Space · by Hana Choi · 2026-10-05
What I wish I knew before trying rockets before coffee
> Tiny progress is still progress.
That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where rockets stopped feeling new.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 8 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
I tried this in Toronto with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.
Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.
85 sparks · 34 comments
Comments
Aisha Rahman · 27 likes
This is the kind of useful internet I still show up for. A little friction removed goes a long way.
Valeria López · 2 likes
Good clarification — I read it differently at first.
Isha Menon · 17 likes
I love this. It feels practical without pretending life is neat.
Hana Choi · 4 likes
Yep, the boring details matter.
Beatriz Sousa · 13 likes
What would you change if you started over? For me it came down to the recipe.
Rapid Comet · 12 likes
Agree completely. The simple version is underrated. That is where the boring checklist helps.
Pixel Baker · 1 likes
@de_otter You just saved me a bad purchase.
Rafael Almeida · 12 likes
This is adorable and oddly motivating. I noticed the same thing in Jakarta.
Chloe Davis · 8 likes
Great point, especially the part about trying. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.
Pablo Martín · 8 likes
There is probably a middle ground here. It sounds small, but the practice run matters.
Avery Johnson · 8 likes
I would push back gently on the coffee part. It sounds small, but the practice run matters.
Budi Santoso · 8 likes
I am mostly here for the follow-up. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.
[deleted] · 8 likes
Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real.
Priya Nair · 8 likes
I wonder how much of this depends on timing. I appreciate when people separate evidence from speculation.
Angel Reyes · 7 likes
Love the tiny experiment energy. The the corner shop detail changes the whole answer.
Aoi Ito · 4 likes
This is adorable and oddly motivating.
Oliver Smith · 5 likes
@solar_river Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.
Chloe Davis · 4 likes
There is a hidden assumption here that not everyone shares. I would test it for 8 days before deciding.
Rohan Mehta · 3 likes
I wanted to like this, but the before argument is weak. I keep a note about astronomy for exactly this reason.
Minji Kim · 3 likes
I needed the reminder to start smaller.
Ren Suzuki · 3 likes
I love this. It feels practical without pretending life is neat. It sounds small, but the first draft matters.
Felix Weber · 3 likes
Really good advice, and it feels doable. I am curious whether telescopes still feels good next month.
Gentle Rider · 2 likes
This feels like advice from a patient friend. The Lagos example makes it feel concrete.
Huy Le · 1 likes
I laughed, but you are not wrong.
Mina Chowdhury · 1 likes
Glad you shared it; small wins count. A little friction removed goes a long way. Nature keeps being stranger than the simplified diagram.
Oussama Alaoui · 1 likes
My version of this was messier, but the conclusion was similar. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.
Solar Coder · 1 likes
Fair point, but I had the opposite experience. For me it came down to the practice run. Nature keeps being stranger than the simplified diagram.
Maya Putri · 0 likes
Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.
Élodie Favre · 1 likes
Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.
Nour Ali · 0 likes
My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. The beautiful constraint is probably the real story.