Learn From My Mistakes

Short story of how I break life chaos into small, solvable problems - 2 min read.

There’s a saying you’ve probably never heard because I just made it up:

“You are only as small as the little things that can ruin your day.”

So here’s my personal list of tiny villains:

• Zipper that jams halfway up. Bonus points if you’re already late.

• Shoelaces that come undone mid-run. (Because clearly, knots have trust issues.)

• Too many tabs open and none are playing audio… but something is

• Remembering something the moment you lie down (bonus level: when your wife's waiting for you upstairs - to ask you to grab something from downstairs)

• Autoplay videos on news sites. I came to read, not be ambushed.

• A mouse that double-clicks on single-clicks. I want action, not betrayal.

• That one kitchen drawer where ladles, whisks, and mystery tools unite - just to jam it shut every time you try to open it.

• Shirt tags that itch for absolutely no reason.

• Toothpick boxes designed by sadists: I wanted to clean my teeth, not challenge physics.

At first glance, it’s petty stuff. Childish, even. But these things stack.

One small annoyance + one more = the emotional equivalent of stepping on a Lego barefoot.

So I made a decision: Fix it. Or enjoy it.

And weirdly? When I genuinely try to enjoy the annoyance - it stops being annoying.

(Google “masochism,” but only in the philosophical sense.)

It reminded me of a SEAL quote:

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Now, I’m obviously not storming enemy lines (I’m storming my kitchen drawer) but still, let’s call it:

The Art of Micro-Discomfort.

Which makes me… an artist. Of suffering.

Case In Point 1: The IKEA Desk Incident

I 3D-printed a slick cage for my HDD to mount under my desk (now my backups are hanging out down there, living their best life.).

Feeling handy, I grabbed the electric drill - even though I felt I'd overdo it. It's not like I had spare screws or anything.

And I did.

The screw punched a tiny chip right through the white surface.

Can you imagine how upset I could've been?

But not this time.

Once I finished crying, I realized the desk still works perfectly fine.

But this time, I didn’t let it ruin my day. I took a breath. Then moved my wireless phone charger to cover the chip - and discovered it’s way more convenient there.

Was it divine intervention? A message from the universe? Or just dumb luck?

I don’t know. But the desk works. The charger’s happy. And I’m oddly at peace.

Case Study 2: The T-Shirt Stain

Old Me would’ve changed.

New Me knows about the Spotlight Effect - the illusion that everyone notices that tiny spot on your shirt.

Reality? No one cares.

Except my wife.

I'm pretty sure her factory settings are tuned to detect all my imperfections.

I tried to return her once. No luck. Her parents don't do refunds.

So I decided to lean in. This stain is now a feature. A conversation starter. A textile tattoo of breakfast.

Bottom line:

Sure, I could spend my life rage-tweeting about autoplay videos and cursed drawers.

Or - I could embrace the chaos, lower the bar, and call it "emotional maturity." And honestly? That's cheaper than therapy.

Tell next time.

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7 Rules for Emotional Health - 9 min read.

Think you're emotionally healthy just because you don't cry during Zoom calls? Think again. This article gives 7 simple (but sharp) rules that'll help you stop making your own life harder - like "never worry in your head" and "no complaining." Solid stuff.

Boost Your Life: Ultimate Guide on How to Be More Present - 12 min read.

Being present sounds great - until you realize it means not multitasking while overthinking. This article breaks it down without the incense and chanting.

The awkwardness principle: why change rarely feels right - 3 min read.

Turns out, if something feels smooth and easy, you're probably not growing - just coasting. Burkeman argues that if you don't feel weird and squirmy, you're doing it wrong. Yay?

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A deep dive into the quirks, habits, and backstories that shape icons

Cool Facts About Muhammad Ali

4 AM Wake-Up Calls: Ali famously hauled himself out of bed before dawn (around 4 AM) to cram in his long runs and roadwork. Because apparently the only thing better than morning coffee is sprinting through pitch-black streets.

Visualization Mastery: Long before sports psychology was a thing, Ali mentally rehearsed every fight. He’d picture the bell, the referee raising his arm, and the crowd chanting his name so vividly that, by fight night, his mind believed he’d already won.

Pain-Threshold Counting: “I don’t count my sit-ups,” he said, “I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.” By ignoring the easy reps, he trained himself to push past self-imposed limits.

Growth-Mindset Philosophy: Ali treated setbacks (losses, injuries, criticism) as feedback loops. Rather than seeing failure as a dead end, he used it to refine his technique and mentality, embodying what Carol Dweck later coined the “growth mindset”.

“Forks in the Road” Awareness: Ali believed each morning presented “forks in the road” - small choices that, compounded over time, determined destiny. He trained himself to pick discipline over shortcuts at each turn.

Stick to the Game Plan: Critics mocked his style and taunts, but Ali never veered from his coach’s blueprint. He’d “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” precisely because he refused distractions and trusted his strategy.

Mental Discipline Over Physical: He often said the toughest opponent was his own mind - resisting junk food, foregoing late-night outings, and hammering through grueling drills he “hated every minute of,” because he knew discipline built champions.

Confidence as a Tool: "I am the greatest," he proclaimed long before Twitter made self-branding a thing - because why wait for a trophy when you can just decree it yourself?

Watch-worthy clips

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Simon Sinek breaks down why serious disagreements feel so awkward, and how to handle them without looking like a jerk. It's a quick, smart take on talking like an adult (even when you don't feel like one).

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