Well, would you look at that. We literally just blinked and I'm done with my Q4 forecasts, Barbenheimer is finally out (I assume you've seen both), and the weather and traffic just keep on getting worse... although there's really nothing new about that last statement now, is there?
Anyway, soon we'll be celebrating the holidays so let me just pause for a bit and mull over some recent events—reunions, milestones, rejections, and the mundane.
Lately has been a lot about family.
Mom's on vacation, so were my cousins from Canada followed by my relatives from the US whom I haven't seen in 7 years. We tried to make the most out of their limited time here and took out-of-town trips together, reminisced on childhood memories and old summer habits. It was fascinating to see how much we've all grown, how different yet the same we still are, and how far we've come after being apart for so long. Feels like jumping back in time with our older/present selves appreciating all the privileges we used to have as kids, wasting our time away playing Patintero, Half-Life and Claw or roaming on the streets with either our bikes, scooters, or roller blades. Still my favorite childhood memory, to be honest. Only now they already have kids of their own! Crazy how fast time flies. And while we're at it...
Ya girl also got engaged!!!
Not gonna lie, it's been a month and it's still sinking in. Did you know that fiancée (woman engaged) is different from fiancé (man engaged) although they're pronounced just the same? And that there's really not much of a difference between being in a relationship vs. getting engaged aside from the fact that you can now openly discuss future plans together (i.e. marriage, building a family–or not, etc) while also listening to everyone else's input about it. Like, I get that it's next level but it's also not that big of a change compared to what I expected it to be. Or maybe it's just me or it's just us being too comfortable with each other but shout out to fellow engaged people, please let me know if I'm missing something here! Lol
However, life isn't always sunshine and rainbows after all.
For months, I've been eyeing to join this project by an organization that I've always admired until I finally gathered the courage to apply weeks ago. Maybe I was too confident but I really believed that I was fit for it. As you can guess, I didn't get in but it was a humbling experience because maybe I wasn't as good as I thought I am? This isn't self-pitying, just self-reflecting. I just wished they told me what I lacked so I can work on it moving forward. I was sad for a few days but now that I'm thinking about it, it kind of felt like I needed that particular rejection. For the record, I'm doing fine. I just wanted to put this out here as a reminder that we won't always get what we want and that is perfectly okay. Now on to better things!
It's no secret how much I love spending time at home especially since we moved but let me validate how real James Clear's tweet is. (By the way, he's also the author of Atomic Habits which I recommend for you to read 5/5!)
I always try to be intentional with the things that I buy even with the rise of online shopping + vlogging. Despite that, all I seem to catch on my feed nowadays–with the very limited time that I browse–are various kinds of content promoting consumerism. Shopping haul/unboxing videos, product ads, sponsored product reviews... name it, it's everywhere. And as creative as some marketing campaigns may be, the pattern of making you feel like you actually need these products even when you know you don't is getting pretty tiresome. Add famous personalities to the formula and you're instantly sold. Hello, in/flu/encer culture.
And I'm not gonna lie, I get budol-ed from time to time too which is why I try to control my own media consumption instead. Because that's the thing, the more we look at our screens, the more we notice the things that we don't have which triggers the never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction and desire to shop for more things we don't even need in the first place.
Every weekend though, I try to forget that social media exists and go through my day as slow and as soft as I can. I practice yoga where I can oversee the fields. I walk my dogs around the neighborhood and go for a run, as long as the weather permits. I play the guitar or read a book across our tiny windy garden and cap off the day by sharing the beautiful sunset in my IG stories. That's about it yet I feel so contented with my day. It's so cliché but it's true. Keeping in touch with nature will make you realize that you already have everything you need, in that moment at least. See, there's a reason people are moving back to the mountains or the islands to build a life and/or retire. Yup, nature.
Now, I don't mean to sound preachy but more than the success and riches this world can offer, isn't it ironic how peace of mind is the most expensive of them all? It's so simple but, man, it sure doesn't come so easy. I guess what I'm trying to say is: Living softly, slowly, and comfortably is now my ultimate goal and I shall savor it with the love of my life for the years to come. So yes, universe, hold me accountable for this one. X
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