When Life Gets Busy and the Pantry Gets Lonely

Hey Hive fam! Just dropping a quick life update... Freelancing has been intense lately, and with some personal stuff going on, I didn’t realize I was down to my last two cans of food. Tonight’s dinner was a spicy mix of survival, and with a super typhoon on the way, I’m bracing for more. Sharing this slice of reality in case anyone else is riding the same wave.

Tonight’s dinner was a humble mix of survival and spice: one can of Saba Squid in Soy Sauce with Chili, one can of Mega Tuna Flakes in Spicy Lemon, and rice. No frills, no fuss, just me and what was left in the cupboard...

I’ve been buried in freelancing work lately. Deadlines pile up, clients ping at all hours, and somewhere between revisions and family stress, I forgot to restock my groceries. It wasn’t until my stomach growled that I realized: the pantry was nearly empty.

But those two cans? They came through. A little heat, a little tang, and a lot of gratitude…

Now, with a super typhoon looming and our area possibly in its path, I’m planning a grocery run tomorrow. It will be a modest haul, just the essentials. I just paid my bills for the first week of November, and payday’s still a distant dot on the calendar. So, it’s budget mode activated. Good luck to me.

Freelancing is freedom, yes—but it’s also unpredictability. Some days you’re thriving; other days you’re scraping together dinner from the last two cans. And in between, you’re juggling life’s curveballs and hoping the storm passes quickly.

If you’re in the same boat, whether it’s the freelance grind, family stress, or prepping for a storm, just know you’re not alone. We’re all doing our best, one spicy meal at a time.

Stay safe out there. 🙏

NOTE: All the photos shared here are mine, originally captured using my mobile phone; first pic enhanced using the user-friendly CollageArt.