Last 2019, I opened 17 books and finished the 11. This was much lesser than last 2018. But that’s because I tried a lot of new things last year. More action, less consumption (and I’m doubling the action this year despite the pandemic). I also discovered the importance of rereading. So I shuffled around 20 …
The Participants of Chaos
1. The person who creates chaos. 2. The person who reacts to the person who created the chaos. 3. The platform serving the two participants. That’s what’s happening on Facebook and Twitter. One person posts or tweets something negative, and people react to it. Comments. Shares. Retweets. The result is a compounding chaos. Unfortunately, the …
There Are More Interesting Things Outside Your Work
Many were devastated when their workplaces shut down temporarily. They were furious and anxious. I wasn’t surprised. Of course, they need money. Their loved ones depend on them. What’s surprising was when they said that they felt empty, restless, and bored (despite the fact that they’re healthy, they still have enough money, and they have …
Every Tiny Progress Counts
If you’re starting to learn a craft, you don’t have to become a master right away. You don’t have to be like Mozart or Picasso or J.K. Rowling. If it’s a music instrument, learning one or two chords and playing them properly in a day is enough. If it’s writing, one paragraph (or even one …
Why I Don’t Own a Smartphone
People often ask me about this. So here’s my answer. First, let’s be clear: Nothing’s wrong with smartphones. I have nothing against them. Truth is, I often borrow my wife’s smartphone to document our travels or do a quick Google search. Other than that, my laptop and iPad handle all my digital activities — work, …
19 Reminders for Myself to Help Me Live a Fulfilled Life (Maybe You Can Try it)
1. More actions, less consumption. Too much information is pointless if it doesn’t add value to your life (and the people around you). Living is not about consuming. Strike a balance. 2. Believe but don’t fully subscribe. Just because an ideology seems helpful doesn’t mean it’s always right. Extract what’s only useful to you. Let …
Snow Inside a Shot Glass, Flew Across the Pacific
I wasn’t serious about it. Everyone in the team wasn’t serious. But man, it happened. Just like that. Whoosh! Bits of snowpack were shoveled into a shot glass — 9 shot glasses each sealed with wax, transported from Utah to Palawan, Philippines. That’s 7,771 miles, in case you’re too lazy to Google. So what’s with …
So You Want to Escape the Pandemic? Let’s Time Travel
I understand how you feel about the pandemic crisis, and how you hated some people for being a dumbass. And maybe the worst part is that life has become boring as hell. You can’t hang out with your friends. You can’t go to the places you wanted. Not to mention your worries are over the …
Pandemic Crisis: When Criticizing Becomes a Priority
So you’re mad because of their opinions about the government. You’re mad because they didn’t understand what the authorities advised. You’re mad because it’s clear to you that they are dumb. And yes, because you believe you’re right and a better individual. Right? Maybe. But you should also consider other reasons. Maybe you are just …
The Internet is Made of People — Connect
This pandemic lockdown has turned me into a chat person. I’ve now connected more with people on Facebook than last year combined. Which is weird because I don’t encourage people chatting through Facebook. It feels inauthentic. And I kind of dislike scrolling because it makes me unproductive (and unhappy), well, sometimes. But now, here I …
Positivity, Hope, and Faith
For the past two weeks, almost everyone I talked to were curious when this pandemic crisis would end. A month? Two months? Three? Who knows. This is beyond our control. But I’m sure everyone wanted to resume life to normal. Who doesn’t want to? What saddens me the most is the number of people consumed …
Focus on What Matters Now
Love. Kindness. Generosity. Empathy. Hope. Optimism. Faith. These are the things that matter most right now amid the pandemic crisis. And we have to sharpen our focus on what truly matters. Every single day. We’re all in this together. Ask yourself what you can do right now to make a difference. Spread positivity to any …
You Are Not There Yet, Keep Going
Posting a silly minor achievement on Facebook makes us feel that we are successful. We made it. Of course, success is relative. Everyone has their own definition what success looks like (and I’m not some jerk here to get that away from you). But almost everyone I know falls victim into thinking and believing that …
Who Are You? Be Careful What You Say to Others
In college, I made a weird experiment. I told one friend that I had a kid but not yet married. My story spread like wildfire. I was then known as the “Young Father”. It took quite some time for me to acknowledge my mistake and clean my name. Years passed. Right after my graduation. I …
Less Consumption, More Action
2019 was a busy year for me. I started learning new skills. I spent more time outside my comfort zone. I challenged myself in ways I could have never imagined. There was a lot of action and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. It’s hard. But to my surprise, I got used to it. …