April 2025

Let’s get back to journaling. I am feeling as if I had been drifting aimlessly – being torn apart by several paths.

Deep down, I believe that it is greed that has been driving me crazy lately.

Now where to begin…

April 3

After a lot of thinking, I have decided to move forward and proceed with something. Not ideal, though, but I suppose I cannot afford letting greed get in my way.

I cannot help but recall this quote by Fridtjof Nansen:

I demolish my bridges behind me – then there is no choice but forward.

Well that’s what I have just done to myself, after a lot of internal dialogues. I cannot keep succumbing to bad faith.

Now that I have pressed the button, there’s no way but forward!

Let’s get back to my language study, while at the same time taking care of this blog – probably on the weekend. I have wasted so much time pondering things.

For the upcoming edition, I already have a few ideas in my mind. I hope I will be able to finish it without having my routine disrupted too much (like how it has happened before then).

Let’s jot them down into a draft – before going home then!

(03:43 PM GMT+7 – April 3, 2025)

Recently, it seems that there is very little good news on social media. Natural disasters like the earthquake in Myanmar, global conflicts, and the trade war (this one seems to be quite “trending” now), etc.

What is left for humanity then?

I cannot help but have a feeling that humanity is in for some serious trouble, especially considering that hate speech is everywhere (no matter which side people are on). Unless there are some kind of “miracles”.

Unless people still remember about the importance of conscience.

Maybe it’s time for us to look “inward” and see what we can do with what’s “in here” – rather than with what’s “out there”. The former is the only thing within one’s control.

One of my LinkedIn connections remarked about these things as like a “movie”. Well, I suppose, this is real life, so comparing it to a “movie” is kind of… I don’t know how to say.

Everybody is waiting for the end to come, but what if it already passed us by? Apocalypse arrives quietly; the chosen are herded off to heaven, and the rest of us, the ones who failed the test, just keep on going, oblivious.

Jonathan Nolan

Also, regarding the recent viral discussions about the Ghibli-style AI images, it seems that people are divided into 2 sides. Some just think of it like a joke – even as a way to make money (just look at the McDonald Mexico’s post). And many defend the Ghibli studio vigorously.

I have a feeling that the rise of AI has revealed a lot of ugly truths about today’s capitalist society. About the fact that we tend to care more about being rich than about something deeper. About the thing called “humanity”.

What makes us humans then?

One thing I notice about many busiensses today is that as soon as they figure that work can be done using AI, their immediate reaction is to think about cutting off their workforce. About “optimizing resources”.

There is this thing called “human resources”, but after all, it seems that in the eyes of many business owners, people are nothing more than some kind of tools.

Now what?

How about the way we think about ourselves? About this body? Is it just another tool for us to achieve the end?

(05:20 PM GMT+7 – April 3, 2025)

April 4

What do you feel when you wake up every morning?

People often say that with the morning comes hope. Hope for a better day. Hope for a new beginning.

As the Budda said

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

What shall I do today then?

It has been extremely tough for me to get back on track recently. But I managed to yesterday. Now is not the time to slack off, to lose the spree. Just keep doing it!

Back to my language study. And trying to get what I have been planning for rolling.

Ok, here I come!

(08:50 AM GMT+7 – April 4, 2025)

It seems that a lot of people (at least on my news feeds) are heeding the Ghibli AI image trend. I cannot help but reflect on the fact that: trend is just trend – it will be over one day.

And yet, as I have reflected previously, this trend seems to be really damaging. People are making fun of things that they have no idea about.

It’s an ugly truth about today’s capitalist society that, ironically, the popularity of AI tools has revealed.

…

Speaking of which, maybe I should revisit old memories. How about some music to make today better? To keep the hadou running high.

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.

C. S. Lewis

(01:13 PM GMT+7 – April 4, 2025)

What is my true name, after all?

When do we say “true name”, what do we really mean?

Why do names have such power? Why does forgetting one’s “name” so terrible? As in the case of characters like Chihiro or Atem.

Some eventually recalled their true name, while some – like Rey Skywalker – decided to forge their own name. Their own legacy.

How about me? How about you?

Btw, I remember coming across a very hilarious situation this afternoon. Apparently, the team at one of my previous companies received a lead form from a person whose email includes the name “Lucifer”. And they kept talking about it on their WhatsApp group.

I wonder, is there anyone unconventional enough to choose the name “Lucifer” – either for themselves or for someone else?

Is a name just a name – or is there something deeper behind it?

(09:50 PM GMT+7 – April 4, 2025)