Flipping the Old to New

All good things come to an end... 👋🏻🔚

I'd argue the line applies to everything, though. Anything with a beginning would likely have an ending. 😅

By the way, this isn't me closing down this blog. It's about the year, naturally. Today, the progression of seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to a day, days to weeks, weeks to a month, and months to a year reaches its grand finale. As this post goes up, it should be December 31 in most time zones of the world, and specifically midday in mine. That's halfway through the last lap, eh? 😲📅

Like tearing or flipping the final sheet of a calendar, which younger people may not know the feeling, due to digital options, this piece is meant to complete or close the cycle. It's my moment to look back so I can look forward... ⏳🔭

Source: For as Far as the Eye Can See

Old Stories to Share

When I started this blog many moons ago in January, the goal was to reclaim and renew one personal habit. An old one, to be precise, considering casual writing has always been a part of my days since childhood. I can't even remember when I started jotting down my ideas. 🤔📝

To reiterate, this spot isn't my first rodeo at blogging! Admittedly speaking, I had written many posts on various platforms before. In poor, laughable quality, that is. Some incorrigible, many incoherent, hahaha! However, this is my first time actually doing it with a better thematic approach, actual planning, and proper research. And does it work? 😮👀

Well, readers should be the judge of that. Then again, a growing audience isn't exactly the primary plan. So I guess that's a bit hard to tell. What is the purpose of all these efforts, then? 😅

As teased above, I've always enjoyed sharing opinions in written format. Abundantly so! Sad to say, due to my previous work, which funnily enough involved writing for and about other people, I actually had no time to do it for myself. It felt like losing an identity, if I'm being fair. That odd feeling of "something is missing" only grew stronger over the years. Yep! YEARS! 😓🤦🏻‍♂️

So yeah, this blog has been a return to form, or at least, a bumpy attempt at that. It's not smoothsailing, no doubt. My ambitious aim was to post every ten days. Eventually, writer's block and the demands of daily duties started delaying the posts. Some months ended in absent silence, considering health issues. And during the second half of the year, work once again took hold of my focus, turning into quite a juggle of jobs. It's a humbling lesson that speed isn't a luxury as we grow older. 👶🏻🧑🏻🧓🏻

Source: For as Far as the Eye Can See

Nevertheless, as I've realized and embraced, imperfection is not a bad thing. Hey, it's the art of life, after all. That means, in many ways, my purpose is still very much accomplished. 😌💁🏻‍♂️

After all, this is me following my inner voice, a desire I set out to do in my premiere post. As such, I'm voicing my voice again, even if there might be no response on the other end. Really, though, unlike posting on social media, at least this doesn't feel like shouting to a wall or an echo chamber. This is a space where I can pour my perspectives, audience or not. A long-form lounging through bundles of brainstorm instead of a descent to doomscrolling! Posting 23 pieces (counting this one) isn't so bad. Right? Hahaha 😜🙆🏻‍♂️

Moreover, as my Amigo Pinguino repeatedly said, this blog has equally functions as a cathartic release. He's philosophically spot on, as always. By writing, I could finally process my emotions and understand them better, especially the guilt and grief that had taken permanent residency. Through written words, I could share the lessons learned that have guided me to keep going. Here's hoping they have helped, are helping, or will help others who may also need some form of closure. 🙂🙏🏻

Source: Personal Photo Collection, December 31, 2025

New Seasons to Start

Aaaaah, closure is a curious word. Is it not? 😐🙅🏻‍♂️

Sometimes, we want or need closure on something or two. That helps us find clarity and move forward. Alas, such a conclusive case does not or, worse, will never come, no matter how long we wait. When that happens, we're left wondering and wandering lost in the woods of uncertainty. 😩🤦🏻‍♂️

The bittersweet thing is: maybe that's already the closure all along. Silence and absence, the fading connection and care? The nonspoken goodbye or the nonexistent farewell. Those have always been the closures that, unfortunately, we don't realize yet. 😨🙄

Similar to TV shows and movies, an open ending isn't necessarily a BAD thing. Often, the ways plot points are left unsolved can be annoying, I know. That said, we can still reframe our lens and view that from a different angle. If done right, an open ending leaves the door, well, open to revisit in the future. A renewal or a surprising new season/sequel is still possible. Assuming there are strong and valid reasons for that to happen, of course. 👀😲

I mean, the early 2000s sitcom Malcom in the Middle will return, with all returning cast, in April next year. Toy Story 5 is out just two months after! Heck, a new The Hunger Games movie awaits, too, and it's welcoming back two main characters who, as far as YouTube has spoiled, already had a calm conclusion back in 2015. And to think I haven't even fully seen every previous title! 😬🤷🏻‍♂️

The same applies to human connection. As I've experienced through my life, including this year, people come and go. Some leave loudly with a weary warning, but others seep away ever so silently like the wavering wind. At times, they may bring a clear closure. But often, there's nothing but wistful wondering. That's the inevitable nature of our fleeting life. Spring turned to Summer, and Autumn heralded Winter. 🍃🍂

On the other hand, life also has a funny way of bringing people back together. A relation might seem like it had reached an end at some point. Yet, the dance of back and forth may restart after a month, a year, or even a decade of nothing. Just like that, things pick up and continue again. 👯‍♀️🕺🏃‍♂️

Perhaps when the parties involved have finally moved on with the struggles in their lives? Maybe once their previous priorities are finally fulfilled, and suddenly, somehow, the bond with us becomes the "new" one. They've matured, met, and said farewells with an array of new people before life directs them to that one strayed soulmate from the past. It's not impossible and has been done before. ☺️🔄😱

Don't obsess on it, though! That's the key to not turning that open-ended possibility into a romanticized reason to hold on to what's gone. Accept that some people never come back, for good. 👋🏻😢 

Instead, we owe it to ourselves to focus on the ones who are around us. Particularly, that honor goes to the loyal, patient, and trustworthy dear ones who are still there for us through our ups and downs. Some bonds don't need a drawn-out detour to a distant land to continue. It doesn't require a roundabout reunion. As Rob & Dianne Parsons would attest about their late friend-turned-irreplaceable family, Ronnie Lockwood, theirs lasted a lifetime. 🤝⌛️

The new year means new seasons of stories. Will that be a fun or frowning one? Oh, maybe there's an enlightening, energetic episode down the line! How about the characters? Will there be new faces to meet or unexpected developments with the old ones? A blast from the past, as I described above, could even be in the scenario. Fresh opportunities and potentials, interpersonal or otherwise, may be in store to explore. 😃🙆🏻‍♂️

A change will happen, whether we like it or not. 

No, let me rephrase. CHANGES, in plural, may be the better form. They will tease us, tempt us, or tire us. Nonetheless, some changes undeniably teach, transform, and transcend us to grow. 🌱🌻🌳

Let's wait and welcome those troves towards thriving together, shall we? Best of all, let's try not to be too hard on ourselves while doing so. To be real and reasonable with our resolutions. Because we are and will always be human with flaws and failures. 🤗💁🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️

***

Source: Personal Photo Collection, January 01, 2025

Calling 2025 a spectacular year may be an overstatement. Great? Hmm. Can't say for sure. Good, then? Not always. If I'm being frank, last year ended on a stabler, stronger note in more ways. But has it been meh? Nah! That's also definitely not the case. ✋🏻😐

There's this odd, calming feeling of gratitude and acceptance that's oddly hard to put into words. I guess I'm glad that, in general, my family is safe and sound. Even if there was a final farewell last month (ugh, we need to stop seeing each other only at funerals). And I'm honored to have loyal friends, from far-off continents to neighboring countries. Even if we haven't seen each other in person. 😌💫🌏

Ultimately, I suppose acknowledging that "it's okay to not be okay" helps, one day at a time. Or should I say, one post at a time? 😉📧

If you've reached this point, YOU'RE AMAZING! 🤩🌟

I thank you tremendously for reading through my ramblings throughout the year. The journey hasn't been smooth, yes. But there's no regret! And while the chapter of 2025 concludes today, the next one awaits just around the corner. An ending always marks another, hopefully hopeful, beginning. May 2026 bring a peaceful, pleasant surprise to us all. 😄🙏🏻

Till then, out with the old and nestle in the new. 

Farewell 2025...

See you soon, 2026! 

👋🏻🥳🎉

Fading Connections and Relationships

Just 2 days before February 14, I stumbled upon an article on HackSpirit. 

People who unconsciously cut off friends... 🤔

The fascinating thing? In the days prior, I had two pen pals apologizing for not reaching out as quickly as they used to. Naturally, I reminded them that they did nothing wrong, and brought up the fact that some others have been "AWOL" for far longer (months if not years) than them. So, their ridiculously short absence paled in comparison. 😅

Hence, reading that article felt so much like a weird coincidence. While I never gave it much thought before, the content made me ponder: 

"This does happen, huh?" 😐

Alarmingly so, the piece rhymed well with an opinion I shared previously about "Being Busy." That HackSpirit article, however, expands it by touching on reasons beyond the hectic demands of one's routine. Drifting apart can happen unconsciously. 😨

Once again, Jesse Eisenberg's Dave in A Real Pain might be a good example of this. Without spoiling the movie (seriously, watch the Academy Award-winning comedy already! 😅), the obvious gap between the character and his cousin Benji was not intentional. It was Dave's shifting priorities (one key point in the article) that inevitably caused him to drift apart. 😔

The same week, Pokémon GO was running a Timed Research event called Beloved Buddies. One NPC, Candela, who was the focus of the storyline, stated this:

(Source: Pokémon GO, developed by Niantic and The Pokémon Company)

The fictional character pretty much spoke about friends thriving separately. Her line was not even implied but captured the idea precisely. 🙂

"I gotta trust that my friends have the strength to make it out OK, whether they're on their own or at my side."

True to Candela's (stereotyped) optimism, instead of feeling uneasy about it, she ended the "talk" on a high note. 😅

"I wanna be there to help --if and when you need me."

Naturally, I resonate deeply with that last line. Probably due to my zodiac or my MBTI, I agree with that sentiment. I wish to be there for others equally. But, of course, the real world doesn't work like fiction. More often than not, a line like Candela's will be appreciated, only to be NOT taken seriously. The emphasis is on the "if and when you need me" part. Because in most cases, in real life, that may NEVER happen. 🙄

Frankly, that kind of response disappoints me. And sometimes, I even take offense by such a disregard. 😩

I mean, I meant my words to the tee. I've experienced numerous occasions of being in need, only to have the people who promised to be there for me NEVER come and vanish instead. So, I understand that unpleasant feeling. And I will try my best NOT to have people, especially if it's a family member, close friend, or someone I care about, feel the same way. 😟

(By the way, that point of view doesn't count as people-pleasing. Right? 😶)

Yet, somehow, it felt like I had somehow become forgettable if and when they were down in the dumps. It wasn't that I craved for validation or anything. It's just that, oddly enough, me and my wide-open helping hands, who were always there, became invisible from their line of sight! Or as someone once lamented to me, "Just like that, we're only an afterthought." 🤦🏻‍♂️👻

Of course, the more that happened, I slowly realized one thing. Such a situation was a prelude to something bigger. The dismissive attitude silently and softly segued into a worse outcome. And it was none other than the one I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this writing. Those people did not only disregard my sincere offer. They cut off other people, too! 😱

We live in a weird time. The rise of social media makes it easy to connect with people who live far away. But, in a way, it also makes it easier for that connection to fade away. There is one fact that feels antithetical or maybe ironic to that, though. 😐

Honestly, people nowadays have FAR EASIER access to knowledge about or how to navigate themselves through connections or relationships. One good example? I am a genuine fan of the Tech Support series by WIRED. The free online videos bring experts on wide-ranging but specific topics, giving them space to answer real-life questions submitted by the audience. More often than not, the answers become an entertaining learning experience that broadens my horizon. 😳

Feel free to call it a weird habit, but I'm fascinated by videos that divulge around connections. Even when it seems to be not intentional about the general varieties. Like the one featuring the renowned Dr. Orna Guralnik. It discusses couples therapy. 

But I mean, apart from the romantic or sexual parts, many of the issues included DO apply to any relationship in general, right? One part that fascinates me is how Dr. Guralnik keeps mentioning the word curious, as in a sense of curiosity about one's partner. That is a component that keeps a relationship alive. Come to think of it, that applies the same to friendship and other connections, too. 🤔

Another thrilling video features licensed family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile. Likewise, this focuses predominantly on romantic couples. The fun difference is some of the questions actually touch upon how forming a relationship with someone may affect the other relationships that a person has, in this case, family or friends. So, it has also been an eye-opening watch. 👀

From my experience, what Ms. Yates-Anyabwile explains is very relatable, considering many faded connections I had or witnessed usually happened when that friend or family member met someone (new, either in a romantic setting or not). The presence of that "intruder" disrupts the nature or balance that was once there. 😒👫😟

 

One good case is a close school friend of my brother. For simplicity purposes, let's say that person is named Average Joe. Suddenly, Joe's whole world revolved around someone new, say, his new lover. Joe began to push others, including my brother, away and away, albeit unconsciously. 💑

As the Tech Support video elaborated, in line with the HackSpirit article, there was an obvious shift of priorities in Joe's mind. Not that it was bad, of course. The people who used to be Joe's inner circle? They all felt happy for him. Yet, before my brother knew it, Joe had grown so distant that my brother barely recognized him anymore. 🤷🏻‍♂️🙅🏻‍♂️

Hypothetically, IF Joe's relationship went well and headed to the next stages? Then most likely, that awkward distance continued, as the sense of aloofness with his friends grew further. It might even turn Joe into a complete stranger, exclusively bound or chained to his couple only. "The bird has left the nest," one often says. 💒🦢🕊

But the problem is that a relationship does NOT always have a surefire warranty. "Happily ever after" only exists in fairytales. What happened when Joe's relationship went sideways? Suddenly once more, Joe started crawling back into my brother's life, trying to reconnect. 💔

Alas, the world around Joe, including his previous inner circle, had already adjusted to his notable absence, too. In short, the change happened on both sides. The relationship already transformed Joe for better or worse. In Joe's case, even I, an outsider, can attest to how the previously polite and positive-spirited Joe has eerily turned into a jaded and just a jerk-of-a person. From someone full of life, Joe became full of himself and, regrettably if not irritably, unpleasant to be around. ✋🏻🤡

Simply put, the damage was already done on Joe. Despite the long friendship my brother used to have with Joe, my brother and the other friends openly admit they now try their best to keep their arms at length from him. Why? Because the air no longer feels right whenever Joe is around. 😫

On the one hand, I feel bad for Joe, especially recalling how he was a good person before (and maybe still is deep down?). But on the other hand, I also feel bad for my brother and his friends if they must "force themselves" to, in a phrase my pen pal (one I mentioned earlier, actually) likes to use, "put up with" Joe's new annoying antics. 🙄

Speaking of pen pals, some of my pen pals have also shared similar situations with the Joe(s) in their lives. I admit I have my share, too. Heck, upon further thinking and retrospect, I might have been a Joe to the people I used to know! That might have happened when I pulled back to focus on myself and prioritize self-care. With that in mind, this issue is undeniably a common thing, huh? 😲

I don't recall in which video (I watch a lot, guilty of any charges). But I saw a comment about friendship and/or connection in that video that sounded fascinating. It easily stayed on my mind ever since. After a quick search (just now), it turns out to be a line written by Ziad K. Abdelnour.

"You have three types of friends in life: Friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime."

I brought that line into a discussion with some of my pen pals. To my surprise, they more or less agreed to the notion. One even compared "the season" part somewhat literally, connecting it to the natural life cycle. 🌐

He said that sometimes, we meet cheerful and vibrant people who feel like Spring. Others are sunny like Summer. But as time goes on, the season starts to shift into Autumn. Their presence is replaced by the mellow and moody variety. By the time Winter arrives? The warmth that once was there has turned into sheer cold. In a sense, his analogy encapsulates the entire idea of why connections glow and fade, or how even the sweetest and magical mutual bonds can grow and wilt. Would you agree? 🌺☀️🍂❄️

I admit that experiencing a fading connection is far from delightful. Experts have revealed that, any good connection, when/if it has run its course, leaves behind a painful feeling. There is even a renowned song in my country that says something along the lines of "It is better to have a toothache, instead of heartache." 😅

That may explain why, despite my Mirror Armor tendency, I do my best, or try to, at least, not let one connection go awry as easily. In that pursuit, I have strived to be more understanding of their situation or the possible reasons for their decline. After all, we all have our reasons for disappearing from the spotlight. Nevertheless, there is so much that I can do. Any relationship is all about balance. Even if I have done my part, it does not work if the other side does not reciprocate, right? 😞🤷🏻‍♂️

At the end of the day, people come and people go. Life runs that way. There are cases when walking away may be the sole solution, no matter how uneasy it may be. Upon further analysis, giving up on people does not need to be a bad thing, either, particularly if such "Goodbye" will impact our mental state or peace of mind for the better. As hard and painful as it is, giving up on people is still very much an option. 😓😕😌👍🏻

(Source: MotivationalDoc)

***

Dedicated to my late Dad. One of the few connections in life I wish is still alive and well today. We miss you each day, Dad! 🙏

Fickle Facts of Being "Busy"

According to Oxford Languages (as in, a quick search on the search engine 😏), the word "Busy" refers to:

- Having a great deal to do

- Occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention.

- Keep occupied

I think anyone on the planet is familiar with the word, maybe as soon as they understand the concept of time or schedule. Even little toddlers may claim they are busy with something. Usually, they imbibe or imprint the four-letter combo from their parents who utter a random comment such as, "Oh, he is busy playing by himself." Kids soon pick up the line and BOOM, it turns into their catchphrase. Naturally, the level of "busy" intensifies as a person grows older. It becomes part of our routine, whether we enjoy it or not. 😅😖

Yes, you can say this piece serves as a spiritual follow-up to my previous post about nostalgia. After all, in it, I described how my late Dad was always busy. And, no doubt, that was a genuine fact. He used to bring his work home, and when I was not doing anything or on a school holiday, he would ask me to help him. 👨👐👦📚📁📑

The setting also included his office, as sometimes, he brought me along. Later that day, before we headed home, he would buy me comic books or take me to the famous shopping street nearby to buy something fancy (a new Saint Seiya action figure! A Sega Megadrive Game!). It was basically my reward, for using the calculator to count the numbers on his accounting slips (for the record, he worked at a catering service company for the transportation industry). Regardless of those side trips, I can fully attest, especially now, that I'm older, that his "being busy" was never merely an excuse. Those slips I mentioned? They were a tall stack since the company handled multiple routes at the time. Hence, even my slow-paced assistance was STILL helpful for him. 😨

Much like my recent (which is still ongoing, by the way) nostalgia blast, the memory I described above has been an eye-opening realization. My late Dad being excessively busy? That's an actual fact. Yet, despite it all, he made time for me. Even when he probably would have preferred to head home straight away after work, he took me out to eat tasty noodles (which, sadly, I have yet to experience again) or check out cool video games anyway. Now that I think of it, those simple acts mean a lot! A LOT! 😲😱

That era, as in my transformative years, was not a time when smartphones were yet a thing. For communication, we had to rely on landlines and hand-written/typed letters. But guess what? My late Dad checked up on me from his office, from time to time, asking if I wanted any DVD of Japanese anime he could buy on the way home. 📞💿💽

When we moved to another city as I was entering the university, but my Dad stayed in the capital because he was too attached to his work, my Dad never failed to call us at least once a week. Even though he was still around when the boon of cell phones came, I was too focused on myself to get him one. Oh, the painful regret! 😭

I can vividly imagine. If my Dad were still living among us, he would have mastered text messaging and repeatedly "annoyed" the family with funny videos or memes, sending Dad jokes at any time. How I desire for that to happen, really! That would have been the pleasant annoyance I would treasure all my life. Then again, he might have been a popular person raking followers on social media, considering his social, super sanguine personality. And frankly, I'm not sure how I would feel about that. Hahaha. 😅

That came along with this guilt weighing on my heart. Once it was my turn to enter the workforce, I became "too busy" to the point I didn't make time enough for my late Dad. I was too focused on chasing salary and rainbows that I forgot about the people who were there for me. The ones who truly mattered. Unlike my late Dad, my state of "being busy" was more than a mere fact. It also became an exhausting excuse. How I wish I could turn back time and change that attitude. Or, at least, to remind my younger self back then that his time with Dad was limited. And that he should make the most of that while he still could. 😢😭

Please don't make the same mistake. 😟🙏

I ran into these somewhat contradicting memes on social media as I'm typing this:

(source: Threads)

Okay, perhaps they are not a contradiction but complementing each other. They remind me of this wise word, a snippet written by Rick Warren in his book:

"When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time."

You are probably thinking... 😕

(or not, since the point I'm trying to say is already obvious 😏)

What does that passage have anything to do with the title of this writing? Well, it is simple, really. If someone is busy? That means they don't have much time to spare. That may be an irrefutable fact. However, if they still make time for others despite such a schedule. That means they are giving away the greatest gift. So, yes, in retrospect, all of my life, my late Dad never stopped giving me his irreplaceable gifts. ⌛💝

Sad to say, the time has changed! Nowadays, the word "Busy" has been thrown away too easily as an excuse. The impact might have gotten worse than the way I did it. I've witnessed connections, be it relationships or friendships, leading to conflict, being put at a crossroads, or even meeting a harsh end merely because one or both parties "don't have time" for the other. So disheartening. 😔😩

 

It's not that I'm judging or anything, blaming them or saying they are not good people, of course. Surely, they have their reason. Whatever that is. Maybe being busy is undeniably, inevitably THE fact on hand? It does, however, make me wonder. Do they really not have a few minutes in a day for the people around them, family or friends? Or does that mean they simply don't care about those other people? 🤔👀😲

I'm not trying to glorify my late Dad. I don't think he would have wanted or liked that. The thing is? I always associated "Busy" with him. So, the fact he always made time for the people he cared about, even if it was scarce, has dawned on me. Being busy does NOT limit one's capacity to care. It should not. ✋😐

The quote I included above led to a further explanation. But this line that followed it directly is already on point with what I just said:

"It is not enough to just say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them."

Maybe that's why I greatly appreciate the people who make time for me, even if just to respond to my weekly text or send me silly memes. I have a pen pal in South America who takes pictures of serene sceneries and fascinating flowers for me whenever he's out on his hike. Other ones from my neighboring countries talk frequently, if not daily, about everyday stuff; instant noodles, holiday plans, our local customs, or whatnot. One friend from Africa likes sending me funny pics about Pokémon, the celebrities we both find fascinating, or travel plans. Another shares photos of his current work on a farm (What a great view! Such a cute calf!) at least once a month, despite the limited internet in that rural area. 

Are these people not busy? Nope, they ARE busy people. And likely far busier than me right now. 😳😅

I'm not always, or perhaps, NEVER a pleasant person to be around. My tumultuous emotions often lead me to a dark place, and I can be a handful to interact with. Much like the title of the latest Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin's co-starring, awkward-but-heart-guttingly-relatable movie proclaims: "A Real Pain." Especially since I have an embedded Mirror Move or Mimic in my set of moves. Maybe, like one of my favorites, Corviknight, Mirror Armor is my hidden ability (bear with me. I speak Pokémon 😅). In simple words: You smile at me? I smile, too! You punch me? I punch back. You say nothing? I do the same for you. 😇👿🙆🙅

Therefore, the fact that these people never left me out cold, stranded in the vast swamp we named the internet, says A LOT. It makes me feel appreciated. Nope, honestly, words could not describe how embarrassingly thankful I feel. 😌🙏

While the mention of that (indie?) movie was meant to be a random throwaway line, I'm shockingly surprised to see how the conflict lurking through it practically captures the point of this article. No, I'm not joking. It is without any doubt a coincidence (I just saw it last week, while this writing was already 80% finished). A really well-timed one, I must say, as I can include it in this piece. 🤔

Without spoiling the key moments or reveals away, here are some lines that Culkin's Benji said about his cousin, Eisenberg's Dave:

Benji: "Yeah, and Dave is always, like, super busy. He never has time."

Later on, he dropped this bomb while dining with their group...

Benji: "You know, everyone else disappeared when I needed them most."

And then...

Benji: "Great. I look forward to speaking to you in six months."

(Note: Initially, I wanted to share the screenshots of those scenes. But then it might be a tad spoiler-y or violate copyrights. So, I suggest you check out the movie itself. A Real Pain is a well-made, greatly-acted, thoughtfully-written piece.)

WOW! Benji was a character who sure didn't mince words, huh? And to me, it felt like he was blatantly spouting things that probably many of us have been thinking but are arguably reluctant to say out loud about our Daves. 😮😯

The fascinating truth about those lines, though? They don't describe the entire story. You may find yourself agreeing with Dave, too. That awkward guy is, without a doubt, a BUSY person, juggling family time and climbing career ladders. That is an actual fact. In a way, we may be a Benji to some people. But from the opposite point of view, we may also be a Dave to others. 👀😟

Once again, this is not me judging or anything. I can attest that I'm nowhere near perfect in such a situation. I have had my share of being overly busy for others, too. Sometimes, I am guilty of all charges for the crime of neglecting them by being overly occupied myself. 🙄

Moreover, as an introvert, I admit daily (particularly social) interactions are draining and, furthermore, overwhelming at times. I honestly don't, very rarely at least, reply to messages right away. Unless there is a sense of real-time urgency to that communication. Such as the time my brother was already at the supermarket, telling me there was a limited sale on my favorite instant noodles. If I waited an hour to answer, my brother would have returned home empty-handed, missing out on the sale completely. 😛

(source: Threads)

Regardless of which type of introvert you are, I have a feeling you likely can relate to the need to recharge. Besides that, being busy can help to direct our mind and prevent it from spiraling into a sea of overthinking. And when our workload is high, we have to focus on that by setting (or perhaps pushing) aside matters that are "not as important."

Is that an okay thing to do? Well, it depends on your perspective. So, you tell me. Hahaha. 😁😅

Nevertheless, that's also the fickle thing. Am I right? 😐🤔

I mean, am I THAT busy that I cannot even spare a minute or two, maybe ten, if not in a week, or, perhaps, in a month, for other people? Especially those who go to lengths to reach out in their distinct ways? I don't think such a menial action, the bare minimum, in my opinion, qualifies as being a people-pleaser. These people KNOW I am busy and never expect me to be available 24/7. They are also aware I am THAT kind of an introvert. And it will stay that way until my turn to cross the rainbow bridge ("Wheeek! Wheeek!"). But at the same time, being an introvert should not be an excuse to not be a decent person. Right? We CAN be introverts, but also decent human beings. 😇😈

The paragraph above is the point of view I have continuously been working on until now. Even though I may not respond right away due to my schedule (or, most likely, poor time management), I WANT to be present for these people, too. They are still my family and friends, especially those who do not give up on me (despite my mirror tendency). Maybe because, to me, they are people worth keeping in touch with.

If my late Dad, who I used to brand as a workaholic, could make a quick phone call or ask me to help him at work so we could spend time together, and most of the times, was present during the times that matter...

Surely I can make time for people that way, too? 🤔

If my pen pals could squeeze in a short window to write a letter while resting on a couch after a tiring outdoor work and/or traffic-riddled commute, or while doing the laundry or a group activity with their families...

Surely I can do that, too? 😲

The gesture doesn't even need to be grand. Well, it CAN be overly extensive in my case, considering I tend to go overboard due to my love for rambling (as evidenced by this blog 🙄). But sometimes, when my mental or physical state is not sufficient, I try to offer something simple. 😌

For example, if they send me a hilarious or whimsical meme? I reply with a laughing emoji. That's okay. That's enough. Because at least they know I HAVE READ their message. Even the simplest of responses CAN speak volumes to the other party, reminding them, "Hey, I care for you, even if I don't say it as much as I should." 😀🙏

Likewise, they are free to do the same when they are occupied. I would never demand them to report periodically and timely like a drill sergeant! A short "Hehe" sent a day or two after makes me happy. It's okay! It's more than enough. That means my form of care has been received, regardless of the delay it takes. 😊

What I'm trying to say is that: It really isn't that hard to show our care to other people. Regardless of whether you agree or not, anyone can do it, too. I have been in the company of too many Daves already. Therefore, I know for sure that if I can (and yes, I can, it's a choice), I don't want to be another Dave to a Benji. 😤

In the end, being busy does not always have to sound like a bad thing. No, it CAN be a good thing. Because eventually, it is how we treat that circumstance that may end up resulting in an outcome of positivity or negativity. So, let's strive to be more decent human beings to the people in our lives. Let's not paint the word "Busy" in such a negative light, okay? It doesn't need to be a fickle thing after all. 😅

Just like stated in the two memes above, at the end of the day, the questions are:

Do you really do not have the time? ⌛

Or, you do not want to make the time? 🙅

Are you truly that busy? 😫

Or, you simply just do not care? 😒

Is being busy truly a fickle fact to you? 🤔

Or, you're just making it as one? 😱

Hmmmm... 🤔

(source: A Real Pain, distributed by Searchlight Pictures)

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole of Nostalgia

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Super Sentai series... 😌

Are you unfamiliar with that term? It is one of the most prominent and long-lasting Tokusatsu shows in Japan! 😲

What's that? You don't know what a Tokusatsu is, too? Oh, boy. Okay, to put it in simpler words: Japanese version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. There! That should make it easier to understand. Right? Hahaha... 😅

Although not technically the 50th team (the series that debuted it all, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, came out in 1975, lasting for two years, ending in 1977), Super Sentai's 50th-anniversary title will debut next month on February 16. With such an on-the-nose title, No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger (to explain, "50" is "Go-Jyuu" in Japanese) is, without a doubt, set to celebrate the monumental achievement. It will feature patterns and tropes many of the franchise viewers have memorized throughout five decades while possibly introducing some new things to shake up the formula. Among them is the first official female Black-suited member, as previously only featured through the gender-flipped change gimmick of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, the 35th Anniversary show. ✋👌

Phewww, another jargon, eh? Hahaha. I could always do a vast deep dive into the franchise. But that would take hundreds of words more. And that's not even the purpose of this writing! 😜

Anyways...

The whole anniversary vibe probably has shoved, if not dragged, me into a rabbit hole of nostalgia. Unless you haven't figured it out by now? Yes, I am a fan of the franchise. Even though I do NOT dare call myself a super fan. That honor goes to the webmasters of Orends: Range, Heroshock, the long-time mods at RangerBoard, and many more prominent names who have covered Tokusatsu for years, if not decades. 😉

What kind of nostalgia blast(s) have I been blasted repeatedly lately? It came from Dai Sentai Google V, which was the 1982 release, the 6th team in the entire Super Sentai lineup.

Why Google V, in particular? It was the first Super Sentai I have ever experienced. In short, the gymnastic-themed team was my grand gateway to discovering a fondness for the franchise. 😃

I cannot really describe the appeals that totally captured my attention and eventually infatuation, leading to decades of fandom. Perhaps it was due to its uplifting, kick-ass theme song with such an iconic intro melody (that sparkling sound effect? Wow!), delivered with such energy by the legendary singer Ichirou Tomita (famously known as MoJo). Or was it because of how the actors were truly eye-catching? Maybe it was the five-tone rainbow-colored suits. 😕

Mind you, Google V is not considered among the biggest hits in Japan compared to other titles/teams. But if you ask any Gen-X and elder millennials in my country, they most likely will smile and at least affirm their knowledge of the series. Why? Because it gained such MASSIVE popularity here. A bit ironic, to be honest. After all, the series, which spread widely via VHS and Betamax video rental stores, only arrived 4 years after Google V concluded in Japan. Hikari Sentai Maskman was already the active Super Sentai Show at the time (likewise, it debuted on our TV station a few years later). 😁👍

My country even became the first in Super Sentai history to dub a Super Sentai theme song into a local language! A local promoter soon brought a smaller-scaled version of G-Rosso (stage play) to our country. Junichi Haruta, who portrayed Kanpei Kuroda/Google Black, came along as a special guest star. The fact that the 69-year-old Haruta-sensei is still active in showbiz now makes his visit even more memorable. Seeing him popping up in newer Super Sentai shows as a supporting character always made me grin. He reprised his role as Google Black in Go-kaiger theatrical movie, even though Haruta-sensei also starred as Dyna Black in Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, the next show released after Google V.

In short, Google V was our Power Rangers, almost a decade before Saban adapted Kyouryu Sentai Zyuranger into the US as the first Power Ranger series. And that fact has made me realize. Maybe the youthful camaraderie of heroes also appealed to my excitement. Unlike other heroes who stood alone, Super Sentai was always about teamwork, a combination of members from all walks of life. Choujin Sentai Jetman, Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger, and Mashin Sentai Kiramager, to name a few, are perfect examples of this trope. The only way to win a battle was by working together. 😊😌😁😎😉

This nostalgia blast unearthed more than mere fond memories. Looking back, it's not wrong to say that the show had such a massive influence on me. Some eye-opening revelations, as well. 😳

I can still remember fondly how my late Dad took me to that stage performance I mentioned above. I'm not gonna lie; I no longer remember the details of that show. Nevertheless, that entire trip with Dad is still so vivid in my mind. We went with a childhood buddy of mine (who, sadly, drifted away around junior high school). 

Until now, the stage show remains the most expensive (counting currency values and/or years of inflation) concerts I've ever attended in person. At that time, our city still had a double-deck bus. On the way home, which was quite late at night, my Dad opted to take that bus. He deliberately scouted for an empty one so that we could sit on the top story. On the front row! My friend and I were singing the Google V opening song nonstop as we cheered through the vivid neon lights along the roads while the view of the bright lights of billboards and active tall buildings passed us by. 🚍

A few days later, my late Dad took me to the busy marketplace near the nearest train station (to head to his work, he must take the train daily). There, he bought me an exclusive cassette set, released to commemorate the Google V show. I think it came with a cool poster and other merchandise. The details of that is fuzzy at best. But I know for sure I played that cassette almost daily afterward. The cassette still exists, somewhere amongst the boxes of our old stuff. Only the case has worn out due to repeated opening and closing, but I'm sure the magnetic tape itself will play just fine. Not that I need to hear it, though. As it turns out, the organizer only recorded the show's digest video and one of the early episodes. Both are already available online now. How time has flown by, right? 🖭

I know, I know! This whole fanboy experience may not seem like a big deal! But I can definitely say it was for me. Nope, it still is. 😅

You see, my late Dad was a super busy father who always worked all week, Monday to Sunday. Thus, the fact he made time to accompany me to the show? It was a genuine act of love. Growing up, especially in my adolescent years, I recall feeling that my late Dad loved his work more than family. A sense of being ignored kept weighing on my shoulders. I cannot believe it has taken me so long, many years later, especially today as I'm typing this, to realize how that dark idea lurking in my head was NEVER the entire truth. My late Dad cared enough, or even more than enough, to take me on exciting trips to explore the things I liked or was into. He always knew the small things that made me happy. And he went the extra mile to show it (despite his undeniable, at times dispiriting, devotion to his workplace). If that's not love, I don't know what that is. 😏😌

As surprising and, in some way, embarrassing as it is to admit today, the show made me quite famous in my neighborhood at the time. After all, I was the only boy who could sing the Google V theme song! Once again, this would not have been possible had my Dad not bought me that cassette containing the songs. 😋

Every childhood acquaintance, older or younger, asked me to perform the song before we proceeded to play pretend as the titular team. I had been an opening act before I knew what that phrase even meant. So, what was embarrassing about that? To be honest? I had ZERO knowledge of the Japanese language in those early years. I was very green in English, either. And the internet was not yet reachable in our hands; that is a limitation modern kids probably cannot imagine. Therefore, as you might have already guessed, I made up the lyrics in every performance based on the sounds I heard from the song. Or, as the cool kids would say nowadays... winging it? Faking it! Hahaha. 😝

To be fair, "Dai Sentai Goggle V" was not my starting point for Japanese songs and the language in general. That honor goes to "Chin Chin Pon Pon," also courtesy of my late Dad, who introduced it to me when I was a toddler, completely oblivious that it was an educational song about genitals (seriously, feel free to look it up!). Still, the Super Sentai theme song helped to further plant two key elements of my current self:

1. Singing! The joy of singing. 🎤

2. A desire to know more about the East Asian language and culture. 🗾

It became one of the driving forces for me to explore both. Now, not only can I sing the songs with actual Japanese pronunciation, but I also sing them while knowing linguistically what each line after another means. And this nostalgic trip still surprises me somehow. I cannot believe it took me this long to realize the word "Dai" in "Dai Sentai" had a double meaning all these times, hinting at the titular team's source of power on each of their foreheads. The theme song even made a fun tease of this, as the chorus sang "Dai-Dai-Daiya" during the instrumental interlude. "Daiya" is the shortened word for "Diamond" in Japanese. 😱

Thanks to the wonder of digital technology, all of Google V's main musical themes have been uploaded to stream for free on the tube. Much to my utter surprise, I still remember all the songs, some of their lyrics, and the progression of their melodies so clearly, as if I had only heard them yesterday! Even the battle insert songs, despite never knowing their titles until recently. To think I only heard them as background music for the dialogues and sound effects recorded in my old cassette. 😲

It's astounding how such vivid and detailed memories still reside inside me unconsciously. Nostalgia is THAT powerful, huh? 😄

I've seen people branding nostalgia as if it was a bad thing. They might have a point or reason behind that opinion, though. Especially if it is treated as a cash-grab scheme situation. So, I won't argue if their stance was correct or the opposite. But as I have just experienced and am currently enjoying, nostalgia can be a positive thing, indeed. 😌

Whether you agree or not, nostalgia helps remind us how far we have come. It CAN be a reflective catalyst that guides us forward to stay in our lanes, aim for higher grounds, or change our ways completely. So, while the idiom "Falling down the rabbit hole" may have a negative connotation (just try and look it up if you don't believe me), it also offers a positive aspect if we see it from a different perspective. Perhaps we can discover a treasure hidden away from plain sight by going down that rabbit hole. At the very least, in my case, the rabbit hole of nostalgia, that is truly the case. It has been a trip down memory lane, for sure. 😀

Through listening and singing the Google V songs, a melancholic wish has resurfaced inside my heart again and again. A desire for my late Dad, somewhere far in Heaven, to know that I'm grateful to be the receiver of his loving gestures. How much I love and miss him so. Then again, I realize that may not be necessary, too. Because, if these revelations unearthed through the wave of nostalgia are any indications? He had already known...