I’ve been struggling with this, but it feels like the inevitable has happened.
I no longer have the time to maintain MWS 🙁
I’ve tried about 5 times this past week to write this post, which really tells you how much of a struggle it has been, both to find time to write, and to find the right words to say.
It isn’t to say that I’m pulling the plug and closing down the site for good. Reviews of discontinued products aside, I believe that there are some posts with useful tips shared over the 17+ years that I’d been writing & maintaining it, that will still be helpful to someone. Perhaps I might even return to write the odd post, just to keep the wheels oiled and the hand in.
However, the reality is that I have struggled to find the time to write in an in-depth manner as I used to. When I wrote my 4000th post, I told myself that I would try to write a little more regularly. I have been using quite a few new products in this time that I’ve been away from the blog, that I wanted to talk about. And then, I realised that I’d scraped out the last bit of cream, squeezed out that last bit of cleanser, opened up a new product, am about halfway through, AND STILL HAVE NOT YET EVEN PHOTOGRAPHED THE FIRST!
That has been the biggest challenge for me – finding the time and place to take photographs, transfer to the computer, edit and then upload. It has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced in blogging all these many years, and it might just be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back. Those of you on Instagram will also have realised that I am far less active on there than I used to be. I make time to be on Instagram for work, but not much more than that.
Writing has always come fairly easy to me, but juggling the time to write has also been a challenge lately. Each time I open up my dashboard, I’ve found myself distracted by the other 238429 things I need to do elsewhere for my growing business.
It is interesting (for me) to have this realisation now, as my birthday approaches. I usually write something thoughtful for the occasion, and I was not intending to this year. But it being a milestone year, I suppose a bit of introspection is necessary.
About 10 years ago, I shared that I had turned 40. Unlike many bloggers who started blogging out of school, or in their 20’s, I only started in my 30’s. I came to a love for beauty products later in life, only after I had started working and having my own money to splurge. Blogging was then relatively new, and I found it to be a great outlet for me to talk about and share my thoughts on products and the industry.
Blogging opened doors to a world I would never otherwise have been a part of, allowed me to meet the most interesting people in the industry, brought me a core group of friends I would never have otherwise met, and brought me places & gave me experiences I might never otherwise have had the chance to enjoy. I had an amazing 17+ years in the industry and I always thought it would be one I’d eventually ‘retire’ in.
10 years ago, if you had told me that I would today, as I enter a new decade, not be blogging as much, not be travelling as much, have a pup around which my life is centred, and have left my professional job and turned into an entrepreneur in the pet industry, I would have laughed and told you it was an alternate universe. It was unthinkable for me back then. I was in a decent career, footloose & fancy free, and living life large.
10 years ago, I studiously avoided going outside, I hated any form of exercise, and I enjoyed a lot of little life luxuries. Today, I still hate exercise, but I make it a point to go out for walks because my dog needs it, and he can’t walk by himself. I go out in the sun, and my skin has developed more hyperpigmentation than before (although far less than I thought I’d have, thanks to good sunscreen!). Luxury these days is a little time spent away from the clingy little pup – I have not visited a mall in months!
10 years ago, I would be out in my heels and fancy leather bags, visiting malls to ‘research’ the latest beauty brands and products, going for media events and generally having a good time being feted. Today, I prize lightweight, plain, nylon crossbody bags that leave my hands free, sneakers, and comfortable active/casual wear that allows freedom of movement to walk the very active dog, and work in the kitchen. The only events I go to are pet bazaars or pop-ups where I get to meet very enthusiastic little pups that bring me so much joy.
If you’d asked me back then, what I would have expected as I turned 50, I would have told you that it would likely have been more of the same – travel, life’s luxuries & being more involved with the beauty industry. Instead, partway through, we experienced lockdowns, movement/travel restrictions and quarantine, and in the midst of it all, I discovered a new passion – canine nutrition.
Today, as I turn 50, I am a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, I am elbows deep in raw meats & strange organ parts daily, I’ve discovered a whole new world of product sourcing and packaging, and I operate a semi-professional kitchen producing dehydrated, freeze-dried & baked dog treats. In August, we took the plunge and invested in a freeze-drying machine, that has opened up a whole new world of potential and allowed us to be just 1 of 2 Malaysian made freeze-dried dog treats. It had fulfilled a long-held ambition of mine, to delve into the world of freeze-dried dog treats, and I was so happy to be able to fulfil it sooner than expected.
10 years ago, if you had told me the highlight of me turning 50 would be to own a gargantuan machine that is noisy AF, instead of a new Hermes bag that costs the same, I would have laughed. Give me that bag any day! 😀
Today, I am thrilled to take delivery of an industrial-sized meat grinder, and am lusting after a few bigger, newer machines instead, to continue growing the business; and we are working towards meeting that goal. So much of my life has changed in the past 5 years since the lockdowns began, and keeping up with beauty trends and new products has been low on my priority list.
I understand that so many of you have followed my writings over the years, because of our shared love for beauty, and at this point, I’m at peace with anyone who chooses to no longer keep up or check back in, because our interests no longer align. I have informed the brands who still stay in touch that I’m stepping back, and I am so very grateful for the relationships I’ve had, and the many wonderful people in the industry who has shown this aunty so much grace and given me so many opportunities.
Turning 50 has not been at all how I imagined it would be. I think I imagined it would be just like 40, but with more grey hair 😀 I never imagined it would involve this much raw meat, strange organs, and creating recipes. I never imagined I’d be writing this, because I honestly thought I’d be writing here forever 😀
If there is one thing I’ve learnt from this introspection, it’s this: That life evolves, and we evolve along with it, and we just never know where we might be from one moment to the next.
Thank you for joining me on my beauty journey, for all your emails, texts, and chats we’ve had in the comments and on Instagram. I am humbled by your support all through the past 17+ years. I don’t intend to stop writing, but it will be very sporadic and far in between. It is only fair to warn you of this 🙂
I guess I’ll see you when I see you.
xoxo
Paris B
