Why I Started This Blog: From Poetry Dreams to Grocery Lists and Real Life

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Back in the day, when Yahoo still had free webpages (you remember those days, right?), I had a blog. Oh yes, I was that person. The one pouring out their heart into the vast, digital void of the internet, hoping to somehow touch someone's soul with their latest poem or short story. I thought, “This is it. I’ll be the next big thing.” Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. But that didn’t stop me. It never does.

A cozy writing setup with a journal, coffee cup, and scattered grocery list and poetry book pages — symbolizing creativity and everyday life.

I’ve always loved writing—always. Whether it was scribbling down short stories in the back of notebooks, composing poems that were probably a little too dramatic (yes, teenage angst), or crafting stories that were more for my own heart than anyone else’s eyes. Writing has always been my therapy, my outlet, my best friend when I was sad, or happy, or just plain moody.

I was all set to become a literary genius (or, you know, something close to that), so I thought, “I’ll major in literature!” And then life said, “Hold on a minute, Fabi. Let’s throw in a plot twist.”

First, I attended medical school. Yeah, don’t even ask. I dropped out after a semester because I was as out of place in a white coat as a fish out of water. Then, I thought, "Well, computer science sounds cool!" But guess what? My heart wasn’t in it. Eventually, after a winding road that could have been written into a novel, I earned a Business Administration degree at 30. A little late to the party, but hey, I showed up!

Even though I was busy with all the “real-life” stuff—jobs, adulting, responsibilities—I never stopped writing. I published a poetry book that nobody bought (a small tragedy, but my ego survived), and I’ve got a manuscript collecting dust somewhere with a bunch of poems that I might someday release. Maybe when I can afford the fancy author photos and the book launch party.

But let's talk about how life got in the way. I’m a mom now, and writing wasn’t on the to-do list when I was knee-deep in diapers, family responsibilities, and the endless cycle of “What’s for dinner?” Honestly, those little moments of creativity just evaporated.

The pandemic flipped my life upside down. I went from being "Fabi the person" to "Fabi the Mom." After my burnout, something clicked. I realized that the little things I enjoyed—artsy me, the person who loved to write and be creative—were still there, waiting for me. And so, I committed myself: I needed to do something I loved, even if it was small. That’s when this blog was born.

Now, the things I write about have changed. No more angst about lost love or worrying about the future (well, maybe a little), but instead, I'm scribbling down grocery lists, meal plans, family trips, and how to save money to make everything happen. Honestly, I never thought I’d be writing about "what to make for dinner" more than poetry, but here we are.

Being a parent doesn’t leave much time for “me time,” right? When you do find those rare moments of peace, you’re either interrupted or feel guilty for enjoying them. So, you squeeze in whatever you can. For me, it’s Wednesdays. After my medical leave last year, returning to work was hard, especially balancing everything else. But my boss, bless him, gave me Wednesdays off. And that’s when I started carving out time for myself. Wednesday became my writing day, my "me time," and it was glorious. That’s when this blog started to take off. It became a space where I could pour out all the things that were swirling in my head.

It wasn’t easy. I didn’t even realize I was burnt out until last summer. July was meant to be a break, but instead, I found myself managing construction projects and stressing about work, even while I was supposed to be resting. That’s when I knew something was seriously off. I wasn’t enjoying anything anymore. I was too busy keeping the wheels turning. Once I recognized that, things began to change slowly.

And yes, I still love the artsy side of me. I adore painting (watercolour, to be specific), sketching, and even knitting, though I’m terrible at it. But it doesn’t matter because I’m doing it. I’ve even been dreaming of taking guitar and photography lessons—just for fun, no big goals, just pure joy.

This blog isn’t a business, and that’s fine. I’d love to cover the costs of running it (because running a website isn’t free!), but at the end of the day, it’s about sharing the moments that make life feel a little more real and a little more beautiful. And hey, I’ve got a poetry manuscript sitting around that one day, I might just share here. Who knows?

In the meantime, I’m just taking it day by day. I’m writing for myself, for my sanity, and for anyone who needs a little laugh, a little inspiration, or a little “hey, I’m not alone in this!” moment.

So, here we are. I’m writing for me, for you, and for anyone else who needs a little inspiration to start something they’ve been putting off. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost a part of yourself or been so busy with life that you forgot to enjoy the small things, I get it. It’s not easy. But you can get back to it—slowly, one step at a time.

And here’s the part where I ask you: What little thing have you done for yourself recently? Something that made you feel like you again? Let me know in the comments—let’s keep this creative conversation going!

- Love, Fabi