(A heartfelt tribute to my dearest Grandpa Hogue)

If Heaven has internet,
I’d send a message,
Just to tell you, Papa,
How much you’re missed—how much you’re loved.

I still feel the warmth of your hug,
Like the crisp winter air when we walked through the snow,
Strolling through the quiet neighborhood,
Laughing, playing, and simply enjoying the moment.

I still hear your voice on that quiet evening,
Sitting by the side yard,
Where I asked about the meaning of life—
A question that had puzzled me for years.

I wish I could remember more of what you said,
But what stays with me is the feeling—
Warmth, understanding, and peace.
And one thing you said remains crystal clear:
“At moments of doubt, seek Him.”

I remember that windy spring day,
The picture outside the church,
Cheeseburgers after service,
Everyone’s laughter carried by the breeze.

And that summer before bidding farewell,
We played in the backyard,
Swinging on the tree net web saucer,
Letting time slip away in the joy of the moment,
Not knowing how much I’d hold onto it now.

You were a soldier, a shepherd to many, a grandpa—
Strong yet gentle, wise yet full of humor.
That June you drove down just to say goodbye,
A quiet gesture that spoke louder than words,
As if to remind me—some goodbyes aren’t forever.

Papa, I was supposed to visit last winter,
But circumstances changed, and I thought I had time.
Now, I am lost for words,
Memories rushing in like waves I can’t hold back.

But if Heaven has internet,
Please know—
You are remembered. You are cherished.
Your love and encouragement still guide me.

And though my heart aches,
I am thankful—
That you are now at peace,
That you are home.

2025 is the Year of the Snake — a year symbolising transformation, strategy, and flexibility. Snakes don’t charge forward blindly; they observe, adapt, and strike when the time is right. And that’s exactly what we should do when making decisions in life and business.

Recently, I came across a simple yet highly practical approach called EDA — Essential, Desirable, and Acceptable. It’s a game-changer when it comes to decision-making, negotiation, and strategy. Since it has helped me think more clearly, I’m sharing it here so you can apply it too.

What is the EDA Approach?

At its core, EDA is about categorising choices into three levels:

• Essential (E) – The non-negotiables. Without these, the deal falls apart.
• Desirable (D) – The nice-to-haves. These add value but aren’t deal-breakers.
• Acceptable (A) – The minimum you can live with. Not ideal, but workable.

This approach is so simple, yet once you start using it, you’ll realise how powerful it is.

Example 1: The Pizza Dilemma🍕

Imagine you’re ordering a pizza. Your cravings kick in, and you start thinking about your ideal choice.

• Essential: The pizza must be freshly made and arrive hot — because no one enjoys stale, cold pizza!
• Desirable: You’d love a generous layer of cheese, fresh toppings, and a perfectly crispy crust.
• Acceptable: If the crust isn’t as crispy as you prefer or they skimp a little on the toppings, you might still go for it — because pizza is still pizza.

Fun fact: My favourite pizza is Hawaiian pizza (yes, the one with pineapple!). So, if the restaurant doesn’t have it, I’ll use the EDA approach—maybe I’ll opt for Pepperoni Chicken instead, but if all they have is plain cheese, that’s my last-resort acceptable option.

Now, you don’t waste time overanalysing the menu. You know what’s a must, what’s preferred, and what’s still okay. Decision made.

Example 2: Negotiating a Business Contract🤝

Now, let’s take this mindset into a real-world scenario — negotiating a contract with a vendor.

Say you’re a business owner signing a deal with a software provider. You don’t want to get stuck in endless back-and-forth negotiations, so you apply the EDA approach:

• Essential: The software must include core features your business relies on, have a clear service-level agreement (SLA) for uptime, and offer secure data protection. Without these, you’re not even considering the deal.
• Desirable: You’d love if they provided 24/7 customer support, customization options, or discounted pricing for long-term use — great perks but not absolute deal-breakers.
• Acceptable: If they can’t offer round-the-clock support but have a reliable ticketing system with a 24-hour response time, you might be willing to accept that.

By knowing your EDA levels, you can negotiate with confidence, knowing when to push and when to compromise strategically.

Example 3: The Right Fit Puzzle🧩 

Let’s apply EDA to employment decisions — whether you’re looking for a new job or hiring a candidate.

If you’re job hunting, here’s how you can use it:

• Essential: The job must match your skill set, offer fair compensation, and have growth opportunities. Without these, it’s a no-go.
• Desirable: You’d love a hybrid work setup, a great team culture, and additional perks like wellness benefits.
• Acceptable: If everything else is great but the office location is further than you’d like, you might still take the offer.

If you’re an employer, the same concept applies when hiring:

• Essential: The candidate must meet the required skills and fit the role’s core demands.
• Desirable: A candidate with extra certifications, leadership experience, or industry-specific expertise is a bonus.
• Acceptable: If the candidate lacks some preferred skills but has strong potential, they might still be a great hire.

EDA helps in both hiring and job searching by setting clear expectations!

Why You Should Start Using EDA Today

People have pointed out that I tend to overthink things — guilty as charged🤦‍♀️! I bet you have been stuck on a decision at times too. That’s where EDA shines — it cuts through the noise. The funny thing? This simple yet effective approach has always been there — we just tend to overlook its importance and practicality.

Next time you’re feeling stuck, take a step back and ask yourself:

💭What’s essential?
💭What’s desirable?
💭What’s acceptable?

Whether you’re deciding on a purchase, negotiating a deal, job hunting or hiring the right fit for your business, this approach will help you stay clear-headed and flexible.

Give it a try and see how much easier decision-making becomes!

Have you ever felt like you’re riding a roller coaster blindfolded, not knowing when the next twist or turn will come? That’s life in a nutshell – unpredictable, chaotic, and wonderfully whimsical.

Welcome to Whimsy Terra, a space where we embrace the beautiful randomness of existence and explore the fascinating world around us, even as it evolves at breakneck speed.

The Genesis

It all started in the final year of high school. There I was, surrounded by textbooks and expectations, when a peculiar thought struck me: What if our world – our terra – is inherently whimsical? This idea, born out of equal parts boredom and existential curiosity, became the seed for Whimsy Terra.

Embracing the Randomness in a Changing World

As the years passed, I realized something crucial: trying to force answers from within often leads nowhere. Instead, the key lies in embracing life’s randomness such as:

• Unexpected personality changes
• Sudden losses that shake our foundations
• Serendipitous encounters that change our path

But randomness isn’t limited to personal experiences. Consider the recent surge of artificial intelligence. The first time many of us interacted with AI, it felt like touching the future – exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. Suddenly, a “soulless” machine could generate human-like responses, leading to fears in many people in the society of job displacement and existential questions about human uniqueness.

This AI revolution is just another example of life’s whimsical nature. It challenges us to adapt, to find new ways of defining our worth and purpose. The key is to approach these changes with curiosity rather than fear.

While writing this part, the vibrant energy of this music piece resonated with me. Feel free to give it a listen and enjoy!

Connecting the Dots: Hindsight and Foresight

While life often feels random in the moment, hindsight often reveals patterns we couldn’t see before. Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”

However, there’s a delicate balance to strike:

1. Reflect on the past to find meaning and patterns
2. Use these insights to inform your present decisions
3. But don’t get so caught up in connecting dots that you forget to move forward

From Inner Turmoil to Outer Exploration

It’s natural to feel lost and confused when faced with life’s big questions or rapid changes. I’ve been there and still are often, grappling with the desire for clear-cut answers. But here’s what I’ve learned and tried to practice:

1. Acknowledge the confusion
2. Accept that some questions may not have definitive answers
3. Shift focus from inner turmoil to outer exploration

Training Ground for Articulating Thoughts

Whimsy Terra serves as a platform of turning that inner search outward, exploring the wonders of our whimsical world and sharing those discoveries with you. It’s also a training ground for me to articulate my thoughts more clearly and concisely – a skill that becomes increasingly valuable in our fast-paced, information-rich world.

Someone once told me my messages often read like essays – apparently, not everyone’s idea of a fun Friday night read! But hey, if you ever feel like my ‘essay’ could use some fine-tuning, don’t hesitate to drop some constructive feedback in the comments. After all, this is a training ground, and I’m always eager to improve!

Terra Incognita

Life is a terra incognita – an unknown land full of surprises. Instead of fearing its unpredictability, what if we celebrated it? What if we approached each day, each technological advancement, each personal challenge with curiosity and wonder?

Whimsy Terra is for the curious, the wonder-seekers, and anyone who’s ever asked “why” and been thrilled by the journey to find out.

“I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” – Van Gogh

• 
  
  Share on LinkedIn
  
• 
  
  Share on WhatsApp