Tag: calm

Song of the Moment CII: Piano Project’s “Hurt” (A Johnny Cash/Nine Inch Nails Cover)

Last November 19, at night, after enjoying a refreshingly hot Earl Grey tea while sitting in Oversight, I walked around the nearby business district, and I saw all the buildings and lamp posts decorated with Christmas lights. For the first time in years, I felt the Christmas spirit early. It must be because I have had a long streak of happy moments lately, and seeing those bright Christmas decorations and feeling the holiday cheer early is another win for me. At that moment, I felt like I had won 21 straight wins at WrestleMania like The Undertaker did.

Then, as I continued walking, I decided to listen to something I discovered on Spotify two weeks ago: Piano Project’s cover of “Hurt” (Johnny Cash’s cover of the Nine Inch Nails song).

Side note: Two mentions of the word “cover” in one sentence. Damn.

Piano Project’s cover of “Hurt”.

Anyway, I may have had many happy memories lately, but I admit there are still a few demons and ghosts left. But I decided to listen to the hauntingly beautiful piano cover of “Hurt” during my late-night stroll, not out of pain; I need to listen to “Hurt” to be calm and grounded.

I have experienced so many joyful moments lately, and it’s been a total pleasure looking back at them… but I don’t want to get stuck on cloud nine. If I do that, I might lose sight of reality, and if that happens, I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goals (long-term or short-term, present and future) and create more happy moments. Thanks to Piano Project’s cover of “Hurt”, that calmness was achieved, and I feel grounded on earth again. I walked around the district with “Hurt” on repeat, clearer eyes, a refueled soul, and a gleeful heart, and then I ended the hour of wandering with these words:

Onto the next mission.

And that is why Piano Project’s cover of Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” is my Song of the Moment.

See you in the next post.

Ω

A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Jonathan Meyer of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

Updated on November 25, 2025.

30-Minute Warning XLII

Hello, Diary. What can I share here in under 30 minutes?

On the previous Minute Warning post, I wrote that many of my moments of 2025 have been happily memorable. After I wrote that post, I had more happy moments that happened in chilly Seoul. I had so many joyful moments there with my family… and there was a surreal yet happy point with someone. I have vaguely mentioned that on my previous Song of the Moment. Still, no Seoul trip details because I only have 30 minutes to write this post, Minute Warning posts don’t really have a proper flow, and, frankly speaking, I wanted to ramble on topics other than Seoul. For now.

Anyway, a few days after arriving home, there was a moment that led me to overthink with full force, and that spiked my anxiety levels. I wanted to elaborate on what was going on in my mind for people who were concerned for me… but I couldn’t. I had to deal with it alone. To solve this, I went to my safe space, sat in my favorite seat, drank some Earl Grey tea, and wrote more in my journal. Thankfully, that calmed me down, and I needed calm nerves for the next mission that would take place that weekend… a mission that would lead to happiness.

And then that calm turned into overexcitement, so I didn’t get proper sleep, and I ran on caffeine and adrenaline. But I completed my weekend mission, I accomplished everything on my checklist, and my heart and soul were on cloud nine after all that. (Though I admit that fragments of my heart and soul are still in Seoul because of someone.) Last weekend may be one of my happiest ones ever.

So, there… that’s why I have not been writing in The Diary lately: I was that happy recently. But don’t worry. The 2025 edition of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer will start this Saturday, November 22 (The Undertaker’s 35th anniversary, take note!), and I will blog for 14 days straight until December 5, my birthday. I’m pretty stoked about that!

And my 30 minutes are up. See you in the next post.

Ω

Header image: Alexandro David of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

Updated November 19, 2025.

30-Minute Warning XLI

All right. What can I write here in under 30 minutes?

Today is so hectic (in a good way). The moment I woke up and went downstairs, I was greeted with a few paperwork. It’s not a pile, but damn. What a way to start my Monday. But I didn’t tackle it right away because I wanted to start the week right, and this week is going to be an important one. I proceeded with my early rituals, and then I started working calmly yet methodically. I was able to finish them an hour after lunch. Good job, self!

Wait. Why did I say that this week is important? That’s because I’m going to see my all-time favorite band, Foo Fighters, live for the second time this week. With that, I need to prepare the essentials before the flight, and I did so after finishing today’s workload. I bought the toiletries, so that’s done with. And since I checked the week’s rainy forecast, I need a raincoat and a small, water-repellent bag… but I didn’t buy either. Not yet. I hope I can assemble the essentials before the actual flight. Nope, not the day before the flight. Nope. I’m not going to do that.

Oh, there’s also the trip to Seoul with my family at the end of October, but I’m not worrying about that yet. Frankly, I’m not that excited about the trip. Yet. But what I’m excited about is wearing layered clothing while walking around a cool country. I will even wear my full Deranged Writer uniform and a sleek, cool attire inspired by one of my favorite television characters, Person of Interest’s John Reese. I’m really stoked for that!

What else? It’s not my birthday yet (December 5), but I’m already working on something that will make my birthday dinner truly special. I couldn’t write about that for now, but I hope it becomes true.

Crap. I’m running out of things to say, but my 30 minutes are not up yet. I can do this.

Oh! I’m already starting to psych myself for the Foo Fighters show this week with a playlist based on the recent setlists from Setlist.fm. One of the things I noticed from those setlists is that they started their shows with “Enough Space”, an exciting gem from The Colour and the Shape. I already blogged about that as a Song of the Moment. Another thing I also noticed is that they played so many tracks from the first Foo Fighters album, which I love. I counted six from that album. I also counted four tracks from Wasting Light, three from There Is Nothing Left to Lose, four from One by One, only two from Medicine at Midnight, only one from In Your Honor, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, and Concrete and Gold each, and four from The Colour and the Shape…

And there you go. Now my 30 minutes are truly up. See you in the next post!

Ω

Header image: Eric Mclean of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.