31 Aug 2025 #misc
It’s been so relieving and therapeutic listening to many of my mom’s stories.
My aunt pulled down an old photo album. I was full of joy seeing old photos of my mom as a teenager.
The next day, my sister and I sat down to talk to my mom’s best friend. They meet at 3rd grade and were friends since then. I loved hearing all their child adventures, school days, and teenage loves.
I was surprised by how many stories I heard. Some of them I didn’t even know.
Those two experiences reminded me that the best way to make an impact and preserve our stories is with a book. And for that, we don’t need a best-seller.
31 Aug 2025 #misc
I met a mom and her young girl about to start college. Like most teenagers, she was struggling to choose a major in college.
I was no different. I didn’t know what to choose either. My problem was that I had too many options. I’ve struggle to choose a single passion since always.
I ended up picking the major the dislike the least.
Here’s what I wish I had known before going to college:
- Understand you don’t have to go to college. If decide not to do so, you’d have to come up with your own alternative plan. Maybe start a business or self educate.
- Find an intersection between subjects you like and subjects with “employability” options. Again, understand you don’t have to follow the traditional path and go to a 9-5.
- Don’t simply choose going to college and a particular major just because your parents did the same. Don’t simply go to med school, just because your dad is a doctor.
- Learn as many skills you can. Among those, learn a manual skill: how to cut hair, make desserts…
- Have as many options along side to going to college. Try to answer what if you don’t get accepted at XYZ college to major in ABC. What would you do then?
- Understand you don’t have to stick to a single career for life. In this day and age, we have to reinvent ourselves way more often than our parents.
29 Aug 2025 #mondaylinks
Hey, there.
I had a really busy, long, and heart-breaking week. I only could curate 3 links for you this week. Here they are.
#1. Often, the hardest feeling for a writer is sitting in front of a blank page. That’s what we know as writers’ block. But what about developers’ block (8min).
#2. Here’s a breakdown of how databases actually store data (16min).
#3. Most of our time as backed coders is writing RESTful API, here’s how to do it (21min)
And in case you missed it, I wrote on my blog about how TikTok is a bad life coach. Not much coding this week on my blog
(Bzzz…Radio voice) This email was brought to you by… Check my C# Fundamentals Bundle, two easy-to-follow video courses and a practical ebook—now at a 20% discount. With the essential tools every new coder needs to start writing clean and professional-grade C# code.
See you next time,
Cesar
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28 Aug 2025 #misc
This was supposed to be a 300-day post celebration. But it turned out to be the toughest post I ever had to write.
After five years fighting with chronic kidney disease and two weeks in the hospital, one of the most important people in my life, my mom, passed away a few hours ago.
I’m writing this with tears in my eyes and a deep hole in my soul. We all know these moments will come at some point, but nothing and no one prepares us for them.
Today I want to remember mi mamá with a whole lot of gratitude.
Thanks mom:
- For teaching me faith
- For fighting so strong for so long
- For showing me love and kindness
- For being the best mom you could ever be
- For sacrificing your career to raising me and my sister
- For worrying about me even when you were sick in a bed too
- For staying up with me to study through the night
- For being there for me when I was sick
- For all that you sacrificed for me
- For the 62 years you were with us
I will always remember you, mamá. All that I am and what I have is because of you.
In the loving memory of Rocío Romero, the best mom God, Life, and the Universe could have given me.
We’ll see you again soon.
PS: If heaven is real, there must be a welcoming party there today.
27 Aug 2025 #writing
These days a loved one needed a blood transfusion.
My first instinct to look for donors was to write a WhatsApp status for my friends and contacts to see. I wrote something like,
“Urgent! Blood donors needed. O+. DM for more info.”
But then I realized I made the #1 mistake of writing and copywriting. I made the message about me, not about the readers. Anyone reading would ask, “What’s in there for me?” There was nothing for the reader.
After realizing my mistake, I wore my copywriting hat and changed my message,
“Has you done your good action of the day? Donate blood. It only takes a few minutes, you get a souvenir and have the chance of saving a life. DM me and I’d tell you how to help.”
That’s a copy written in favor of the reader, not of the writer. Because good copy and good writing is always about the reader.