[Where Possible] NEVER Reach The Last Straw of A Relationship

 [Where Possible] NEVER Reach The Last Straw of A Relationship

We heard this a zillion times "THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK" and some of us may have used these sayings without really thinking about their meaning.  True, as human beings, we have an amazing capacity to deal with and push through a host of struggles, challenges, setbacks, heartaches and even betrayals.  And many people are willing to endure even mistreatment and even abuse in order to 'preserve' and even maintain certain relationships WHETHER they be work, romantic, family OR friends.  YES dude, [Where Possible] NEVER Reach The Last Straw of A Relationship📗📙📘

Quite often, people know enough WHEN the treatment and behavior that they are allowing [condoning, to be frank] such unhealthy and problematic situations.  However, for a variety of different reasons, they tend to put up with such predicament [WHICH sometimes become recurring] UNTIL, knock on wood, they would [unfortunately] reach that so called 'FINAL STRAW'.  At that point, something occurs WHERE the individual mentally reaches a point WHERE they are NO longer willing to tolerate [and frankly, condone] that chronic so called 'mistreatment', if we may💥💥💥

Looking back, my observation is that sometimes, that 'FINAL STRAW' can seem somewhat innocuous.  And sometimes, the person[s] involved seem to take things in stride.  However, just like the seemingly insignificant piece of straw finally did the camel in because he/she could NOT take any more WHEN a person reaches their so called 'BREAKING POINT'.  BUT, lo and behold, WHAT explains as to WHY many WHO reach that 'BREAKING POINT' seem hopeless from salvaging the situation???

NOW, here's the thing.  Merely 'SALVAGING' a relationship may NOT lead to the kind of long-lasting change that transforms it.  The huge flaw when rescuing OR salvaging a relationship is that its focus is mostly on 'CONTAINING' the negatives between the two beleaguered partners.  I DON'T sound to be like an expert [because I'm NOT] BUT WHEN a couple is on the verge of separation, WHAT'S really needed is for them to fully grasp the deeper dynamics of their relational distress.  Only then and they themselves can pinpoint NOT only WHAT'S led their 'couplehood' to go awry BUT also HOW they need to recreate their relationship into something far more conducive to mutual contentment💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  WHILE we do grapple with zillions of problems in life, there are two things that could have reduced the probabilities of situations exacerbating.  Numero uno, some of us tend to ignore those tell-tale signs of a brewing disconnect that can widen before you knew it.  Numero dos, we tend to gloss over the THRESHOLDS in life.  In fact, sadly for some of us, 'THRESHOLDS' are NOT talking points OR they DON'T exist at all, NOT until things blow up right in their face.  Lesson?  WHERE POSSIBLE, NEVER REACH THE LAST STRAW OF A RELATIONSHIP❎❎❎

Life Is All About The 3 C's

Somebody rightfully said that "LIFE IS ALL ABOUT THE CHOICES WE MADE".  And if I may expound that, LIFE IS ALL ABOUT THE 3 C's namely, CHOICES, CHANCES and CHANGES.  The decisions we take every single day, WHETHER big OR small, they all impact our life in one way OR another and determine HOW our coming years would unfold.  Very much plainly simple, the better our CHOICES today, the better opportunity becomes a bigger probability come next day

NOT to be a spoiler BUT there are multifarious variables in our daily lives WHICH are very likely to factor-in.  LIKE staying more online than offline.  Apparently, our smartphones and laptops have become our 'fifth limb' and it has become practically impossible to imagine our life without them.  I'll admit I'm on my iPhone before I hit the sack and come next morning, WHILE drinking warm water, I'll be on either device

BUT many of us [and sometimes I'm #1 GUILTY on this] fail to strike a balance between the virtual and real worlds.  LIKE instead of spending time with our near and dear ones in real life [NOT online], creating memories [NOT sharing the ones that pop on our feed] and cherishing the present moment [rather than staying glued to the smartphone for almost NO reason], we are glued to the online world and are NOT enjoying those little things around us that may NOT be present maybe ten years from now💚💛💜

And HOW about toxic relationships?  That is bound to bring negativity [IF NOT an 'all-out war'] in one's life and can even take its toll on one's mental health.  WHETHER it is a relationship with a friend, colleague, personal partner, business partner OR neighbor, it is wisest  to kind of step back the moment you realize it is NO longer serving its purpose.  Remember, your happiness lies in your own hands and by choosing to remain in an unhealthy relationship, you MIGHT be inviting years of potential sufferings ahead💧💧💧

Oh Oh, this is tougher WHEN we miss out saving for the rainy days ahead.  As life is unpredictable and we never know WHAT happens the very next moment, saving for those rainy days ahead will go a long way in somehow securing yourself financially and be prepared for the unforeseen circumstances.  There's a pitfall here.  I've witnessed first hand people WHO worked their butts and kicked their ass for the longest years working overseas BUT on the same breadth, they seem to really enjoy and relish life and like a 'post dated cheque', Sadly, for those narratives I'm aware of, 'something happened' before their targetted timeline.  In a nutshell, they went back home like penniless [as they counted chicks before it gets hatched]😡😡😡

NOW let's swing to the other end of the spectrum.  Heard OR known folks WHO have been slogging through all life nonstop?  True, we all want to climb up the corporate ladder, earn and shop without even seeing the price tag.  In the end, to achieve our professional goals, many of us end up neglecting our family and friends.  To cut the long story short, some fail to achieve that work-life balance❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  Bottomline here is, seemingly, the most common and recurring miss is NOT prioritizing one's needs.  Thing is, many of us have that tendency of pleasing others and keep our priorities on the back burner.  We fail to practice 'self-love' and fail to realize that a happier 'US' would make us a better partner, parent, friend and in turn, a satisfied individual.  Instead of getting waylaid, let us TAKE CHARGE of our life, focus on your needs, chase your dreams and BE YOUR OWN HERO💪💪💪

Is REJECTION THERAPY A Myth?

Is REJECTION THERAPY A Myth?

If there's an interrogative statement I'm sure everyone on this planet will agree, it's that NO ONE wants, hopes OR relishes a REJECTION in life, in any form OR shape.  I've heard one OR two friends blurt sometime back: IF I ASK SOMEONE OUT AND GET REJECTED AGAIN, THAT'S IT, I'M DONE FOREVER'.  NOT one to make matters worse, obviously I DIDN'T concur WHEN I heard those words surely uttered out of frustration BUT at the back of my mind, I would then ask myself:  Is REJECTION THERAPY A Myth???

BUT let's face it, everyone of us, at some point in our life, we would have faced REJECTION in various forms, shapes and perspective.  Back in our university days, WHEN I was angling for certain academic honors [BUT failed], I took it like a jab on my chin and a REJECTION no less.  By the time I plunged into the job market, I would always leave NO single stone unturned WHEN preparing for a job interview.  I'll brush up NOT just about the job role I'm eyeing BUT I'd do a due diligence of the organization I want to join💥💥💥

Very true, I can attest to it, REJECTION is damn terrible, especially if you had lofty expectations, brimming with optimistic of an outcome favorable to you, that hurts.  And WHEN relationships get into the picture, that pain could be down deep.  BUT the ramifications are more serious than WHAT it seems on the surface because in the face of REJECTION, human nature tells us to simply give up the pursuit of something if that will lead to another round of REJECTION [even if that thing matters most to us].  BUT WHAT do we hear from psychologists?  To quote them, our goal should be "NOT TO AVOID REJECTION'  [because it's going to happen to all of us, NO exemption].  Instead, our goal is to learn HOW to handle it in the healthiest way possible💚💛💜

As much as you and me all wish to avoid it, REJECTION is simply inevitable.  Early in life, we will realize that your proposal for a date gets declined [sometimes NOT so politely but embarrassingly in fact, ouch].  OR WHEN you thought you were part of a group, unfolding events will prove otherwise.  You end up INSIDE LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE.  That's another form of REJECTION.  Along the way, you forged friendships then some of those well-meaning friendships DON'T last as you expected all along.  Oh, your life at the workplace will give you a dose of more REJECTIONS, LIKE WHEN you hoped for a promotion, LIKE WHEN you thought you'll get that plum post, only to find a 'sweet-talking' colleague jumps over you, whew.  REJECTION goes on and on😗😗😗

Our takeaway:  If there's one realization I came to accept over time, it's the fact that we humans are built to suffer WHEN we experience one form of REJECTION or another, especially WHEN our fundamental need for 'belonging' gets denied.  In conversations about REJECTION, a word we would often hear frequently is 'PAIN' because hearing from psychologists, that pain of REJECTION and physical pain are actually processed by our brain in similar ways [for now I'll avoid those jargons like dorsal anterior cingulate cortex] BUT if there's hope, it is for us to figure out WHAT's the best REJECTION THERAPY we can take to get over the hump.  YES dude, just DON'T waive the white flag, NOT TOO SOON❗❗❗

How SILVER LINING Works!

 

YES YES yowww, even if Mr Weatherman will give you a forecast of overcast and gloomy skies, never give up as to HOW SILVER LINING WORKS!  Much as I am a firm believer in miracles, I am a hundred times more deeply into the belief that even in the worst scenarios ever, there will always be a glimmer of hope as to HOW SILVER LINING WORKS!  We've heard, read and witnessed stories that were resurrections coming 'straight from the grave', situations that everyone have just given up, competitive games WHERE the heavy favorite was a 'runaway' in all the scoreboards only to lose in the face of that buzzer-beating 'Hail Mary' shot from the underdogs.  YES dude, you DON'T need to recite the 'Hail Mary'!!!

Admittedly, I did go through a fair share of 'losses' in life, WHICH can be translated as failures and frustrations all rolled into one and frankly, those were real awakening times for me to look and search for those SILVER LININGS.  And I'll admit that I've done it so often in life such that it has become my habit.  And I'll admit that in most circumstances, I can usually find one, sometimes more in fact.  I now remember from my High School Literature subject the well known poet John Milton💥💥💥

Apparently, it was John Milton who started that concept of 'EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING'.  However, it did NOT come into a more common usage as an encouragement to people suffering from a loss until like the mid nineteenth century.  Fast forward in the 1990s, I started to hear OR read about these SILVER LININGs more often, starting when we witnessed the Asian Financial Crisis in the 1990s❌❌❌

NOT to dampen our hopes BUT I did experience outliers, enough for me to realize that sometimes THE CLOUDS CAN BE VERY DARK.  Like sometimes we can only come to acceptance by going through that grieving process.  WHEN the Americas got hit with those 911 attacks, I am cocksure I never saw SILVER LININGS nor even in the aftermath after thousands of victims got hit by those turbulent hurricanes.  Fast-word to 2020, I'll admit that I thought I saw the SILVER LININGs even WHEN we all got hit by that Covid-19 Pandemic because it did enlighten and embolden people to carry on💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  Question is, HOW, if at all, can we find those SILVER LININGS?  No formula here dude BUT I suggest that WHEN we hit an obstacle, first things first, let's look for that realistic opportunity you can grab ASAP, even if it looks like you're clutching on straws [WHICH you likely are].  To quote American author Helen Keller, 'WHEN ONE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS.  Problem is, often, we spend so much time looking at that CLOSED DOOR that we DON'T see the one WHICH may have opened for us.  And voila, that's the SILVER LINING dude😃😃😃

Content Is KING [And ConteXt is QUEEN]!!!

Even way back before the internet + technologies have invaded [and somehow taken over] our lives, we always heard it even from the old school that, inside-out, Content Is KING [And ConteXt is QUEEN]!!!  Fast forward, the internet lords it over [akin to the LORD OF THE RINGS] and the unabated advances of technology has made us realize [albeit too late] that way beyond the whistles and bells, Content Is KING [And ConteXt is QUEEN] and that's not debatable at all.  No one wants to strut his wares in a hollowed manner📗📙📘

Almost 30 years ago, 1996 to be precise, Bill Gates wrote an essay titled 'CONTENT IS KING' and amongst others, he was reinforcing that the real money in life will be fueled by the internet [much as its predecessors had in their hay day WHEN broadcasting lorded it all over.  BUT that's NOT our concern though.  Instead, we'd like to drill and drive on the very CONTEXT of having CONTENT as KING because this is NOT akin to stocking the shelves with all the groceries and foodies💦💦💦

WHAT our life needs is REAL CONTENT, WHERE life is top-heavy, WHERE life CAN'T be like a candy jar, sweet BUT nothing else, WHERE life is akin to a bloated tummy, seemingly full BUT it's as airy as it can be.  Much life that may seem so good at the surface BUT once we dig deeper, it does NOT have the meaningful contents our life really needs.  Imagine a life that seems to live in harmony BUT beneath the surface, it's all turmoil, all travail, all tribulations❎❎❎

In the midst of all these, WHERE does this discourse lead us to?  Bluntly, it is for us to live a PURPOSEFUL life, a genuine one enough to lead you towards a genuinely harmonious life.  Surely, in each of our private lives, NOTHING went true to form based on your hopes and dreams at that point in life WHEN you were about to be unleashed💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Let's get to the bottom of things here.  It's you yourselves calling the shots in your life, and if there's any snafu along the way, you yourself is responsible for such hiccup[s].  At the end of the day, we DON'T want to end up in a 'blame game' WHEREIN fingers will all point to you yourself.  YES, much as CONTEXT is QUEEN, CONTENT IS KING.  That old adage 'GARBAGE-IN GARBAGE-OUT' resonates well here dude😌😌😌

That 'ONE ACTION' Goal

GOALS GOALS GOALS, one of the most overused words ever.  To an extent that WHEN we hear it, more often it somehow falls on the hollowed halls OR worse, on deaf ears.  BUT how about That 'ONE ACTION' Goal?  True, it's NOT a novel proposition BUT I believe this is worth thinking about because WHILE most of us did set GOALS, probably 98% of those pre-set GOALS will entail more than just ONE ACTION.  And honestly, with our UNLI ambitions [which is commendable], we have GOALS that need a zillion ACTIONS to be taken before that GOAL gets achieved📗📙📘

True indeed, a big chunk of our GOALS entail more than just one single ACTION.  We'll claim that life is NOT as simple as 1-2-3 OR ABC.  Even a casual goal to be the very first one to greet your best friend on her birthday come next day may NOT be a ONE ACTION GOAL because of dependencies like, you need to enable your alarm clock and here's the thing, you are praying you will get awakened by the buzz of the alarm clock, whew💧💧💧

Admittedly, many times in the past, I myself, I got 'trapped' [on my own fault though] because maybe 99% of my GOALS were NOT the ONE ACTION GOAL I'm harping now.  BUT that's the reality though.  More often, there are dependencies, there are pre-requisites.  Like that whim to be the first 'greeter' of your best friend when her birthday kicks in come next day.  Even that alarm clock has become a dependency❗❗❗

Let's have a micro-mini clinic here.  So, instead of setting a goal to be the 'first birthday greeter' come next day, WHY DON'T you set that not so ambitious GOAL of getting awakened each time your alarm clock buzzes?  ISN'T that the simplest GOAL yet the benefits you will reap once you achieve it will NOT just positively impact that very next day BUT it will trigger compounded effects thereafter even by lifting just the edges of your index finger.  Once you develop that discipline to be awakened by the alarm clock's buzzing, the rest of the weeks, months OR even your life, you DON'T need to be apprehensive IF ever you will remain dead asleep when that alarm clock buzzes any day in the future.  That's a ONE ACTION GOAL dude💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  You may play devil's advocate to tell me that life is much more complicated than just being bothered by one's inability to be awakened by the alarm clock's buzzing.  BUT will you agree with me that if that inability to be awakened becomes habitual and chronic, think about the consequences and ramifications of the tiniest issue in your life compounding its impact come next day, next week, next month and in your future.  Do consider that 'ONE ACTION' goal.  NOT a steep goal, dude😉😉😉

Bouncing Back When Life Punches You In The Face

Bouncing Back When Life Punches You In The Face

No one wants to get punched on the face, NOT even getting kicked on the chin.  BUT alas, in life, we DON'T wear those teflon coats every tick of the clock to shield us from things that trigger to 'rock the boat', so to speak.  And the only antidote, really, is Bouncing Back When Life Punches You In The Face because we should NEVER sulk in one corner, ever comforted by our self-defeating self-pity because it will never lift you out from that rat's hole📗📙📘

Even for the battle-scarred in the world of martial arts, much as they 'FORTIFY THEIR FORTITUDE' when getting hit black and blue, walking off from a fight, NO matter if it ended up as a gross mismatch, is simply a NO-NO because NO one, NOT even your own handlers will get to a realization that all they have in their stable is a patsy.  This reminds me of the world of boxing WHERE it used to be, world title fights were scheduled for 15 rounds, until bloodied boxers refused to throw in the towel even when blood was all over their face.  They then cut down those fights to 12 rounds💥💥💥

YES, I CAN'T agree less with this poster WHICH screams, FALL SEVEN TIMES, STAND UP EIGHT.  Bottomline is that, it it behooves that regardless of the storms that will hit us, we are expected to be standing on our toes, even if at times, we feel weak OR worse, even bloodied.  Indeed, let's paint a picture WHERE you're so weak BUT you prefer to be lying down on the canvas, on that rough pavement.  That will NEVER be of help, NOT even to inject a breath of life into your sagging spirit after getting hit 'black and blue'.  WHICH reminds me, I've been down in the 'gutters' a few times in the past BUT alas, here I am, alive and kicking, NO thanks to my kindred spirit to keep going no less😊😊😊

Some practical sharings for us to bounce back:

• Practice SELF-COMPASSION.  Treat yourself with the same kindness you would extend to your friend.  You deserve it
• Have that POSITIVE OUTLOOK.  Take pleasure for the little joys in our life.
• Take an ACTIVE APPROACH to fix an issue
• Be mentally and emotionally FLEXIBLE because resilience comes into play then

Our takeaway:  No one is shielded from getting thrown into that deep and dark abyss in life.  Unfortunately for some of us, lightning DOES NOT STRIKE ONCE because some of us get hit a multiple times.  And this is WHEN our resilience leads us to the tipping point, that point WHEREIN we can make OR break things. BUT here's the thing.  WHY do we settle with a BREAK WHEN more often, the difference between making it OR missing it is sometimes minuscule.  Sometimes, it is that last gasp that will push us over the hump.  YES dude, BOUNCING BACK WHEN LIFE PUNCHES YOU IN THE FACE is NOT a steep slope to climb❗❗❗

What's Your 'CHERRY ON TOP'?

What's Your 'CHERRY ON TOP'?

WHO says that success is an accident???  NO sirrrrs.  People WHO consistently reach high levels of achievement in life do things differently from the rest of us.  And to top it all, successful performances will frequently showcase that CHERRY ON TOP!!!  So, What's Your 'CHERRY ON TOP'?  BUT before plunging into deeper as to what our ideal successful performance, one thing rarely discussed is that on top of our successful performances, it helps to have that CHERRY ON TOP📘📙📗

You might ask, do we really need a CHERRY ON TOP, that is, on top our successful performances?  YES and YES.  You might ask, WHAT FOR?  Fine.  Let me pitch my spiel.  Per se, WHAT matters in life is for us to have a successful performance, be it in our personal life OR even at work.  Now, let's swing to the workplace.  If the expectation from you is to churn out a required report with 100% data accuracy, would you agree that any Tom, Dick and Harry does that too?  Regardless, someone can and will do it.  So, WHERE'S your differentiator?  HOW can you stand out💚💛💜

So, if I play devil's advocate, WHAT's the value add if I add-on a CHERRY ON TOP my output?  There will be a world of difference, trust me.  After all the reports are churned out and archived at the repository, HOW well will you stand out from the perspective of the bosses?  Hardly I guess.  WHY?  It's because you DON'T have a key differentiator, something that sets you apart from the rest of the pack.  Are you in sync here?  Even WHEN we were part of the academe, when our academic faculties will require this and that report, WASN'T it imperative that our output will stand out, once all the outputs are piled up💥💥💥

In short, while the actual deliverable really matters, does that 'STAND OUT' well enough versus if it showcases that you went the EXTRA MILE for those little-little add-ons, superficial it may be?  Be a retail customer and go over to the cakes and pastries shop.  WHICH cake STANDS OUT?  Likely you WON'T argue that the cake that STANDS OUT is that one with that CHERRY ON TOP!!!  While that CHERRY ON TOP hardly adds-up to the content, it's superficial presence gives that cake that EXTRA hmmmp, that EXTRA glitter that shines even if the lights get dimmer.  YES, this is how tight the competition is in life.  Those lil-lil EXTRAs may be the deciding factor if you STAND OUT or NOT💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  With braggadocio, there are one too many upsides if we endeavor to have that CHERRY ON TOP in almost every facet of our daily life, starting with our relationships with our family and at @workplace, our performance either @school OR @workplace, our goal setting in life, our ways of working and if you're active in the job market, you will definitely have that edge, slight it might be.  And if you're into those enterprising forays, WHETHER it's goods OR services, whatever is your CHERRY ON TOP may likely help propel your chances.  So WHAT'S your CHERRY ON TOP???

[Repost from Lifehacker] Screenshots Are The Latest RISKs!

 

[Reposting EN TOTO from lifehacker.com Emily Long, 06.24.2025 - New reason to never keep screenshots of private information on your phone]  If you keep screenshots of login credentials or cryptocurrency seed phrases—or any sensitive content, really—in your phone's photo gallery, you should go through and remove them. A spyware campaign targeting images is spreading through apps found on the Apple App and Google Play stores as well as third-party sources. SparkKitty malware gains access to photo galleries on iOS and Android, allowing it to exfiltrate images or data contained within😡😡😡

If SparkKitty infects your iOS device, it requests permission to access your photo gallery which, if granted, will allow the program to monitor for and exfiltrate new images. On Android, SparkKitty requests storage permissions to access images so that it can upload images along with device identifiers and metadata. It may also use Google ML Kit's optical character recognition (OCR) to specifically target images like screenshots that contain text.  Kaspersky also discovered the malware in TikTok clones—distributed via unofficial platforms—that embed various fake apps😗😗😗

SparkKitty may be an iteration of SparkCat, a photo-scanning malware that was first identified earlier this year but had likely been circulating for some time. While SparkCat specifically targeted crypto wallets using OCR to identify text keywords, SparkKitty appears to indiscriminately steal images from compromised galleries. Since some SparkKitty delivery vectors have been crypto-themed, Kaspersky researchers believe crypto theft is still the primary goal, though the possibility of other sensitive content being used maliciously—extortion, for example—remains.  So, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO???

iOS and Android users can take steps both to minimize or protect the sensitive data stored on their devices as well as limit the risk of falling victim to spyware like SparkKitty in the first place.  First and foremost, DON'T keep photos or screenshots of your crypto seed phrase, login credentials, or sensitive content of any kind in your photo gallery. Doing so puts your accounts at risk if your device is compromised in any way, whether by malware or physical theft. Regular logins can be locked in a password manager behind several layers of security!!!

You should also EXERCISE CAUTION when downloading apps to your device, whether from the Google Play and Apple App stores or unofficial sources. Unfortunately, you can't trust everything you find even on vetted platforms. Look for red flags: Check the developer's history and scrutinize reviews, especially if there are a lot of glowing reviews relative to the number of downloads. Be wary of requests to access your photo gallery, especially if those permissions aren't related to the app's functionality. In fact, you should pay close attention to permissions requested any time you install a new app—don't just blindly allow them!@#$%?

When We End Up In A Mud-fest, LET'S ROCK!

When We End Up In A Mud-fest, LET'S ROCK!

Mud-fests are enjoyable to talk about BUT for clarity, in our thread today, we'd like to see how do we handle things WHEN we're IN THE MUD but NOT from choice and NOT for playful acts.  YES, in the past, I've been IN THE MUD quite numerous times and I realized that I always had two options , namely to opt-out OR to opt-in.  When We End Up In A Mud-fest, LET'S ROCK!  While opting-out was an option, I realized that that is a loser's mindset, someone WHO loses the game by default with nary an effort exerted at all📗📙📘

You might ask, HOW often should we brace ourselves for getting embroiled in those MUD-fests in life?  I'd counsel that you hope and pray that it DOESN'T hit you BUT the harsh truth is, this will hit us all at some point[s] in our life.  I got hit, once, twice, thrice.  And you might ask, HOW WAS IT?  I'd say that definitely it was NO FUN but looking back, if it hits me hard again, I'm much more hardened and prepared to be much more resilient than I was😊😊😊

Sharing how I handled WHEN I was in the MUD:

• I had to face things up front, pull the bull by its horn
• I had to rope-in my support structure [I needed that]
• I had to listen to advice [as much as I had my own]
• i had to remain optimistic [based on my strengths]
• I had to be more resilient [than I was used to be]
• Regardless WHETHER you believe in God OR not, you got to have that rock-solid faith that you will weather that gathering storm at all cost

SO HOW, when we're IN THE MUD in life?

• First things first, your mindset is to eventually extricate yourself out of the MUD
• Secondly, summon all your strengths, including your capabilities yet untapped
• Thirdly, your end-result is to move forward.  NOT even the status quo is acceptable.
• If you're struggling with mental health like depression, even anti-depressants may help but only superficially, NOT until you could redirect your attention on something like getting engaged with a new hobby, skill or playing your favorite.  Otherwise, find out the relevant podcast you could get glued
• Remember unprecedented situations need unprecedented efforts from your end

Our takeaway:  Life is NEVER all rainbows and melodies.  Truth is, WHEN you're in that MUD IN LIFE, there is little time left for you to be wired on the internet or binged something on Netflix.  That recent Covid-19 pandemic is the most recent MUD IN LIFE where we all found ourselves all in the same boat.  Sadly, the weaker ones fell off by the wayside.  Bottomline here is that once we're IN THE MUD IN LIFE, your end-result is no less than to eke out yourself OUT OF THE MUD.  No mean feat BUT as they say, WHEN WE END UP IN A MUD-FEST, LET'S ROCK!!!