Saturday, June 21, 2014

Dear Blogger,

I think Blogger is the easiest way to really see what and who you've turned into from what you were. It's the easiest way of forgetting people you met here and meeting people you never knew.
I have been blogging for the last seven years. That's a big number for me because youth often underestimates the potentiality of big numbers. The concept of 'long run' is often not so long and sometimes arrogantly short sighted.

In the last seven years of blogging, I remember deleting just one post in 2009. Apart from that, whatever I wrote was as good as set on stone because irrespective of the horrible grammar and the strange SMS language that was a fad once, I had no regrets about the person I used to be. In fact, it used to be amusing and at some level comforting. I was a good kid, and I think I managed to grow into a decent-ish human being. But a few days back I did delete a whole lot of posts from the oldest of chests on this blog (2008). I reverted them back to drafts; not because I was embarrassed by what a ridiculously hyper, unabashedly emotional teenager I was. I deleted those posts because I couldn't relate to them anymore. Perhaps sudden minutes of retrospect dab figments of epiphanies in you. Perhaps it was like that one fine day you wake up and decide to quit your job because you forgot why you started working in the first place.
It just had to be done.

You see, back when I wrote them, Blogger was an entirely different world. My list of Followers and Followings were this intimate circle where we trusted absolute strangers with our potent feelings about everything. Back then it was 'milestones' like the first day of my higher secondary schooling, or the longest spell of crush on a boy. For others it was family, work, and much bigger milestones. Some of these people became the kinds of friends who till date keep in touch and genuinely matter. I remember being the baby of the blogger circle.
It was absolutely beautiful how a bunch of URLs could mean so much to people who perhaps lived in different cities/ countries and yet knew overwhelmingly enough about each other.

But eventually over the years, everyone got busy. People moved. People moved on, too. A lot of the blogs I used to religiously follow are now not accessible anymore because they've either turned private or the last time they were updated was two or three years back.
I sure do miss those guys. They were good people and I hope they're all in good health.

I've had years like 2011 when I'd write so often that drafts over drafts piled on my dashboard, waiting to be published. I've had years like 2013 where I had so much to write that words failed me, and all I could manage was crawl up to 13 posts in a year. I've zoned out and zoned in, I've had painful spells of writers block and even worse spells of sheer laziness. But I kept coming back here. Because somehow I knew that somebody would be listening. And if it was a lucky day, somebody would be waiting.

 I have to admit, Blogger still surprises me. In waves of blue moons, once in a while I see old blogger friends leave a comment on a post when I least expect it. Even today, I bump into wonderful blogs of people I want to know better because their words make a lot of sense, they hit home. I'm thankful for such people sustaining the art and the need of writing. Some times I come so close to deleting this blog, but I think I've seen myself and others grow too much in this space to give it all away. Like I said, seven years is a big number for me.

So to all of you who are still writing, to all of you who stopped writing, and most importantly to all of you who never stopped reading- this is a sincere white flag for all of you, to let you know that our boat is still sailing and the ocean still looks just as beautiful. The air is thick with salt, but the words don't fail to come out in sneezes. :)

Cheers, Blogger. You've been a good listener.

All my loving,
Nil. 

31 comments:

  1. Wow :)
    My little genius you will be forever special and 'baby' of us all.
    That reminds I started my first blog seven years back too. Gosh been so long. Even I hardly blog now and most of you just moved here and there but still my posts stay and I keep my latest blog...might keep it always I feel :)

    And you have a long way to go...so keep writing...
    Much love always :)

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    Replies
    1. You've been one of my favorite regulars over the last few years. Your words have been truly encouraging, Nabz. Thank you so much for always having the time to leave in a word, it really means so much :)

      Delete
  2. Wow, 7 years is no joke. Kudos to you for continue to find a purpose in blogging for all this time. I feel this way all the time, which is why I sometimes think about quitting my blog or slowing down, or even disabling comments. But I've come to realize after 5 years of blogging that you have to do what works for you. One day you might want to write 10 things and another day the words just won't come out. But that's life and blogging should be a reflection of that. You'll always be one of my best blogging friends, Nil.

    -Cheryl

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    1. I'm so so glad to have bumped into your absolutely fantastic blog here, and gladder to have gotten to know you. You've been such a great friend here, Cheryl. Your sudden comments always make me say a mental "Oh heeeeeeyyy" hehe.
      So much love :)

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  3. I can realllly relate to this post.
    :)

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  4. Dear Baby blogger friend ,

    Seven Years?! Isn’t it strange to sometimes see how the time flies away so quickly? It seems as if it was just yesterday that I started using blogger.
    Seven years is not a simple thing in life to just leave it like that. Moreover this blog is about your evolution. Every person is unique and so is his way of evolution. But we all love to see and know whether how we evolved as a person.

    You may be young but your words are not! You have a gift of unleashing your imagination through words. With your words, all these years you have made us all sail through. Through thick and thin. You have taken us to even places which we thought never existed. Such wonderful journeys mark the importance and power of imagination.

    We may be living cities apart or may be countries apart but we never really felt the distance because we are connected to each other by understanding the words, the feelings and everything we express. We identify each blogger with his/her writings alone and thus a strong bond is established. The bond which makes you not to forget people (even when they have moved on) easily. This is the beauty of this medium.

    I’m looking forward to fathom out many beautiful and interesting things of shallow waters and also to unearth many mysteries of deep waters as you take us all along on your voyages each time towards a new horizon. ;)

    With lots of love,
    -Loyal Stalker

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Aasyaan,

      if only I knew you were a regular here, I would have perhaps found some inspiration in me and updated this blog more often! The comments on this post by all of you is so inspirational and overwhelming. I cannot tell you how much each and every one of you mean to this little blog of mine.
      At the end of the day, we are human. We write or speak for we want to be heard, and spoken to, in fact even be contradicted. When I see that my readers here really are still around and still read this rant house, I am filled with a very different kind of happiness. I thank you with all my heart for that.

      My voyages shall have different horizons as long as all of you are on board. I can't wait to entertain and muse with y'all, about life and tales from an abrupt heart :)

      Much love,
      Nil.

      Delete
  5. I'm currently one of those hibernating blogs but you've taken me down memory lane and all I feel like doing now is opening up that text box and just unloading. I love you nil, one of the nicest things blogger has done for me is made me friends with incredible people like you. :)

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    1. Your blog was one of the easiest to read because it spoke to me at the simplest and yet the deepest level. The chronicles of a college student. You're such a fabulous girl, Kanika. I owe blogger some serious credit to have made wonderful friends like you :)
      Bucketful of pyaar and hugs <3

      Delete
  6. Yes!! I can really relate to it! Your are awesome girl... I was following you from the day I started blogging and whether i comment or not always love to read your post! always loved to see you coming back after a short break and now here your are speaking my words which I wanted to speak!

    All the very best for the coming years and congratz for completing the seven loong years!! love to see you coming up with more beautiful blog posts!

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    1. My dear Anjali,
      I have seen you around as one of the most loyal followers here. And I couldn't be more greatful. If I speak your words, it's because you're ready to read mine :) I really hope you are always around with your delightful words of encouragement!

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. You always do, don't you, you Blasphemous Aesthete :)

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  8. hey.. how are you .. and I should say while keeping my fingers crossed remember me :)

    I have been away for a long long time and recently came back myself .. and yes I feel exactly what you have written ..

    people have moved on for sure or found newer better blogs ..

    and 7 years wowow .. all the best always and here's wishing many many more years

    Bikram

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    Replies
    1. Ofcourse I remember you, Bikram! I've always found your comments at odd times and smiled. Indeed, people have moved on. But I'm glad a few of us stayed back. :)

      Cheers to you, my friend. I'm glad you're back after your spell of absence.

      Delete
  9. You know, your URL out of everyone's makes sense. You have let people literally meet you here. And that is a great, great thing to do.

    7 is a humungous number, my friend.
    Keep this blog up, it is one those things that make me believe.

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    1. URLs are nothing but empty spaces without real people and real feelings coming together in this virtual world. Thank you, Akanksha. You've been such a genuine reader and a delight to have come across.

      I'll keep this blog up, as long as you all don't disappear :)

      Delete
  10. So long it has been Nil, brings back lovely memories. :)

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  11. You're the sweetest. Do you know that I've known you (your blog) for at least 2-3 of those years? That's unknowingly turned into a long time.

    It's so true. People change, blogs changed, a lot of the ones I used to follow went private or turned obsolete. But I'm glad I can brush some dust off mine occasionally as you do yours.

    I expect more writing from you missy!

    Love,
    Z

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    1. Like I said, in this ridiculously fast world, anything more than a second is a long time! Jokes apart, hella hell yeahuhh. 2-3 years is plenty.
      Your blog is such a fresh breath of air, man Zeebs! So fun and alive, so honest.

      I'm the happiest to have met you here, and I hope the two of us stick around and share our stories. And yes sirree, more writing, aye aye!

      Hugs,
      Nil.

      Delete
  12. This was so beautiful. I know exactly what this mean, I was a baby to blogger too. It became something so wonderful. And you, have been like a warm cup of coffee each time it rained. I know how many times I have read about the most mundane things of your day and felt an odd comfort.

    You are beautiful, this place is beautiful and I am always waiting for something new to be here every time I visit. Thank you for the welcome each time :)

    Love :)

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  13. Thank you, you beautiful person!
    If I was the warm cup of tea, all of you readers were the cooling rain :) I'm so excited to hear that you're around that often, I really didn't have a clue! Have a gorgeous weekend, and I promise to post something nice for y'all soon.
    Much love :)

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  14. Funny how I just converted seven of my posts to drafts (and continue to do it). Almost prophetic/or poetic (whichever reads better).

    - Yggdrassil

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    1. I'd go with poetic. But hey, write more so the published posts can match compete with the drafts. Cheers :)

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  15. You is back. :')
    I want to be, too. I wrote something after SUCH a long time today and it felt GOOD. Reading this post brought back so many old memories. It was absolutely lovely. :*

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    1. Aw, thanks Rooo. Yes, I'm going to try and be more regular this time. Loveliest memories, blogger :*

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  16. Hello there,
    Hope everything is fine on your end.
    Just dropped by to deliver a small news.
    Congratulations, you have been awarded the Liebster Award . Please go to the below link for details.
    Liebster Award
    Thanks for your time. :)
    Take Care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey hey, why thank you so much! That was such a fantastic welcome gift, I say. You're very kind. All my love :)

      Delete
  17. I read the first line and it voiced my exact thoughts towards Blogger..and each next sentence only added.

    I've been here almost three years, and in my time, I've experienced every bit of what you said :) Blogger really is a great listener.

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Pour out your thoughts on mine.... :)