Duck Soup For The Soul

The 'Do You Know Who I Am?' Delusion In the grand theater of modern retail, the curtain never fully falls. A chorus of smartphones zips through the air, a chorus line of loyalty programs and VIP lounges hums in the background, and somewhere between a scented candle display and a stack of glossy receipts stands a familiar creature that seems to have multiplied with every new app update: the customer who swaggeringly asks, “Do you know who I am?” If you’ve worked front-line service, you know this species by its distinctive aroma: entitlement with a hint of toxicity, wrapped in a smile that feels curated rather than earned. The demand arrives like a sudden plot twist in a soap opera you didn’t audition for. It isn’t about product knowledge, pricing, or policy—it's about status. The customer believes that their perceived importance grants them a special exemption from the ordinary rules that govern the rest of us, including simple human courtesy. The delusion wears many costume...

We love labels. They’re neat, they’re tidy, and they save us from doing the messy work of actually understanding people. “Oh, she’s an introvert.” “He’s such an extrovert.” As if one word could sum up the maddening complexity of human behaviour. But life has a way of blowing holes in these categories. The so-called “introvert” who avoids office chatter suddenly becomes the life of the party at a cousin’s wedding. The “extrovert” who thrives in meetings freezes into awkward silence at a dinner table of strangers. Which is it? The truth is we don’t have one personality—we have many, shaped and triggered by the situations we find ourselves in. Psychologists call this situational personality, but anyone with a social life already knows it intuitively. You act differently with your boss than with your childhood friends. You reveal one version of yourself on social media and another in private. It isn’t hypocrisy—it’s adaptability. Yet society clings to the introvert/extrovert binary as if i...

Why did you do that? No, really—why? Why did you buy that glow-in-the-dark yoga mat when you don’t even do yoga? Why did you text your ex at 2 a.m. with a message that could be summed up as “help me, I’m lonely and reckless”? Why did you order dessert after publicly declaring you were “cutting down on sugar”? Welcome to the land of human impulse—the split-second kingdom where logic takes a holiday and desire drives the car. We like to think we’re rational beings, but truthfully, we’re just overgrown toddlers with credit cards, smartphones, and enough self-awareness to regret things five minutes after doing them. And yet, here’s the kicker: these blunders aren’t random. Every “what was I thinking?” moment has a trigger, and decoding it can be more enlightening than a TED Talk. Stress, boredom, hunger, FOMO, or the universal curse of scrolling social media at midnight—each plays puppeteer with our behaviour. This is why you need a “Why Did I Do That?” journal. Not a glossy, Instagrammabl...

AI: How much of my life could it make easier, more creative, or more fun? In today's fast-paced world, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we live, work, and play. From personalized recommendations on streaming platforms to virtual assistants handling our daily tasks, AI has become an integral part of our lives. But just how much could it make our lives easier, more creative, or more fun? The answer is: quite a lot. AI can streamline mundane chores, freeing up our time for what truly matters. Automated scheduling, smart home devices, and AI-powered customer service reduce stress and increase efficiency. For example, virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa can set reminders, control household devices, or answer questions, saving us the hassle of manual effort. This allows us to focus on passions and relationships instead of routine tasks. Creativity is also being amplified by AI. Artists, writers, and musicians now use AI tools to inspire and generate ideas. AI algori...

Why Every Day is a New Opportunity The alarm clock rings. For some, it’s a jarring interruption to a peaceful sleep. For others, it’s the most powerful sound in the world—the starting gun for a brand new day. How you hear that sound depends entirely on your perspective. Because the truth is, embedded in those first few moments of wakefulness is a profound gift: the undeniable fact that every single day is a new opportunity. It’s easy to become trapped in the momentum of yesterday. A mistake at work, a harsh word spoken, a goal left unmet—these can cast a long shadow, making today feel like a mere extension of past failures. But this is a trick of the mind. Each sunrise is a hard reset. It’s the universe’s way of giving you a clean slate, a fresh 24-hour canvas upon which you can paint anything you choose. You are not defined by what you did yesterday, but by what you choose to do today. This daily renewal is the fundamental building block of all success. Massive, life-altering change r...

The Importance of Following Your Own Path From a young age, our lives are often mapped out for us. Well-meaning advice from family, societal expectations, and the curated highlight reels on social media create a powerful blueprint for what “success” should look like. It’s a path of least resistance—well-trodden, clearly signposted, and seemingly safe. But walking a path designed by others, no matter how smooth it appears, can lead to a profound sense of emptiness. The true journey of a fulfilling life begins when you find the courage to follow your own. Choosing your own path isn’t about rebellious defiance or rejecting all advice. It’s about introspection. It’s the difficult, yet essential, work of drowning out the external noise to listen to your own inner voice. What are your unique passions, values, and curiosities? What makes you feel truly alive? This self-awareness becomes your compass, guiding you toward decisions that are authentically yours, whether in your career, relationsh...