Things I am Almost Certain about
I had so much fun penning this list :D
I always admire people who have certainty about things in life all the time. I am never like that. I always tend to pause and start a “but” sentence. Sometimes, I believe this is because I am deliberative, reflective, and cautious; other times, I know it’s my fear and low self-confidence.
My friend encouraged me to write down things that I am almost certain about. So here I am, penning a list:
If you're not a master chef, avoid seasoning your food when the stove is blazing hot. Add soy sauce and garlic powder after lowering the heat, or else it will burn, and your food will taste bitter.
If your chicken isn't delicious, it's likely because you didn't bake it until the surface is brown and the pan shows clear grease. Instead, it’s just cooked and still a bit watery in the pan.
You'll sleep much better if you don't bring your phone to bed. It’s hard at first, but after a week of trying, it gets easier.
When it comes to outfits, feeling sexy is about being comfortable and daring. Feeling daring but wearing something incredibly uncomfortable won't make you feel sexy.
Eating a lot of vegetables at the beginning of the meal is the best way to avoid overeating. Cherry tomatoes, carrots, and baby cucumbers all count.
There's no need to fit in. There's no need to please, play it cool, exaggerate, or tone down your emotions. Just try to do good enough things. Ask questions if you're curious, give compliments if you feel like it, leave if you're tired, speak up if you feel uncomfortable, and share if you're nervous or scared. Honesty and authenticity will attract the right people and opportunities, guiding you to where you truly belong.
Overcommunicating is far better than undercommunicating. Being an intense communicator is worth it and helps filter real friendship, love, and any meaningful relationships.
Asking the guy you like out instead of waiting to be asked will not diminish your power. It will empower you, whether he agrees or rejects.
For those who struggle with building a workout routine, just focus on showing up this one time. One time counts.
For those with attention deficit traits, Onefit is better than ClassPass.
It's legal for a Chinese person to not own a rice cooker. Making perfect rice does not necessarily involve confusing finger-measure tricks. Just add about twice as much water as rice, bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to the minimum. Cover with a lid and set a timer for 15 minutes. Done!
People who are usually late for meetups tend to be those who enjoy playing with power but aren't skilled at it yet.
Many givers are actually takers, and many takers are genuinely kind people who haven't learned the balance of giving and taking properly and this imbalance can lead to burnout.
Buying something from someone you care about to support their business, even if you don't need it, isn't consumerism. Buying something you think you need might lean more towards consumerism.
Everyone is curious. Some of us unlearned how to express it.
Posting photos that you may not consider pretty, but your loved ones do, can be a step towards greater self-acceptance.
Being dominant isn’t necessarily being powerful, just as being submissive isn’t inherently powerless. True power lies in the ability to move or influence others. Whether you're dominant or submissive, you can still wield power.
For the first time, saying 'I love you' is much better than responding with 'I love you too'. The latter always seems a bit forced.
The 'fake it until you make it' mantra holds true when you're faking doing, not when you're faking an image.
The best time to board the plane is when you're the last one to do so.
Fail, disappoint, forgive, reflect, keep going—that's the raw cycle of growth. Each step is essential and cannot be skipped. For those rare individuals with the superpower of never blaming themselves, the cycle could be a simplified to - fail, reflect, keep going. But that's a luxury for a very small group.
If fashion isn't your passion but a means of self-expression, you can achieve that with a minimal wardrobe and buying very few, if any, new pieces.
You might be surprised when your usually smart friends make shockingly lame decisions, but there's always a good but sad reason behind it.
Popular self-help books are not overrated; they are often worth reading.
In situations where things are good enough and non-complaining, living alone can boost creativity, while living with another person can broaden holistic understanding (and sense of accountability.
Those who often compliment and label others as ‘smart’ might be more narrow-minded and insecure compared to those who prefer descriptors like "hard-working, brave, honest, resourceful," etc.
Those who fear they might be narcissists are unlikely to be narcissists.
When we judge others, we're inevitably reflecting on ourselves too, and that's alright. Forgive and try to understand the origins of judgments, extending the same understanding to others.
Gossiping isn't cool, and it's understandable to participate because of social pressure. However, the risk is that it can keep you stuck in the same or similar social circles from where you really want to be.
“What’s your favorite food?” isn’t a legit question for a Chinese person, at least not for Southern Chinese.
These are fun Ting!
As a father to two warrior princess, I really liked #8!