Little Thing 288: HB

 Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons. Some people come into our lives for a season, some for a lifetime, and some to teach us things we never expected to learn. Growth isn’t always easy, and the past isn’t always perfect, but every chapter—good or bad—shapes who we become. Today, I find myself reflecting on how time changes people, how distance brings clarity, and how, despite everything,...

Little Thing 287: Small Considerations, Big Impact

Do you know my favorite question to ask my team?"What should I expect from ______? Should I anticipate anything in particular?"Whether it’s a new project, an event, an online meeting with a new associate, or a quarterly check-in—I don’t like surprises. I also know I’m not the best at handling sudden crises, so I prefer to be prepared. I really appreciate it when my team gives me useful insights. For...

Another Trip : Eid Version

I couldn’t do it—I’m just not ready to meet anyone this Raya, and I didn’t want to spend the whole week being a party pooper. I needed to go somewhere, distract myself, and do a lot of reflection. I thought about planning a family trip for Raya, but I just didn’t have the energy or mental space for something that big (and if you know us, you know I’m usually the planner, but this time, I just couldn’t)....

Little Stories 305: Showing Up and Moving Through

 Yesterday was a rough one. The build-up of emotions had to go somewhere, so I did what any mentally strong person does when things get overwhelming—I sobbed. And, of course, life being life, I had a 1:1 call with my boss in 15 minutes. Perfect timing. Miserable condition. But responsibility called, so I pulled myself together and joined the call.My boss asked how I was doing, and I decided to...

Little Thing 286: Assembling the Mess

I've been really into puzzles lately.Last month, I started with a 500-piece set. Finished it three times. So, naturally, I leveled up to a 1,000-piece one. My intense focus has always been my superpower—depending on where I aim it. So when work drains me, I turn to puzzles. They quiet my mind. Every right piece is a tiny dopamine hit, and I’m hooked. My wind-down routine now? Puzzles. Books and streaming...

Taiwan Trip: Finding Solitude in Taiwan

I've never really shared much about the Taiwan trip. I mentioned sharing more about that in January, but I didn't have the energy to write as planned. Taiwan felt too personal in my self-growth journey, and other than repeating the story of the nature hikes that I loved so much, I felt like perhaps every exploration would feel like a repetition in one way or another. I did the over-thinking for awhile,...

Little Thing 285: On Time

You can tell exactly how much people value you by how they treat your time. Important people don’t get left waiting—because their time is the gold standard. If someone sees you as less important, they’ll waste your time without blinking: keeping you waiting, flaking on plans, brushing off the effort you put in. You’ve seen it, you know the pattern. So stop handing out your time like free...

Little Thing 284: Taming Chaos

Since January, somehow, things have slowly changed. I noticed a change in my own perspective, realizing I'm accepting things that I used to avoid. These breadcrumbs of little incidents slowly lead to phases of realization. And now, I'm just slowly letting go and accepting my story. I'm no longer in pain, no longer attached, and it is a weird sensation to feel. I thought I'd be losing a part of me,...

Little Stories 304: The Concert ✦⋆

The Concert:Last weekend I went to Yuna's concert. It was eventful; it was my February highlight. I waited since 2010. I wore something shiny, I put on glitters and diamond stickers, and I sang with her. It is good that I can just let my guard down and wear something I wouldn't wear when I want to (it used to be a struggle). I enjoyed those 2 hours of songs collected over years of heartbreaks,...

Little Stories 303: My First Gathering

Hosted my first housewarming party last weekend:I convinced myself in thinking that I need to host something for the first time at my house, to bring in good energy, to start the year with good vibes, and to make an effort to have more people in my life. I prepared for months (since Dec to be exact). Slowly, but it was definitely something that I've been mentally preparing for a while. I bought...