The Dangers of Not Doing

I am editing this page and noting that I started writing it in October of 2023. But it's been in the works for over twenty years.

By way of introduction, I am Samuel Thurston, a 25+ year programmer and designer, a Father and a serial procrastinator.

Since I first heard the word 'blog' in 2001 from a former co-worker named Mark, I have been interested in starting and keeping a personal journal site. In the interim I have started at least 5 different times on different platforms. But I've never committed to it.

As a professional freelancer I developed probably 20+ wordpress sites for other people, between 2007 and 2015. Custom themes, custom plugins, and very often even some basic content adapted from other product or marketing literature.

I worked with other CMS and blogging platforms as well. Started a blogger site for a while, kept a livejournal for a minute.

I've always found that when trying to create my own blog or website I am never happy with it, and because I'm never happy with it I find it difficult to put energy into it.

But no more! (hopefully)

I am now using a static web site generator called zola, and a very simple and lightweight theme created by a fine developer who isn't me. I am convinced that it is better to do something even if the doing isn't really mine, and hopefully gain the momentum to keep doing things.

Adding to the shame of being a professional programmer who can't be bothered to write code for his own personal project, I have maintained the belief that nobody would read the blog if I wrote it.

I have since realized that is a stupid way of thinking about it. Rather than be worried if I can gain an audience or make money from this, I just want to write, maybe so my kids can read it when I am gone, or maybe just as a way to publicly air my thoughts.

So here goes, try number 6 or so. May it not be the last

-S