The Things We Want, The Things We Reject, and the Things We Regret
What happens when you stop chasing bigger titles, ask for something you know you’ll be denied, and book a trip before it’s too late?
I almost didn’t write today. Not because I was too busy or too tired, just because I wasn’t sure what to say.
And if there’s one thing the internet doesn’t need, it’s more people filling space just to keep up a habit.
Lately, I’ve been writing about things I’ve researched, which makes writing about my own life feel... flimsy. But some of you have told me you appreciate the personal journey, like flipping through a stranger’s open journal.
So here we are.
Avoiding Regret
A few days ago, a friend of a friend passed away. At 32. Sudden. An unfinished life.
Then, a distant friend of my father also died. A heart attack. Again, sudden. Again, so much left to live.
And just like that, I found myself listening my father, suddenly hyper-aware of his age, 65, and of time slipping away. He’s lived a full life, but there’s still so much left. These moments shake you, but they also clarify things.
So, I did the only thing I could think of: I booked our trip together. Because at some point, you need to stop waiting for the right time to make memories and just start making them.
It felt like a small but concrete way to say: we’re still here. More long conversations waiting for us. More pictures we’ll exchange in the family WhatsApp group, for the years to come. More time together.
Avoiding Regret II
At my corporate job, this week was compensation week: when salaries get adjusted. And by "adjusted," I mean people were reminded that their hard work translates to a number that still doesn’t keep up with inflation.
No one raged. No one stormed out. People kept showing up, sending emails, and pretending like everything was fine.
It made me wonder: do people keep going because they believe things will get better? Or because they feel trapped, like there’s no real alternative?
I used to take these things personally, but now that I have a countdown - 319 days until I leave corporate life - I feel distant from it all. Like watching a movie I’ve already decided to walk out of before the credits roll.
The Things We Reject I
Another recruiter reached out this week. I entertained a first conversation, but I knew where this was going. A bigger title, a bigger salary, a bigger reason to stay in the game a little longer.
It’s funny how life tests you like that. Are you sure about your exit plan? Are you sure you don’t want this?
This time, I didn’t even wait to see where it would lead. A new job would mean another ramp-up period, another cycle of proving myself in meetings, another year of energy spent climbing the wrong mountain.
Right now, I’d rather build something of my own. Even if I don’t yet know exactly where it’s going.
The Things We Reject II
I saw this quote on Instagram:
"The world will ask who you are, and if you do not know, the world will tell you."
It made me pause. Because even when you think you’re making your own path, there’s still that pressure. To follow the expected trajectory. To say yes to the job. To keep moving in the direction that looks good on paper.
I try to reject that as much as I can. But rejecting things isn’t passive, it takes effort. I have to remind myself, over and over again, this is not my path. And I have to find the words to say it out loud over and over again.
The Things We Want
I’m still working on my mission to stretch out my weekends by doing one different thing every week. (Something I wrote about before.)
What I’ve found easiest? Doing things a tourist would do. Visiting palaces, landmarks, or places I never got around to. Some have been very worth it. Some… less so. But it still gives me the feeling of a longer, fuller weekend.
Because if I can’t slow down time, I can at least stretch it.
And maybe that’s the best any of us can do.
The (Hard) Things We Want II
I started my rejection challenge yesterday. My first attempt? Calling the airline for my next trip and asking for an upgrade.
No miles. No extra payment. Just a simple request: Can I have an upgrade?
I hated wasting someone’s time (I even left her a glowing review to make up for it). And I almost cracked up when I had to seriously, professionally say:
"Yes, I would like an upgrade, but I don’t want to pay or use miles."
A pause. Then:
"Sorry… what do you mean?"
I repeated myself, and she was in disbelief. Finally, after what felt like forever, she said:
"No, that’s not possible."
And finally, after the longest 3 minutes of my life, I had collected my first precious “No.” One down. Nine to go.
That’s All for Today
No big conclusions. No deep learnings. Just what’s been on my mind.
If anything resonated, let me know. If nothing resonated, well… you can always try to ask me for an upgrade 🤓