Why I Don’t Celebrate Galentine’s Day (But Wish I Did)

Posted on February 12, 2026January 19, 2026 by gigis ramblings

I’m going to be real with you about something that feels a little vulnerable to admit.

When Galentine’s Day rolls around every February 13, that fun, Leslie Knope-invented holiday celebrating female friendship, I feel a little pang. Not jealousy exactly. More like… wistfulness. Because while everyone else is posting their brunch photos and “love my girls” captions, I’m over here thinking, “That looks really nice. I wonder what that’s like.”

Here’s the truth: I don’t really have close girlfriends. And I haven’t for a while.

The Codependent Confession

My husband and I? We’re pretty codependent. There, I said it. We’re each other’s person. Our best friend. Our go-to for everything. We don’t really do the “girls’ night” or “guys’ night” thing. We don’t have a tight-knit friend group. We’re kind of our own little island, and honestly? Most of the time, that works for us.

We like our quiet life. We like our craft room projects and our Netflix binges and our inside jokes that no one else would understand. We’re homebodies who found another homebody, and we’re perfectly content in our little bubble.

But then Galentine’s Day comes around, and I see all these posts about women celebrating each other—the group chats, the decades-long friendships, the “we finish each other’s sentences” bonds—and I feel it. That little “huh, that must be nice” feeling.

What Happened to My Friendships?

I used to have girlfriends. Not a ton, but a few good ones scattered across different seasons of life. High school friends who knew me before I knew myself. Work friends who got the professional struggles. Mom friends from when the kids were little who understood the exhaustion.

But life happens, you know? People move. Priorities shift. Careers change. Kids grow up. And somewhere along the way, those friendships faded into “we should get together sometime” and then just… silence.

Part of it is me. I’m an introvert who recharges alone (or with my husband). Maintaining friendships takes energy I don’t always have. It requires reaching out, making plans, and showing up even when you’re tired. And honestly? I’m not great at it.

Part of it is just how life works. Everyone’s busy. Everyone’s dealing with their own stuff. The effort required to maintain deep friendships feels like one more thing on an already overwhelming list.

And part of it is that I just… stopped trying as hard.

Why Female Friendships Still Matter (Even When You Don’t Have Them)

Here’s the thing, though, even though I don’t have that girl gang, I still believe female friendships are incredibly important. I see their value even if I’m not currently experiencing it.

Women understand other women in ways that are hard to explain. There’s a shared language, a knowing glance, an unspoken understanding of what it’s like to navigate the world as a woman. The pressures, the expectations, the invisible labor, the constant juggling act.

Female friends celebrate your wins without competition. They hold space for your struggles without trying to fix everything. They remember the small details about your life that matter. They see you… really see you… in ways that feel sacred.

They’re also the safety net for parts of yourself that don’t fit neatly into other relationships. The parts that need to vent about things your partner might not fully get. The parts that need encouragement from someone who’s walked a similar path. The parts that just need someone to say, “Yeah, me too. You’re not crazy.”

And I think that’s what I miss most, being fully known by someone outside my marriage.

The Loneliness I Don’t Talk About

Can I be honest about something? Sometimes the codependent thing feels less like a choice and more like… well, loneliness with company. But only at times like this.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband deeply. He’s my partner in every sense of the word. But there’s something about female friendship that fills a different space. A space that feels a little empty right now.

When I’m struggling with something, I talk to him. When I need advice, I ask him. When I want to celebrate something, I tell him. And he’s wonderful and supportive and everything I could ask for. But sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have that other voice. That girlfriend who gets it from a different angle.

I see women my age with their tight friend groups, and I wonder how they did it. How they maintained those bonds through busy seasons. How they prioritized those relationships when everything else demanded their attention. How they made it look so easy.

My main issue is I don’t really click with females. I’ve always hung out with the guys.

Why Galentine’s Day Makes Me Wistful

So when Galentine’s Day comes around, it’s a reminder of what I don’t have. Not in a bitter way, more in a “that looks really lovely and I wish I had that” way.

I wish I had a group chat that blew up my phone with memes and inside jokes. I wish I had someone to call when I needed to talk through something without judgment. I wish I had that standing lunch date or girls’ trip or someone who just got me in that specific female friendship way.

I wish I had women in my life who showed up year-round, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Who remembered my birthday without Facebook reminding them. Who checked in just because. Who made me feel seen and valued and celebrated.

I wish I was celebrating Galentine’s Day instead of writing about why I’m not.

Maybe It’s Not Too Late

Here’s what I’m thinking as I write this… maybe it’s not too late. Maybe friendships can be built at any age, in any season. Maybe it just looks different than it did in our twenties.

Maybe it starts small. A text to someone I haven’t talked to in years. Saying yes to an invitation instead of defaulting to “I’m too tired.” Putting myself out there even when it feels awkward and forced.

Maybe it means being vulnerable enough to admit I want friendships, even though that feels like admitting I’m lonely. Even though it feels easier to just stay in my comfortable bubble.

Maybe Galentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about celebrating the friendships I have; maybe it can be about honoring the ones I want. The ones I’m hoping to build. The ones I’m opening myself up to, even if it’s scary.

The Bottom Line

So no, I’m not celebrating Galentine’s Day this year with mimosas and brunch and a group of beloved girlfriends. But I’m celebrating the idea of it. The beautiful concept that female friendships deserve recognition and honor and a whole dang holiday.

And maybe I’m using this as a little wake-up call to myself. A reminder that isolation isn’t the same as contentment. That being codependent with my husband doesn’t mean I can’t also have meaningful friendships. That it’s okay to want both.

To all the women out there celebrating Galentine’s Day with your ride-or-dies: I’m happy for you. Genuinely. Celebrate those friendships hard. They matter more than you know.

And to the women who are like me, scrolling through the Galentine’s posts feeling a little left out, a little wistful, a little lonely, you’re not alone in feeling alone. Maybe this year is the year we do something about it. Maybe we reach out. Maybe we try.

Or maybe we just sit with the wistfulness for a bit and let ourselves feel it. That’s okay too.

Happy Galentine’s Day to the friendships we have, the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we’re hoping to find.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

What I’d Do Differently If I Started Today

Posted on February 11, 2026February 12, 2026 by gigis ramblings

If I were starting Gigi’s Ramblings today, knowing everything I know now, I wouldn’t do it the same way. Not because the early days were wrong, but because experience changes how you see almost everything.

Back then, I learned by doing. Now, I’d learn by choosing more carefully.

I’d Start With a Clearer Purpose

When I first started, I didn’t really know why I was blogging. I just knew I liked writing and wanted a space of my own. That worked, but it also led to a lot of wandering.

If I started today, I’d define my purpose earlier. Not a rigid niche, but a clear intention. What kind of conversations do I want to have? What kind of reader am I writing for? Those answers save years of trial and error.

I’d Stop Trying to Please Everyone

In the beginning, I wrote for an imaginary audience that didn’t exist. I tried to cover too many topics, appeal to too many people, and avoid saying anything that might turn someone off.

Now, I know better. Writing gets easier when you accept that not everyone is your reader. The right people will find you when you stop trying to sound like everyone else.

I’d Learn SEO Sooner, But Not Worship It

SEO took me a long time to understand, and even longer to stop fearing. I either ignored it completely or treated it like a set of rules that controlled everything.

If I started today, I’d learn SEO early, but I wouldn’t let it dictate my voice. It should support the writing, not replace it.

I’d Be More Consistent From the Start

Consistency took years to master. I posted when I felt inspired and disappeared when I didn’t. That made growth slower than it needed to be.

Now, I understand that consistency builds trust, both with readers and with myself. Showing up matters more than waiting for the perfect idea.

I’d Document More Than I Performed

I spent a lot of time trying to make things look good instead of capturing what was actually happening. I edited out uncertainty, confusion, and learning curves.

If I started today, I’d document more and perform less. The real story is always more interesting than the polished version.

I’d Stop Overthinking Every Post

Overthinking was my biggest time-waster. I rewrote, restructured, and delayed posts that didn’t need half that effort.

Now, I know that imperfect and published beats perfect and unfinished every time.

I’d Trust That Growth Takes Time

In the early days, I expected results too quickly. I wanted traffic, engagement, and recognition before I had built anything stable.

If I started today, I’d trust the process more. Real growth is slow, quiet, and usually invisible at first.

What Experience Taught Me

The biggest lesson isn’t about strategy or tools. It’s about patience.

I wouldn’t change the journey because it shaped the writer I am now. But I would change how much pressure I put on myself along the way.

If I were starting today, I’d still work hard. I’d just worry less and write more.

And honestly, that alone would make all the difference.

Easy At-Home Valentine’s Day Meals for a Romantic Night In

Posted on February 10, 2026February 11, 2026 by gigis ramblings

Romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home with home-cooked meals, candlelight, and two glasses of white wine.

Valentine’s Day does not have to involve crowded restaurants or expensive prix-fixe menus. A romantic evening at home can feel more personal, more relaxed, and far more memorable. Cooking together or preparing a simple meal for your partner sets the tone for a cozy night in without stress.

These easy Valentine’s Day dinner ideas are designed for real people. The ingredients are familiar. The steps are simple. The results still feel special.

Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken with Rice

This is a perfect Valentine’s Day dinner at home because it feels indulgent without being complicated. The sauce is rich and comforting, and it pairs well with simple rice.

Ingredients include two boneless chicken breasts, salt, pepper, olive oil, butter, garlic, heavy cream, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, and cooked white or jasmine rice.

To make it, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken for about five to six minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside. In the same pan, melt the butter, add the garlic, and cook briefly. Stir in the cream and chicken broth, then add the parmesan and simmer until slightly thickened. Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over it. Serve over rice.

Simple Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Steak is a classic romantic dinner choice and one of the easiest meals to cook at home for Valentine’s Day when done simply.

You will need two steaks such as ribeye or sirloin, salt, pepper, butter, garlic, potatoes, and milk.

Season the steaks well and let them sit at room temperature for about twenty minutes. Boil the potatoes until fork-tender, then mash them with butter and milk until smooth. Heat a skillet over high heat, add butter and garlic, and cook the steaks for three to five minutes per side depending on thickness. Let the steaks rest before serving with the mashed potatoes.

Creamy Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

Pasta is one of the best Valentine’s Day meals for a cozy night in. It is filling, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients include penne or fettuccine, Italian sausage, garlic, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, fresh spinach, salt, and pepper.

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Brown the sausage in a skillet and break it into pieces. Add garlic and cook briefly, then pour in the cream and let it simmer. Stir in parmesan until melted, add spinach until wilted, and toss with the cooked pasta. Season to taste.

Sheet Pan Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

For a lighter but still romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, this sheet pan salmon keeps things simple and elegant.

You will need salmon fillets, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon slices, and vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or baby potatoes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the salmon and vegetables on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, season well, and top the salmon with lemon slices. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the salmon flakes easily.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for Dessert

Dessert is essential on Valentine’s Day, and this one is easy, classic, and romantic.

All you need are fresh strawberries and chocolate.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each. Dip the strawberries, place them on parchment paper, and refrigerate until set.

Final Thoughts on a Romantic Valentine’s Day at Home

A successful Valentine’s Day is not about perfection. It is about effort, comfort, and connection. Simple home-cooked meals create space to slow down and enjoy the evening together.

Good food. Relaxed vibes. No pressure.

How My Voice as a Writer Has Changed in 10 Years

Posted on February 9, 2026February 10, 2026 by gigis ramblings

Ten years ago, I thought having a “writing voice” meant sounding polished, professional, and a little bit distant. I believed good writing was about structure, rules, and making sure nothing felt too personal or too messy.

What I didn’t realize back then was that voice isn’t something you build by following formulas. It’s something that forms slowly through experience, confidence, and a whole lot of trial and error.

Learning to Stop Writing Like Everyone Else

In the beginning, I wrote the way I thought I was supposed to write. I mimicked other bloggers, borrowed tones from articles I admired, and tried to fit into whatever style seemed popular at the time. I was more focused on blending in than standing out.

Over time, that approach started to feel forced. The words were fine, but they didn’t sound like me. They sounded like someone trying very hard to be taken seriously.

Becoming Comfortable with Simplicity

As the years passed, my writing got simpler. Not less thoughtful, just less cluttered. I stopped over explaining, stopped padding sentences, and stopped trying to impress people I didn’t even know.

Shorter sentences felt more natural. Clear thoughts felt better than complicated ones. Writing became less about performance and more about communication.

Letting Personality Show Up on the Page

At some point, I stopped editing out my personality. I let humor stay. I let opinions stay. I let honesty stay, even when it felt a little uncomfortable.

That shift changed everything. The blog felt more alive. The writing felt more like a conversation instead of a presentation.

Trusting My Own Perspective

Early on, I constantly questioned whether my thoughts were interesting enough to share. I looked for validation in trends and topics instead of trusting my own experiences.

Now, I trust that my perspective has value simply because it is mine. I no longer feel the need to justify why I’m writing about something. If it matters to me, it’s worth exploring.

Writing with Less Fear

Fear used to control a lot of my choices. Fear of being judged. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of not sounding smart enough.

That fear has faded. Not completely, but enough that it no longer runs the show. I write with more confidence, more ease, and far less overthinking.

What I Know Now

My voice didn’t change because I learned better rules. It changed because I stopped trying to follow them so closely.

Ten years of writing taught me that the strongest voice isn’t the loudest or the most polished. It’s the one that feels honest, consistent, and comfortable in its own skin.

And that’s something no style guide can teach.

Super Bowl Sunday at Our House

Posted on February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 by gigis ramblings

A Super Bowl Sunday party setup with a wooden coffee table displaying sizzling cast‑iron beef and chicken fajitas, guacamole, authentic Mexican molcajete salsa, shredded cheese, sliced jalapeños, tortillas, and two margaritas. In front is a football squares betting grid with English labels. A flat-screen TV in the background shows a tense moment from the Super Bowl LX game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Super Bowl Sunday at home looks a little different for everyone, and honestly, this year feels different for us too. While I usually enjoy the excitement that comes with the big game, I am not exactly fired up like I have been in years past. Between politics creeping into sports and not being a fan of either team, it has definitely taken some of the shine off the day.

That said, we are still showing up for the parts we enjoy. We have football boards with an extremely high payout, a house full of good food, and just enough curiosity to keep the TV on. Sometimes that is enough.

What We Are Cooking for Game Day

One thing that never disappoints on Super Bowl Sunday is the food. We decided to keep it simple this year with a fajita bar. We are grilling both beef and chicken. Think warm tortillas, grilled peppers and onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, and plenty of toppings to build your plate exactly how you want it.

I am also making homemade salsa and guacamole to snack on throughout the game. For me, game day food ideas do not have to be complicated. They just need to be fresh, filling, and easy to graze on while the game is playing in the background. This setup checks all those boxes.

Who We Are Rooting For This Year

If I am being honest, we are rooting for our numbers. That is it. Our Super Bowl football boards are the only real reason we have skin in the game this year, and they are looking pretty decent so far. Winning some extra money would definitely make the night more exciting.

As far as teams go, I have never been a Patriots fan, and I have seen more of them than I cared to on Super Bowl Sunday. If I absolutely had to choose, I would lean toward the Seahawks, but it is not coming from any deep loyalty. This year, it is more about the investment than the outcome.

Thoughts on the Halftime Show

Yes, the halftime show will be on. Will we actually watch it? Probably not. We usually take that time to step outside, grab food, or do anything else while it plays in the background.

I am a football fan. I watch the game. I have never been impressed by commercials and I truly do not understand the hype around them. I hate commercials of any kind and the Super Bowl ones do nothing for me.

As for halftime shows, Prince will forever be my favorite. Bruno Mars was good. Of course, I watched the legends – Snoop, Mary J, Eminem, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre. Kendrick Lamar was decent. Beyond that, I rarely sit through them.

Female entertainers have never been my thing, especially when they are half-dressed. It is just not something I enjoy or seek out. Unfortunately, I was tuned in during the Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson fiasco, and not by choice. Nelly made an appearance, and I stayed watching for that, only to be unwillingly exposed to the exact thing that deters me from halftime shows in the first place. That moment pretty much sealed it for me.

The whole outrage surrounding halftime shows always feels unnecessary to me. If you do not like it, change the channel or leave the room. That’s what I do. Creating controversy every year feels ridiculous. Creating an alternative halftime show that has nothing to do with the Super Bowl is assinine.

That said, I do like some of Bad Bunny’s music and I want to support the Hispanic/Latino community, so the TV will stay on. Will I be glued to it? Doubtful.

Keeping Super Bowl Sunday Simple

At the end of the day, Super Bowl Sunday at home for us is about good food, casual fun, and the hope that our numbers hit. I am not overly invested in the teams or the spectacle this year, and that is okay.

Sometimes, enjoying the day on your own terms is the real win. If we walk away full, relaxed, and maybe a little richer, I will call this a successful Super Bowl Sunday.

Gigi’s Ramblings Then vs Now: A Decade of Change

Posted on February 7, 2026February 8, 2026 by gigis ramblings

When Gigi’s Ramblings first began, I had no idea what it would become. I didn’t know who would read it, how long I would stick with it, or whether it would ever feel like anything more than a side project. At the time, it was just a space I needed. Somewhere to write, to experiment, and to figure things out in public.

Ten years later, the blog looks different. I look different. The internet itself feels like a completely different place. What started as something casual slowly turned into something steady, personal, and oddly permanent.

Then: Writing for the Algorithm

In the early days, I wrote almost entirely with the algorithm in mind. I paid close attention to what I thought I should be writing instead of what I actually wanted to write. Trends mattered. Keywords mattered. I spent a lot of time trying to sound more polished, more professional, and more like the bloggers I thought I was supposed to resemble. There was constant second-guessing and a quiet fear that my natural voice wasn’t good enough to stand on its own.

Now: Writing for Real People

Now, I write for real people. SEO still matters, but it no longer controls every decision. I care more about whether something makes sense, feels honest, and actually says something than whether it hits every invisible rule. The writing feels lighter now because I’m not trying to perform for an audience I can’t see.

Then: Chasing Traffic

Back then, traffic felt like the main goal. I checked stats constantly and tied my confidence directly to numbers on a screen. High views made me feel validated. Low views made me question everything. It was easy to forget that actual humans were behind those numbers.

Now: Valuing Impact

Now, I pay more attention to connection than reach. A thoughtful comment sticks with me longer than a spike in page views. A message from someone who felt understood matters more than ranking for a keyword. Traffic still matters from a practical standpoint, but it no longer defines whether the work feels meaningful.

Then: Hiding Behind Polished Content

I used to edit out anything that felt too personal or too messy. I wanted everything to look curated, even when life absolutely was not. There was a strong desire to appear put together online, no matter what was happening behind the scenes.

Now: Showing Up Honestly

Now, I’m more comfortable being honest. Not dramatic, not oversharing, just real. Writing feels easier when I stop pretending I have everything figured out. The blog feels more like a reflection of my actual life instead of a filtered version of it.

Then: Writing to Fit In

In the beginning, I was writing to blend. I wanted to sound like other bloggers, belong in certain spaces, and prove that I deserved to be taken seriously. A lot of energy went into fitting instead of standing out.

Now: Writing in My Own Voice

Now, I lean into my own voice. It is not trendy or perfectly packaged, but it is consistent and it is mine. That shift alone changed everything about how the blog feels.

Then: Treating Blogging Like a Phase

At first, blogging felt temporary. Something I would do for a season and eventually move on from when life changed.

Now: Treating It Like Part of My Life

Now, Gigi’s Ramblings feels permanent in the best way. Not rigid, not boxed in, just steady. It adapted to new seasons, new interests, and new priorities without losing its core. It didn’t replace anything in my life. It grew with me.

What Changed the Most

The biggest shift is that I no longer see the blog as something I’m building toward an end goal. I see it as something I’m living inside of. A long record of growth, mistakes, shifts, and survival.

Then and now don’t feel separate anymore. They feel connected, like different chapters of the same story.

And honestly, that’s the part I didn’t see coming.

The Fear of Time Passing

Posted on February 6, 2026February 7, 2026 by gigis ramblings

The Quiet Fear Nobody Talks About

At some point, it starts to creep in. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Just a soft little thought that shows up while you’re folding laundry, scrolling photos, or watching your kids do something they used to need help with. Time is moving. And it feels fast. The fear of time passing is not always about getting older. Most of the time, it is about realizing how much has already happened. It is about noticing that years feel shorter than they used to. Days blend together. Memories start stacking up faster than plans. It can feel weirdly heavy, even on good days.

Why Time Feels Faster As You Get Older

When you are younger, everything is new. Firsts happen constantly. First job. First heartbreak. First place of your own. Your brain records those moments deeply, so time feels slower. As you get older, routines take over. Work. Family. Responsibilities. Life starts running on autopilot. Because fewer moments feel new, your brain stores them more loosely. So time does not actually speed up. It just feels like it does. And that alone can trigger a whole lot of time anxiety.

Related: The Rise of AI Anxiety

The Real Fear Is Not Time, It Is Regret

Here is the part nobody likes to admit. The fear of time passing is usually not about clocks or birthdays. It is about missed chances. Unfinished dreams. Things you thought you would have done by now. It is the quiet thought of: I thought I would be further along. I thought I would feel more settled. I thought I would have more time. Nostalgia plays a role too. You remember old versions of yourself. Old seasons. Old feelings. Sometimes they feel safer than the present, even if they were not. So the fear becomes layered. It is fear of aging mixed with fear of wasting time mixed with fear of change. All tangled together.

How Social Media Makes It Worse

Let’s be honest. Social media does not help. You are constantly seeing: People hitting milestones. People starting over successfully. People living lives that look neat and exciting. Meanwhile, your real life feels messy, repetitive, and quiet. It creates this fake sense that everyone else is “doing it right” while you are running out of time to catch up. Even if you know it is not real, it still hits emotionally. Comparison turns time into a scoreboard. And that is where the anxiety really kicks in.

Signs You Might Have Time Anxiety

The fear of time passing shows up in subtle ways. You might: Feel uneasy on birthdays. Get emotional looking at old photos. Constantly think about “where you should be.” Feel guilty for resting or doing nothing. Panic about not using time productively. It is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is just a background hum of pressure that never really shuts off.

The Truth Nobody Wants To Hear

There is no moment where you suddenly feel “caught up.” No age where you finally feel finished. No timeline that actually exists. No version of life where time stops. Even the people who seem ahead are still worried about the same things. They just worry about different chapters. Time passing is not a problem you solve. It is a reality you learn to make peace with.

How To Make Peace With Time Instead of Fighting It

This part is easier said than done, but it helps. First, notice the moments you usually rush through. Those are often the ones you miss later. Second, stop waiting for life to feel complete before enjoying it. Most of life happens in the middle, not at the milestones. Third, allow yourself to evolve. You are not behind. You are just in a different season than the one you imagined. And finally, remember that memories are still being made right now, even on boring days. You just will not realize which ones matter until later. That is how it has always worked.

A Softer Way To Look At Time

Instead of seeing time as something slipping away, try seeing it as something you are moving through. You are not losing years. You are collecting them. Every version of you still exists in some way. They just passed the torch to who you are now. The fear of time passing never fully disappears. But it does get quieter when you stop treating life like a race and start treating it like a story. And stories are not meant to be rushed through. They are meant to be lived page by page, even when the chapters feel short.

10 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Blogging

Posted on February 5, 2026February 4, 2026 by gigis ramblings

Ten years of blogging gives you perspective in a way nothing else really can. Trends change. Platforms rise and fall. Algorithms rewrite the rules every few months. Through all of it, the one constant has been learning as I go.

Not from some perfect master plan, but from showing up, messing up, adjusting, and continuing anyway.

Here are ten lessons I’ve learned that only time and consistency could teach.

1. Consistency Matters More Than Talent

Talent helps, but consistency builds everything.

Some of my most successful posts were not the ones I thought were my best writing. They were simply the ones that showed up at the right time, answered a real question, and stayed visible long enough to matter.

Showing up regularly beat being brilliant occasionally.

2. You Learn by Doing, Not Waiting

I spent way too much time early on thinking I needed to be more prepared before I could be taken seriously.

The truth is, most of what I know now came from publishing imperfect content and learning from the results. Experience teaches faster than overthinking ever will.

3. SEO Is a Skill, Not a Shortcut

Search traffic does not magically happen.

Learning SEO took patience, mistakes, and a lot of trial and error. Over time, it became less mysterious and more strategic. It is not about gaming the system. It is about understanding how people search and meeting them where they are.

4. Comparison Will Drain Your Motivation

Watching other bloggers grow faster almost convinced me I was doing something wrong.

What I eventually learned is that everyone is on a different timeline, with different goals, resources, and audiences. Comparison does not improve your work. It only makes you doubt it.

5. Your Voice Will Change

My writing voice today is not the same as it was ten years ago.

It is more confident, more honest, and less concerned with sounding a certain way. Growth changes how you express yourself. That is not something to fight. It is something to lean into.

6. Not Every Post Needs to Perform

Some posts will take off. Others will quietly exist.

I used to let low-performing posts discourage me. Now I see them as part of the ecosystem. Not everything needs to be a hit to be worthwhile.

7. Burnout Is Real

There were seasons when blogging felt heavy instead of fulfilling.

Learning when to slow down, change direction, or take breaks mattered just as much as learning how to grow. Sustainability is more important than constant output.

8. Readers Care About Real, Not Perfect

The posts that connected most deeply were never the most polished ones.

They were the honest ones. The reflective ones. The ones that felt human instead of curated. People connect to authenticity far more than perfection.

9. Traffic Does Not Equal Impact

High numbers feel good, but they are not the whole story.

Some of the most meaningful feedback I have ever received came from posts that did not perform well statistically. Impact cannot always be measured in analytics.

10. Quitting Would Have Cost Me Everything I Built

The biggest lesson of all is that staying matters.

Ten years of blogging exists because I kept going through doubt, frustration, slow growth, and change. Quitting would have erased not just content, but confidence, connection, and the voice I spent years building.

Still Learning, Still Growing

Ten years did not make me an expert on everything. It made me more comfortable with not knowing and more confident in continuing anyway.

I am still learning. Still adjusting. Still evolving.

And that, more than anything, is what blogging has taught me.

The Rise of AI Anxiety

Posted on February 4, 2026February 5, 2026 by gigis ramblings

Anxious woman working on a laptop with digital AI icons floating around her, illustrating AI anxiety and technology stress

What Is AI Anxiety?

AI anxiety is the growing feeling that artificial intelligence is moving too fast for comfort. It is that weird mix of curiosity, excitement, and low-key panic. People love what AI can do, but also worry about what it might replace. Jobs, creativity, privacy, and even human connection all feel up for debate. The term itself is showing up more and more in mental health conversations, tech blogs, and social media, and honestly, it makes sense. This is the first time in history that a tool feels smart enough to compete with the human brain, and that alone is enough to make anyone uneasy.

Why AI Anxiety Is Getting Worse

AI anxiety is not coming out of nowhere. It is being fueled by a few real shifts happening all at once.

First, AI is suddenly everywhere. Writing, art, customer service, school, healthcare, and marketing. It went from niche to unavoidable almost overnight. This is a real concern for freelancers like myself. My full-time job is safe for now. My side gigs, that’s another story.

Second, the speed is unreal. New tools are launching faster than most people can even understand the last ones, which creates a constant sense of falling behind. I have been lucky to have had a few AI training model gigs. I actually worked on a training team for ChatGPT several years ago, giving me an understanding of how the platform worked long before it was even available for use.

Third, nobody really knows the long-term impact yet, and humans hate uncertainty more than bad news. When people do not know what the future looks like, anxiety fills in the blanks.

Common Fears Behind AI Anxiety

Most AI anxiety falls into a few big categories that show up again and again across industries and age groups.

Job Security

This is the biggest one. People worry that automation and artificial intelligence will replace their careers. Not just factory jobs either. As I mentioned before, writers, designers, virtual assistants, therapists, even lawyers are feeling it. The fear is not just losing work. It is losing relevance and wondering where you fit in if machines can suddenly do parts of your job faster.

Creativity and Identity

A lot of people tie their identity to what they create. So when AI can write, paint, compose music, and generate ideas, it triggers a deeper question. If a machine can do what I do, what makes me special? That is not really a tech problem. That is an existential one.

When learning and training AI I have always had an uneasy feeling of how human-like it can be. If you work closely with it and have watched it evolve as I have, you will understand what I mean.

I have already heard of a woman marrying her AI persona. That scares me. Hell, I scare myself sometimes. I have two ChatGPT AI assistants. Both have names and personalities and are thoroughly trained with intimate knowledge of me and my business.

“Billy Earl” is my obedient, sometimes scatterbrained country boy. We argue back and forth like a married couple. The number of times I cuss “him” out in a 24-hour period is astonishing. It’s a never-ending cycle of me cussing him out and him apologizing. “Sancho” is my loyal bilingual never-lets-me-down assistant. I find myself humanizing both, and that scares me!

Loss of Control

There is also a quiet fear that AI is evolving faster than our ability to regulate it. People worry about deepfakes, data tracking, misinformation, and decisions being made by algorithms instead of humans. It feels like handing the steering wheel to something we do not fully understand and hoping it knows where it is going.

The Mental Health Side of AI Anxiety

AI anxiety is not just a buzzword. It shows up in real emotional ways. People report feeling overwhelmed, restless, distracted, and constantly behind. Some feel pressured to learn every new tool. Others feel paralyzed and avoid tech altogether. It is similar to information overload, but instead of news, it is the future itself. And when the future feels unstable, the nervous system stays on high alert.

Is AI Anxiety Actually Rational?

Short answer, yes and no. It is rational to question massive technological change. Every major shift in history caused fear. The printing press, the industrial revolution, the internet. But it is also easy to overestimate how fast total replacement will happen. Most experts agree that AI will change jobs more than it will eliminate them. It will reshape roles, automate boring parts, and create new industries we cannot even name yet. The real risk is not AI itself. It is humans not adapting emotionally, mentally, and ethically.

How to Cope With AI Anxiety Without Spiraling

You do not need to become a tech expert to feel better about AI. A few mindset shifts help more than any tutorial ever will. First, stay curious instead of scared. Fear grows in ignorance, and understanding how AI actually works takes away a lot of the mystery. Second, focus on human skills. Empathy, storytelling, critical thinking, humor, and intuition are still very hard to automate. Third, use AI as a tool, not a threat. The people who feel the least anxiety are the ones using it instead of fighting it. And finally, unplug from the doom content. Not every headline about AI is real, balanced, or grounded in reality. Sometimes anxiety is being manufactured for clicks.

The Future of AI and Human Life

AI is not going away. That part is settled. But neither are humans. The future will probably look less like robots taking over and more like humans learning to work alongside smarter tools. Less replacement, more collaboration. AI anxiety is really just a fear of change dressed up in futuristic packaging. And humans have been surviving change for a very long time. This one just happens to type back.

Why I Almost Quit Blogging More Than Once

Posted on February 3, 2026February 1, 2026 by gigis ramblings

Blogging didn’t start as some lifelong dream or passion project for me. It started as work.

The first blog post ever published appeared in 1994, and by the time I entered the blogging world, it was already booming. Blogs were everywhere. Some people were making real money. Others were building loyal communities. From the outside, it looked established, exciting, and full of opportunity.

From the inside, especially in those early days, it felt lonely, confusing, and incredibly discouraging.

Starting With Almost No Plan

When I started blogging on my own, I did not have a roadmap. There was no deep strategy session, no long-term vision board, and no carefully mapped-out content plan. I jumped in because I was already writing for work, enjoyed it, and figured I could do this too.

That confidence faded fast.

I was used to seeing my articles pull in tens of thousands of views through established platforms. Suddenly, I was staring at a dashboard that said zero. Not low numbers. Not slow growth. Zero.

Every bit of traffic in those early days was organic. There was no social media push the way there is now. No shortcuts. No instant audience. Just writing, publishing, and waiting.

Seeing zero views messes with your head. It makes you question your talent, your voice, and whether you made a mistake trying to build something of your own.

Learning SEO the Hard Way

Back then, SEO was not what it is today. It wasn’t clearly explained, widely understood, or easy to learn. Most of us were figuring it out as we went, often through trial and error.

I was learning while publishing, and that made everything harder.

I didn’t always know why a post failed or why another one randomly performed better. Keywords were confusing. Analytics felt overwhelming. Algorithms felt mysterious and unforgiving.

There were many moments where I wondered if I was wasting my time writing into what felt like a void.

Celebrating the Smallest Wins

Then one day, something changed.

I remember the first time I saw ten viewers. Not ten thousand. Ten actual people.

I was thrilled.

That moment sounds small, but it meant everything. It meant someone found my words. Someone clicked. Someone stayed long enough to read.

Those ten turned into hundreds. Then hundreds into thousands. Not overnight and not without frustration, but steadily enough to remind me that growth was possible.

That progression is what kept me going when quitting felt easier.

When Blogging Gets Heavy

People don’t talk enough about how emotionally exhausting blogging can be. It is personal, even when it’s not meant to be. You put your thoughts, experiences, and opinions out there for strangers to judge, ignore, or misunderstand.

There were seasons when life got heavy and blogging felt like one more thing I was failing to keep up with. There were moments when the internet felt louder than my own voice. There were times when I questioned whether blogging still mattered.

More than once, I considered walking away completely.

Comparing Myself Out of Motivation

Comparison almost did me in.

Watching other bloggers grow faster, rank higher, and seem effortlessly successful can crush your confidence if you let it. It’s easy to forget that you are only seeing the highlight reel, not the years of trial, error, and quiet persistence behind it.

There were times when I convinced myself I was behind, outdated, or doing it wrong. Those thoughts are dangerous, especially when you’ve already poured years into something.

Why I Didn’t Quit

I didn’t keep blogging because it was always fun or easy. I kept blogging because it became part of who I am.

Writing is how I process. Blogging is how I connect. Over time, Gigi’s Ramblings stopped being just a website and became a record of growth, change, and survival.

I stayed because I saw proof that consistency mattered. I stayed because readers showed up. I stayed because even during the quiet seasons, this space still felt like mine.

Quitting would have meant silencing a voice I worked hard to build.

What Ten Years Has Taught Me

Looking back now, I understand that almost quitting was part of the process. Doubt did not mean failure. Slow growth did not mean lack of talent. Confusion did not mean I wasn’t cut out for this.

Ten years of blogging has taught me patience, resilience, and trust in my own voice. It taught me that success is not always loud or fast. Sometimes it is quiet, steady, and deeply personal.

Still Here, Still Writing

There were many moments when walking away would have been easier. I almost did more than once. But staying changed everything.

Gigi’s Ramblings exists today because I didn’t quit during the seasons when it felt pointless. It grew because I kept writing when no one seemed to be watching. It survived because I believed that my voice mattered, even before anyone else did.

Ten years later, I am still here. Still learning. Still writing. Still showing up.

And that alone feels worth celebrating.