That's one small step for me—one giant leap for my generation.

That quote I just made is similar to the one from Neil Armstrong when he first set foot on the Moon in 1969. It's for a good reason. Nearly six decades later, I created this website for myself, embodying the philosophy used by the late President John F. Kennedy—not doing things because they're easy, but because they're hard.

I see the writing on the wall. As corporations continue to assert their dominance over large swaths of the internet at large and increase their grip on users at every given opportunity, I thought it was about time to go back to how it used to be. What's old is new again—little digital enclaves created by you and me in order to have a space for self-expression without having to deal with judgement from others. No algorithms. No arguments. No anxiety.

Welcome to my new personal website. Welcome to my world.

I'm really bad with perfectionism. A major part of it comes from internalizing strict authority figures in my life. Whenever I was held accountable for any mistake or bad decision, I'd take it personal and beat myself up. I'm, fortunately, getting better at recognizing this and allowing myself a moment to consider whether the choices I'll make are worth the consequences they'll cost.

I just have to tell myself, "I know I'm not perfect, but at least I know what to improve for the next go-around." There's no sense in trying to fix a broken champagne flute. It just is—what I can do now is try to clean up the tiny shards of glass so that nobody gets their feet cut.

The more I type, the more I like this place I've made. Understandably, Google Sites isn't the very best when it comes to website building, but I don't expect it to be. I actually like the simplicity of it—there's no learning curve to overcome, and it isn't overly complicated to use and build one page. I just wish it had a few more features and elements to choose from.

Want to know what irritates me to no end right now? It's my tendency to start something new and not finish it unless given an incentive to. When there's an incentive for me to complete a task or a project, I'll stop at nothing to ensure that it's not only done, but it's done with as best of quality that I can offer. If there's no incentive, there's nothing getting done.

It's like something in my mind is blocking me from the things I truly want—to embrace a new identity or adopt a new habit, for starters. I really need to figure out what this blockage is and a way to overcome it. If I knew that I would succeed at whatever I wanted to do, I'd do it faster than one can blink.

I sometimes hate freedom—and hate is a strong word—because it's the technical opposite of dependence. To be free is to be untethered. Most of us understand this principle and how to navigate it effectively. Others, not so much. It has to do with self-direction or choosing a course of action that leads to a certain outcome. Whether or not that outcome is preferred is anyone's guess. I'm forced to accept that this is just how life works, but the more I try to accept it, the more emotional friction I encounter.

I, perhaps, desire freedom until there are consequences for my choices. And that is unfortunate.

The fall semester is well underway. I'm trying to get into the rhythm of things again, but it's kind of difficult. I can't really sit in a classroom for a long period of time like I used to...especially when it's so cold. I hate to waste a day, but I'm trying to see what works and what doesn't. Or, maybe I just don't really have the "must-do" in me anymore. It is what it is.

Speaking of which, luxury is changing a lot. Like me, it's doing a bit of soul searching. It's trying to figure out how to find itself while going through a sort of metamorphosis. The mainstays—Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini—they seem to have lost what makes them special. Bugatti and Koenigsegg have fallen victim to this as well to an extent. Social media has given us unprecedented access to these cars and their owners, but in turn has drained us of our desire for them.

Sometimes, perhaps, it's better if the illusion is kept. Or is it?

I've been working on a new identity and persona. It's called LEGENDARY (in all caps, of course). It's a tall order, and pays homage to the magnetism of Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, LeBron James, and—to an extent—Taylor Swift and the Justin Bieber of the early and mid 2010's. Though, the key component in the peaks of their fame is that they had at least one important thing they were good at.

For Barack Obama, it was his ability to break barriers in the political realm. Michael Jackson ascended to the top of the musical mountain with a combination of musical prowess and iconic dance moves. Justin Bieber was the quintessential teen heartthrob of the 21st century, his looks and voice making girls swoon around the world. Taylor Swift became an icon of femininity through her ability to write songs that Gen-Z young women could relate to.

I really don't have anything extraordinary, to be honest, but that's not me comparing myself to them. It took years—decades even—for these individuals to reach their peak—to completely transform the cultural landscape and have the entire world in their hands. I was also either a small child or not even born when they first got their breakthrough. However, that doesn't mean I can't try.