Over the past few weeks, I have been working through The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, and it may be the most useful book I have read this year. One idea in particular keeps echoing: Naval's claim that life is, at its core, a single-player game.

The phrase is provocative because it ­repositions the burden of progress. In a single-player game the decisive moves are internal while the external world provides only the scenery and occasional obstacles. Society, by contrast, trains us for the multiplayer mode: we learn to seek status, negotiate group norms, and read social cues. Both modes matter, but the multiplayer emphasis can obscure the obvious that the joystick still rests in your own hands.

Framing life as primarily single-player doesn't deny community but for me it clarifies responsibility. You cultivate judgment, discipline, and original thought first, then bring those assets to the multiplayer arena. Seen this way, self-development is not self-indulgence but it is the prerequisite for meaningful contribution. Naval's point is simple but radical: master the single-player mechanics, and the multiplayer rounds take care of themselves.

The reality is life is a single-player game. You're born alone. You're going to die alone. All of your interpretations are alone. All your memories are alone. You're gone in three generations, and nobody cares. Before you showed up, nobody cared. It's all single player.

Naval Ravikant

Audio Overview​

Recently, I stumbled upon the enchanting mystery of the four-leaf clover through someone who once brightened my world. During our last date, she gently introduced me to her affection for clovers, especially the rare and elusive four-leaf variety, and her gentle fascination quickly became my own. I'd always thought of four-leaf clovers simply as symbols of luck, but seeing them through her eyes revealed their deeper charm and beauty. It's astonishing how certain people quietly enter our lives and change the way we see things.

To me, she was the very essence of a four-leaf clover: wonderfully rare, quietly captivating, and softly unforgettable. Though our paths have now parted and we no longer speak, her genuine love for this delicate natural wonder left a lasting impression. I found myself drawn deeper into exploring the beautiful mysteries and history behind the symbolism of the four-leaf clover.

Audio Overview​

The lotus flower has always captivated me, not only due to its visual beauty but also because of the profound symbolism it embodies. Gracefully emerging from murky, muddy waters, the lotus symbolizes personal growth, resilience, and transformation, representing the journey toward achieving clarity even amidst life's most challenging situations. Its beauty reminds us that significant strength and wisdom frequently come from navigating and overcoming difficult circumstances.

“In the mud lies the promise of blooming. And for me, that promise has never been clearer.”

Over the past month, my own life has mirrored this metaphor in profound ways. I’ve encountered a series of powerful experiences and pivotal moments that have challenged my previous perspectives, illuminating essential truths. These experiences, though often uncomfortable, have been instrumental in shaping a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. Each lesson has guided me to question and eventually release certain outdated beliefs and patterns, making room for growth, authenticity, and genuine happiness.

Audio Overview​

A few years ago, I realized something unsettling that no matter what I achieved or acquired, the satisfaction was always temporary. I’d set a goal, work hard, reach it, and feel an initial surge of excitement but only to find myself asking, “What’s next?” almost immediately.

At first, I thought this was just ambition. But the more I paid attention, the more I noticed a pattern that was leaving me perpetually unsatisfied. Turns out, there’s a name for this. The hedonic treadmill which are the idea that no matter what happens, we eventually return to a baseline level of happiness, always craving more and more. If you’ve ever felt stuck in this cycle, you’re not alone.

The Never-Ending Chase​

I remember the first time I convinced myself this thing would finally make me happy. It was a brand new phone, the one I had been obsessing over for months. When I finally got it, I was thrilled but after a few weeks, it became just another object in my life. The excitement had vanished, and I was already thinking about what else I wanted next.

The same thing happened with achievements. I worked hard to land my "dream job," thinking it would feel like I had arrived. Yet, just a few months in, I found myself setting new goals, feeling just as restless as before.

This is the hedonic treadmill in action. We convince ourselves that once we get the next promotion, the next gadget, or the next trip, we’ll finally feel satisfied. But as soon as we achieve it, our mind moves the goalpost. And the chase starts all over again.

Audio Overview​

January 2025 was one of the challenging periods of my life. I found myself at a crossroads, faced with a difficult decision: should I fight to hold on to people who were ready to walk away, or should I let them go? At first, the thought of letting go felt like surrender, like giving up on something that once mattered. But as I reflected, I came to a life-changing realization when people choose to leave, it is not my responsibility to convince them to stay. True connections should never require force or persuasion, and holding onto someone who has already decided to leave only prolongs the inevitable. So, rather than clinging to what was slipping away, I chose to step back and let them go.

This perspective may seem counterintuitive at first, especially in a world that often emphasizes fighting for relationships, proving loyalty, and never giving up on people. However, I’ve learned that there's profound peace in allowing things to unfold naturally. Don’t fight to keep people who no longer want to be in your life.

This mindset doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships but it extends to friendships, family ties, and even professional relationships. Time and experience have taught me that when someone decides to distance themselves, it’s often a reflection of where they are on their own journey, not a measure of your worth. Clinging to relationships out of fear, insecurity, or obligation only leads to unnecessary pain. Instead, accepting that not everyone is meant to stay forever frees us to focus on the relationships that are genuine, mutual, and fulfilling.

Audio Overview​

We live in an era where effort is becoming optional.

Craving a meal? Open Gojek or Grab, and it will arrive at your doorstep in 20 minutes. Need new clothes? A few taps on Shopee, and they’ll be delivered the same day. Feeling too tired to talk to someone? Just send a text or voice note. Life’s daily inconveniences are disappearing, erased by technology and smart solutions designed to make everything seamless and effortless.

At first glance, this sounds amazing. Technology is here to enhance our lives, saving us time and freeing us from tedious work. But the more I look around, the more I wonder. What are we doing with this newfound freedom? Are we using it to grow, improve, and challenge ourselves? Or are we becoming complacent and drifting toward an existence where struggle is minimized, and comfort is prioritized above all else?

Boomers complain that Millennials and Gen Z are lazy, entitled, unwilling to put in the hard work their generation endured. Meanwhile, motivational entrepreneurs preach hustle culture, while self-care advocates insist we need to slow down. And now, AI is stepping into the picture—promising to make life even easier, anticipating our needs before we even recognize them ourselves.

With AI tools like NotebookLM assisting with research, coding aids like Cursor speeding up software development, and generative models drafting emails and writing content, the line between productivity and mindlessness is blurring. We are moving toward a society where friction is eliminated altogether.

But here’s the burning question that keeps me up at night: Is a life without struggle truly fulfilling?

I recently came across an insightful article by Julie Zhuo titled Our Souls Need Proof of Work, and it resonated with me deeply. The idea she explores is simple but profound: we are wired for effort. Without it, we lose purpose, resilience, and genuine happiness.

Without effort, without discomfort, we risk living an empty existence.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the challenges of middle management, particularly after a conversation with a former coworker. Even though this individual isn’t a middle manager, their insights about feeling constant pressure from leadership really got me thinking. They described how leadership consistently pushes for higher performance and demands results, often without understanding the realities on the ground. It struck me that, while they bear the weight of these demands from leadership, middle managers face a similar pressure but from multiple directions.

Being middle management is incredibly challenging. You are expected to balance pressure from all directions above, below, and even from the sides. My experience comes from the tech industry, but I believe these observations resonate across multiple sectors. Middle managers are the glue that holds organizations together, but they are often underappreciated and left to face unique struggles. Sandwiched between company leadership and employees, they must navigate conflicting demands, limited authority, and, at times, an overwhelming sense of isolation.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, the fusion of AI with frontend development heralds a transformative era. With GPT-4's groundbreaking capabilities, the process of creating websites is poised for a revolutionary shift. Imagine this: you snap a picture of a design, and GPT-4 translates it into functional code. This vision is not just a fantasy; it's swiftly becoming a reality.

The Role of Frontend Engineers in the AI Era​

The integration of AI into the realm of frontend development, especially with the advent of technologies like GPT-4, is reshaping the landscape of the field. This change prompts a crucial inquiry: what will be the role of frontend engineers in the next decade? It's easy to jump to conclusions and view the rise of AI as a threat to traditional roles. However, a more nuanced perspective reveals that this is not about the end of frontend engineering, but rather an evolution. As AI takes over more routine, templated tasks, frontend engineers are presented with the opportunity to shift their focus. Their role will likely transform, emphasizing more on creative problem-solving, strategic planning, and complex task management that AI cannot easily replicate.

Once upon a time, in the land of smartphones and gadgets, I was a loyal subject of the Kingdom of Android, reveling in its open plains and diverse landscapes. But as my wallet grew a bit thicker (thanks to some good fortune and maybe skipping a few fancy coffees), I crossed the border into the sleek dominion of Apple. Here, I discovered a world where everything 'just works' - often with a price tag that makes you think it should also cook dinner and do the laundry! Despite the premium cost, I was hooked on the harmony and simplicity Apple products offered, a stark contrast to my former Android allegiance.

The real game-changer, however, was my encounter with AirPlay 2. This feature epitomizes why I've become enamored with Apple's offerings. I have an array of speakers in my home, including multiple HomePods and the Samsung Q700A, all AirPlay-enabled. AirPlay 2's multi-speaker functionality has transformed my home into a symphony of sound. The ease with which I can fill every corner of my house with music is nothing short of enchanting. It's not just the technology itself; it's how it enhances the atmosphere of my home, making it more welcoming and lively.

But there's more magic in the mix, especially with the latest iOS 17 features. When friends visit, they can effortlessly add tracks to the speaker's queue, enriching our gatherings with their musical tastes. This seamless integration and shared control are what make AirPlay 2 so special to me. It's not just a feature; it's an experience, a testament to the thoughtfulness Apple puts into creating an ecosystem that's not only functional but also brings people together. This is why I've fallen deeply in love with the Apple ecosystem – it's not just technology; it's technology that connects, entertains, and simplifies life in the most delightful ways.

In today's rapidly evolving software development landscape, the ability to efficiently build and deploy applications across diverse architectures is crucial. This article will explore an advanced yet accessible approach to creating multi-architecture Docker images, specifically for ARM64 and AMD64 platforms, using GitHub Actions. We will dissect a YAML configuration for a GitHub Actions workflow named 'Deploy Production,' illustrating how to automate the building and pushing of Docker images to Docker Hub.

Our focus will be on leveraging the capabilities of GitHub Actions, including setup of QEMU for emulation and Docker Buildx for building images, along with caching strategies and security practices for Docker Hub integration. This guide aims to equip developers with the knowledge and tools needed to streamline their CI/CD pipelines, ensuring seamless deployment across varied computing environments.

name: Deploy Production
on:
  workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
  build-and-push-docker:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Set up QEMU
        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v1
      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v1
      - name: Cache Docker layers
        uses: actions/cache@v2
        with:
          path: /tmp/.buildx-cache
          key: ${{ runner.os }}-buildx-${{ github.sha }}
          restore-keys: |
            ${{ runner.os }}-buildx-
      - name: Login to Docker Hub
        uses: docker/login-action@v1
        with:
          username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
          password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_TOKEN }}
      - name: Build and push
        uses: docker/build-push-action@v2
        with:
          context: .
          file: ./Dockerfile
          push: true
          tags: agasdrm/blog:latest,agasdrm/blog:${{ github.run_number }}
          platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64/v8
          cache-from: type=local,src=/tmp/.buildx-cache
          cache-to: type=local,dest=/tmp/.buildx-cache