Chantero's Blog

🙂 Start Here!

Created: 29 July 2023, Saturday | Updated: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Hello, I am Chantero. This is my personal website. Here I will write about things that interest me and about other random stuff. Please read the Terms of Use.

Tag: introduction

[ back to table of contents ]

📖 3 Books - Mindset, Atomic Habits, The 5 Second Rule

Created: 22 April 2025, Tuesday | Updated: 12 July 2025, Saturday

These 3 books have inspired me to take small steps to improve myself:

1️⃣ 📕 Mindset (by Carol Dweck)

🥜 Adopt a "growth mindset" - Our abilities and traits are not fixed. We can change and improve through effort, learning, and persistence.

• What are the opportunities for learning and growth?


• Form a plan - When, where, and how will I embark on my plan?


• When you encounter a setback, form a new plan - When, where, and how will I act on my new plan?


• How do I maintain and continue to grow?

2️⃣ 📗 Atomic Habits (by James Clear)

🥜 Focus on building "habits" or "systems". Small changes can compound over time and produce significant and lasting results.

• Set systems, not goals:
  
  Fix the input, and the output will fix itself. If you set goals or fix the results only, the results may be temporary. But, if you set a good system, you will achieve your goal with lasting results.
  
  Example: You want a clean room (goal), after you clean your messy room, the room will be clean for a while (achieve goal). If you still keep your messy habits, then the room will get messy again soon (temporary results). BUT, if you change your messy habits (have a system to be cleaner - eg. I will put the stuff back to the drawer immediately after use...), then the goal (clean room) will naturally flow from the good system! (lasting results)


• Persist through the "plateau of latent potential":
  
  You may not see results in the beginning, but persist and continue. After you break through the critical threshold, you will see success!
  
  Example: You knock a stone 100 times and nothing happens, but on the 101st time, the stone breaks. You may not see results for the first 100 knocks, but it is actually doing something... be patient.


• Focus on who you want to become:
  
  The most effective way to change your habit is to have an identity change - Decide who you want to be, and prove it to yourself with small wins. Every action you take is a a vote towards being the person you want to be. As the votes build up, so does your new identity.


• 1st Law: Make a Habit "Obvious":
  
  (1) Be clear - Example: I will do [behaviour] at [time] in [place].
  
  (2) Habit Stacking - Pair a new habit on top of something you already do. Example: After I get out of bed, I will do ten pushups.
  
  (3) Design your environment for success - Make cues for good habits obvious; make cues for bad habits invisible. Example: if you want to practice guitar more, put the guitar in the middle of the room. If you play too much video games, unplug the console and put it in the cupboard after use.


• 2nd Law: Make a Habit "Attractive":
  
  (1) Temptation Bundling - Pair a habit you "want to build" with something you "like or need to do". Example: Only watch your favourite TV show when you are indoor cycling.
  
  (2) Join a culture where your desired culture is the normal behavour, and you already have something in common with the group - we tend to imitate habits of (i) people who are close to us, (ii) the many, (iii) the powerful.
  
  (3) Break bad habits by making it un-attractive - Highlight the benefits of avoiding a bad habit (basically psycho yourself / mindset change) to make the bad habit un-attractive.


• 3rd Law: Make it "Easy":
  
  

  Use the "2 minutes rule" to build habits. Make your habits easy to start. Start with a "gateway" [easy] habit that you can do within 2 minutes, then slowly build it up.

  
  
  (1) Take action (practice, not just plan) - The key is to just start doing with repetition (not perfection). If you focus trying to find the best way to do something, it "feels" like you are doing something, but you didn't actually take any "action" ( = no results). Planning is good, but you also have to do!
  
  Example: This professor divided the photography class into 2 groups: (a) "Quantity Group" is graded by "quantity" of photos produced, (b) "Quality Group" is graded by the "quality" of photos (only 1 best photo will be graded). In the end, the "Quantity Group" produced the better photos, because in the process of creating 100's of photos, they honed their skills. Don't just plan, practice!
  
  (2) You form a habit by "repetition" - Engage in "active practice" instead of "passive learning". The more you "repeat" an activity, the more your "brain changes" (create neuron pathways) to be more efficient at that activity. It is the "frequency" that makes a difference.
  
  Example: When you start learning a musical instrument, it is very difficult. After you practice (repetition), the difficulty reduces. Practice more, the action becomes "automatic". Eventually, it may become so easy you can do it without thinking!

(3) Reduce friction - Create environment where doing the (thing you want to do) is as easy as possible - make good habit take the path of least resistance! - Example: Many businesses use automation and technology to remove friection / make it easier to do stuff.

3️⃣ 📘 5 Second Rule (by Mel Robbins)

🥜 Count down 5...4...3...2...1, and... JUST DO IT!

• On health, exercise & everything else:
  
  Just do it! You don't have to "feel like it", just do it!


• How to be productive:
  
  Have a morning routine. Focus on yourself first (preferably at home, since once you go to work, you will have lots of distractions). Decide on your 3 musts, and then just do it!


• How to stop worrying:
  
  When you catch yourself worrying, ask "What am I grateful for?" and "What do I want to remember?" It puts you in a positive mindset.


• How to beat anxiety / fear - Part 1:
  
  Re-frame the "negative feeling" into a "positive feeling" (such as "excitement").
  
  Example, if you are anxious because you have to do public speaking, re-frame your "anxiety" to be like "I am feeling this way because I am excited".


• How to beat anxiety / fear - Part 2:
  
  Use "anchor thoughts" to re-direct your negative thoughts into something positive. You can come up with your "anchor thought" beforehand.
  
  Example, if you are scared of flying, you can imagine how you are on a beach enjoying your holiday - Since you can imagine yourself on the beach, it means your flight went well.


• Practice everyday courage:
  
  Nothing comes naturally until you practice it! Do what your instinct tells you to do. Practice everyday courage, and build your confidence. As you do so, you will learn that you can count on yourself, trust your own abilities, honor your desires, and take control of your life! Confidence is not a personality trait, it is a skill!


• Find your passion:
  
  When you have an instinct to act, you must physically move and act on it... or else, your brain will find some way to stop you.
  
  (1) Explore your passion (what does your heart really want?)
  
  (2) Take simple steps to explore the subject (read up on it, take a course, write a plan, etc.)
  
  (3) Have courage to commit (decide that you are ready to commit... you will never "feel" ready...). Even if you are ready, it might not feel good in the beginning, but have faith and belief in yourself, and have courage, and do the work!


• Relationships:
  
  Leave nothing important unsaid. To improve a relationship, just "say it". Intimacy takes courage. There is no right time to have the conversation, ask the hard questions, say I love you, etc. There is only now. When your heart speaks, say it! Sometimes, there is no next time.

Tag: books, growth, productivity, habits, systems

[ back to table of contents ]

🍮 Recipe - Caramel Egg Custard

Created: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Make the caramel

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of sugar
2. 1/4 cup of water

Directions:

1. Heat the sugar and water in a small pot
2. In medium heat, stir and melt sugar to dissolve the sugar
3. Once syrup boils, reduce to low heat and let it simmer
4. Once it starts to turn golden brown, turn off the heat, as the caramel could burn quickly
5. If the sugar turns into crystals, you can add more water and just start over

Make the custard

Ingredients:

1. 4 cups of milk
2. 1/2 cup of sugar
3. 6 eggs
4. some vanilla essence

Directions:

1. Mix the milk and sugar over low heat - to warm milk and to melt sugar
2. Mix eggs and vanilla into the milk
3. Strain the egg mixture 2 times - to have smooth texture

Put it all together

Things to have:

1. Individual ramekins or baking tray(s) - to put your custard
2. Extra larger size baking tray - put some hot water

Directions:

1. Pour the caramel into the ramekin / baking tray
2. Swirl caramel around until it covers the bottom of the tray
3. Pour in the egg mixture
4. Put the custard-tray into the hot-water-tray
5. Put it in a pre-heated oven (180°C)
6. Bake until the custard sets (around 30-45 minutes)
7. You can eat it hot or cold

Tag: recipe, egg-custard

[ back to table of contents ]

🍨 Recipe - Homemade Yogurt

Created: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Ingredients:

1. Milk powder
2. Water (around 4-5 cups? up to you)
3. 1 small plain yogurt (from the shop)

Directions:

1. Mix milk powder and water (I prefer a thicker yogurt, so I add a bit more milk powder)
2. Heat the milk until it just starts to boil, and turn off the heat
3. Wait until the milk cools down a bit (warm to the touch), then mix in the yogurt
4. Divide the milk-yougurt into glass containers (that has lid) - sieve the mixture when pouring in to remove lumps
5. Place the closed containers in a warm oven, and cover them with a warm cloth
6. normally, I will turn on the oven (and put the cloth inside) for a little while, then switch the oven off once I am ready to place the yougrt into the oven
7. Leave it for around 8 hours, and put in the fridge when it is done (I usually make yogurt at night, and leave it overnight)

Tag: recipe, yogurt

[ back to table of contents ]

⛑️ Tactical First Aid - (S) M.A.R.C.H.

Created: 20 October 2025, Monday

Recently attended a Medical First Responder (MFR) seminar and "Stop the Bleed Course".

Instead of the "DRSABCD" acronym, they taught us "SMARCH". SMARCH is a way for you to remember the order of priority of care.

When to use "SMARCH" or "DRSABCD"?

I truly have no idea - but if I were to guess:

✪ DRSABCD may be more suited for general first aid situations; while

✪ SMARCH would be more suited for traumatic events, like gunshots, blasts, horrible accidents, mass injury, and similar kinds of stressful situations - so that you will know what to deal with first. For example, this person is bleeding profusely, but also not breathing, and also has a head injury - which injury do you deal with first...?


Can have like a 4 man team. 3 people to help out and 1 person will be taking records (and also helping out) like record what you did, what time, what happened... so can hand it over to the next level medical personnel.

The US military has their format, hospitals also have their own (the checklist may be different, but the purpose similar). Generally, it would be good to keep track of what happened and what time it happened - can be something like: At [time] found [patient] [where & what happened]; [time] applied tourniquet, etc.

After all is done, they will have a "AAR" (After Action Report) to review what happened, and what can be improved.

S.M.A.R.C.H

Letter	Description
Scene Safety	Check the scene to make sure it is safe for you
Massive Hemorrhage (Bleeding)	Check if the person is bleeding massively. If person is bleeding very very heavily, apply a "tourniquet" to stop the bleeding. Usually about 2-3 inches above the injury There are some places that you should not put a tourniquet, example, the joints, or certain other parts (like neck). "High and Tight" is the motto for tourniquet (it is going to be painful) Take note of the "time" when a tourniquet is applied! If no proper tourniquet, can use a makeshift one (not so effective, but might be better than none). If no tourniquet, apply direct pressure (eg. bandage/gauze) to try to stop the bleeding If the wound is very deep, you can "pack" the wound, like roll balls of gauze and stuff it in the wound (basically to stop the bleeding), and wrap it firmly
Airway	Airway is the path from nose and mouth to the lungs If the airway is blocked, the person cannot breathe If the person is awake and talking then possibly airway is clear But... also see if the person is likely to have their airway blocked... (for example, now awake, but later will pass out If the person is unconscious, open the person's mouth to check their got any objects, blood, vomit, teeth in the mouth that would be likely to block their airway Head tilt, chin lift can help to open a person's airway If person has spinal injury, jaw thrust may be the only way to open a person's airway Can put the person in the recovery position once they are sorta breathing, to keep airway clear - also so example, if got eg. vomit or blood in mouth, it can flow out You can use an NPA (nasopharyngeal airway) which is like some (green) tube, to stuff into the nose down to the throat to secure an open airway. The size of the NPA should be from the nose to the ear. (Use the correct size!) If you only have a bigger size, you can probably "cut" it to size, but this is NOT ideal Put lubricant (eg KY jelly?) on the NPA before inserting into the person's nose. But if don't have, then use the patient's own saliva or blood also ok in a pinch Once in a while may need to use this other (suction tube thing) to suck out mucous or whatever from the NPA. The length of the tube to be inserted also nose to ear length, can note the length using you fingers DO NOT use NPA if got facial injury or if you suspect brain injury!! (eg. if clear fluid flowing out of the nose)
Breathing	Check if person in breathing - Look, Listen, Feel Look at the chest to see if it rise and fall Listen if got breaching sound (if got some obstruction maybe got like snoring or some wheezing?) Feel if got breath If person is not breathing, can give CPR (like the usual "Staying Alive" or "Baby Shark", etc.) How to use the "bag valve mask" (i.e. the thing that got like the nose mouth plastic thing, and the round plastic bulb to squeeze) - remember "C and E". Put the nose/mouthpiece over the nose and mouth (don't want to have gaps for air to escape). Hold the mouthpiece top with your thumb and pointer finger in "C" shape - This is mainly to keep it in place (not so much the pressure). The "E" shape with the rest of your fingers is to press down the mask (When testing on the dummy, I guess sometimes the chest didn't rise, cause the airway is not clear... so may be helpful to sorta angle the person's head like "Head Tilt Chin Up" for the human head also...) Squeeze the bulb... If person has like a wound on the chest area (eg. gunshot or stab wound) that will like cause people to "leak" the air... you can put this (occlusive dressing - plasticky dressing sticker) over it, basically to stop air from coming out. They got some that are just stick on, some are like stick on but with one-way air vent to let air out In a pinch, you can sorta have a plastic sheet over it, and stick 3 sides of it down. With one side open (the open part is like equivalent to the vent) and also allow the blood to flow out or whatever. There is this pin thing that person can stick into the body; and also this way to open the throat - but I will never do it!!
Circulation	Ensure that blood is flowing to keep organs working Something like IV, IO? Like can administer blood or other fluids into the body. This is also something I don't really know...and likely will never use in my life... The US military apparently has this thing (with lots of needles), that is like in a round tube, that you sorta put on the chest (they have some sticker to sorta tell you where to stick this thing in), that will be the place to administer the stuff. Other things you can do are, example: Check for other bleeding - Can sorta do like a "body sweep" - i.e. sweep the arms/legs/body/back of the patient with your two hands to see if there is any other bleeding from somewhere else in the body. You should be able to sorta "feel" like difference between blood vs sweat. (I suppose you should wear gloves for this...), and deal with it accordingly Check their pulse - Usually, example in the neck or wrist (usually the outer part of the wrist - i.e. opposite armpit part of the wrist)
Hypothermia & Head Injury	Usually if people lose too much blood or whatever, can still get hypothermia (even if the outside temperature may be warm)! Can put like blankets or what. Head injury, I guess depends on what injury. But mainly can see how alert they are? (AVPU). Can wrap the bandage but really I guess wait for someone more medically trained to take over

Tag: health, first-aid, emergency

[ back to table of contents ]

💚 First Aid

Created: 12 July 2025, Saturday | Updated: 19 July 2025, Saturday

Joined a first aider course at a local St John Ambulance outfit recently. Did it for fun. Even managed to score myself a fancy little "CPR training 100% Achiever" pin!

I am by no means anywhere near knowledgeable on this topic, but just wanted to put a few notes here for my own memory:

⛑️ DRS ABCD

When in an emergency situation: ⭐⭐⭐ DRS ABCD ⭐⭐⭐
How I remember this acronym: "Doctors' ABCD"

Step	Description
Danger	Check your surroundings for danger to ensure both you and the person are safe If the person is in a dangerous place, you may need to move them first
Response	Can the person respond? (see also AVPU) If no response, gently shake their shoulders and ask: "Can you hear me?"
Shout (or Send)	If unresponsive, shout for help. Point to people, and say: "You, call 999 [ambulance] and get back to me" "You, find an AED and get back to me" People may assume someone else will act – so pointing at people and giving them a specific task helps Own note: Do most people even know what an AED is? Anyway, there may be AEDs in malls or public spaces
Airway	Check if the airway is blocked Tilt the head back, and tilt the chin up slightly Look in the mouth for any obstructions
Breathing	Is the person breathing? Check chest movements or feel under their nose (10 seconds max) If breathing, place them in the recovery position while waiting for help
CPR	If not breathing, lay the person on their back. Shirt may be removed for easier access to chest (if the person is a woman, consider privacy also, like get people to cover up the area, etc.). How to do CPR (for adults): Person is on their back You are on the side, knees on the floor Place one hand over the other, both hands palm down, fingers of the top hand interlocked with the bottom Hand placement: center of chest (between nipples / or just center generally) Keep arms straight, use body weight to compress Press down XXX cm, at tempo of Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" Mouth-to-mouth is not really necessary (especially on strangers) Allow full chest recoil after each compression If the person is breathing but unconscious, do NOT need to do CPR.
Defibrillator	AED = Automated External Defibrillator Prefer not to stop CPR, can get someone else set up the AED Steps: Expose chest – remove shirt / bra / accessories Shave chest if too hairy (AED box usually has a razor) Attach pads as per AED instructions Turn AED on and follow prompts When instructed, back away during shock Continue CPR when told If AED ask you to do mouth-to-mouth (and you don't wanna do it) just keep doing the compressions If the person starts breathing again, stop CPR and place them in recovery position

[ back to table of contents ]

🍚 RICE

For strains and sprains (like an ankle sprain): 🍙 RICE 🍙
How I remember this acronym: Strains/sprains are common, common like Asians eating "rice" 😅)

Step	Description
Rest	Stop the activity. Don’t put weight on the injury. Rest
Ice	Apply ice as soon as possible to reduce pain/swelling. Don’t apply ice directly, and don't apply ice for too long (might cause tissue damage)
Compression	Wrap the injured area snugly, but not too tight to cut off circulation
Elevation	Raise the injured body part, preferably above the heart level

[ back to table of contents ]

⚠️ AVPU

To check a person’s level of consciousness: ⏰ AVPU ⏰

Level	Description
Alert	The person is fully alert and responsive
Verbal	The person responds to your voice (e.g. grunts, noises)
Pain	The person responds to pain (e.g. pinching their nail)
Unresponsive	The person gives no response at all

[ back to table of contents ]

😪 Recovery Position

If the person is unconscious, but still breathing (and has no other life-threatening conditions), put them in the 🛌 Recovery Position 🛌

Step	Description
Step 1	The person is lying on their back, and you are at their side
Step 2	For their arm closest to your body: Put their arm like 90 degrees flat on the floor (bicep horizontal, and forearm vertical, kinda like they are putting up their hand up to ask the teacher a question, but this is flat on the floor)
Step 3	For their knee away from your body (i.e. on the other side of their body): Lift up the knee, foot on the floor (kinda like an upright triangle)
Step 4	For their hand that is away from your body: Clasp your fingers with their fingers (like a "couples" grip), and move that (couple grip hand) to the person's cheek that is near you
Step 5	Gently push down their knee (the one that you just lifted up) towards you... this will lay them on the side in the "recovery position"

[ back to table of contents ]

🗣️ Choking (for Adults)

If someone is choking (eg. food stuck in throat):

Step	Description
Step 0 Consent	Tell the person you are trained in first aid Ask: "Are you okay with me helping you?"
Step 1 Check if they can cough	Ask if the person can cough If they can cough, try to get them to cough forcefully, sometimes this can dislodge the object
Step 2 Back Blows (5x)	Cup your hand (if flat hand... painful!) Get person to stand slightly bent/tilted forward/face down Hit the person's back (between the shoulder blades), angle your hit slightly upwards — 5 times If the object doesn't come out, to the Heimlich Maneuver / abdominal thrust
Step 3 Heimlich Maneuver / Abdominal Thrust (5x)	Go to the back of the person, wrap your arms around their body Make a fist with one hand — thumb wrapped in the fist / fingers over thumb. Place the other hand over base of fist (to support). Position the fist above the belly button, slightly below the sternum (a bit below the underboob area). Thrust decently hard, angled upwards — 5 times (If done properly, should come out — maybe even 1 or 2 times is enough.) If still doesn't come out, alternate between the Back Hits (5x) and Abdominal Thrusts (5x)
Practical Advice	When you are at the back of the person, put one of your legs out, as a support for the body in front of you This is just in case if the person passes out, you can use your leg to support yourself, and to support the person and guide them down to the floor gently For pregnant ladies, you can't do the abdominal thrusts... so do like chest thrusts (like where you do CPR like that?)
If they pass out / stop breathing	Call 999 (ambulance) ...or can get someone to call as soon as possible before this... if you think what you do is not really working If stop breathing, can do CPR

Tag: health, first-aid, emergency

[ back to table of contents ]

👱🏻‍♀️🎸 Taylor Swift as a Role Model

Created: 11 January 2026, Sunday

You may love Taylor Swift, or you may hate her, or you may be indifferent. But whatever you say or think about her, it is undeniable that Taylor Swift is a force of nature.

While I may not consider myself a “Swiftie” per se, I do enjoy Taylor Swift’s music. Her poppy songs are ear candy, and her melancholic songs… well let’s just say I have played some on loop far too many times than I would care to admit to help ease my sorrowful heart.

Here are a few food for thought (and action!) which I hope to adopt in my life - inspired by Taylor Swift, in the ”TAYLOR” acronym!

TURN AROUND the negativity, and use it as a TAILWIND

• Taylor has been subject to a lot of criticism and negative comments, one of the most “infamous” is being allegedly impliedly called a “snake”.


• What did she do? She turned it around, and this sparked a whole new sound and aesthetic - the “Reputation” era

Do not be discouraged if people look down on you, or criticise you, or think negatively about you. Instead, turn it around, and use it as a potent tailwind to drive yourself to achieve what you want to do.

ADDRESS your mistakes, try to do better next time. Rinse and repeat

• In life, you will inevitably misspeak, under-react, self-sabotage, overthink, not think at all, ruin good moments for yourself and others, deny wrongdoing, not take steps to make it right, feel guilty, let guilt eat at you, hit rock bottom


• Address the pain you caused, try to do better next time, rinse and repeat


• These mistakes will cause you to lose things, but losing things doesn't just mean losing. A lot of the time, when we lose things, we gain things too

You will make mistakes. Be resilient, and do not let it get you down permanently. Every time you make a mistake, get back up, and take action to ADDRESS your mistakes; and try to do better (try not repeat the same mistakes) the next time. Even if you lost something due to your mistake, it is not the end, you might find that you gain other things also.

YOU have to live YOUR LIFE, in spite of fear, and in spite of people who do not understand you

• Today, Taylor is at the top of the music world, and it is easy to see why. But it was not always so.


• When Taylor was making the transition from country music to pop, apparently there was a lot of pushback.


• But Taylor knew what she wanted, and she fought for it

YOUR LIFE is YOURS to live. You don’t have to be what others want you to be. Have courage to live and fight for what YOU WANT over and over again, despite having fears and doubts, and despite what other people may think.

LOVE what you do, and LOVE the people who love you and make your dreams happen

• Taylor clearly loves making music and sharing her music with the world (despite the troubles that she gets due to her glitzy career, i.e. the ridiculous amounts of media attention, and the negative effects that arise from it)


• Taylor is also known for genuinely appreciating her “Swifties”, hosting secret session at her home, sending them gifts and little messages


• And we have also heard the news about the eye-watering bonuses her team got working on the Eras Tour. So, appreciation in the form of money for those who work hard to make her dreams come true.

You will only be willing to put in the effort, go the extra mile, and bear all the suffering that it may entail, when you are doing something that you LOVE (or when you do things for the people that you LOVE). So do what you LOVE, and LOVE what you do. (And if you don't love what you do, you can do it for the people you love). Besides loving what you do, it is always important to remember to take some time and effort to appreciate those who are there for you, and those who have your back

OWN your life's work

• Fighting for ownership of her Masters (as in the recordings of her old catalog of music) was one of the big battles of Taylor Swift’s life.


• It is hard to believe that even one of the biggest artistes in the world would have to face such a challenge at the peak of her career - fighting to own her own life’s work.


• But of course, the consequence of a binding contract cannot be overlooked. Ultimately, I believe this battle played out pretty much in her favour, if we look at it on a balance


• This shows the importance of taking ownership of your life work or holding onto the things that are precious to you - do not simply give it away or let go of it or let others take it from you. If they do take what is yours, fight to get it back (legally) - for example, come up with creative ways to get what you want (like re-record everything!) - legally.

Often times, when we are in a weaker bargaining position (as most people are in when they first start out), it is not always easy to get a good (or even fair) deal, or to keep ownership of all rights to your work. But be wise and do not sell yourself short. Don't just look at the present - consider your future (And please consult a lawyer who is acting for you before you sign a contract!)

RELEASE and let go of things that weigh you down

• Life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once. Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release.


• Know what things to keep and what things to release - Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go


• One toxic relationship can outweigh so many, wonderful simple joys.


• You get to pick what your life has time and room for. Be discerning.

You have the power to pick what to keep, and what to let go of. Release the bad and toxic things, and catch and keep the good things and things that give you joy.



Note 1:

1. Obviously, I do not know Taylor, so everything here is based on her public persona, as interpreted through the lens of my eyes


2. Taylor, if in the minuscule chance that you are reading this - Please give me some ideas / mindset tips on how to overcome work stress and anxiety… 😭😭


3. Some points above are from Taylor Swift's NYU speech - interesting read

Note 2: The Reason For This Post

• Lately, I have not been doing well career-wise. I am overwhelmed, burnt out, drained, and down in the dumps. It is not that I have not been working (I have! A lot!), it’s just that there is so much more that I have not managed to do.


• So much to do, and it all takes time, and time and energy are limited resources… ! 😞😣 I only have one body, and I can only do one thing at a time! And I have no control of others! It is a never-ending source of stress, and it makes me feel sad and incompetent.


• “Like, why am I struggling when others, who seem to do much more than me, are doing well being on top of their work and deadlines?”


• I feel like I am juggling jars of acid. I keep hoping that I do not drop any on me… but now everything seems to be unraveling! (Anxiety and depression are my roommates, and alcohol is my reluctant friend).


• So… my career outlook is tragic, but what does this have to do with Taylor Swift? Well, people often say, “find yourself a good role model”. I figured it’d be fun to consider a celebrity one.

Tag: advice, mindset, taylor-swift

[ back to table of contents ]