Writing for Fun #6

Daily writing prompt

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

There are many ways that can be interpreted. But to me, being a kid at heart means keeping that youthful part of yourself with you, even if you’re an adult.

I’m a kid at heart because there are some qualities surrounding me that I’ve developed during my childhood. Back then, I was an extremely imaginative kid. So much so that I’d pretend I was doing magic or some silly stuff like that. Pretty much playing pretend. All something that I could see with my big eyes. And to this day, I still carry that sense of wonder where I can find happiness in even the smallest of things. Which that would then lead to another reason, living in the moment.

Nowadays, kids don’t need to worry so much about their future at the moment and can spend their days doing what a kid does. Whereas adults focus solely on their responsibilities and themselves. And it can really drag and make you deteriorate as a person. But when you enjoy the simple pleasures and take your minds off of something serious for a moment, that is also being a kid at heart. I could go out and eat frozen yogurt if I wanted to. I could go bowling with a friend for the heck of it. These days, I’m still watching anime. You could collect a whole set of stuffed animals. Even a walk in the park or beach is a time to be seized. Not to say you should indulge in those things because the reality of it is, we do need to be responsible for our own lives. But it never hurts to take some time off and enjoy those activities. When you do, you almost feel like a kid again.

This can even apply to doing something that you haven’t done but you’ve always wondered, “I feel like I can do that if I really put my mind to it.” That’s what’s known as being curious. Which is one other thing I feel a lot of people have attained from their childhood. Including myself. Being imaginative mixed with curious, it eventually came to me when I then became a writer of my own books. For other people, it could be along the lines of playing an instrument you’ve always wanted to do. Another example is deciding if you wanted to travel abroad and visit a country that you’ve wanted to go to. Another is trying a new food that you haven’t eaten before. We, as people, are driven to be curious about many different things. Whether big or small. Being curious can also apply to being a kid at heart. Because there has to have been a time when you were a kid and you wanted to explore your environment and be adventurous.

If you’re not a kid at heart, then that’s totally up to you and your decision. But people who don’t tend to release their inner youthful spirit, I don’t believe are truly living in the moment. Either that or they’re acting immaturely which is unfortunate these days, since there are so many people who would waste time complaining or causing trouble. Especially for other people. That right there is being referred to as childish. Not a kid at heart.

That’s what I believe. And I’m not afraid and rather proud to say that I am still a kid at heart. It’ll stay that way for the rest of my life.

October 21, 2025 0

Writing for Fun #5

Daily writing prompt

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

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The first thing that comes to mind is a minor incident that happened at a restaurant. It’s all-you-can-eat except you gather the ingredients and bring them to the cook where they can work their magic! Anyways, my father and I waited for our food to finish cooking. I got mine first, so I headed back to our table with it. But when I got there, this snobbish-looking couple, both appeared to be in their late 60s, were sitting there. They wore sunglasses, had such stern expressions, and their small dog was just kept in a big stroller.

Anyways, I told them that the table they sat on was already taken. But they looked at me, taken aback and almost offended. Then they said something along the lines of, “Oh, well, I don’t know what to tell you. We just sat down.” Outside, I kept myself calm and level-headed. But inside, I was already getting irritated by these arrogant people. I persisted and stood my ground, explaining to them that the waitress showed me and my father to that table.

They didn’t seem the type of people to get into arguments as they seemed to get the message. But boy, did they look so annoyed and frustrated when they decided to give back our table. The man shook his head. Even the lady said something like, “Alright, whatever, buddy.” By the time they left, I pretty much indulged in my food, not giving a flying fudge about what they thought. My father felt very proud of me when I told him about it.

What’s also annoying is the fact that they didn’t even go to the counter where the waiter or waitress would show you to your table. This wasn’t one of those sit-down restaurants. They simply walked around, chose a table that had already been taken and claimed it as their own. Luckily, they didn’t persist, otherwise my father might be giving them an earful.

At that moment, I felt grown-up and proud for having stood my ground against entitled people like them. And this is something that everyone should take into account. To not let people walk all over you like that. Because people with such disrespectful attitudes get nowhere.

October 11, 2025 0

Writing for Fun #4

Daily writing prompt

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

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To me, it’s never been about how it makes you feel fulfilled. What matters is how the process can impact you.

Don’t get me wrong, hard work pays off. You spend so much time doing something, and you eventually finish it, giving yourself a pat on the back. That’s always been me in school whenever I’ve received homework or a big project. Also, you tend to reward yourself with pleasures and mild thrills. That would include a trip to your favorite destination or something as small as an ice cream cone. Either way, you tend to feel happy and proud that you managed to accomplish a task all on your own.

But what happens after you finish?

Let’s say you spend so much of your life studying a subject for a job that you want in the future. Is it something you want to do because you enjoy it? Or is it something you do because it makes the most money? I’ve felt that before when I originally wanted to pursue computer science in college. I never truly felt happy or fulfilled, even after I completed the courses. After all the hard work you dedicated yourself to, you reached a milestone. But as soon as you do that, do you truly feel fulfilled?

That’s the question you sometimes tend to ask yourself.

Nowadays, I pursue my dream of becoming a writer. Whenever I’ve finished writing a book, I do feel accomplished that I stuck it out to the end. At the same time, I look back at how much fun I’ve had in the process. From introducing new characters, concepts, expanding the world, and adding to the story! There is so much more I want to do, and I look forward to writing more in the future!

When I first read this question, I thought about the Pixar movie, Soul. Not to spoil anything, but the themes and ideas from that movie generally gave me an impression of how this question can be perceived.

In my opinion, it is genuinely good that you feel ecstatic and zealous about having your hard work pay off. But it is also important to recognize and acknowledge the joy that comes with having gone through it in the first place. Put in the hard work if you truly enjoy it and live the most out of it.

September 20, 2025 0

The Disadvantage to Rules

I never wanted to be a stickler for the rules. But I’ve come to learn that it can manifest itself in ways that can’t even be described.

Sometimes I’ve set up rules for myself to make myself feel better:

Always make sure that everyone around you is happy
Never make mistakes again
Always get approval before you decide to do something

There are days when I’ve felt good and decent. Because I stuck to my rules. I never realized until now how much that would affect me in the long run. I’ve behaved in ways that made me feel safe. I cut myself off from being social with others. I never felt inclined to be proud of whatever decision I made. Let alone challenge myself.

It was like my guts were twisted with barbed wire. And it can be dampening when you go through it alone. But sometimes, when the day is right, you can come to learn that you don’t need to go through everything by adhering to your own rules. Sure, you’re protecting yourself. But how long before those negative core beliefs are dumped onto you like a waterfall? How long before the rules start affecting who you are? Soon, you’ll be changing the way you view yourself. You’ll want to be accepted by others so that you’ll fit in. It is a cycle that keeps repeating itself. Over and over again. And the longer it goes, the worse you’ll feel. While it can protect you in the short run, it won’t provide you with a future that you can be proud of.

To make myself realize that, sometimes… rules have to be broken. Because even if you set rules for yourself, those core beliefs will still linger.

To this day, I still learn these values. I process it little by little until I can comprehend what it means. I keep myself engaged in activities, including reading and writing. I try to spend time with people who are supportive of me. And of course, I identify my strengths. No rules.

After all, isn’t it about living the most in life? Not the best?

July 31, 2025 0