Published in Globetrotters·PinnedMember-only4 Strange Things About The Netherlands That I Have Yet To GraspYou might want to keep these in mind before visiting the country — Three years living in The Netherlands taught me to get used to the Dutch directness, not buying an umbrella because that’s throwing your money out the window, and having to buy a kid’s bike since the Dutch are ridiculously tall. But some mysteries still haunt me. Not owning a curtain My Dutch neighbor once…The Netherlands4 min read
PinnedMember-onlyOne Brilliant Piece of Advice From a Friend I No Longer Keep In Touch WithShe has left big footprints in my life — Not everyone you meet in life is meant to stay forever. Some people cross paths, leave each other memories, and go their separate ways. Such a person, who used to be an irreplaceable existence to me, came into my life and left behind one of the greatest lessons anyone could…Advice2 min read
PinnedMember-onlyIf You Ask Yourself This Question, You Probably Should Quit Your Joband when you should NOT hand in your notice — February 11 was my last day at my full-time job. After I sent my final text message to the team’s WhatsApp group, I was ready to delete the app. Then, I received a message from my former co-worker. And three others after that. Apparently, a few team members had a…Jobs3 min read
PinnedMember-onlyOne Habit My 98-year-old Grandmother Keeps So Her Memory Stays SharpHere’s why some older people remember better than those half their age — Apparently, the human brain doesn’t always age. With simple and healthy behaviors, older people can still maintain their memories and avoid going into a mental decline. My grandmother is an example. At 98, while she still has some health issues like high blood pressure or migraine at times, her memory…Life2 min read
PinnedMember-only5 Items I Have Stopped Purchasing After Moving Twice in Three MonthsHow I went from two suitcases and one backpack of 47kg to a 23kg luggage — I moved for the first time in September 2017, when I went to The Netherlands to pursue my Bachelor’s degree. I flew with Finnair and they offered 40kg of baggage for students when we purchased their flight ticket. As it was my first time moving so far away from home…Life Lessons6 min read
2 days agoMember-only3 Types of Managers Who Have Made Me “Quiet Quit” At My Previous Full-time JobsThey are manipulative in completely different ways — Quiet quitting, or acting your wage as many prefer to call it, has been what I’ve done ever since I got my first full-time job. You know how fresh graduates can be. You’re wide-eyed, passionate, and ready to go above and beyond without asking for much in return. These traits…Quiet Quitting3 min read
3 days agoMember-only4 Challenges Fresh Graduates Should Expect Before Becoming In-house WritersThere are lots to endure and overcome to make a living doing what you love — It’s much easier to make a living as a writer today than ever before. You can be a ghostwriter, a copywriter, a scriptwriter, or any other type of writer you want to, simply because everything needs a story to sell. But like with every other occupation, an in-house writer faces…Write3 min read
Published in MIDFORM·5 days agoMember-onlyDo You Want Constant Motivation To Write? Take On A 9–5 Job.It works like magic — I usually depend on motivation to write. Many experienced writers would tell you that discipline is better than motivation if you want to succeed. And I agree. But can we only choose one or the other? Or can motivation lead to discipline? In my case, taking on a full-time job…Motivation3 min read
Published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself·Sep 22Contemplating Death Is The Most Effective Way Of Practicing Gratitude‘We in this world must all die’ — Buddha — Death is inevitable. Yet, we as humans fear it, avoid thinking about it, and are not taught to come to terms with it. To find comfort, some of us return to God with prayers. Others, myself included, turn to Buddha and receive the lessons of death meditation. What is death meditation? Maranasati meditation, or…Know Thyself Heal Thyself3 min read
Sep 19Member-onlyI Ditched The Famous Morning Pages for This Type of JournalingIt has been a great source of dopamine for me — There was a time when morning pages, a famous journaling method by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way, dominated the self-help world. Tim Ferris, Austin Kleon, Alicia Keys, and Pete Townshend have been doing it. It was recommended by New York Times, The Guardian, and BuzzFeed. It even…Journal4 min read
