Why I Keep Trying to Speak in Public
My first WordCamp talk got silence and stayed with me. I kept speaking anyway. At WordCamp Philippines 2026 I overprepared, and it finally felt good.
Journal
Personal reflections, essays, and life thoughts.
New year, new site
After five years I rebuilt my personal site. It now has four areas with clear purposes, so I spend less time deciding where posts go and more time writing.
Derisking
A big purchase this year used up our emergency fund and left me in debt. As the sole provider, I'm reducing risk by showing my work and building web apps again.
Hitting could be a form of love too
My son hits me when he's overwhelmed, and one day I hit back. Changing how I read it helped me stay calm. Now I see it as a sign he feels safe with me.
Clear values make decisions easy
I was helping run a 3-day event when my son's school set a family day on the last day. Family comes first, so the choice was easy. Making it work was harder.
Value-based Giving
Value-based pricing shaped how I set my freelance rates. Now I try it in reverse. When a service is worth more than it costs, I don't haggle and I give extra.
Kids are just trying to meet a need
My son threw my phone at the TV, and I reacted badly. Looking back, he was trying to be heard. Next time I want to find the need first, then guide him.
Sleep deprived, but still grateful
Julian woke me at 2am, and then I had a school run in the morning. I was tired, but still grateful. Small moments with my sons made the lost sleep worth it.
Perpetual state of catching up
I've been catching up for months and it wears me down. My plan: accept I'm not at my best, exercise, decide fast, and ask what's the worst that could happen.
Do one thing everyday
Too many unfinished projects filled my head and my office. So I started Project DOTED. Do one small thing each day that moves a project closer to done.
Honor to love you
After our son's rough haircut, Julie learned to cut his hair herself. That's how she handles everything. Ten years in, her proactiveness rubbed off on me.
Something has to change
I used to get through my long list by cutting sleep, but that no longer works. My mornings feel rushed again. When I'm rushing, my priorities are off.
Willingness to appear like a fool
I got stuck for hours on simple text edits in a migration script. Before, I'd struggle alone to avoid looking dumb. Now I ask early. It's just a question.
Ownership
I used to love the sharing economy and owning little. Now I value owning a car, a home, and my decisions. It costs more, but I have more say in my own life.
Why I have a separate workspace
I thought I needed an office because my kids made working at home hard. The real reason is that family comes first, and being away is how I get work done.
Working in 2-hour blocks
With two kids at different schools, I split my workday into four 2-hour blocks for planning, operations, sprint work, and meetings. Some days it falls apart.
Just hit publish
I held back from publishing because I kept asking if a post was worth it. I'm letting go of that. Writing for others is mostly a way to get clarity for myself.
Generous on people, frugal on things
I've wanted a 3D printer for years but still hold back. Yet I'll cover a group dinner that costs the same without pause. Generous on people, frugal on things.
