Dear Diary,

I have finally decided on a theme for this site and a piece for my debut article. Obviously, the former will revolve around my letters to you along with far-fetched stories that run amok inside the abysmal labyrinth of my mind.

Drafting this post has reminded me of a conversation I once had. “What does your blog hope to accomplish?” was the thought-provoking response to my idea of getting back into blogging. Since this blog’s inception last 2017, it was in its pupal stages and did not make much headway after that conversation. It went further to discuss the intended content and message for its readers which made it more challenging to focus on a debut article. It never occurred to me that I had to have a goal in each of my posts back in my youthful blogging days. Thinking back to all of my Livejournal, Blogspot, and Friendster articles, they were mostly rants. Lengthy and at times carefully written. Some were an attempt at poetry while others were a play at different writing styles—far from having a governing theme or objective.

During the early stages, it was fun setting up this site and doing the layout work via WordPress. However, writing an article was an entirely different matter. The challenges have always been connecting one thought to another and maintaining focus. Especially for someone whose mind wanders off aimlessly and can be quite meticulous with form, layout, and delivery. There were drafts that stayed as drafts for months on end. There were drafts that got discarded due to lack of drive that prompted the initial paragraph(s)—remaining bottled up inside me until the right moment prompts a need to make it written.

In this debut article, we will focus on Purpose. You see, Diary… for the past 10 years or so, it has gradually become challenging to move forward with life. You can say that I have reached a point where I no longer find value in it. I have tried to mitigate this downhill ordeal with certain activities covering the physical, mental, and emotional aspects. From working out, going on hikes, and traveling to immersing in games, reading books, binge watching, and shopping. However, at the end of it all, I just slump back to where I began—reality. When I was young, I was clueless to the long term effects our environment in general may have on me. I laughed and cried my way through most of it during a time when things were much simpler; unaware that some of these would collectively compound into issues that can be my undoing. Fast forward to now and we have me—3 decades worth of harbored personal issues none that have ever been diffused—a ticking time bomb. There were moments when I would tell myself that it was only a matter of time before I could prematurely meet up and converse with R. M. Williams or C. C. Bennington—if an afterlife existed. In light of the latter, I hope the readers would spare the comments section of any spiritual or religious advice. Religion is too sensitive a topic I hate covering with anyone in general who would turn mad crazy trying to convert me.

Now, as another attempt at mitigating whatever it is I am going through (which some might claim as a form of depression), I shall try to remedy it by returning to writing. Focusing on:

• My Diary covering my most personal thoughts on almost anything and attempts at writing stories.

• My Outdoor Adventures covering:
  • LNT Principles
  • Hikes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Best Outdoor Practices
  • Gear reviews
  • How-Tos

Hoping for a new start and more letters for you to come.

Yours truly,

Hulios