a həsəl story [part 1]

Solo Leveling, Are You Ready Player One?

Every journey starts somewhere. For me, the path to creating həsəl felt like stepping into an open-world RPG—level one, no experience, just basic gear, and a world of possibilities ahead. I always loved games where you had to grind, level up, and build your character before facing the boss. Beating the boss was great, but the real reward was the journey to get there. With həsəl, it felt the same. I was fueled by a surge of motivation, adventure, and hope—even if I wasn’t sure which direction to go.

To truly understand həsəl’s story, we need to time-skip back to the beginning. What moments shaped this venture? What dreams led to this brand? Let’s dive into a summarized past and uncover the journey that brought həsəl to life.

At eight years old, I was a dreamer. Confidence and passion fueled my days, and my biggest dreams were simple yet bold—a life of happiness, peace, and adventure. I envisioned traveling with my family, fishing with my dad on our boat, and building a life where money wasn’t a problem. Even back then, I didn’t quite fit into society’s results-driven mold. To me, happiness wasn’t a by-product of wealth; wealth came from happiness.

I had a entrepreneurial mindset early on. I remember going door to door, building a custom computer for neighbors, and delivering it on my bike with pride. But as I got older, reality crept in. As an immigrant from the Philippines, I faced the challenge of figuring out how to stay in the U.S. and build a future. By 26, I lost my work permit, my job, and my confidence. Desperate and heartbroken, I sold my car to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend, now my wife. We moved to San Diego in 2010, ready to start a new chapter together and new career.

Then life hit hard when I at least expected it. In January 2012, right after the New Year, I found out my dad had stage IV pancreatic cancer, and just days later, I got the news: my wife was pregnant with our first. The joy of becoming a father was instantly shadowed by the fear of losing my own. My dad was strong, and I held onto hope he’d beat it. He fought hard, but in April 2013, he passed away, leaving behind lessons about time and regret that shifted everything for me.

I realized I’d lost sight of my dreams. I had become results-driven, chasing money—but it wasn’t bringing happiness. I was a workaholic, trading presence for progress defined or validated by others. It wasn’t until my daughter brought home a family portrait—where she, my wife, her sister, and grandfather were all grouped on the left, and I was off to the far right on an airplane—that it finally clicked. That image hit hard. I had drifted.

In 2017, I started dreaming again. I wanted to create something real—something rooted in purpose. The idea of həsəl was born in May 2018, the same month my son came into the world. But life had more in store. My son faced unexpected health issues, including two moments where he stopped breathing in his sleep. Anxiety and depression crept back in from being buried by forced busyness in the past. With my wife’s support, I stepped back from my finance career to refocus on what truly mattered: my family and həsəl.

Today, həsəl is more than a brand. It’s a reminder to slow down, to find your peace, and to stay true to what lights you up. Wins come and go. But who you become? That's forever. 

To be continued...