Learning a New Language at 50-Something: The Video Diaries of an (Aspiring) Auntie Vlogger

Hello from my wonderfully chaotic corner of the world!

This is just a short, mixed-bag kind of post today. Life has been a whirlwind of projects, and my brain feels like a browser with too many tabs open, just like my desktop PC. But amidst the busyness, I’ve been quietly nurturing a little seed of an idea I mentioned earlier this year: creating videos.

Let me tell you, diving into video creation is not for the faint of heart. It feels exactly like learning a new language. There's a new grammar of cuts, a vocabulary of transitions, and a whole dictionary of settings. And as someone who doesn't have the luxury of endless time for trial and error, it can feel daunting.

My strategy? Consistency in tiny doses. I aim for at least 30 minutes a day, but realistically, life lets me sit down with it about 2-3 times a week. Some weeks, I get a bonus session in. And you know what? Those small, consistent efforts are adding up.

Just yesterday, I had a mini breakthrough. I learned how to add captions, change video transitions, and even play with some (free!) AI-generated text on CapCut. (A note to self: after my 1-month trial, the bill comes due!). It’s a small victory, but it felt like leveling up.

There’s still a mountain of things to learn—color grading, sound mixing, importing songs from YouTube, the list goes on. But I’ve made a pact with myself: no pressure. I am not rushing to produce pro-level content. In fact, I’ve given myself a gentle timeline. I think it will be another 4-5 months before I can finally publish my first few reels. And that’s perfectly okay.

A quick tip I’ve discovered for any other beginners out there: learning on a desktop computer is a game-changer compared to the tiny screen of a phone. It just feels less cramped and more intuitive.

Now, here comes the vulnerable part.

My head is filled with tons of ideas for what to post. But a quiet question often whispers in my ear: "Would anyone actually want to watch?"

Would you?

We live in a world saturated with incredible vloggers in their 20s and 30s, producing cinematic masterpieces about their lives. And sometimes I wonder if there's space for a novice lifestyle vlogger—an "auntie" in her 50s, learning the ropes in real-time.

But then I remember why I started. It’s not to be famous. It’s to document, to create, and to connect... and as a bonus, to earn some pocket money to pay bills. To show that learning and trying new things don't have an expiration date.

So, the journey continues, one 30-minute session at a time. Slow progress is still progress. And for now, that’s more than enough.

Thanks for listening.

I can't help but snap a picture of this beautiful sunset view yesterday, during my daily evening brisk walk at my condo grounds.