When I started Daisybutter in my University halls bedroom in 2009, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d still be doing it today. Whilst the blogging scene has now become an industry in its own right, for me it simply remains one of the best things I ever did, a hobby that got wildly out of hand. In truth, even though I don’t class myself as an influencer, I also don’t see this blog as a ‘hobby’ anymore. It’s the one constant that’s been with me throughout Uni, graduation, internships, break-ups, my first job, an international move, expat life, and more. But it’s also a growing source of anxiety for me: why didn’t I grow with my peers [at the time]?
However what it is, is a platform where I can freely write whatever and however I wish to. Daisybutter was originally born out of being frustrated at writing to strict Uni guidelines, and also from feeling disillusioned by traditional media once I began studying it (I eventually gained a First Class Honours degree in journalism!). Thus, Daisybutter is my cosy safe space to share my life and authentic stories as a British-born Chinese woman, living (often just floating) between cultures. I’m honoured that a homegrown blog has become a place where I can comfortably talk about issues close to my heart, and leave somewhat of an imprint on its readers.
After a lot of soul-searching throughout lockdown, I came to a realisation. I don’t know if I fit the mould anymore. In fact, I don’t know that I ever did. 10 years is a long time to commit to anything, much less digital pages on the Internet, and yet I can’t see myself not blogging. Although the blogosphere is big and mighty, Daisybutter remains a lil nugget. I didn’t grow with my event- and meeting-going peers in 2012. In fact I was shunned from many and mistaken for wait staff at one. Yup.
These days, my blog readership continues to grow, yet any social media posts that I share that feature my face mean I stagnate. My ‘platforms’ only grow when I show things that aren’t… me. That’s pretty disheartening.
So here’s the plan: we carry on. I’m unapologetically me, and you are unapologetically you. We’re lo-fi, of-the-moment and somewhat planned at the same time, we’re sharing what feels good and also what doesn’t. If that means breaking away from the mainstream blogging community a little and not quite fitting in with what everyone else is doing or saying or creating, then so be it.
Real life is incredibly busy at the moment, and so I’m going to focus my efforts primarily on this space, alongside my offline endeavours. I’ve been taking some time off social media, since Sunday to be precise, and it’s already been great. Not feeling the need to ~be present online~ so the algorithm favours me. Not feeling the need to commentate my own life. Not feeling the need to rush-produce pretty images and call it content (no shade of course, I just mean that I personally am Better At Words!). In fact, I’m already realising that want to bring even more of my life onto these digital pages, rather than becoming a pastiche of the online. I’ve never quite looked, acted or been the same as my peers anyway. I wrote a manifesto for Daisybutter a few months ago when I joined Grow & Glow and it remains true today:
Daisybutter is a lifestyle blog about being British-born Chinese, for those seeking endlessly to do good and be better.
Let’s continue to do good and be better. I’ll see you back here for another cosy Sundaze, on Sunday. xo
