Like all things on my site, this post has taken its sweet time. But, as with all things, there has been constant transition. I can’t actually pinpoint when my attitude towards what I wanted to do changed, but it’s been a culmination of thoughts, conversations, and activities that’s brought this new shift.
Today while on a regular walk, which I’m becoming quite addicted to because it really helps me think and decompress on things, I passed this ‘dead’ gum tree. I have walked past this gum tree numerous times and have often smiled at its predicament. It fell down at some point long ago, but something inside it refused to die. Out of the stump, a tiny sapling is growing very slowly. It was this image, this metaphor, that consolidated my decision to re-claim my digital identity.
Once upon a time, I used to post frequently on Twitter, but I’ve barely touched it since it became X. I also used to post on Facebook, but I haven’t posted anything in about 3 years. I have continued posting on Instagram for all my personal interests, travel, and bits of fascination. I also still post on LinkedIn, but not that much. I don’t quite know why or how it started happening, but I’ve found myself gradually moving away from social media. Definitely one reason was the stupid amount of other crap that would fill my feeds from people, news and organisations that I don’t follow. The algorithm would suck me in and I’d be endlessly scrolling, finding some interesting bits in between posts from people I follow, but also just feeling hollow once I’d broken myself away. As I often say to my son, we’re wasting our time feeding someone else’s adventures, dreams, and problems.
I’m sick of other companies owning, filtering and butchering what I want from an online network. As I said to someone the other day, I’d pay a monthly fee if I could have an Instagram feed that just featured the people I follow. There’s no care or real sense of connection anymore, at least not like it used to be (says an old man like me who still remembers the good ol’ days of Twitter, when it used to be THE space for connecting and sharing with educators and other professionals). They’ve all become a cesspool of crap in between the gems of people and ideas that make a difference to me. I’ll still likely contribute to LinkedIn and probably drop in and check out Instagram, but I’m cutting right back and instead making this website, MY website, the kind of digital sandpit I want.
Which brings me back to the old gum tree, on its side with a tiny sapling growing out of it. I reflected today that my digital experience used to be that gum tree. A big, proud, and flourishing space. Then at some point, it came down and collapsed. But all is not lost – that tiny sampling is here, this site: hamishcurry.com. This is me. This site used to be for my ramblings on education and learning, and it still definitely will be; I’ve got a bag of draft ideas waiting to be finished. But that’s not only me – I also love listening to music (especially from my CD collection), nerding out on hi-fi, and getting all excited by movies. I’ve also done quite a bit of travelling, finding cool art (especially street art), and being amazed at nature. These are also all me.
I realised I needed to reclaim my digital identity. I already had a space where I could post whatever I want, a site I can get things out of my head and share the things that make me passionate. I still need to be able to connect, share, and comment with others, and I’ll likely do that through LinkedIn or WhatsApp groups. But I made a decision a while ago that my site wasn’t going to be that space. It’s one-way traffic here. If you want to say something about what I post here, there are ways of doing that through other channels, and you can always get in touch.
I’m reminded of a great story Will Richardson used to tell about a high school in the US that when their students were graduating, the school’s parting gift was to give each student their own personalised domain. A way of saying, ‘go out and tell the world who you are’. I guess lessons like this can always be useful, even if you have a site you haven’t done much with. Like me, you can recreate and redefine what you want to say to the world – and that is what transition is all about.
