Ribbit.FYI | Data Storytelling and Illustration

EDIT: We made an error on Slide 2! Instead of 25 on the x-axis, it should have been 22. 🙏 I have a career, taxes to pay, along with the many obligations and responsibilities an Adult™️ has. Despite all that, I feel too young to be this old. Are adults my age supposed to feel this way? While conversing with elders around me, I found it intriguing that they also experienced what I had been feeling. Though their backs ached and their joints creaked, they too, felt young at heart. There are many possible reasons for this difference between our objective and subjective ages, including the mental distancing of oneself from being “old”—stemming from more ageist perceptions of ageing, as well as feeling more youthful from activities like sports.(3) For me, my younger “felt age” might be a result of the uncertainty I feel, even as a so-called qualified adult. Whether you’re 26 or 60, perhaps “feeling like an adult” is more of a myth than a milestone. Maybe we’re all just Vincent Adultmans cosplaying as grown-ups—growing older without ever fully outgrowing the kid we once were. And maybe that’s okay. ❤️ #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #visualideas #foreveryoung #adulthood #adulting #adultlife #imbaby #grownup #innerthoughts

If there’s one thing I’ll give up sleep for, it’s a late-night yap. I tend to have super, super, deep conversations with my friends after dark, and upon researching, I found that staying up late boosts dopamine levels in our system, encouraging extraversion.⁴ It even speeds up our sense of time.⁶ I guess that’s why I can yap till 7am and still feel like I haven’t yapped enough… Revealing your deepest thoughts and realising there are people who truly understand you is one of the best feelings in the world. So when the opportunity comes for a late-night chat, don’t hold back. There’s no better time to show the real you. #RibbitFYI #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #visualideas #latenightthoughts #latenighttalks #hearttoheart #deepconversations #yapper

If birthday tears have become an annual tradition, know that you’re not alone. 🫂 Though birthdays are meant to be joyful celebrations of life, they can stir up strong feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and disappointment—especially if we feel that our friendships have not been reciprocated, or if we view our birthdays as milestones to evaluate our accomplishments. It’s more than OK to feel down on your special day. But if the birthday blues hit, reach out to someone you trust—you don’t have to process all the heavy feelings on your own. And if today is your birthday, happy birthday! You are so loved. 💙 #RibbitFYI #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #visualideas #birthdayblues #birthdaydepression #happybirthday #birthdaywishes

Ideally, we’d all have a healthy amount of savings to ride out any storm. But life doesn’t always wait. Emergencies strike before we save up just enough, and suddenly, we’re confronted with the question: should I take up a loan? 😥 It’s easy to spiral, but borrowing doesn’t mean you’ve failed or lost control. When we approach borrowing with clarity and care, it becomes less frightening and more empowering because we know what we’re signing up for, and we’re doing so on our own terms. Adulting isn’t about having everything figured out. Sometimes, it’s just about making the best decision with what we have. In collaboration with @maribank_sg #financialliteracy #financetips #personalfinance #loans

I always thought I was just being practical. Skipping that latte. Cooking the same cheap meals, over and over. It felt responsible—like proof I could survive on less. But I didn’t notice how this habit started shaping everything. From the food I ate to my appearance, I’d been cutting back for years. And slowly, being “smart with money” stopped feeling like a strength. It started to feel like I was losing out on life. I try to remind myself every once in a while, a little joy isn’t always wasteful. #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #visualideas #finance #financialliteracy #money #income #payday #wellness #habits #personalfinance

I used to think “hanging out” had to mean doing something, whether it’s grabbing a meal or going out. But lately, I’ve come to really appreciate just being around people. No pressure. No agenda. It reminded me of parallel play: a stage of childhood development where kids play side by side without directly interacting. It turns out, we never really outgrow it. As adults, parallel play lets us enjoy presence without performance. Just by sitting beside someone, even whilst doing your own thing, can be more comforting than we realise. I feel seen, even without words, and that makes it easier to face things on my own. We don’t always need a reason to meet up. Sometimes, no plan is the best plan. #visualideas #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #parallelplay #friendship #mentalhealth #communitycare #consciousliving #adulting

Sometimes, we hold on to things that weigh us down, be it old habits, regrets, or fears. Staying still feels safer… But like a balloon rocket, we only take off when we let go of what’s holding us back. Letting go isn’t giving up, it’s making room to move forward! 🎈💨 🌟 How to make your own balloon rocket! 🌟 1. Insert a straw into a balloon and secure it with a rubber band. 2. Cut and tape the tissue fringe around the end of the straw. 3. Cut cardstock fins and tape them onto the straw. 4. Decorate your rocket! (optional) 5. Thread string through another plastic straw. 6. Tape that plastic straw to the top of the balloon. 7. Tie the string tightly between two points. 8. Blow up the balloon through the straw, cover the straw with your finger and slide it to one end of the string. 9. Let go and watch your rocket soar! *You may need to inflate and deflate the balloon at various points of the experiment! #asmr #science #kids #diy #hopecore #balloonrocket

I’m a self-diagnosed people pleaser in recovery. 🥹On most days, I go with the flow and agree to what others want. Standing my ground is something I’ve been practising! But when I do so, I tend to overdo it. Swinging from one state to the other, I’ve realised that life isn’t about picking just one approach—it’s about learning how to balance both! Like oobleck, I can be soft or strong… depending on what life calls for. Now, I’m firm when I need to be, and gentle when I choose to be—the best balance of all. 🌟 Make your own magical oobleck! 🌟 1. Pour 2 parts cornstarch with 1 part water in a bowl 2. Mix slowly until combined 3. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired 4. Experiment with different ways of applying pressure 5. Watch how it behaves as both a solid and a liquid! #asmr #science #kids #diy #hopecore #oobleck

We all move at different speeds in life. Some seem to race ahead on smoother paths, while others take longer on bumpier roads. But going slow doesn’t mean we’re falling behind. Because in the end, we each have our own paths to take… and we all get there in our own way! 🌟 How to host your own marble race! 🌟 1. Using tape or glue, cover different sections of the ramp with materials like bubble wrap and crepe paper to create different textures. Get creative! 2. Glue popsicle sticks to act as walls for the race tracks. (Optional) 3. Place the ramp at a slight incline. 4. Release the marbles from the top of the ramp and let them roll down! 5. Watch and compare how each different surface affects the speed of the marble. #asmr #science #kids #diy #hopecore #marblerace

Am I queer? I’m not always sure. But I do know I don’t fully see myself in what society calls "normal"—and maybe that’s more natural than we think. 🌈🌿 Same-sex behavior, gender fluidity, and diverse expressions of connection have long existed in the wild, but they’ve often been overlooked or misunderstood through a human-centric lens. Queerness in ecology offers a powerful alternative to the rigid binaries and norms we've been taught. These biases run deep, shaped over centuries, and unlearning them takes time, care, and curiosity. By learning to see nature more clearly, we might just begin to see ourselves—and our shared world—with greater honesty and wonder. ✨🌍 #visualstorytelling #visualcreators #visualideas #pridemonth #queerness #nature #wildlife #animalpride #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA

Sometimes, problems feel beyond saving, like time has already run out. But I’ve realised: we often have more time than we think, and have more power to change things than we believe. It’s not too late to make a change... We just have to act! 🌟 Try the balloon and candle experiment! 🌟 NOTE: Adult supervision required! 1. Get two candles and two balloons 2. Fill one balloon with water until it’s about ¼ full, then tie it off 3. Fill the other balloon with air and tie it off 4. Set the candles side by side, leaving a safe distance between them. 5. Light the candles. Carefully hold one balloon over each candle. 6. Watch and observe: which balloon pops first? #asmr #science #kids #diy #hopecore #balloonpop

Meeting new people can be difficult, especially when they don't think or behave the same way as we do. But when we learn to embrace our differences, we can make something beautiful together! 🌟 Here's how you can make your own lava lamp! 🌟 1. Find an empty bottle 2. Fill a quarter of it with water 3. Fill the rest of the bottle up with vegetable oil (make sure to leave some room on top for the other ingredients!) 4. Wait for the oil and water to separate 5. Add a few drops of food colouring into the mixture 6. Pour baking soda into the mixture and let it settle 7. Pour vinegar into the mixture and watch it bubble 8. Place a flashlight below your flask (you can use your phone!) 9. Turn off the lights and enjoy! #asmr #science #kids #diy #hopecore #lavalamp