properties. It was my freelancing years which opened my eyes to the big wide opportunity that the internet offers. I’m forever grateful to this period in my life, it was a good preparation for what is to come.

Digging into my hard drive and coming across files from yesteryears is like discovering an old, good friend in the middle of the road. You greet each other with such fondness as both recall the memories.

I also saw my personal folder – a collection of write-ups during my turbulent, emo years. Lol. In between cringing and laughing I opened and read the ones I can open.

Other files, I supposed the more emotional ones – heartbreaks? haha, were locked-up by a password, that today I have no way of knowing what the password was. I did try my usual passwords but a couple of files just won’t budge and open, Lol. Maybe it’s a good thing haha.

I dare not edit the files for then the date of last ‘saving’ will be overridden. It warms my heart to see some write-ups were written early 2000s, when I was in my early 20s. While reading some entries, I smirk at myself, laugh at myself, pat myself for overcoming the hard years, found joy at the preserved words.

I kept notebooks and journals over the years until I switched to writing in Microsoft Word, then when Angelfire was the rage I kept an online journal. I forget all about it until I was nearing 30ish. hehehe. Blues/Kismet that’s my first journal. Do forgive if the written words there makes you cringe, emo and medyo o.a. lang talaga hahahha

Today I have Penfires to write on. I supposed not many readers who are here for travel guides and tips, will be thrilled at the idea that this travel blog will be transform into more of a personal online journal.

But that is where I want to take Penfires, to go back to its roots. To let the pen be on fire once again. I like to write now without thinking much about seo, keywords, sponsorships, etc. I have other websites for that. I want Penfires to become again a refuge, a place to celebrate, a familiar place, a journal for memories.

Thank you for reading. I wish you well wherever you are in the world.

~Cille