#3 My First Attempt at Vlogging: How I Found My Place in Blogging (For Now)

For someone whose face rarely graces my most-viewed videos, most personal comments I receive include "You should be a comedian!" or "Do you work on a radio station?" and the one that always makes me chuckle is, "You look and feel like KZ Tandingan!" I mean, thank you. Thank you for all your wonderful comments! My most popular content within my very few social followers usually involves quick snippets of travel, food, or just "stuff" – all conspicuously absent of my speaking mug. So, naturally, a thought sparked: "Hey, I could totally do this vlogging thing!" I mean, I have a friend who makes it look effortlessly inspiring, and vlogging was everywhere. It seemed like the next great adventure, a natural evolution for someone constantly told they should be on camera.

With my phone and a surge of enthusiasm, I decided to give it a go. I started talking, and talking, and... well, it became a really, really long video. I spiraled into oversharing, veering wildly off-topic, and generally committing every vlogging sin in the book. But watching it back, despite the cringe-worthy length, I saw what they saw. There was something funny in my facial reactions, my mannerisms, the way I moved. It was amusing, in a chaotic, unfiltered way. In the end, I didn't post the full thing, opting instead for a hilariously fast-forwarded clip where I look like I'm doing a frantic dance. Here's a screenshot of that attempt>>

What I didn't realize until that first raw, unedited take was that vlogging is not for the faint of heart. It was a true adventure stepping outside my comfort zone, and the camera, for me, proved to be quite intimidating. There's a subtle pressure with that red recording dot, a timer running in your head, urging you to be concise, engaging, perfect.

This led to a significant insight, one that felt like finding a lost piece of myself: my place, my true medium, for now, lies in writing. I love that I get to write at my own pace, crafting thoughts, coming back later to add details, or simply letting an idea simmer. There's no invisible clock ticking, no sudden facial contortion captured forever in real-time. I found a distinct sense of solace in the deliberate pace of putting words on a page.

When it comes to photographs, my phone's 256GB memory often fills up within three months, mostly with photos of myself and the places I go. A huge chunk of that is my daily outfit photos – batches of 20-40 shots for just a few I might post! I can say I am good at taking photos of myself (solely based on my personal view), meticulously curating, deleting only the truly blurred ones or the ones that are simply not very good. But videos of myself? Still so cringey. I guess it really does depend on the person, and what kind of creative expression brings them comfort.

This whole "vlogging adventure" has given me a new, strong admiration for people who are able to inspire others through their lenses, capturing moments and sharing themselves so authentically on video. That's a superpower right there. And while I'm not closing my doors to vlogging in the future – you never know what discomfort you might eventually embrace – for now, I've found where I truly belong. "Erbe Unpacked" will continue to be my comfortable space to unpack adventures, insights, and amusement, one written word at a time, where I can truly find my stride.

So, tell me – have you ever embarked on a creative adventure that led you down an unexpected path, helping you discover where you truly belong (for now at least)? Or is there a medium you once tried that just didn't 'click' for you?

Share your journey and insights in the comments below!

I love reading relatable stories!

ERBE