Contributing back to WordPress
I used WordPress for over a decade without giving back. In 2023 I spoke at WordCamp Cebu, went to WordCamp Asia, and helped organize WordCamp Manila.
Journal · Page 2
Personal reflections, essays, and life thoughts.
Anicca
I learned the word anicca at a 10-day Vipassana retreat. It means impermanence. It became a tattoo on my arm, and then the name of our baby girl.
Switching back to YNAB 4 and Making a Fresh Start
After nine months without a budget, I'm starting fresh. I moved back to classic YNAB 4 using Y64, since it won't change on me. Here's how I set it up on macOS.
Publish everyday
My new year's resolution is to publish every day, no matter how small. Writing things down frees up my head. I started late on day one, and I'm okay with that.
Slow down to appreciate, stop to reflect
For months my days were all work and family, with no room to slow down. It wore on me mentally, emotionally, and physically. Today I stopped to reflect.
Want-to-do Saturdays
During a weekly review I saw that almost all my plans were for other people. So I'm keeping Saturdays free of work, to think and do what I'm drawn to.
Putting myself first
This year I'm choosing to put myself first. That means taking care of myself, being less agreeable, and letting myself enjoy things without guilt.
Slow Mornings
I was giving my best energy to work and the leftovers to my family. Now I keep slow mornings with my kids and a hard stop at bedtime. Sleep is what I give up.
Insecurity as a trigger to take action
I used to treat insecurity as weakness. Now I see it as a signal, like a fever. I ask what it's telling me and what step I can take, and then I take it.
Nothing in excess
My new job gave me a MacBook Pro, and it sat on my desk for a week. It felt excessive. I like having just enough. Or maybe I feel I don't deserve the best.
Preparing to die
Having kids made me want to build wealth. Underneath, it's about being ready to die anytime. I set two goals per kid so they're covered no matter what happens.
What's the worst thing that can happen?
When things get tough, I ask what's the worst that can happen. Usually I won't die. Naming the worst outcome takes the edge off fear and gets me moving again.
Saving state to make it easier to resume work
Starting work on an old web app took a long setup every time. After trying a second laptop and an Azure VM, a cheap tiny PC I reach remotely fixed it.
Make fast decisions
I used to delay decisions out of fear of choosing wrong. Five mindsets helped me decide faster, from having a default answer to knowing I can change my mind.
Why renting out a property makes sense
Last year we bought our first property and rented it out. Comparing it with other safe options like Pag-IBIG MP2, I finally saw why renting out makes sense.
I got scammed ₱15.9k in FB Marketplace
I lost ₱15.9k to a seller in FB Marketplace while buying tiny PCs for my homelab. How the scam worked, what I should have checked, and what I took from it.
Structure sets you free
I tried an unstructured life for a few months, and nothing meaningful happened. Deciding everything daily wore me out. Planning my week in advance helped.
Blame it on me
In a bad situation, I look for what I could have done better. It keeps me able to act. It needs healthy self-awareness. One failure does not make me a failure.