Chipping in: 2006

Di seputar kita

By Krakatau

Selama dunia masih berputar
perbedaan tak pernah pudar
terbawa keangkuhan manusia
tak ingin membagi rasa

bukalah mata hati kita
bayangkan masa depan dunia
bersatu rasa untuk melangkah
demi meraih harapan
dunia yang indah

bayangkanlah kita semua
berjalan bersama
menuju hidup damai sejahtera
sempatkanlah untuk melihat
di sekitar kita
ada kesenjangan antara manusia
lihat sekitar kita ..

adakah sepercik bahagia
yang tersisa di hati kita
bergandeng tangan dekatkan hati
tiada perbedaan dalam cinta dan kasih

Teriring salam dan doa bagi saudara-saudara saya di seluruh Indonesia yang tengah tertimpa musibah - baik di Sumatera, Kalimantan, Jawa, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, dan semua tempat lainnya.

Salam juga buat Pak Presiden SBY yang berjanji untuk lebih banyak bertindak di tahun-tahun mendatang ketimbang sekedar mencari konsensus.

Saya lelah mendengar kritik dari berbagai pihak mengenai negara ini. Lelah melihat orang bertengkar. Lelah melihat begitu banyak orang berkomentar tanpa bertindak, karena merasa itu bukan bagiannya atau merasa tak berdaya.

Mbok ya lebih optimis. Lebih positif. Ayo ayo kerja. Lakukan apa yang kita bisa. Apa pun itu.

From veronica decides to die

One of my favorite quotes from Paulo Coelho’s Veronica Decides to Die was when Veronica thought that her days were numbered and she started to see everyday as a miracle. Imagine that, to wake up everyday and see it as another miracle.

Which reminds me of another quote. Ernesto Guevara (yes, THE Che Guevara) who suffered from Asthma once said, “You don’t know what it is like. To want to breathe but not be able to.”

To see the simple act of waking up and breathing as a miracle and be grateful for it. When was the last time we felt that?

Still on the path

Yesterday I did what I have not done for a long time. I sat alone with my books at a café. Reading my books. Watching people pass by. Doing nothing. Letting whatever popped in my mind popped. Being caught up between full time work, meeting friends, exercising and family made it more challenging for me to find the time and energy to do so.

And what popped was the times when I allowed myself more time to spend with myself, the times when I rigorously meditated and prayed, and the times when silence and emptiness were always welcomed and even seeked.

I missed those days. I wondered whether I have strayed away from my path. Then I texted my friend about this. I went out with another friend and discussed this as well.

The two occurrence yielded the same conclusion: that this actually is part of the journey. It is a journey that I – that we – have to undergo to become who we are, who we are destined to be, who we really are.

Perhaps this is the pragmatic phase for me, the time-for-action put-theory-into-practice do-something-for-community phase. Even the title of the blog has changed from pilgrim for life to chipping in. Even the ideas for the blog threads for me have shifted to practical matters.

Thank You for the answer. I feel better already.

Used school books to give away anyone?

Anybody interested in helping my friend in her Program Anak Asuh (helping children in need get their education) by giving away used elementary school books or Indonesia-English dictionaries? Let me know. Thanks.

Christmas and new year!

Let’s hear it for moms!

This entry is dedicated to you, a strong supporter for breastfeeding. And for good reasons to. Hats off.

Welcome home, lad

A friend of mine has just returned to Indonesia – after staying for about eight years abroad. Talented. Insanely smart. Honest. Sincere. Cool. Hard worker. Idealistic. Loyal. Good sense of humor. Vast array of knowledge. And he plays guitar and sings to.

We need more people like that.

Now he is home. Now we can continue our dreams, the ones that we used to talk about when we were in the university. A dream for our almamater. A dream for our country, our people, or for whoever or whatever it is we dedicate this to. The time could not have been more perfect.

Welcome home, lad. Good to have you back.

Happy birthday, Indonesia

Happy birthday or happy independence day? Sorry the greeting comes one day late.

I want to quote the ad in the printed version of Kompas Dailies (in Indonesian), which I thought was great. From a long line of independence statement – from occupation (by other countries), lack of education, poverty, corruption, etc – Kompas has striked the word ‘occupation by other country’ (Occupation or occupancy? Unsure). We have gained our independence in that sense. One down, but still a lot to go – lack of education, poverty etc are still very much alive and kicking in our country.

I completely agree with the statement. I think you would too. Strangely, even though all agree, those problems still exist.

I think it is due to three things (1) We often think of ourselves and nobody else (2) We think in a too complicated way – how can we possibly provide education for all, we think and think but never do anything (3) We tend to belittle ourselves – who am I, what can I do, I am nobody. Oh and we often ‘let’ other people improve the situation while we do not do anything.

So, let us change our way of thinking (1) Start thinking of somebody else – your family, maid, janitor at the office, drivers, friends, etc (2) think simple (hah, tell that to myself) – do small things, what seems small to us might be meaningful to others (3) we matter. Stop thinking that we are nobody and start being somebody (Where does this insecurity come from anyway?). Try and see for yourself; and (4) if not us, then who would do it?

Where do we start? From whatever comes to our mind. Just do something. Whatever that may be.

Where should I start?

Just as I have suspected: I am puzzled of the kind of things I can write in this blog. There are so many things happening.

Every time I start reading newspaper, magazine or book, every time I listen to the radio or people conversing, and every time I watch TV, my mind is saying: hey, that is a good story. Too many, even though most are focusing on the problems and not solutions.

I feel like that certain Indonesian politician whom I said is talking too much about too many things. Now I know how he feels – what goes around comes around ☺

But then if I do not do that, I will never start, I will not do anything. Stuck. Hm, this reminds me of several other people as well – and me: thinking too much and never actually getting around to do it. Which is better?

So I thought, let’s just write. Whatever comes to mind. We never know, sometimes small things that we do, that we write, may make a difference however small it may be.

Like my friend said when I asked him where we should start, what we should do when there are so many wrongs, he answered: Just do what we can.

Bear with me. I will do my best. I will try harder – in writing for this blog, and for all other things that I cannot mention here one by one.

Standing strong after the storm

I have just watched ESPY (the ESPN Award-giving event). There is one category that strikes me most: the best team award goes to the John Ehret High School Basketball team.

The school is located just outside New Orleans, Louisiana – the state that was hit by Katrina. Nevertheless, the coach did not want to give up. He gathered all the boys in the surrounding area to play in the team.

Their condition did not put them off. In fact, it just motivated them even more and strengthened them as a team. They surprised everybody by moving forward in the Louisiana state basketball competition and winning it.

The players crashed in their family or friends’ couch, ate from the donation, and practiced wherever they could. And they could. They could even win.

I felt like I am writing fiction, but this is reality. With motivation, effort and enthusiasm, dreams can really turn into reality.

My thoughts went to the condition in the various regions in Indonesia. I am sure there are people who have such sheer determination. I just haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet. I am sure there are. Hats off to you.

Why?

According to my friends, and I hesitantly admit, that my favorite question is: why? For example, why do I make this blog?

Because I want to share. I want you to see what I see, to feel what I feel, and hopefully to do more than what I do.

I am sad to see so many unfortunate things happen in this world. I am sad to see so many people just walk on as if they do not care about what has happened around them. I am sad to see people complaining about unnecessary things despite of all the blessings that they have received. Am sad to see so many unused or misused potentials.

But I know that those people who just walk on actually care. They just do not know where to begin. They do not realize that they have more power to change.

And I think people who like to misuse things actually have a heart as well. I remember someone once said (that someone happens to be Muhammad) that a heart is like a mirror. We need to clean it continuously to make it shines. So that we can see the real beauty within us. So that it can reflect the love that shines so brightly to the rest – the rest of the people and the rest of the being.

So let us clean our heart. Bit by bit.

In my imagination, if only we walk together, if we unite all these heart and let each of us lend a hand, and if we can reflect the love within, it can be miraculously beautiful. My imagination. My dream.

I dedicate this blog
… to all the things that make us think – of how beautiful this world is, of how narrowminded people can be, and to all the things that make us question what we did to deserve this
… to all parties – government, NGO, everyday heroes – that have done amazing things – good and bad – that make us envious and that make us wonder why we did not think of that.
… to all of you who want to share your stories. Simply respond to whichever thread in this website or e-mail me. I can put your stories up. Or I might not. We shall see.

Bit by bit. Just by lending one hand. One minute of our time. Hope this helps.

fecund
Definition:	Marked by intellectual productivity.
Synonyms:	prolific, fertile

Chipping in

Di seputar kita

From veronica decides to die

Still on the path

Used school books to give away anyone?

Christmas and new year!

Let’s hear it for moms!

Welcome home, lad

Happy birthday, Indonesia

Where should I start?

Standing strong after the storm

Why?

I wonder...

Bali Usada this week

About Me

On the bookshelf

Blog Archive

Links

Activating extra brain cells

fecund