Blog - 47th Birthday The Man I Didn't Become

Hi Blog,

Happy Birthday to me! I came across one of my blog posts that I usually write during my birth month, reflecting on my own growth. If you missed those, here are a few: 46th Birthday Reflection (2025), A Reflection on Life, Love, and Self-Worth (2024), My 42nd Birthday (2021), My 41st Birthday (2020), Happy Birthday to me (2019), Happy Birthday 2018 (2018), Happy Birthday to Me (2017) and Jia You, Jeff (2017). This post is quite mundane; it serves as a personal reflection and is not intended for those who don't care to read. You may exit.

I create a self-portrait by starting with a point, then using one continuous line, and finishing with another point. This artwork symbolises the idea that a journey includes not just individual points or line segments, but the entire experience as a whole. I don't try to erase mistakes; instead, I've learned to accept that the line may wobble, overlap, and sometimes stray off course. Despite this, I continue moving forward until it ultimately represents me.

There were many "points" in my drawing. The point where I struggled with my appearance, the point where I questioned my worthiness, the point where I felt judged, the point where I believed society only rewarded good-looking people, the point where I started cosplaying, and the point where I tried to stand up again. If someone looked at any one of those isolation points, they might misunderstand the whole story. But when connected, they form a line that tells the story of my journey toward seeing things differently. This line isn't straight; it curves, loops, and sometimes overlaps itself. At times, it seems uncertain. And that's exactly how growth feels. Years later, we look back and realise, "No... I was actually drawing the picture."

Blog - New Fifth Banner

Hi Blog,

Here's a quick update for my blog and perhaps for my readers, if anyone cares. I felt inspired to create a new banner and let my creativity flow. Even though my drawing skills are a bit rusty, I genuinely enjoy drawing comics, even if I'm not particularly skilled at it.

I have a general idea of what my banner should look like.

I will draw another banner for a few more years, so for now, I will keep it as is and review my previous banners.

Blog - April Overview

Hi Blog,

One fact about me is that I love exploring new places. Perhaps, revisiting some places is also fine with me. Since I keep a private photo blog diary, snapping new photos and sharing my experiences has become my habit.

In my recent posts, I got busier and delayed many posts. Sorry to keep my royal readers waiting.

It actually takes time and effort to sort photos, edit the HTML code to arrange them into tables, draft the post, and do spelling/grammar checks; so it is not like I just post photos and treat them as a photo dump. Well... I can't stop some readers from thinking that I am just trying to seek attention. If you do, please let me know as my blog isn't for you.

As we're in April, I assume whatever you are reading this is a belated update for the month. I'll do my best to catch up.

Blog - August Overview

Hi Blog,

I was thinking through... I shared my "discounted" hiking-only experience on another public blog here. What do I mean by "discounted"? What it means is my hiking posts with lesser-me content. I am still figuring out what to do with my 2nd public blog.

Having a public blog and a private blog will balance whatever ideal I had for my blog initially.

Anyway, my August blog post should be prepared slowly and handled with ease... Since my blog has become private... How do my readers feel towards it?

Blog - July Overview

Sorry Blog,

My apologies for taking a longer time to finish my June blog update. Can you imagine the amount of time spent to draft a post? Haha...

It was so tiring... 12 days of trip then became 15 posts... And it was not a short one.

I understand that not many people will understand the feeling of spending a great amount of effort to finish a post, and this blog was closed already... Who am I doing this for? I also don't have the right to expect others to understand. I just don't want things to stack up.

Blog - November Overview

Hi Blog,

Life after covid, even though it may seem infectious with conditions like the common flu, fever and cough; in reality, are the symptoms of how our immune system reacted to the virus which affects our lungs and causes other complex issues including death. As I noticed my blood pressure shoot up high, I know it could get worse if our bodies can't win the war. Most importantly, our spirit must maintain positivity and readiness for whatever happens.

Hence November 1*1 is to remind me that our bodies and spirit must work together. How do I ensure both work together?

A few ways to ensure and maintain, when we see things, do we see it with our eyes or brain or someone who is looking out from a body window? When we react to any happening, do our mind/emotions just flow or deep reflection under the head shelter? Do we just breathe or constantly sense the airflow through our nostrils? Etc etc. 😂 There are more but I doubt anyone will bother to understand what I had shared above. I shall keep it short and journal my November happening below. Thanks, Blog for listening.

Blog - June Update

Hi Blog,

Have been procrastinating for a while... Took some time to reflect on why I procrastinated.

In some ways... I am stuck in a loop and I want to improve but I know I can't be the best when most people and even myself will expect me to be the best... Why you don't strike for the best, you are not working on it at all...

Why... Need to go for the best? Can't we go for good or better? Isn't good or better not good enough? Perhaps it is a trigger...

Blog - May Update

Hi Blog,

May The May a blessing to my soul. I just wanted to calm down further... Recently, I got a bit negative and somehow numb inner.

Hope I will enhance and cultivate the Zen in me.

Sigh... I need to be watchful with myself. May the force be with me.

Blog - April Update

Hi Blog,

I bet you realised my new instalment in my blog content - my urbex experience. It will be a short one in my life journey because there are many places I doubt I can visit again as it is not safe to do so.

I am surely missed such places.

For now, hope you guys enjoy the documentation of my urbex trips.

Blog - January Update

Hi Blog,

2022.. Another year had passed and a new year has come. COVID made a great impact on everyone's life. Even though not most for me, but I must say most of my hiking trips seemed nah... I guess... I will redo my hiking experience like a new trip for me in 2022.

Reset my experience might gain something new

I will try to come out with a resolution post for myself sooner.

Blog - December Update

Hi Blog,

Wow! December! As compared to other years, this year, it seemed like I have lesser posts... I might need some time to revisit my usual hiking places... But I doubt anyone will want to read the same old things again.

Feel bounded this time around, perhaps lack of ideas...

Anyway, it is a diary for me; I will take it easy and hope next year will be a good one.

Blog - August Update

Hi Blog,

10 years of blogging since 2010, writing my thoughts and share my experience to space. My blog got personal and repetitive dull, but it is how my life is. Writing is just a way to keep my mind checked.

August monthly update :)

who knows one fine day I might stop blogging, actually won't have any effect on anyone. Right?

Personal - Someone Impersonation

Hi Blog...

These few days, I received many random users's private message on my social media, email and line... I don't know them but all of politeness so I will reply back. Then... through the conversation... they were asking for a hook up which I rejected them because I don't go into hook up no matter that person is a gal or guy... and one of them told me... then why do I share my pictures on a forum advertising myself?

I requested a screenshot and out of my fear! My most of pictures were shared and even my private life pictures too... Worst of all, my face was not even covered.

This person, Easy man, was impersonating as me! If you clicked on his username, most of his profile info all directed to me...

Blog - New Banner Part Three

Hi Blog,

Suddenly I had a strong inspiring feeling while working on drawing.

I started to draw and done! XD Quick one!

Perhaps due to some changes in me... I decided to make a new banner for myself.

Blog - February Update

Hi Blog,

February! CNY is coming! Am I looking forwards for CNY?!... Laughed bitterly. Anyway, Life still goes on. I am just looking forwards to going oversea! Meanwhile, let's hope for a better 2021 for everyone.

I decided to make some changes to my Monthly Update post, I will park all my workouts here together with my randomness; any longer post will be a standalone post on its own.

Blog - New Banner Part Two

Hi Blog,

I am 40 years old already. Fun Fact, this is my 1000th blog post! My healing journey to my inferior complex can't do without you, Blog. Looking back, it was a good memory and made some non-judgmental friends giving me encouragement and motivation, are golden.

I decided to do a quick drawing for my blog to mark a new milestone for myself and blog.

If you missed my First Banner blog post, you can click here.

Blog - My RSS Setup

Hi Blog,

Recently I was wondering how to make my blog update to appear on an app with notification. Then I bumped to a word, "RSS".

Ever since I blogged or read other bloggers, I will see a series of logo at a corner of a page along with instagram and facebook logos, and I don't know what is the wifi-like logo for. I bet you won't know either, don't be surprised. It was due to not massively promoted as compared to Instagram. Now I got an idea what it is.

For easy reference from my lousy English, you can read this blogger's post or how to subscribe to RSS (link).

Personal - Sorting out

Hi Blog,

Just some personal post for the day, Recently I had been thinking through how can I standardise the labels in my blog posts. I can't differentiate some labels clearly so I decided to correct my previous posts slowly.

Like "personal" and "sharing", I will make it clear "personal" will be posts about just some short posts or anything regard to my personal life excluded my hobby. As for sharing, will be the moment when I had shared some of my thought or views toward some topics. Hmmmm Not much as I will post most of sharing on another blog.

Like "thought of the day" and "randomness", were also another grey areas. Sometimes I don't know why I created such labels... As for "thought of the day" will be some deep thought process during the day, different from "sharing". As for "randomness", is more on I can't think of a title for the blog post.

Even label like "For blog", I used to label every posts (in the past) with it. Now I have to remove it slowly and that label will be any related to any blog changes or blog layout than my personal stuff.

I guess there are many other labels which I am trying to sort out. Do give me time to do so.

Just like sorting some items in my workplace, feeling happy that things sorted out neatly and properly.

Jeff

Blog - Adding Instagram Widget on Blogger

Hi Blog,

I just noticed my previous widget from LightWidget for Instagram went expired, then I decided to look for another service online and I found this amazing one which I will love to share with others (if there is anyone reading this).

It is Instawidget (link)

Blog - New Banner

Hi Blog,

Two more months later, it will be our seventh anniversary of companionship! I have to thank you for being a non-judgmental, patience, appreciative and all-ears companion for these years. I always remember the agenda to start a blog in 2010, I just wanted a private space to write my thought and practiced my English, even though I don't see any GREAT improvement of my English language, but I have slight improvement which is good enough.

My first drawing for my first post

I looked back my first few posts made during 2010,