‘Dito Lang sa Tabi’: Finding Joy in the Simple Things We Still Have

Let’s face it—living in the Philippines today feels like being stuck in a loop of “pagod na ako pero kailangan pa rin kumayod.

” We scroll through social media and see people traveling every weekend, buying expensive coffee daily, and living what looks like a Pinterest-perfect life.

Meanwhile, you’re just trying to budget your last P150 until the next sweldo.

Sound familiar?

The ‘Kulang Ako’ Mindset

Let’s break this down.

Most of us, knowingly or not, are stuck in a mentality of lack—“Kulang ako ng pera, kulang ako ng gamit, kulang ako ng achievement, kulang ako ng kagandahan (lalo na pag may filter).

” Social media, for all its perks, feeds this feeling. You look at someone’s curated life and suddenly feel like you’re falling behind—even when, in reality, you’re doing just fine. You’ve got food on the table, a roof over your head, and people who love you.

But we forget that because we’re too busy comparing our day-to-day mess to someone’s highlight reel.

Social Media Isn’t Real Life

Let’s be real: most of what you see online is a lie. 

Or at least, only half the truth.

That travel vlogger showing off a new country every week? Sponsored.

That influencer flexing their "daily routine" with aesthetic coffee and Pilates?

Probably had to shoot that three times and borrow a matching outfit.

Everyone’s out here doing PR for their own lives, and we’re the ones buying into it, feeling like failures.

Even worse, the pressure hits hard in a country like ours, where so many are already struggling with unemployment, inflation, and literal brownouts.

You’re made to feel lazy for resting when, in truth, you’ve been hustling non-stop just to survive.

Reclaiming Our Joy

Here’s where we shift gears.

You don’t need to keep up. 

You just need to stay grounded.

Find joy in the simple things—yung tipong taho sa umaga, usapang walang kwenta pero puno ng tawa, o yung moment na mahanginan ka lang pagkatapos ng LRT ride na parang sauna. 

These aren't consolation prizes. These are real, grounding moments that remind you you’re alive.

Present.

Breathing.

We overcome the pressure by being intentional with what we consume and how we define happiness. 

Start muting those accounts that make you feel less.

Follow people who are real, vulnerable, honest—like that nanay sharing her daily budgeting wins or that tricycle driver dancing in between rides.

This is your tribe.

This is real life.

Key Points to Remember:

• Don’t believe everything you see online. 

  Filters aren’t just for faces—they’re for lifestyles too.

  
  

• Simple joy is not a downgrade. 

  It’s the most accessible kind of wealth.

  
  

• You’re allowed to rest without guilt. 

  Productivity doesn’t define your worth.

  
  

• Disconnect to reconnect. 

  Your life offline deserves more attention than your feed.

  
  

• Progress isn’t always big. 

  Sometimes, it’s just choosing to get up again after a rough day.

Joy isn’t always in the upgrade. Sometimes, it’s just ‘dito lang sa tabi’.

Stop chasing a life that isn’t yours.

The most underrated freedom is knowing that you don’t have to perform for anyone.

Your small, quiet, messy, beautifully imperfect life?

That’s more than enough.