Despite my championing of change, I have to admit that I’m still fearful of the changes coming, especially when I have grown comfortable with what I have currently. Change in and of itself isn’t bad, but what makes the difference is the attitude toward it. When I was completely content with my blogging ways during my bookish era, I was super hesitant to hop over to the new direction. But seeing the direction evolving, interest shifting, I think that changes are impending. It was just lurking there. So I reassessed my goals and followed my own tide.

But, of course, there was no guarantee it would be a success. And while I didn’t regret the changes, I wouldn’t say I triumphantly made them. It was clunky, messy, and directionless. I was again changing things up to my contentment, and that was why I decided to take a one-month hiatus and really, really plan my comeback, and I think I made just about the right decision in this case. By this time, changes in my blog that reflect thoughtful consideration are something I welcome with arms wide open.

But because it’s my blog’s eighth anniversary, I want to do some #throwback and share with you the eight changes I made to my blog over the past eight years. So far, in my one year of blogging as Faiery (the fourth incarnation of my blog), the routine has been smooth. There’s nothing major I want to change. Yes, not even this design, for which the blog’s predecessor was more known to change clothes like a mad fashionista. But I digress, here they are:

1. Domain/Blog Renames

Who would’ve forgotten Aeropapers? That was, and somehow still is, what people associate me with. But that was ages and ages ago. I loved my short gig as a book reviewer and book blogger, but let’s not kid around; I wasn’t a book blogger anymore even before the time I changed. And when I want to revamp, names are included. I go all out! From Skye Station > Aeropapers > Rainyink > Faiery! I’ve got to hand it to myself—Rename was my game back then. PS. I love my name now, and I foresee name changes in the far, far future.

2. Blog Redesigns

Like renaming, I donned designs like a runway model. I changed my design at every given opportunity I had to redesign, more particularly during the rainyink phase, when I was absolutely baffled by how to efficiently transition from talking about books to not talking about books. It was seriously messed up! So I think it was my way of finding my identity. But in retrospect, it confused me more than ever. Today, as you can see, my design has lasted for more than a year, and I think that says so much about my satisfaction with the new direction I’m taking with my blog. I think I’ve matured, if I say so myself.

3. Blogging Goals

All I wanted was an avenue to express myself, and the same can be said now. But along the way I also considered other goals—growth, more than enough to receive ARCS, connection, or network—those things. I felt ashamed, restricted, and overwhelmed. So I went back to my roots after this new change I made. And I’ve never been happier or more content with my blog. This is the reason why I blog: for myself, for what I love, for what I’m passionate about. I don’t need the excess baggage anymore.

4. Interest/Topic Focus

It was hard when you know everyone in this side of the community as one, but when you jumped and your readership didn’t really welcome it as you hoped for… You got yourself thinking. But because my goals and motivations have changed, I’ve realized I need to conform to what I like and love more than what I was known for. And after that, it was super easy to integrate new topics. Manga! Anime! Webtoons! Travel! And lots, lots more. I can share anything I’m comfortable sharing with everyone without compromising my enjoyment along the way.

5. Color Scheme

– It wasn’t always pink, mind you. Skye Station was blue. Aeropapers at the beginning was purple. Rainyink even started as mint and yellow! But my web aesthetic always craves my favorite color palette—all the shades of pink! So when I redesign Faiery I know it’s going to be pink! It’s going to be my fave color! It’s going to be me in web design! And it was me all over! I love it—that’s why I’m sticking with it for the long haul!

6. Scheduling

From moody blogger to organized, excessive scheduler, what has happened, you say? I’ve grown to love organizing. Even at work, I use a tracker and schedule lots of things, and it is just so efficient, (especially for a forgetful person (*points to self*). If I always wait until I’m ready, nothing’s going to happen, yes? At least this was something I realized lately. So a schedule makes me kind of diligent, but more along the lines of a “streamlining what I’m supposed to do” attitude.

7. The ins and outs of Features/Meme

I did them, the features, and all those tagging memes. Some I made, some I came across on the net. Some I did because everyone did it at some point. But I realized that the ones that stick are the ones I actually enjoyed writing (e.g. Best of the Best started in 2012). Like the redesign, features, memes came in and went fast.

8. Adding some personal flares

By personal, I mean vague little details about my life. I’m still very careful about what I write on the web, where everyone can read it. The unknown digital gazes still terrify an extreme introvert such as myself. But I want to open up a little; I find sharing some small, maybe insignificant details of my life freeing, too.