The Mark Experience: Insights, Experiences, and More

You don’t really notice it at first. Then suddenly, everything feels just a little more expensive. Fuel. Food. Even electricity. And while none of us can control where prices go, I’ve been thinking… maybe there are a few simple things we can adjust on our end. Nothing drastic—just small, practical shifts that might help us navigate this a little better. Here are a few that make sense to me: **1. Be More Intentional with Trips**   I’ve noticed how easy it is to go out multiple times a week for separate errands. Maybe it makes more sense to combine them—one trip, everything done. If it’s nearby, walking could even be an option. If you’re driving, less unnecessary movement can already make a difference over time. **2. Be a Bit More Mindful with Food Spending**   Food delivery has quietly become more expensive, especially with rising fuel costs. I’m starting to think it helps to plan meals ahead—even just loosely—and reduce impulse orders. Buying essentials a...

The call came earlier than most calls do. It was around eight in the morning—too early for casual conversation, too early for small talk. When I saw my ex’s name appear on my phone, I was surprised. We still speak from time to time. Not often, not regularly. But enough to know that life had moved us into a quieter, more mature kind of connection. We had once shared a life. Now we shared occasional conversations. I missed the call, so I sent a message instead. “Ang aga naman. What’s going on?” Seconds later, the phone rang again. I answered, half-expecting a familiar request—perhaps a question about insurance, maybe a proposal he needed help with. That was the kind of practical reason I imagined for a morning call. But instead, I heard him crying. Through the tears he managed to say the words: “My mom passed away.” I froze for a moment and asked him what happened. He told me quietly, almost in disbelief, that his mother had just passed away earlier that morning—around six o’...