The Darn Diaries

There will be days when the burden seems heavier than it should be. And it's those days where you tend to reach out to the darkest parts of yourself, but it takes belief and a sound mind to know that indulging in those things is not the answer to your problems. Actions are what solve your problems.

If you put value in sth or someone, you'll even go out of your way to make it work. This is what separates someone who is stagnant and someone who strives for growth. Is it easy? Absolutely not, even I struggle with it. But were be born to stay complacent, or are we going to make the effort and grow?

Annd we're back! If there's one thing the last few months, including my mom coming over, getting rejected yet again after 2 good interviews, it's perseverance. Yes, it may be seemingly impossible to look at the bright side, but trust me, just keep going and you'll be alright.

I ran a marathon. What are the odds of us getting here? What started off as a boredom killer turned into a way of life that taught me more than any other sport - that's the beauty of endurance. If there's one thing it taught me, it was grit. The mindset you set for yourself at the get-go is everything, and this ain't just about running.

Change is never comfortable, but it's what pushes us forward for the better, whether we like it or not. I pretty much sailed through college by being structured, but later I realised that life doesn't always align with your set schedule, as things unexpectedly come up. It's about finding that delicate balance of being structured and agile.

Every year I add another number to myself, I made a pact to do a self-reflection and assessment of pivoting moments that led me to who I am today. We mustn't forget the seemingly small victories nor the bitter defeats we had to overcome. Perseverance is never easy, but it's necessary.

When someone close corrects you or gives you feedback, we tend to be on guard instinctively as our pride is being compromised. But as you mature, you start to realize the importance of taking a step back and realizing the true intention behind what they said - to build you up for the better, not to belittle you.

Sure, discipline and consistency will get you going, but knowing where you're going and why is more important than not. Whether it be your career choice, studies or personal relationships, every decision counts, so think and choose wisely.

Getting up early is hard, talking to strangers is intimidating, and training for a marathon is excruciating, but to achieve something great requires sacrificing what's good and comfortable. You don't have to do a TED talk on the get-go but learn in bits by saying, "Have a good one", or giving a compliment to a stranger. It starts from the small steps.

The higher you fly, the harder the fall. Whether it be in your career, studies, love life, or social circle, it's all about managing expecations. At the end of it all, if they truly value you, they'll make the effort and time, otherwise, they were never meant to be in your life in the long run.

Almost a year ago, I never thought I could reach peak performance in my runs, nor did I ever think of signing up for a marathon, but here we are. A scrapped knee, a broken leg, and a burst appendix only made me wiser, faster and stronger. Time and time again, your body proves itself stubborn against illnesses, and injuries, as you only get better, so I wonder why we can't transcend that into o...

The moment you throw your ego aside, you learn so much about yourself. Listening to my body and my mind has become something I take more seriously, especially after I got appendicitis and suffered multiple mental burnouts when I worked and studied at the same time.

To get from point A to point B, you need to view it in 2 ways: the macro (destination) and the micro (how you get there). If you tend to jump into the micro, you tend to get lost and lose emotional regulation quickly, but viewing the macro first before planning out the micro can get you to far places without worry or stress.

The three most important resources you'll ever have are time, energy, and money. Where you go and how you get there depend on those three resources, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring you utilize them wisely and with proper and thoughtful intent, whether in school, work, or even your love life.

Every first child is no stranger to the word sacrifice. We're the first ones to receive stricter scoldings for misbehaving, to give up the last piece of BBQ skewer so our younger sibling can have it, and to face the world head-on to protect our younger siblings. On the one hand, this makes us independent, but on the other, it makes it hard to overcome our pride and ask for help when needed. Th...

There's the suffering we were given, and then there's the suffering we choose. And there's something about chosen suffering and discomfort that can either shape or break you. Believe it or not, this struggle in the job hunt, redefining who I am and training for a marathon taught me much more than I thought.

I know I'm not the only one going through this, and I know that you know that it doesn't get easier. The sheer amount of idle time led me to reflect on how I could make the most out of this time that I was given. It took me a whole year to arrive at this conclusion, so I hope it doesn't have to be for you.

The mind is a double-edged sword; it either refines or destroys. Reflecting on 2024, many of the challenges I went through were mental battles, so I hope you take the time to ask yourself what you did right and wrong and how you will proceed moving forward. Cheers to 2025!

"A lot can change in a year," they say, and boy, were they right. From almost being at risk of being deported, appendicitis, a half marathon, getting two dates, and getting serious into my life of faith, has been a crazy series of unexpected events. If you can, I encourage you to take the time to reflect on key events, what you learnt, and how you can improve as the new year approaches. See ya in...

It takes time to be emotionally mature and secure enough to know where you stand and what or who you truly deserve, even if it means walking away from something good. I had to let go of my second date as I knew I wasn't the one for her, nor was I the one for her (for privacy reasons, I will not disclose why). She was a great woman, and I truly wish the best for her in life, the fact that I had to...

To achieve any endeavour, one requires a plan to increase the odds of completing it. But planning alone just won't cut it. You need the why to keep going on the toughest days and discipline to hold yourself accountable.

If I could go back in time and meet 18-year-old me, I'd tell him just the three pieces of advice I've held onto that's helped me through the toughest challenges I've gone through.

Dedicated to the curious ones. It's interesting how all the lessons I learnt from the failed talking stages, situationships, dates, and even a relationship helped define my current dating standards. If there's one thing you can take away, it's this: Never settle for anything less than you deserve.

Not everything will go according to plan, and such is life. If you're job hunting like I am, you know the market has been relentless and unforgiving. But instead of focusing too much on the things you can't control, why not save time, energy and effort on the things you can control to turn your life around for the better eventually? Easier said than done, I know, but the moment you accept the unco...

Time changes, people. As you grow older, you realize not everyone was meant to stay, and it may very well be a harsh reality to accept, especially if they're your family or close friends. But time stops for no one, and I know it's hard, but sometimes you have to let go of the old to make room for the new, better things and people to enter your life.