My Diary – Leonardo Cardillo

Key Takeaways

The simple idea

A sleep cycle is often close to ninety minutes, but it is not exact, and it changes from person to person.

The fast win

A very short nap can calm the body and mind without going deep, so it can feel clean and sharp after waking.

The safest middle

Many people do well with a short “power nap” that stays on the light side of sleep.

Story & Details

What this piece is about

This article is about power nap length and timing, and why some naps leave a person clear-headed while others feel heavy.

The ninety-minute myth, in plain terms

In December 2025, the “ninety-minute nap” still has a strong hold on everyday talk. It sounds neat: one full cycle, then wake up fresh. The truth is softer. Cycles are real, but they are not a clock. A cycle can run a bit shorter or longer, and the start time matters because the cycle begins after sleep actually starts.

Why a tiny nap can work

Sometimes the body does not need a full cycle. A few minutes of quiet can lower stress, loosen the muscles, and ease the strong pull to sleep. That small drop in pressure can lift focus and energy. It can feel like a reset, not a full sleep.

Where the “heavy feeling” comes from

The hard part is waking from deep sleep. When waking happens there, a person can feel slow, foggy, and clumsy for a while. That state has a name: sleep inertia. It is not a moral failure. It is a normal brain shift from sleep to wake.

A practical rhythm without strict rules

A short nap can be chosen for quick clarity. A longer nap can be chosen for deeper recovery, but only when there is real time and room for it. One quiet detail often changes everything: how long it takes to fall asleep. If falling asleep takes time, the plan needs to include that hidden gap.

A small Dutch lesson

Dutch is the language of the Netherlands (Europe). Here are two short lines that fit a nap moment.

Phrase: Ik doe even mijn ogen dicht.
Simple meaning: I close my eyes for a moment.
Word by word: Ik = I; doe = do; even = just; mijn = my; ogen = eyes; dicht = closed.

Phrase: Ik ga even liggen.
Simple meaning: I lie down for a moment.
Word by word: Ik = I; ga = go; even = just; liggen = lie down.

Conclusions

A gentle ending

A nap does not need to be perfect to help. The best nap is often the one that matches the moment: short for clarity, longer for deeper rest, and always shaped by how quickly sleep arrives.

Selected References

Links

[1] National Library of Medicine, NCBI Bookshelf: Physiology, Sleep Stages (StatPearls) — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526132/
[2] PubMed Central: Sleep inertia and sleep drunkenness (Trotti) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5337178/
[3] Harvard Health Publishing: The science behind power naps — https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-a-quick-snooze-help-with-energy-and-focus-the-science-behind-power-naps
[4] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (North America), NIOSH: Fatigue Prevention for Pilots (training) — https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2016-162/training.html
[5] TED (YouTube): Sleep Is Your Superpower — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MuIMqhT8DM

Appendix

A–Z

Deep sleep. A stronger, slower stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep, where waking can feel harder and heavier.

Light sleep. A gentler stage of sleep, where waking is often easier than waking from deep sleep.

Nap. A short sleep taken during the day, often used to restore alertness.

Power nap. A brief nap that aims to refresh without drifting far into deep sleep.

Rapid eye movement sleep. A sleep stage linked with rapid eye movements and vivid dreaming in many people.

Sleep cycle. A repeating pattern of sleep stages that commonly lasts around ninety to one hundred ten minutes, but can vary.

Sleep inertia. The groggy, slow feeling after waking, especially after deep sleep or when sleep is cut short.

Sleep latency. The time it takes to fall asleep after lying down.

Sleep pressure. The build-up of sleepiness during time awake, which can ease after rest, even brief rest.

Key Takeaways

The real feeling

A tired mind can sound angry, even when it is only worn out.

The pressure

One stuck task can block the whole list, while WhatsApp can turn a phone into a loud pile of needs.

The turning point

A small “next step” can be enough to stop the inner fight and make sleep feel allowed.

Story & Details

What this is about

This is about WhatsApp, and how a flood of messages and calls can press on a tired night. It is also about a simple human problem: wanting to sleep, but feeling not allowed to end the day. The episode had already happened by Friday, December nineteenth, two thousand twenty-five.

When tiredness wears an angry mask

The night began with strong words and heavy swearing. It sounded like pure anger. Then the truth came out fast: it was tiredness, not rage. That kind of tiredness is cold and stubborn. It makes easy things feel hard. It can also create a sharp inner clash: the body can do the work, but the mind refuses, and the refusal becomes stress.

The list in tens, the cork in the bottle

A short pending list appeared, numbered in tens. It had one named blocker at the top, then routine work like social media, one small car-related chore, and several follow-ups with different people. The names did not matter as names. They mattered as pressure. Then came two lines that changed the scale: every WhatsApp message, and every WhatsApp call. That is not a task. That is a flood. A flood does not get “finished.” A flood gets narrowed.

The small move that changes the air

The shift was not about willpower. It was about friction. The night became about making the next step small enough to do without a fight. A calmer room helped. A slower exhale helped. A brief reset helped. The key idea stayed simple: closing the day does not mean completing everything. It means choosing one clear next step for tomorrow, then stopping.

A tiny Dutch phrase card

In the Netherlands (Europe), short phrases are common and useful when energy is low.

“Ik ben moe.”
Used to say: a simple, honest tiredness.
Word by word: ik = I; ben = am; moe = tired.
Tone: neutral. Natural with friends or at work.

“Ik ga slapen.”
Used to say: a clear end to the day.
Word by word: ik = I; ga = go; slapen = sleep.
Tone: neutral. A clean way to end a chat.

“Vandaag niet.”
Used to say: not now, not today.
Word by word: vandaag = today; niet = not.
Tone: short and firm. A softer variant is “Vandaag liever niet.”

The word that sounds like “three”

A small language question surfaced too. “Triage” can feel like it comes from “three,” because people often sort things into three groups. The origin is different. The word is tied to sorting and choosing, not to a number.

Conclusions

A softer ending

WhatsApp can make tiredness feel louder, because everything arrives at once. One stuck task can feel like a cork, because the mind keeps staring at it. On nights like this, the kindest truth is also the simplest: a day can end without being finished. One small next step can be enough to let sleep begin.

Selected References

[1] https://faq.whatsapp.com/797069521522888
[2] https://faq.whatsapp.com/694350718331007
[3] https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/how-to-fall-asleep-faster-and-sleep-better/
[4] https://www.etymonline.com/word/triage
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqONk48l5vY

Appendix

A1 Reader A beginner reading level that works best with short sentences, common words, and clear flow.

Archiving A way to move a chat out of the main view so the chat list feels calmer.

Blocker Task One stuck item that feels so heavy it stops progress on other work.

Closure A clean stopping point that allows rest even when work remains.

Dutch Phrase Card A small set of short Dutch examples with word-by-word meaning and a note on tone.

Exhaustion Deep tiredness that changes mood, focus, and the feeling of control.

Mute A WhatsApp setting that reduces alerts so the phone feels quieter.

Triage A quick way to sort a flood of items so the most important ones get attention first.

WhatsApp A messaging and calling app that can create pressure when many messages and calls arrive.

Wind-down The quiet time before sleep, with less light, less noise, and fewer triggers.

A veces el cuerpo está listo para descansar, pero la cabeza sigue con el motor encendido: repasando pendientes, conversaciones, planes, preocupaciones. En esos momentos, pelearse con el insomnio suele empeorar las cosas. Lo que ayuda más es cambiar de marcha: pasar de “resolver” a “sentir”, de la prisa a la calma.

La historia que sigue está pensada como una rampa de bajada. No busca sorprender ni acelerar. Al contrario: usa imágenes suaves, sonidos repetidos y un ritmo lento para que tu atención se vaya soltando, como cuando bajas el volumen de a poco. Léela despacio, o deja que te la lean. Si te duermes a mitad, funcionó perfecto.

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Biblioteca de noche

Imagina que estás en una biblioteca enorme, de noche. No hay nadie. Las lámparas tienen una luz tibia, como miel, y el aire huele a papel viejo y a madera.

Caminas despacio por un pasillo largo de estanterías altísimas. Tus pasos suenan blanditos sobre una alfombra gruesa. Cada tanto, un libro se acomoda solo con un “toc” suave, como si también estuviera buscando su lugar para dormir.

Encuentras un sillón grande, de esos que te abrazan, junto a una ventana. Afuera cae una lluvia finita que no molesta, solo hace ese ruido repetido y tranquilo: shhh… shhh… shhh… El vidrio está un poquito frío, pero el sillón está calentito.

Te sientas. Abres un libro al azar. Las letras se ven nítidas un segundo… y después se vuelven más lentas, como si se estiraran con pereza. Pasas una página. El sonido del papel es casi una caricia. Pasas otra. Los párpados pesan, pero no importa, porque aquí nadie te apura.

En algún rincón, un reloj hace tic… tac… tic… tac… muy despacio, como si también se estuviera durmiendo.

Y tú solo respiras. Una vez. Otra. Más lento.

Cuando quieras… puedes cerrar el libro sin terminar la frase. Aquí las historias siempre esperan.

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Por qué esta historia ayuda a dormir (fundamento técnico y científico)

1) Reduce la activación fisiológica

Para conciliar el sueño hace falta que baje el nivel general de activación (arousal). Cuando uno está en “modo alerta” (tensión, preocupación, vigilancia), el sistema nervioso simpático domina: sube la frecuencia cardiaca, el músculo se prepara, y el cerebro se mantiene más reactivo. Los estímulos suaves y predecibles, junto con un ritmo lento, favorecen el predominio parasimpático, asociado a descanso: respiración más calmada, menor tensión y una transición más fácil hacia el sueño.

2) Ocupa la atención y corta la rumiación

Un motor frecuente del insomnio es la rumiación: el cerebro intenta resolver problemas justo cuando debería desconectarse. La imaginería guiada (imaginar un lugar, recorrerlo, notar sensaciones) funciona como un ancla atencional. No elimina pensamientos por la fuerza; los reemplaza por una tarea sencilla y sensorial. Eso reduce la carga de pensamiento verbal (listas, pendientes, autocharla) y baja el arousal cognitivo.

3) Usa monotonía segura y señales repetidas

El cerebro se activa con la novedad y con lo impredecible. Esta historia hace lo contrario: mantiene un escenario estable, sin giros, con repeticiones (lluvia, tic-tac, páginas) y una cadencia constante. Esa monotonía segura disminuye la expectativa de “algo importante” y ayuda a que la atención se vuelva más difusa, un paso natural antes de dormirse.

4) Facilita una rutina pre-sueño

El sueño también se entrena por asociación: señales consistentes antes de acostarse (luz baja, lectura tranquila, respiración lenta) se convierten en un puente hacia dormir. Repetir una historia de este tipo, en el mismo momento del día, refuerza esa asociación y mejora la transición. No es magia: es aprendizaje por repetición, como cualquier hábito.

5) Es compatible con herramientas usadas en terapia del insomnio

La terapia cognitivo-conductual para el insomnio (CBT-I) suele incluir estrategias para reducir activación y reencauzar la atención (relajación, control de estímulos, rutinas). Una historia relajante no reemplaza un tratamiento cuando hay un problema persistente, pero puede ser un recurso útil dentro de una higiene de sueño bien planteada.

Key Takeaways

• A popular LinkedIn post used poetic lines about leaving jobs, relationships, places, and closed doors, then claimed a “new you” no longer fits the old life.
• The text is not a scientific claim by itself, but it echoes well-studied themes: grief, identity change, and post-traumatic growth.
• Maximum technical and scientific rigor means separating a moving message from what research can and cannot support.
• If grief stays intense for a long time and blocks daily life, it may need professional care.

Story & Details

A small post, a big pull
In December 2025, a short LinkedIn post spread fast. It sat under familiar buttons like “Recommend,” “Comment,” “Repost,” and “Send.” It appeared to a first-degree network and showed it had been posted two hours earlier. On the phone screen, the time read 19:06; Dutch time 19:06. The battery showed 71%. A single heart reaction rested below the text.

What the post said, in plain English
The message was a reminder built from repeated “for” lines. It spoke about jobs that had to be left, or jobs that ended by force, and that can still be missed. It spoke about relationships that were left for one’s own good, yet still remembered with nostalgia. It spoke about places that were left, with or without packed bags, and the quiet question of what would happen if a return were possible. It spoke about doors that closed suddenly or slowly, and how the heart can feel left behind. It spoke about cycles that ended, even when people try to hold on, because moving forward can feel scary.

Then came the turning point: even if a person could go back to all of that, the newer version of that person has already moved forward. The post named what might have been gained along the way: strength, experience, knowledge, awareness, clarity, and self-love. It ended with a firm line: this newer self does not belong there anymore.

Why people asked about “scientific validity”
After reading it, a reader asked about technical and scientific validity, and then asked again for maximum technical and scientific rigor. That is a fair demand. Many online texts feel true. Fewer are careful with what can be proven.

What science can support, and what it cannot
Research on grief shows that loss can bring real changes in mind and body, and that people do not all follow the same path. Some people recover with time and support. Some people struggle much longer, and symptoms can stay strong and disabling. This is one reason modern clinical work describes prolonged grief disorder and sets criteria around persistence and daily function.

The post also leans into a second idea: growth after hardship. In psychology, “post-traumatic growth” is a term used for positive change reported after severe stress or trauma. Researchers have tried to measure this, for example with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and they also warn that measurement is tricky. A person can feel growth and still feel pain. A person can also feel pressure to claim growth when he is not ready. More recent work argues that strong claims about growth need good methods and, when possible, data that tracks change over time, not only one-time memory.

So the most rigorous reading is balanced: the post is a strong piece of writing about meaning-making, not a lab result. It lines up with real concepts, but it should not be treated like a guarantee that every loss will produce strength, clarity, and self-love.

A tiny Dutch mini-lesson for real life
Simple use: these short lines can fit everyday moments around change, loss, and support.

First phrase: Het spijt me.
Word-by-word: Het = it; spijt = regret; me = me.
Natural use note: often used as “I am sorry,” but it is also used for small everyday apologies.

Second phrase: Sterkte.
Word-by-word: this is one word that carries the idea of strength.
Natural use note: commonly said to someone going through a hard time, like “strength” offered as support, often with a warm tone.

Third phrase: Ik mis je.
Word-by-word: Ik = I; mis = miss; je = you.
Natural use note: direct and personal; used with close people.

A clear, human way to respond on LinkedIn
Many readers want to reply without sounding dramatic. Short, calm lines work well, such as: a simple thanks for the reminder; a note about learning to let go; or a sentence about choosing forward motion with kindness.

Conclusions

The post worked because it named common losses—work, love, place, timing—and then offered a clean ending: the self that survives is not the self that left. Science does not need to fight that message. It only needs to place it correctly: as meaning and language, not proof. With that frame, the words can comfort without turning into a rule that everyone must “grow” on schedule.

Selected References

[1] https://selfadvocacy.ici.umn.edu/learning/changes-grief-loss
[2] https://www.youtube.com/embed/0GrFMkLrDv8?feature=oembed
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31180982/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8827649/
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8062071/
[6] https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/prolonged-grief-disorder

Appendix

Algorithm. A set of rules a platform uses to sort and show content, often based on signals like clicks, time spent, and connections.

First-degree connection. A direct connection on LinkedIn, meaning two accounts have accepted a connection request with each other.

Grief. A natural response to loss that can include emotional pain, changes in thinking, and changes in the body.

LinkedIn. A professional social network where people share work updates, posts, and messages, and connect with others.

Post-traumatic growth. Positive change a person may report after struggling with very hard events, often discussed as changes in priorities, relationships, or self-view.

Prolonged grief disorder. A condition where grief stays intense and persistent and seriously disrupts daily life for a long period.

Scientific rigor. Careful thinking and evidence that avoids overclaiming, separates feelings from facts, and uses good measurement and methods.

Self-concept. The set of beliefs a person has about who he is, including traits, roles, and values.

Key Takeaways

The topic

A Facebook Reels post said Satan entered the Kingdom of Heaven.

The anchor text

The line points to Job 1, where Satan answers that he has been roaming the earth.

The real center

The story quickly turns to Job, described as blameless and upright.

Story & Details

A short clip with a big sentence

In December 2025, a Facebook Reels clip pushed a sharp claim: Satan entered the Kingdom of Heaven. The post carried large public numbers—98,218 reactions, 596 comments, and 6,445 shares—under the creator name Don Tuchi. A WhatsApp share card echoed the spread with about 19,000 plays and about 98,000 reactions, pointing to facebook.com.

A phone screen in the set showed 05:57 local; 05:57 in the Netherlands (Europe). Another screen showed 17:17 local; 17:17 in the Netherlands (Europe).

The scene in Job

Job opens with a courtroom-like moment. Heavenly beings appear before God. Satan appears too. God asks a direct question: where have you come from? Satan answers with one idea, stated plainly in many English Bibles: from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.

Some retellings add extra lines. One version spoke about the heavenly beings coming for judgment. Another added “walking among men,” and a few words were typed with mistakes. A couple of retellings even misspelled Job’s name as Hobo or Chau. Those details can sound vivid, but they are not the heart of the passage.

The heart is the turn that follows. God points to Job. Job is not introduced as a king, a prince, or a warrior. He is introduced as a man of integrity—blameless, upright, God-fearing, and turning away from evil.

The challenge, and what comes next

Satan questions Job’s motive: does Job honor God only because life is protected and full? In Job 1, God allows a test with limits. Loss follows—wealth, servants, and children are taken in a cascade of disasters. Job grieves, yet he does not curse God.

In Job 2, the test tightens. Satan presses again. God allows a second trial with limits. Job’s health is struck, but his life is spared. Job suffers and speaks bitterly, yet the story keeps returning to the same tension: faith under pain, integrity under loss.

What “roaming” means, in simple English

In Job’s opening scene, Satan is the one who says he has been roaming the earth. “Roaming” means moving from place to place without settling. It can feel like wandering. It can also mean traveling widely and freely.

A small Dutch mini-lesson

This sentence is used to ask someone about origin in everyday Dutch:
Waar kom je vandaan?

A very simple meaning in English:
Where do you come from?

Word by word:
Waar = where
kom = come
je = you
vandaan = from

A friendly emphasis:
Waar kom jij vandaan?

A more formal version:
Waar komt u vandaan?

A common answer:
Ik kom uit …

Word by word:
Ik = I
kom = come
uit = out of / from

Conclusions

A calmer reading than a headline

The clip’s sentence lands like a headline. Job’s text lands like a scene: one question, one answer, and then a man named Job placed at the center.

The main teaching sits in that shift. Suffering is not presented as instant proof of guilt. Integrity is shown under pressure. And one small verb—roaming—reminds the reader to slow down and read what the text actually says.

Selected References

[1] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A6-12&version=NIV
[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV
[3] https://yalebiblestudy.org/courses/wisdom-literature/lessons/job-prologue-study-guide/
[4] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Job-biblical-figure
[5] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roam
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT9ZTdMqp7w

Appendix

Accuser: A role often used for Satan in readings of Job’s opening scene, tied to testing and challenging rather than ruling.

BibleGateway: A public website that publishes Bible translations and allows passage-by-passage reading.

Blameless: A word used for Job in the prologue, describing a life of integrity rather than a life without hardship.

Clickbait: A style of posting that uses a strong line to grab attention fast, even when the source text is more careful.

Integrity: Steady goodness that holds on through loss, grief, and pressure.

Job: The central figure in the book, described as upright and God-fearing at the start of the story.

Kingdom of Heaven: A religious phrase used in headlines and posts to speak about God’s realm or rule.

Merriam-Webster: A major English dictionary publisher in the United States (North America), used here for a plain definition of “roam.”

Reels: Facebook’s short-video format, designed for quick viewing and fast sharing.

Roaming: Moving from place to place without settling, sometimes with the sense of going back and forth over a wide area.

Study guide: A short learning text that explains a passage and helps readers follow the main points.

WhatsApp: A messaging app where links and short claims can spread quickly through forwards.

Yale Bible Study: A public education project connected with Yale in the United States (North America), offering courses, guides, and videos on biblical texts.

Waiting, Checking, and the Quiet Choice to Pause

Key Takeaways

Breathing

• This article is about the urge to check for a car while waiting for someone, and how that urge can grow into stress.
• A single planned check can feel steadier than checking again and again.
• One short message can bring calm without sounding pushy.
• A few slow breaths can soften the edge of the wait.

Story & Details

Breathing

On December 18, 2025, a simple moment carried a lot of weight: waiting for someone to arrive, with the clock fixed at 10:12 local time, 10:12 Dutch time. The question was small but sharp. Should the eyes keep searching for the car, or should the mind be left alone?

The pull to look can feel like help. It feels like control. But it can also act like a hook. Each glance brings a brief lift, then the same doubt returns, often stronger. The street becomes a screen. The minutes become loud.

So the calmer move was not another glance, but a cleaner plan. One check at a chosen moment. Not every minute. And in the space before that moment, something else to hold: a song, a short read, or a tiny task that fits the pocket of time. Three quick priorities for the day. Two small replies to clear the phone. A quick look at what comes next—route, ticket, or the one item that must not be forgotten.

There was also room for a simple line that does not start a fight and does not beg. Just a clear signal of presence, and a request for a clear signal back:
“I’m here. Let me know when you’re close.”
Or, if the wait is stretching:
“Are you going to be long?”

No drama. No extra words. Just enough to turn guessing into knowing.

In the end, the choice leaned toward staying put, not stepping out, not scanning, and not feeding the loop—especially when the car would be easy to notice without chasing it.

A short Dutch mini-lesson can support the same calm, because it gives ready words for a real moment.

Ik ben hier.
This is used to say: “I am here.”
Word-by-word: Ik = I. ben = am. hier = here.
Tone: normal and direct. Works with friends, colleagues, and services.

Laat me weten wanneer je eraan komt.
This is used to say: “Let me know when you are about to arrive.”
Word-by-word: Laat = let. me = me. weten = know. wanneer = when. je = you. eraan = to it / there. komt = come.
Tone: polite and natural. A close variant is: Laat me weten wanneer je er bent.

And when the mind still runs ahead, breathing can be a small anchor. Four steady breaths. In for four seconds. Out for six seconds. Nothing forced. Just a slower rhythm, long enough to make the body feel the present again.

Conclusions

Breathing

Waiting ends, but the way it is held matters. A single check, one clear message, and a few slow breaths can turn a tense pause into a softer one. The street stays the same. The body does not have to.

Selected References

Breathing

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/
[2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ease-anxiety-and-stress-take-a-belly-breather-201904261861
[3] https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/breathing-brings-benefits-infographic
[4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10741869/
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfDTp2GogaQ

Appendix

Breathing

Anxiety loop: A repeating pattern where a small worry leads to checking, the checking brings brief relief, and the worry returns stronger.

Belly breathing: Breathing that lets the belly move more than the chest, often used to support a calmer body state.

Checkpoint: One planned moment to look or ask, chosen in advance to avoid constant checking.

Dutch time: The time shown in the Netherlands.

Mindful breathing: A slow, simple focus on the breath, used to steady attention and soften stress.

Key Takeaways

In brief

• The Alchemist is a short novel by Paulo Coelho, first published in nineteen eighty-eight, about Santiago, a shepherd driven by a recurring dream of treasure.
• The story is often told like a modern fable: simple scenes, big themes, and a strong focus on purpose and courage.
• A common memory is that the treasure ends up under a bed; the ending does not work in that literal way.
• Several ideas linked to the book can be discussed with real research in psychology and behavior change, especially around goals, planning, and resilience.
• A small habit also fits the mood: keeping a task list clean by renumbering in jumps of ten, with one item marked as pending on WhatsApp.

Story & Details

A book that starts with a dream

The Alchemist is the main subject here: a well-known novel by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author from Brazil (South America). It was first published in nineteen eighty-eight and follows Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd from Spain (Europe). A recurring dream tells him there is treasure to find. The dream does what good dreams do in stories: it pushes him to move.

The journey carries him across North Africa toward Egypt (Africa). The writing stays clear. The tone stays calm. The book often feels like a fable, with meaning carried in short encounters and small choices.

The ending people repeat, and the ending on the page

In December two thousand twenty-five, the same question still returns in everyday retellings: does the dream send Santiago far away, only for the treasure to be under his bed in the end? The dream and the search are true to the story. The under-the-bed idea is the part people often get wrong. The ending plays with closeness and distance in a symbolic way, but it does not land on a simple, literal under-the-bed reveal.

Teachings that can be tested, and what “interventions” means

The Alchemist is fiction, so it is not a science book. Still, some themes match questions studied in psychology and behavior science.

A clear purpose can shape effort and well-being. Clear goals can improve performance. Simple “if-then” plans can help action happen when life gets busy. Belief in personal ability can support persistence when fear shows up. Mindfulness and attention practices can reduce distress for some people. Resilience is studied as the process of adapting well when life is hard.

This is where the word “intervention” matters. In research, an intervention is a designed action meant to change something measurable, like stress, habits, or follow-through. Effects can look small, can vary from person to person, and can depend on context, time, and how well the program is delivered.

A small systems habit, plus a tiny Dutch mini-lesson

A practical detail sits neatly beside the book’s message about staying alert and staying moving. The task-list rule is simple: keep the original order, delete what is no longer needed, then renumber in jumps of ten. One item stays in that style: “10. Listen to the audiobook of The Alchemist on YouTube.” Another status line is short and direct: “Pending on WhatsApp.”

Dutch can express that same “still waiting” feeling in a compact way.

In afwachting op WhatsApp.

Simple meaning in English: used to say something is still waiting for WhatsApp.

Word-by-word map:

• in: in
• afwachting: waiting
• op: on
• WhatsApp: WhatsApp

Tone and use: neutral, practical, suitable for a short update. A natural variant is also common in everyday use:
Nog in afwachting op WhatsApp.

Conclusions

A quiet story with a loud echo

The Alchemist keeps traveling because it is easy to follow and easy to feel. A dream starts the motion. The road tests the traveler. The ending resists the neatest rumor, and that resistance is part of the point.

Around the book, the modern world adds its own layer: people turn the themes into habits, lists, and small experiments. Some of those experiments have strong research behind them. Others are simply a way to keep walking.

Selected References

[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Alchemist-novel-by-Coelho
[2] https://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/facbios/file/09%20-%20Locke%20%26%20Latham%202002%20AP.pdf
[3] https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/goal_intent_attain.pdf
[4] https://educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au/news/pdfs/Bandura%201977.pdf
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26630073/
[6] https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003481
[7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4185134/
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=aKxiY1IbW_9ESz4R&v=_X0mgOOSpLU&feature=youtu.be

Appendix

Andalusia: A region in Spain (Europe), used here to describe Santiago’s home area in the novel.

Audiobook: A spoken recording of a book made for listening.

Behavior Change: A research field that studies how and why people start, stop, or keep actions over time.

Fable: A short, simple story that carries a lesson through clear events and characters.

Goal Setting: The practice of choosing a clear target and aiming actions toward it, studied widely in motivation research.

Implementation Intention: A simple plan in an if-then form that links a situation to an action, used to support follow-through.

Intervention: A designed action or program meant to change measurable outcomes, such as stress, habits, or performance.

Mindfulness: Training attention toward the present moment in a steady way, often studied for effects on stress and well-being.

Personal Legend: The novel’s phrase for a person’s calling or life purpose.

Purpose in Life: A sense of direction and meaning that can be measured in studies and linked to health and well-being outcomes.

Resilience: The process of adapting well in the face of adversity through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility.

Self-Efficacy: A person’s belief that he can carry out the actions needed to reach a goal.

WhatsApp: A messaging app used for short updates and quick coordination.

YouTube: A video platform where talks and learning videos are shared, including one referenced in the links above.

Key Takeaways

A country shaped by water and memory

Cambodia (Asia) sits between the Mekong River system and the Gulf of Thailand (Asia), with people and farms clustered around waterways that flood, feed, and sometimes threaten.

A cultural giant in a compact map

Angkor, the heartland of the Khmer Empire, remains one of the world’s most important archaeological landscapes, and it still anchors how Cambodia (Asia) is seen abroad.

Why the fighting jumped upward

In December 2025, the Cambodia (Asia)–Thailand (Asia) border conflict surged because old border lines were never fully agreed on, temple sites carry political heat, and a fragile ceasefire collapsed under fresh accusations, military pressure, and fear.

Story & Details

Where Cambodia is, in plain sight

Cambodia (Asia) lies in mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand (Asia), Laos (Asia), and Vietnam (Asia), with a coastline on the Gulf of Thailand (Asia). It covers about 181,035 square kilometres and has an estimated population of about 16.9 million. Phnom Penh is the capital, and much of the country is low and flat, with higher ground in the southwest and north.

The water that makes the map feel alive

To understand Cambodia (Asia), it helps to start with the rivers. Near Phnom Penh, the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap system, and the Tonle Sap River can reverse its flow in the rainy season. That reversal helps expand the great lake and spread nutrients across floodplains, shaping fisheries, farming, and settlement patterns. In good years, this seasonal pulse is a kind of natural engine. In hard years, the same monsoon rhythm can bring floods, displacement, and stress.

Angkor, still doing quiet work

A few hours’ drive from the capital, Angkor spreads across a wide archaeological park of temples, reservoirs, and roads—remains of Khmer capitals from roughly the ninth to the fifteenth centuries. Angkor Wat is the headline name, but it is only one part of a larger landscape that mixes stone craft, water engineering, and living communities. For many visitors, Angkor is “Cambodia (Asia)” in one word. For many Cambodians, it is also continuity: proof that the country’s identity did not begin yesterday.

Money in daily life

Cambodia (Asia) uses the riel as its official currency, while the United States dollar (North America) is widely used and accepted in everyday transactions. On December 18, 2025, the National Bank of Cambodia posted an official exchange rate of 4010 riel per United States dollar.

The border that never fully cooled

Along the long land border with Thailand (Asia), the most sensitive points are not random. They are often places where old survey lines, steep ridges, and historic temples meet. One temple, Preah Vihear, has been a symbol and a spark for decades. Competing historic maps and treaty readings have fed rival claims, and the question is not only about land—it is also about national pride, tourism routes, and political legitimacy.

A key piece of the long story is that early twentieth-century border-making under French colonial rule in Cambodia (Asia) produced maps that later became central evidence in disputes. One historic map placed Preah Vihear on the Cambodian side, while Thailand (Asia) has argued for a watershed-based reading of earlier treaty language. The result is an argument that can sound technical on paper and feel explosive on the ground.

What changed in December 2025

By December 2025, the conflict had already been smouldering through the year, with deadly incidents, troop movements, and a ceasefire that did not settle the underlying dispute. On December 8, 2025, Thailand (Asia) said it launched air strikes against Cambodian military targets, while Cambodia (Asia) described the strikes as aggression and said it did not retaliate. Reports described heavy weapons, evacuations, and deaths that included civilians. A separate report later described hospitalised Cambodian soldiers alleging exposure to “toxic gas,” while emphasising that the claim could not be independently verified and that Thailand (Asia) denied using chemical weapons.

The pattern is familiar, even when the weapons change: a disputed line, a local clash, fast-moving accusations, and then escalation that is hard to stop because both sides fear looking weak at home.

A short Dutch mini-lesson, for real-life usefulness

Two phrases heard when people try to stay calm

Blijf rustig.
Simple use: said to someone to ask for calm, often in tense moments.
Word-by-word: blijf = stay; rustig = calm.

We moeten praten.
Simple use: said when someone wants a serious talk and a clearer plan.
Word-by-word: we = we; moeten = must; praten = talk.

Conclusions

Cambodia, beyond headlines

Cambodia (Asia) is more than a flashpoint. It is a river country with a powerful seasonal rhythm, a deep cultural inheritance, and a modern economy that mixes local currency with a widely used global one.

Why the armed escalation happened

The December 2025 surge grew out of long-running border ambiguity, temple-linked nationalism, and a ceasefire that paused violence without resolving the central dispute. Once serious incidents returned—air strikes, artillery, mass evacuation, and contested claims—momentum took over, and the border became the story again.

Selected References

[1] https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2023/countries/cambodia/
[2] https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/tonle-sap
[3] https://www.mrcmekong.org/geography/
[4] https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668/
[5] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-cambodia
[6] https://www.nbc.gov.kh/english/economic_research/exchange_rate.php
[7] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-army-says-air-strikes-launched-along-disputed-border-area-with-cambodia-2025-12-08/
[8] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hospital-beds-cambodian-soldiers-describe-toxic-gas-2025-12-17/
[9] https://apnews.com/article/64b20ab85a40fd80f98e6b9c3811bb43
[10] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/17/a-visual-guide-to-the-historical-maps-and-temples-at-the-heart-of-the-thailand-cambodia-conflict
[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw7qrhWvOhg

Appendix

Angkor: A vast archaeological park in Cambodia (Asia) that holds temple cities, waterworks, and other remains of Khmer imperial capitals from roughly the ninth to the fifteenth centuries.

Ceasefire: An agreement to stop fighting, often temporary, that can break down if trust is low or if core disputes remain unresolved.

Dollarisation: A situation where a foreign currency, often the United States dollar (North America), is widely used in everyday payments alongside a national currency.

Khmer: The largest ethnic group in Cambodia (Asia) and also the name of the country’s official language.

Mekong: A major river system in mainland Southeast Asia that shapes ecology and livelihoods across several countries, including Cambodia (Asia).

Preah Vihear: A historic temple site near the Cambodia (Asia)–Thailand (Asia) border that has long been linked to sovereignty disputes and nationalist politics.

Riel: The official currency of Cambodia (Asia), issued and managed by the National Bank of Cambodia.

Tonle Sap: A great lake system in Cambodia (Asia) whose seasonal flood cycle and flow reversal support fisheries, farming, and biodiversity.

Key Takeaways

A plan and a model can share similar names, and that is where confusion starts.
ChatGPT Pro is a paid plan; GPT-5.2 Pro is a specific model that plan highlights.
To know what is being used at any moment, the product’s model label matters more than the rumor.

Story & Details

A name that sounds simple, then splits in two

By mid December 2025, people were asking a very direct question: “Have you heard of ChatGPT 5.2 Pro?” The phrase sounds like one neat product. In practice, it points to two different things.

One is ChatGPT Pro, a subscription plan priced at two hundred dollars per month. It was introduced as a way to scale access to OpenAI’s best models and tools, including higher-compute modes meant for harder problems. OpenAI described it as a top-tier plan designed for users who want the strongest capabilities and the most room to use them.

The other is GPT-5.2 Pro, a model—a specific engine that produces answers. In the OpenAI platform documentation, GPT-5.2 Pro is presented as a model built for tough problems and designed to support advanced, multi-turn work in the Responses API. In the consumer product’s plan page, it appears as “Pro reasoning with GPT-5.2 Pro,” tying the model name to the Pro plan.

Where “Thinking” fits in

GPT-5.2 is also described in multiple variants, including GPT-5.2 Thinking. In OpenAI’s own write-up, GPT-5.2 Thinking is positioned as a very strong vision-capable model, aimed at understanding things like charts and software interfaces. On the ChatGPT plan page, GPT-5.2 Thinking shows up as the advanced reasoning option available in Plus and above.

That makes a practical difference for the everyday question: “Right now, what am I using?” In ChatGPT, the cleanest answer is not a guess about a plan. It is the label shown in the model selector. If the selector says GPT-5.2 Thinking, that is the model in use. If it says GPT-5.2 Pro, that is the model in use.

A short Dutch mini-lesson for real life in the Netherlands (Europe)

Living around Dutch words can feel like learning by osmosis. A few small phrases help fast.

Phrase: Ik begrijp het.
Word-by-word: Ik = I; begrijp = understand; het = it.
Use: Neutral and common. Good for everyday talk.

Phrase: Kunt u dat herhalen?
Word-by-word: Kunt = can; u = you (polite); dat = that; herhalen = repeat.
Use: Polite and normal in shops, offices, and formal moments.

Phrase: Mag ik pinnen?
Word-by-word: Mag = may; ik = I; pinnen = pay by card.
Use: Very common in stores. Short, direct, and friendly.

Conclusions

In December 2025, the strongest way to stay calm in the naming noise is to separate the layers. ChatGPT Pro is a plan. GPT-5.2 Pro is a model. GPT-5.2 Thinking is another model, often offered as advanced reasoning. When someone asks what is being used right now, the answer lives in the model label the product shows—clear, simple, and more reliable than the catchy nickname.

Selected References

[1] https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-2/
[2] https://chatgpt.com/pricing/
[3] https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-what-is-chatgpt-pro
[4] https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-pro/
[5] https://platform.openai.com/docs/models/gpt-5.2-pro
[6] https://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-launches-gpt-52-ai-model-with-improved-capabilities-2025-12-11/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNr5EebepYs

Appendix

ChatGPT

A consumer AI chat product by OpenAI, where users choose plans and often pick a model from a menu.

ChatGPT Pro

A top-tier ChatGPT subscription plan priced at two hundred dollars per month, designed to provide scaled access to OpenAI’s best models and tools.

GPT-5.2

A generation of OpenAI models released in December 2025, with named variants that focus on different strengths.

GPT-5.2 Pro

A GPT-5.2 variant positioned for harder problems and highlighted in ChatGPT’s Pro tier and in OpenAI’s developer model documentation.

GPT-5.2 Thinking

A GPT-5.2 variant positioned as a strong reasoning-and-vision model, described as especially good at understanding charts and software interfaces.

Model

The specific AI engine that produces outputs; plans can include many models, but only the selected model is “in use” for a given response.

Responses API

An OpenAI developer API designed for multi-turn interactions and advanced workflows, where certain models are offered for structured, tool-ready use.

Key Takeaways

• ChatGPT can be shaped through Personalization and Custom Instructions, so replies feel steadier and less annoying.
• A short style line can block slash-style gender wording and keep one consistent generic form.
• A small Dutch mini-lesson helps recognize common menu terms while adjusting these settings.

Story & Details

ChatGPT is often judged by the small things. The tone. The rhythm. The little habits that repeat. On December eighteen, two thousand twenty-five, the focus is not on bigger models or new features, but on something quieter: making the same tool feel more natural every time it speaks.

The name of the setting is Custom Instructions. It sits inside Personalization. It is simple in idea: a place to store preferences so they do not need to be repeated. For people who care about clean language, this box becomes a kind of filter. It can keep replies direct. It can keep them calm. And it can stop a specific style that feels clunky on the page: slash-style gender variants.

A clean style preference that stays out of the way

A short preference can make a strong difference: avoid slash-style gender wording and keep one consistent generic form. When a sentence would sound forced, rewrite it instead of squeezing in awkward shapes. The result is smoother text that reads like it was written by one person, not stitched together.

A tiny Dutch mini-lesson for the menu words

Instellingen — settings
Word-by-word: instellingen — settings
Tone and use: neutral, everyday, common in apps

Personalisatie — personalization
Word-by-word: personalisatie — personalization
Tone and use: neutral, used for profile and behavior settings

Aangepaste instructies — custom instructions
Word-by-word: aangepaste — customized; instructies — instructions
Tone and use: practical, used for stored preferences

Plak het hier — paste it here
Word-by-word: plak — paste; het — it; hier — here
Tone and use: direct and friendly, common in forms

Why it feels bigger than it looks

A single box changes the feel of everything that comes after it. When the preference is clear, the replies stop drifting. The same voice returns, again and again, without extra effort.

Conclusions

Personalization is not loud, but it is powerful. The smallest preferences can turn a helpful tool into one that feels comfortable, consistent, and easier to trust for daily writing.

Selected References

[1] https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8096356-chatgpt-custom-instructions
[2] https://openai.com/index/custom-instructions-for-chatgpt/
[3] https://openai.com/index/memory-and-new-controls-for-chatgpt/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmP3XXwKJ60

Appendix

ChatGPT: A conversational AI product that can answer questions and help with writing, planning, and learning.

Custom Instructions: A settings feature that stores preferences about tone, format, and wording, so replies follow the same style across chats.

Dutch: The main language used in the Netherlands (Europe), often seen in short menu words inside apps and phones.

Masculine Generic: A language preference where one generic form is chosen as the default for general references.

Personalization: A settings area where behavior and style can be adjusted so replies match a preferred voice.

Slash Forms: A writing style that combines alternatives with a slash; some readers prefer to avoid it for cleaner, more natural text.