A few weeks ago, I was in a burned-out spot — creatively, professionally. I existed almost purely in the physical world. The only times I’d get online for myself were to game or snoop around.
It’s interesting — after being off socials for a while, I still had a strong desire to be online. To somehow make it mine in any way I could.
I started getting back into hardware tinkering and network sniffing — just to physically be on the web in any way I could. To know what was out there. I think I was subconsciously desperate for a space that was mine. A presence online, but not one dictated by timelines and algorithms.
But I couldn’t go back. I knew social media held nothing for a guy like me.
I needed a space that wasn’t performance-based — but I still longed for a digital identity that belonged to me.
By day, I maintain the digital presence of an institution. A brand. An entity. One that I love, and have pledged fealty to. But still…
It’s not mine. It’s not me.
But this?
This site exists simply because I do.
It’s been liberating to hijack the same tools I use professionally — for my own motives. To carve out a space that’s fully mine. To plant the seeds of my own brand. To find MY people.
Each new feature. Each little tweak.
Another day in the garden :)
This is my wild space — and I know it’ll attract all sorts of interesting creatures to observe.
If you’re here, right now, whenever that may be…
know that Petals was alive.
$ booting personal_web_protocol
# status: online█I existed once.