A Journey Through Tech Support: Reviving My Travel Blog
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Chapter 1: A Lesson in Patience
The past five days have tested my patience in ways I hadn't anticipated. I generally struggle with this trait, especially in challenging situations. However, I've made a commitment to refrain from complaining; it only adds to the frustration. My numerous interactions with Bluehost's tech support have reminded me of the journey I need to embark on to cultivate a calmer demeanor.
Connecting the Dots
It all began when I attempted to share a poem from my site, only to find my homepage completely blank—no slider images, no recent posts, and no newsletter subscription option. I later discovered that WordPress had been sending notifications for months, highlighting issues with my site. It became clear that my travel blog, La Trekista, had not been a priority for me since my last post in January.
On April 29, I reached out to Bluehost support, and they quickly identified the problem as a plugin issue. After five days, here's what I've learned:
- The Elementor plugin is problematic.
- The static homepage needs some work.
- Revolution Slider is no longer operational.
- An upgrade to the paid version of the site's coding language is necessary.
- Bluehost cannot assist with certain WordPress-related concerns.
Reflecting on the Past
Before the recent turmoil, my site featured a slider showcasing three images: me with an alpaca and a young Indigenous girl in Vinicunca, sitting under a neon sign that read "Love Made Me Do It" in a Beirut café, and sharing a kiss with a camel in front of the Giza pyramids. Now, those images are nowhere to be found. While I would love to have them back on my blog, I find myself surprisingly indifferent after four months of inactivity.
This blog has never been a source of income for me—it's more of a personal travel diary. Now that I’m not traveling, I wonder if it still holds value for me.
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Lessons Learned
I've come to realize that opting to shut down my site is merely an excuse. If something is neglected, it won't flourish. Upon reviewing my WordPress notifications, I also found a substantial number of spam comments—760 to be exact—ranging from topics like vape stores to health insurance.
As I reflect on these experiences, I ask myself what I’ve gleaned from this ordeal:
- Pay attention to crucial emails.
- Fully engage with your projects.
- Conduct thorough research on your site's potential before launching.
Additionally, I learned about two new concepts today: recursive acronyms and PHP. PHP is a versatile scripting language designed for web development.
Chapter 2: The Path Forward
Considering that I prepaid for three years of hosting and domain registration, I'm leaning toward putting this website dilemma on the back burner for now. However, I understand that this may simply be a way of avoiding commitment, and my indifference toward the blog could linger. By not making a definitive decision, I’m leaving things unresolved, which is contrary to my preference for clarity.
Ultimately, one lesson stands out: I am learning to find success even in failure.
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