It's funny how things change.

So, here I am. It's almost October and it's been several weeks since anybody has posted on MDM. Over the breaks I'm sure more writers will rectify that, but with some of my free time I'd like to reflect a bit, and I hope you all will come along with me on this philosophical experience.

Stardoll used to be literally my life. I was obsessed. I was so infatuated with this "virtual world" I was neglecting the real one, the real world I lived in. I was a hermit: my friends would text me with plans and I'd blow them off so I could further my relationship with my laptop, Stardoll, and my virtual friends- a lot of whom wouldn't be around for very long. For awhile, I was happy, living in this sort of limbo state: alive, but not truly living, cliche and corny as that sounds. Call me a lunatic but Stardoll had put a trance on me. All of my allowance money went into my superstar account; I was neurotic about collecting Limited Edition; I would obsess over Stardoll drama.

It's also interesting how I once wanted a job on MDM so badly. Last year Noelle_Page held a competition on here called "MDM's Next Top Blogger." I made it to the finals. The competition never concluded, but I poured my heart into it. I'm not regretting it: the competition did make me a better writer and did teach me how to truly appeal to an audience. The lessons I learned were invaluable but while I was busy pouring my soul into this online universe, the vibrant world of reality kept spinning. My grades plummeted, I didn't care. My goals for the future didn't matter so much anymore, who needed those when I was a up-and-coming writer on this online world? I seemed to have somewhere to belong here, on Stardoll, so why did I have to search for a place in the real world?

It made no sense to me. Stardoll was my home, why'd I give it up for the much colder, harsher, real world of adults and hard work?

At some point I woke up. It wasn't any abrupt "Aha!" moment, not at all. It was the process of a long winter's slumber, where I, like the grizzly bear, slowly arose and took in the surroundings. It has taken a long time to pick up the bits and pieces of the life I threw away for Stardoll. I'm still picking some parts up today. Dreadful as I've been making it sound, however, Stardoll was good for me. It taught me a lot. I just can't help wishing the lessons were shorter and I didn't have to screw everything up and fight my way back to the top again.

I'm not going to leave Stardoll. I don't know if I ever will. There's something very special about Stardoll that attracted me to make an account; there always will be something very special about it. I will always look back fondly at my days when I spent hours there, but I won't miss them.

I'm moving on. But not in the way you'd expect. I'm just re-organizing and re-prioritizing my life. Stardoll isn't number one, nor should it ever be again.

I'm not sure what this post was for, or about, but it's been on my chest for awhile and I feel many of you have experienced similar reactions from Stardoll. It's been very hard to find the words for the post, but today they seem to flow out of me. A bit disorganized, perhaps, and I am rambling a bit, so I'll end this fast: penny for your thoughts?

This isn't the end, though. I'm not done with you yet, MDM.

This School Year...

I've been meaning to do this post for awhile, but my life's been slightly chaotic, so I apologize for posting this a bit late. The school year has finally rolled around and with every new year, it promises us new beginnings, new opportunities, new friends, new classes, you get my point. This year is my 3rd, or as we call it in the States, my "junior year" of high school. I'm really excited, but it's a big year. I have a lot of university touring to do, grades to maintain, and clubs/sports/activities/events to take part of! It's a hefty schedule to carry, but I'm definitely not the only one trying to balance it.

Credit Jelena Jovanovic

I'm scared, that's for sure- but I'm excited for it because soon I'll be off to college and my life is definitely changing. With every school year begins the questions of uncertainty: will I like my teachers? Will I do well in my classes? How much work will be assigned on an everyday basis? It's certainly a LOT to think about.

What about you? What are you scared of or excited for this school year? Is it your first year in middle school? High school? University? Are you joining a squad or a team, or a new club! Tell all!

"Not another one," They say.

I spent my labor day weekend in the lovely city (okay, not too lovely) of Las Vegas, Nevada. There, I made a weird spontaneous decision that surprised me. Mostly because I thought I wouldn't make the choice so stereotypically.

But how do you people say it again? Oh, yeah:

I'm "leaving" Stardoll.

A while back on my personal blog, I made this extended metaphor about Stardoll being a black hole. Except for the fact that It was pink and Sparkly. I found myself being sucked in, but I wasn't worried. Everything I was doing seemed to be just right with Stardoll in my schedule. Well, I did start procrastinating more than I used to, but hey, it's something everyone does.

Soon, or very recently, I became bored with Stardoll. Everything became too mechanical within the site itself. And Dollywood was becoming a tad too dull. Not boring though. Then, at the right time, I found my way out of this weird, sparkly, pink hole. It was the right time to sever my ties with this place.

I'm not telling you that Stardoll is horrid and addicting, (the second word is partially true) rather, live your Stardoll life to the fullest. And when you feel like you've had enough, that is the key time to let yourself go. Don't drag your time here if you have "things" you need to do like assemble a magazine, earn a writing spot, or whatever.

On that note, I am really sad I am departing MDM. It was a huge checkpoint for me, as I had finally gotten the chance to write on this splendid blog. However, I didn't want to drag things like I said, and I am going to abandon the thing that made me stick with Stardoll the most.

Thank you, Thanks all of you. If you didn't enjoy my posts, or you did, thank you. You made my experience of Stardoll all the better. I will miss you all dearly (most of you, at least)

I won't be completely gone; I'll probably be flipping through various posts in the lovely blogosphere.

Thank you once again and good luck in your future.

-Manny

I just noticed; sorry for making a 'leaving' post after another one.