Just a Reflection While Drinking My Morning Coffee 🌞

 

Approaching 30 made me realize how real the “hedonic treadmill” is.

At 22, I once thought: 

“Once I graduate and pass the board exam I’ll be happy.” 

“Once I get the job, I’ll feel successful.” 

“Once I save money, I’ll finally relax."

Then I achieved those things… and my brain immediately created a new target.

The goalpost keeps moving.

A degree, license or certification becomes “not enough.” Savings become “still lacking.” Progress becomes invisible because comparison never stops.

Especially today, where social media lets you compare yourself to everyone:

• the millionaire your age,
• the young professional traveling the world,
• the politician or businessman who inherited a position or business,
• the person who seemed to figure life out earlier.

As a Filipino nearing 30, there’s also silent pressure: 

“May bahay ka na?”

 “Kailan ka mag-aasawa?” 

“Magkano sweldo mo?”

You start measuring your worth through milestones instead of fulfillment.

But I’m starting to realize the answer isn’t killing ambition. It’s learning how to stay ambitious without constantly feeling behind.

Life feels a lot like climbing a mountain. When you finally reach one peak, you realize there’s another higher one waiting ahead. The mistake is thinking happiness only exists at the summit.

Because happiness adapts fast. Humans normalize almost everything  even the things we once prayed for.

Maybe adulthood is simply learning to appreciate the view while still climbing.

And maybe the younger version of us would already be proud of how far we’ve come.