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No Longer Writing for Ghosts

April 25, 2025

On April 20, my final article was published on the WeChat platform, marking the end of my journey there. After that, I set up a new space on Blogspot. Unfortunately, WeChat users can’t open Blogspot links within the app, and it’s inaccessible in China. So, I decided to stop sharing altogether — a cold-turkey halt, without explanation.

Of course, I’m still writing and sharing — here on social media, and with my children — but not through the daily individual updates I used to send. It’s been five days now. If anyone asks, I’ll offer an explanation. Otherwise, I'll let silence do it all.

In the past, I shared with over 20 individual readers and three WeChat groups every single day. Part of me believed they were eagerly awaiting my words, that I had a responsibility to meet their expectations, and that failing to deliver might disappoint them.

Now, after days of non-delivery, only three people have reached out — expressing concern, and saying it’s unlike me to stop writing and sharing. "You’ve been quiet. Everything okay?"

It makes me wonder: Was I deluding myself before, thinking they were waiting for my writing? Was it self-deception, or perhaps wishful thinking when in fact they weren't? Or is it simply that life is busy, and even "good things" eventually recede into the background?

I won’t waste energy raking my brain trying to guess what others think. Surprisingly, I feel liberated — unshackled from invisible or imagined expectations I had unknowingly tied my neck around.

Perhaps the real gift isn't the attention we imagine we receive, but the freedom to create without needing it. The readers that I imagine exist are the ghosts which I don't miss. I miss the person who keeps writing with or without readers.

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