start – The Diary of The Deranged Writer

Song of the Moment CVI: Saliva’s “I Walk Alone”

On New Year’s Day (2024), the first song I heard on Spotify was my favorite song of all time, “The Pretender “ by my favorite band, Foo Fighters. On New Year’s Day (2025), it was “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour, CM Punk’s WWE theme song, and one of my first Songs of the Moment.

But this year, 2026, I wanted to do something different. Because of the ridiculous barrage of fireworks outside, I started the year 2026 by opening the house’s smart TV and then searching on Spotify for Saliva’s “I Walk Alone”, the theme song of WWE wrestler-turned-actor Batista (real name David Bautista). Upon finding the song, I played it at full volume, jumped with my coins for good luck, and screamed along to the song’s first line:

YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!

Side note: For context, please watch the video below. It’s Batista’s entrance at WrestleMania XXXIV featuring his theme song.

What a way for me to kick off the new year and cleanse the bad spirits. It was like I recreated Batista’s epic entrance at home. And that’s why it’s my first Song of the Moment for 2026.

Saliva’s “I Walk Alone”, from the WWE soundtrack compilation Wreckless Intent.

To all, have a fruitful, happy, and safe year ahead!

Header image: DreamSky of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

Batista’s video: WWE. The featured video is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Stand II

Starting from this point
The universe will see
A different version of me
No more Mr. Nice Guy
Determined and dangerous

Stand (Poetry Series): I, II, III

Header image: Andrei Nigrin of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

10-Minute Warning CXLII

All right. After 2 weeks of physical weakness and depression, I have gained the energy to finish work on time and now I want to walk and jog tonight. The energy may not be 100%, but it’s a start. I thank that cold brew this morning, my family, and my “lamp posts” for giving me the energy and hope today.

I learned a few years ago that whenever I’m in a depressive state, I should not rush to bounce back. I should rest and dwell in the darkness for a while. And then when I find my lamp posts and gain enough energy, that’s when I start to bounce back. And The Diary, I will let you know when I truly keep fighting.

That’s all I can share for today.

Written on September 26, 2024, 7:53pm. Published on September 27, 2024, 9:39pm. Minor edits were made at 11:25pm.

Header image: Marta Dzedyshko of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2024.