On Tuesday, the day after the holiday, I walked into the office to find a large Christmas decoration at the entrance.

This time of year always has my heart racing with the flurry of celebrations — from Halloween to Christmas to the New Year’s festivities. It’s like my mind is in a constant state of busyness.

Last year, I was breaking in new running shoes for the Honolulu Marathon, dragging myself around the neighborhood, trying to get used to them.

When will I run another marathon? No plans yet.

Here’s a look at my week 1503.

1. From Deleting My Account on a Food Delivery App

Earlier this week, I deleted my account from a food delivery app I had been using.

Before that, I tried various ways to stop using it — blocking the site and removing the app — but deleting my account was the final step I needed to take, the one I had finally committed to.

On Wednesday evening, after dinner, I found myself heading to a nearby supermarket to buy dessert, shrugging into my jacket against the chilly evening air.

In the past, I would have stayed at my desk, wrapped up in a fluffy blanket, and with just a few clicks, ordered far more sweets than I could ever eat. But now, having “graduated” from food delivery, I can no longer afford to indulge in that toxic convenience.

The supermarket’s dessert section was just a few minutes’ walk away — about the length of a song on Spotify.

During that brief walk, something interesting happened: my appetite settled down.

When I reached the dessert aisle, I purchased only about a third of what I would have ordered through the delivery app.

This experience reinforced a lesson:

To break old habits, design systems that make it harder to fall back into them.

I think it was James Clear who mentioned something similar in Atomic Habits, and I agree — it works.

While deleting my account, I realized I had unknowingly become a “gold” member of the service, a symbol of my past indulgence.

When I confirmed the deletion, the app reminded me that

the action was permanent.

If I ever wanted to use the service again, I’d have to go through the hassle of creating a new account. And that’s exactly what I wanted: a system that makes it harder to revert to old habits.

2. From Missing Someone

It’s been 20 days since our last LINE message.

There are still 11 days left until a month has passed — just over a week.

The countdown I set on my phone appears on my screen every morning, just as I’m getting ready for my run.

“I may not have the emotional space for this right now.”

When someone says this, especially if they are the type who values their alone time, I recognize it as a sign, a kind of emotional brake. It tells me this person needs time to be with themselves, to reflect and process their thoughts and feelings.

I can relate to this because I’m the same way.

When I need to face my own emotions, I make sure to carve out physical space alone. I find a quiet space, allow myself to just sit still, and wait patiently for new emotions to arise. Sometimes it takes half a day, other times it might take weeks.

So, I know this person is probably feeling the same way.

“You cannot care for others when your shit is not together.”

I know this from experience. You need your own shit together first.

As I read in a book last month,

“When you’re depleted, there’s not much left to give.” “We are most able to love when we feel whole.”

So, I’ll give this person time. I’ll respect their space.

And during this time apart, I’ll focus on myself, on self-improvement.

I want to be in a good place when we meet again so I can greet that moment with a sense of fulfillment, bringing my best self.

I’m learning the value of patience in relationships.

3. From Receiving a Book Review from a Friend

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to receive an in-person book review from a friend of mine.

Publishing a book is a solitary process. Since I self-published, it can feel especially so.

When I’m immersed in writing, it’s easy to lose sight of the reader’s perspective. The only physical presence in the space is me and my computer, and the reader exists on the other side of the screen, often far removed from my immediate surroundings.

For me, publishing my first book is only the beginning of my journey as a writer.

A book isn’t something you simply finish and leave behind — it’s about how it’s received by the world. It’s about the reactions from readers, the feedback they offer, and how I can learn from it.

Their voices become the map for my next steps in growth.

Yesterday, being able to meet in person and hear my friend’s thoughts on my book was an invaluable and meaningful chance to reconnect with the most important question in my writing journey:

understanding the “reader’s perspective.”

So, if you also have read it, please do leave feedback. And if you have thoughts on something else, feel free to share those too.

Hope you had a nice week to yourself as well.

Catch up with you in a week!