When I was younger, older people loved saying, “Don’t worry, your mindset will change when you grow up.”

I used to think, Change into what? A wizard? A tax-paying superhero? Turns out, no. You just become… tired. Tired in a peaceful way.

Back then, 

I believed happiness came in the shape of the latest iPhone. New launch? I wanted it. New color? I needed it. New camera feature? Yes, please. Owning the newest iPhone felt like holding a tiny trophy. It whispered, You made it. Even though all I really made was monthly installments.

Now?

If my iPhone is two generations old and still alive, I look at it with respect. Like, we survived together. Battery health at 82%? That’s character development. I used to feel proud upgrading. Now I feel proud not upgrading. Past me: “OMG it has three cameras!” Present me: “It still turns on. Alhamdulillah.”

Maybe this is what they call growing up. You stop chasing shiny things and start chasing stable WiFi and inner peace. I don’t need the newest version of everything anymore. Not the newest phone. Not the newest trend. Not even the newest drama (Well maybe I still need new drama to distract me from Indonesian government news.).

Either way, my biggest flex now isn’t the newest iPhone. It’s self-control. And that? That’s elite behavior.

Yesterday, I accidentally fell into a TikTok rabbit hole (as one does at 11:47 PM when you “just want one video”).

And I saw a video saying:

“The most expensive part of traveling is not the flight. Not the hotel.
It’s the outfits you buy before the trip.”

Excuse me?

I paused. I reflected. I checked my bank account. Because I have never — not once — bought new clothes specifically for traveling. Not for Bali. Not for Singapore. Not even for a dramatic “airport fit.”

I just… open my closet. And pick something, revolutionary, I know. Apparently, some people prepare travel outfits like they’re entering Paris Fashion Week: Day 1 brunch look, Day 2 museum-core, Sunset dress, Airport influencer set, Emergency café aesthetic backup outfit.

Meanwhile, me? One comfortable outfit, One backup outfit and one “in case laundry goes wrong” outfit. Done. 

Maybe it’s because I rarely take selfies when I travel. I mostly travel alone, so 80% of my camera roll is landscapes, buildings, random streets, and food. Very National Geographic energy. Zero main-character slow motion walking videos.

It’s not that I’m anti-selfie. I just don’t feel the urge to document my face in front of every landmark like I’m proving I was there.The mountain knows I was there. That’s enough.

But let me be clear — this is not criticism. If buying new outfits for travel makes you happy? Go for it, girl. We have free will. We have autonomy. We have online shopping. As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, offend anyone, or involve anything criminal, live your best aesthetic life.

I just personally cannot relate. For me, the most expensive part of traveling is… actually traveling. Flights. Accommodation. Food. Not “Vacation Outfit Haul 2026.” So maybe I’m not fashionable. Maybe I’m not influencer-coded. But at least my suitcase is light. And my credit card is calm.

And honestly? That feels like luxury too. 😌✈️

“Dita, why do you rarely get sick?”

First of all, thank you. I receive that compliment with gratitude and good lighting. But honestly? It’s not magic. It’s not expensive supplements. It’s not some extreme diet trend from the internet. It’s something very simple: I try to eat whole foods. Nothing dramatic. Nothing complicated. Just food that still looks like food. I’m Not Olympic-Level Fit, But My Immune System Is Strong. And I May Have Extra Fat, But I Don’t Have Extra Sick Days. This is what works for me:

I Eat Food That Still Looks Like Food

Whole foods mean ingredients that are minimally processed and nutritionally intact. Not food with: 17 ingredients, 4 types of sugar or Oils that require a chemistry degree to pronounce. Just real food. Protein that is actually protein, Carbs that come with fiber, Fats that exist naturally. Your immune system is not impressed by marketing. It cares about micronutrients, stable blood sugar, and low inflammation. Boring wins.

Yes, I Still Drink Cow’s Milk

Shocking, I know. I’m not lactose intolerant. I’m not allergic. So I drink pasteurized cow’s milk. No dramatic reformulation. No added personality. If your body tolerates it, nutritionally it’s solid. Period. If you’re allergic or intolerant? Different story. Please don’t fight biology.

But Plant-Based Is Healthier, Right?

Not automatically. Some packaged oat milk is mostly carbohydrates with added oils and sugar. It sounds healthy because it’s aesthetic. But nutritionally? Sometimes it’s just liquid carbs wearing a wellness outfit. If you need dairy-free, almond milk is usually a safer option. But again — read the label. Choose one with minimal ingredients. No unnecessary stabilizers, syrups, or things you can’t pronounce.

Or better yet, make it yourself. Almond milk is surprisingly easy to make. Soak almonds. Blend with water. Strain. Done. It’s cheaper, cleaner, and you control what goes into your body. And this is the bigger point.

It’s Not a Secret, It’s Just Whole Foods

Eating whole foods doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated — especially if you live in Indonesia. We are lucky. Fresh vegetables, fruits, tempeh, tofu, eggs — they’re accessible and affordable. You don’t need imported “superfoods” with fancy packaging.

I just try to eat food that still resembles its original form. Less processing. Less marketing hype. More real ingredients. That’s it.

Love Dita 

 An Open Apology to Matcha Lover 🍵

First of all, I would like to formally apologize to all certified matcha connoisseurs, tea sommeliers, and Kyoto-level taste buds out there.

Because… my standards are embarrassing.

For me, matcha qualification is simple:

• Is it green?

• Is it bitter?

Congratulations. You passed.

Apparently, there are “notes” and “layers” and “ceremonial grades” and “harvest seasons.” Meanwhile, I’m over here thinking, “Yes, this tastes like grass. Perfect.”

My ideal price point? Under IDR 20K.
Affordable.
Humble.
Emotionally stable.

The most expensive matcha I’ve ever tried was IDR 80K . 

At that moment, I accepted my truth: my taste buds are budget-tier. And honestly? I’m at peace with that.

Because here’s the beautiful thing about adulthood — we are free to like what we like. You can appreciate IDR 80K ceremonial matcha harvested under a full moon. I will happily sip my  IDR 18k  version from a random street vendor and feel zero shame.

And most importantly?
My bank account survives.

So yes, my palate may lack refinement.
But at least it’s financially responsible.

Cheers to affordable bitterness. 🍵

I have a hobby. No, not saving money.

I collect cafés the way some people collect memories.
Some are newly opened, glowing with fresh paint and ambition.
Some have been waiting patiently on my list, like unread love letters.

If it has coffee and vibes, I’m there. So what makes a café worth my hard-earned money and emotional investment?

There are a few very serious (not serious at all) criteria:

1. Traditional spaces with traditional menus
I am drawn to places that feel like they remember something.
Wooden chairs that have heard stories.
Recipes that existed before trends did.
There’s comfort in familiarity — in flavors that feel inherited rather than invented.

2. Modern industrial cafés with classic menus
I love contrast.
Steel and brick. Clean lines and warm cups.
A space that looks bold and contemporary, yet serves something timeless.
It feels like the present shaking hands with the past.

3. Cafés with unique menus
And sometimes, I crave the unexpected.
A menu that feels like a question.
A dish that makes me pause.
A sip that surprises me into silence.

I’ll be sharing some cafés I’ve visited. Some I’ve gone back to because they deserve my loyalty. Some I’ve visited once… and let’s just say we mutually agreed to move on.

I’ll try to be honest, but gently honest. I’m here to review vibes, not ruin livelihoods.
This is just one girl, one opinion, and one slightly dramatic relationship with coffee.

Stay tuned. My caffeine tolerance is ready. ☕✨

                    Oh Hai, 

After disappearing for almost five years (no, I did not go on a spiritual retreat—just work and routine), I’m back. And wow, I really missed writing random things here.

Somewhere between deadlines, meetings, and pretending to be a functional adult, I forgot the things I actually love: writing and storytelling. Turns out productivity pays the bills, but it does nothing for the soul. Rude.

This blog used to be my safe space: no KPIs, no engagement targets, no “let’s circle back.” Just me, my thoughts, and questionable takes. I miss that girl. She had opinions and time.

So this is me returning. No strategy. No schedule. Just vibes and words, written because I missed them and because therapy is expensive. 

and P.S main reason is  Emails Can’t Love Me Back