Returning to the Present and the Past

If I could relive any age or year, I would pick several ages and years from my life. I had some great years when everything went right, from my job to my personal life. I’ve also had great ages when I reached a milestone, like being old enough to do things. But I also think we often remember the past as better than it really was, so my favorite year might not be as great if I relived it. 

It’s a bit like visiting a restaurant for the first time. The food tastes incredible, the atmosphere is memorable, and the company brings wonderful conversation. But when you go back to that place, even with the same people, hoping to recreate that same magic, it rarely feels the same. 

If I truly could go back, I’m sure I’d find that those idealized years weren’t as perfect as I remember. I’ve changed. What thrilled me at twenty might not satisfy me now. Sure, I might regain youthful energy or experience that sense of newness, but I’d lose other things — wisdom, stability, and the deeper appreciation that comes with experience.So while it’s tempting to wish for a do-over, I think the best time to live is always now. The present moment, fleeting as it is, holds the potential to become a future great memory. Instead of reliving the past, maybe the real goal is to live so fully today that one day, when we look back, we won’t wish to return — we’ll simply be grateful we were there.

Daily writing prompt
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
View all responses

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

Life without a computer would be drastically different, almost unrecognizable compared to what I’m used to now. So much of my daily routine revolves around instant access to information, entertainment, and connection that removing the computer feels like stepping back in time.

For starters, there would be no more YouTube for entertainment. That means no endless videos to relax with, no tutorials to learn from, and no music playlists to stream. In fact, without a computer, I’d have no music at all, unless I went back to CDs or live performances. Reading would also be limited—I wouldn’t have easy access to articles, blogs, or ebooks.

Staying connected overseas would disappear too. No more instant chats, video calls, or social updates with friends and family abroad. Immediate news updates would also vanish. Instead of knowing what’s happening almost instantly, I’d be stuck waiting for newspapers or the evening news.

Research would be exhausting. Instead of typing a question into a search bar and getting an instant answer (like how historically accurate is that movie?), I’d have to make trips to the library. Worse, if I got home and realized I wanted to look up something else, I’d have to go back again. That kind of delay makes learning far less spontaneous.

Everyday conveniences would vanish as well. No maps to check locations before going there, traffic updates to avoid traffic congestion, or online menus to help you decide if you want to go to that restaurant. No online shopping to confirm whether a store has what I need—I’d have to go there in person just to find out if they have what I’m looking for.

Even hobbies would suffer. I don’t have the patience to handwrite stories. By the time I finish one sentence, my mind has already moved to the next idea. Computers let me type quickly, insert links, and organize research on the spot. Without them, creativity feels trapped in slow motion. So life without a computer wouldn’t be as exciting!

Daily writing prompt
Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
View all responses

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

It took a while for the well-known phrase “work smarter, not harder” to sink into my brain years after I’d first heard it. I get it now: the words are about focusing on efficiency and getting better results without burning out. But when I was younger, I used to think that working longer hours and keeping very busy would yield better results. That was really stupid because it was a recipe for burnout. Yet that’s what we’re taught in school. 

They say, get good grades, then get a job working 40 hours a week so you can retire at 65 is the ideal formula for success in life. But when I started to study business, I started to hear “work smarter, not harder” and identify the few actions that create the greatest impact. This principle is the 80/20 rule: 80% of results often come from 20% of effort. It’s not saying “be lazy.” It’s saying to use your time wisely.

Technology also plays a vital role. Automation tools, project management apps, and AI assistants reduce repetitive work, freeing up time for higher-value thinking (and eating and watching TV so you’re not burned out). Rather than slogging through routine tasks, you can dedicate energy to problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making.

Another key element is leveraging strengths. Working smarter doesn’t mean avoiding hard work altogether. It means putting your effort where your skills shine brightest. (Like spending more time on your favorite subjects when you were in school. Now that’s fun!) 

In the end, working smarter is about asking: Is this task worth my time? Is there an easier, faster, or better way? The goal isn’t to avoid effort, but to maximize it. Then you achieve more in less time with far less stress!

Daily writing prompt
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
View all responses

A Lesson I Wish I Had Learned Earlier in Life

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: start a side business early. For years, I believed the traditional career path was the right one—get a job, work hard, climb the career ladder. But economies shift, industries change, and jobs disappear, so stability is not guaranteed.

What I didn’t realize at the time is that having a side business isn’t just about making extra money. When you run even the smallest business on the side—whether it’s freelancing, selling a product, or offering a service—you create an additional financial safety net. No matter what the economic climate or job market looks like, you have something of your own to fall back on.

Beyond financial security, a side business teaches you a valuable set of skills that you might not get from having a job. You learn how to market yourself, manage finances, solve problems creatively, and build relationships with customers. These skills are transferable to every aspect of life, including your main career.

And here’s something else I wish I had realized sooner: a successful side business can completely change your retirement timeline. Instead of waiting until your 60s to step away from work, the income and flexibility from a thriving business can open the door to financial freedom much earlier. You’re no longer tied to the traditional path of “work until retirement age.” You gain the freedom to choose when and how you work.

So, if I could turn back the clock, the lesson I would impart to my younger self would be to start a side business as soon as possible.

Daily writing prompt
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
View all responses

The Red Flag of Passive Aggressiveness

Everyone has a personality trait that makes them avoid someone. For me, that trait is passive aggressiveness. At first glance, it can be easy to miss because it is so subtle. It often looks like cooperation and agreement. But over time, you see past the stealth because actions and words don’t match.

I experienced this while working on a project with a friend. She was very enthusiastic at the start. She would ask what tasks needed to be done, appreciate the checklists I made, and appear interested. But the follow-through was always incomplete. If I asked for research formatted into a document, she would do the research but leave it in the wrong format, acknowledging the mistake but never fixing it. The checklists were left five minutes short of finished, and somehow the final steps always landed back on me.

After months of this imbalance, I finally said it was frustrating to carry 90% of the workload when tasks weren’t being finished. That’s when she finally admitted she had lost interest months ago. Later, she revealed she didn’t even like the project. Yet, for three whole months, she kept showing up, doing the bare minimum, and letting me believe she was still part of the project.

To me, that’s not just avoidance—it feels like dishonesty. Passive aggressiveness disguised as politeness avoids necessary conversations and creates more strain for others. A simple, honest admission early on like, “I’ve realized this project isn’t for me,” would have saved time, energy, and frustration.

That’s why passive aggressiveness is my red flag. Why waste everyone’s time on a charade when a quick discussion would do? It would also save the friendship because now I question the honesty of everything she says.

Daily writing prompt
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
View all responses