A simple copy and paste from the toastmaster website.
Want to find leaders for your organization?
John Maxwell, Ph.D., is an expert on leadership and author of more than 30 books on that topic. In his monthly e-newsletter, Leadership Wired, he answers the question, “How can I be sure to hire the right person?”
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Last night I went to friend’s family funeral.
I was amazed by the condolence flowers his family has received and the number of people attending the funeral. I did not realize that his family was that popular and part of that ‘it’ society.
Homepage and News Country Editor (3x)
Reports to the Executive Producer
We're looking for someone who is passionate about their local audience, can pick out and follow a good story, and can meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
An MSN Homepage and News Country Editor will have the following responsibilities:
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I went to Ubud last weekend for the healing power of ikhlas program, co-managed by True Nature Healing and Kata Hati Institute.
I want to tell you more about the program but I am waiting for the handout to be distributed by e-mail. I want to be as exact as I should be. So for the time being, I will share with you the beautiful place that I stayed in: Anahata Villa & Spa Resort.
This is the first paragraph the resort uses to describe itself.
“Nestled in the lush landscape of the Petanu River bank, Anahata is a world class Bali hotel villa. Surrounded by verdant tropical forest and restful waters, visitors to these Bali vacation villas experience the tranquility of a pristine environment with all the amenities of luxurious living.”
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I am my parents' child. I am my siblings' little sister. I am my profession. I am my friends' friend. I am a follower of my religion. I am a citizen of my nation.
Multiple definitions for a single object. Strange.
I try defining me through my problems. But suddenly the problems feel unimportant. Insignificant. Not relevant. Not applicable.
I am nothing but blessed. And loved. And love.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I am so happy for my friend, Yusni. She’s just opened her yoga studio, Jakartadoyoga, in the heart of Jakarta, a life-long dream of hers.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Microsoft Indonesia and USAID-financed competitiveness project SENADA today launch iMULAI, a national competition and awards program for innovative solutions for business.
The program aims to promote the spirit and importance of innovation among Indonesian business entrepreneurs and support the establishment of Indonesia as a competitive, knowledge-based economy.
The competition, which will run until December 31st, 2007, is open for all Indonesian businesses (both start-up and established) and non-government organizations.
iMULAI will select three winners whose proposals show the most promising innovations and which promise the greatest potential impact on the information technology and communications industry in Indonesia.
Each successful innovation will receive over Rp145,000,000 in hardware and software business technology from Microsoft and Rp220,000,000 in grant financing from SENADA for innovation costs.
For more information, visit the iMULAI website.
I over indulged during the weekend. So now it is pay back time.
Here's today's lunch menu.
Nils, you would be proud to know that no animal has been harmed during the production or the consumption process.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
[Once upon a time, my friend Hanny and I had our writer's block. Then we decided to write in each other's blogs instead.
So, ladies and gents, I present you Hanny as my very first guest blogger, whose blog is probably the only site I visit regularly.]
Dear Eva,
I know nothing about spirituality, meditation, or yoga, or those wonderful things that close to your heart. However, as agreed, let’s play Athena in The Witch of Portobello, and I’ll try to start talking about things I know nothing about.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Remember that “a significant change in my life in the near future” I spoke about a while ago? Here goes.
I have decided to return to my natural habitat of freelancing. To become a freelance communications specialist (that is the title I give myself in my business card) once again.
And to be honest, actually, this time it is even more than that.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
It was late at the office. The room was getting dark. I kept staring at my computer’s monitor until it was time for me to go.
I turned around to look at the window, just to see how the traffic was. And I was in awe with what I saw.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
This month I have been blessed with encounters with two teachers. People whom I believe have earned their rights to be called teachers. People with such ample amount of knowledge and skills but still manage to be so humble, ordinary and willing to reach out.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
God, forgive me and forgive my mom and dad.
Love and care for them the way they have loved and cared for me while I was little. Cross that. the way the have loved and cared for me SINCE I was little.
*hugz*
SENADA, a USAID-financed Indonesian competitiveness project, is currently recruiting for a senior Public Relations Manager (Code: PRM).
He or she will develop and lead the implementation of communications strategy for SENADA. The strategy will consist of a master plan to communicate with SENADA’s stakeholders, including the business sectors, the industry or business associations, the government and the general public.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The Arabic word "i’tikaf" gets popular especially towards the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan. People go to mosques, conduct the prayer, read the Qur'an, and spend the whole night (or more) in the mosque.
What is the essence of i'tikaf?
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The traffic in Jakarta has been crazy (or crazier) these last several days. Not sure what this has anything to do with the fact that Idul Fitri is just about a week away.
I still do not see the connection, why the traffic has gone worse in the third week of Ramadhan compared with the first week of Ramadhan.
Anyway, here I was, stuck in the midst of this craziness. I looked around. I presumed most of the people on the road were fasting.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I wasn't that interested in Paulo Coelho's novels anymore. With all due respect to the gifted writer. It was just not my cup of tea.
So when the Witch of Portobello came out, I was not exactly running to the bookstore to get it.
That was, before a trusted friend recommended the book to me.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
There was a long discussion about the poem I put in the previous entry. One friend was a teacher. He said sometimes he signs up for classes just to be a student again.
I have different opinion.
I am a student.
I have been a student as long as I remember
And it is a pleasure to be a student.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I have just realized it has been some time since I last wrote in my blogs. Any of my blogs. Not that I don't want to. Not that I don't have the time.
But I just don't know what to write.
Yesterday my family had dinner in an outdoor restaurant, celebrating my nephew's birthday.
On our way out, suddenly there was this four year old kid tagging along. So my brothers and sister started asking, where was your mom and dad? The kid did not say a word and there was no adult part from my family.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
A friend asked. Let’s call this friend A him and the other B her, for the sake of this conversation. A and B used to be friend, but not anymore. It was a heated separation. (and I am being modest in my use of words).
Basically A thinks B is a snake, and the feeling is mutual. Different animal but on par. So friend A said to me, “How can you call yourself good when you are still friend with her?”
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I received an sms today. A cousin of mine, his child died in the womb, before birth.
I don’t know what to say. I remember once a friend ask what would be one of the things that I fear most and I answered, “to see my children die before I do.”
I don’t know why I said such thing. I don’t have a child yet. I can only imagine. Actually, I probably cannot. And I hope I will not. Ever.
.hope you are well.
The first of the two Rumi's poets. For those who observe the fasting of Ramadhan. And those who walk a similar path of cleansing the soul.
May we obtain more than just hunger and thirst.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The note was made during Pak Arif's speech in the comemoration of my sis's mother-in-law's passing.
Pak Arif opened his speech by stating the usual “Assalamu alaikum wr wb. Shawalat and salam..“ and followed by saying “prayers and peace be upon all of us, especially to the host of this event and to our teachers.”
A verse in Al Qur’an urged us to fast so that we can become the person of faith (takwa). Takwa should be the end, the destination of our journey.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
This note discussed about the foundation of fasting, which is QS Al Baqarah (2):183-188, and the its objectives. There are three objectives in fasting:
First: takwa - to increase the quality of the person, to become a person of real faith, those who maintain himself (from wrongdoings), who seek to be closer to God, who fear God (acknowledge God as the higher power) and who feel like he is being watched by God.
You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
can make you fell so small
But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow
Show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there
And I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow
.happy birthday.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The message sometimes seem to get subtler by the day.
This week has been one busy week for me. A couple of days ago, a passer-by in my old blog left a comment. Somehow she (I presume, a she) advised me to pray, because prayer has such great power.
Yesterday I realized that my driver’s license was not where it usually was. I kept thinking about it but could not bring myself to remember what I did with it.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Today the street is really 'jammin'. My usual commuting time of 3/4 hour has turned into 3 to 4 hours.
My thought goes to Sutiyoso and his plan to build a bus way on this very street that I was stuck in, turning the two-lane street (one way) into one-lane. That would be the day.
Today as I was reading the usual A year with Rumi book, I cheated, pop. I skipped June 19, 20, and 20 to peek at June 22, your birthday. I wanted to know what he writes for June 22. And I felt my eyes watering.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Have you ever gone out of a mall, looked at your parking ticket and found out that you have spent about three hours and ONE minute. Which means that we have to pay an extra hour for that one minute. Annoying (to me).
And on those times, my impatience shows its ugly face. So when I am in a certain mood, I would rush to ensure that I do not have to pay that extra minute. Unnecessary, I know.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
This is one of the things that I like about Indonesian language. There are several words we use when referring to friends. There are “teman”, “kawan”, and there is “sahabat”. Every Indonesian knows where the difference lies, although not most people probably have a hard time giving the exact definition.
But that is the way it is. We use the word “teman” very lightly. I want to you meet my “teman”. My high-school “teman”, my work “teman”, etc. But we use “sahabat” very carefully and selectively.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
We continued talking about writing. This time it was about writing for our personal blog. You said, “Your writing in your previous blog while you were in Spain was very good. Why was that? Was it because of the ambiance?”
This got me curious. Yes, why is that? So I accessed my previous blog and started reading. It was a bit overwhelming, actually, to read the blog one more time. It brings back so many things in mind, or rather, in heart.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
It is funny to listen, to see you getting so excited over writing. Not funny, funny. But funny, happy. The kind of funny that brings a smile on my face and in my heart.
I too share the same passion. To express myself in writing. Whenever I have a writer’s block when writing for my work, I always write in my blog first, to get the creative juice going. Whenever I feel sad or upset, I too write.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
It is sad how reunion sometimes do not do justice for its true meaning: to come together again so as to be connected or to come into close association or relationship.
Some reunions even causes the oppositve things. The committee for the reunion argues endlessly with one another over small matters when preparing the reunion.
This happens even when a group of people get together for a good cause. (speaking from a rather personal experience.) Even with good intension in mind and an abundance of knowledge on spirituality (whatever that means), we can end up with endless arguments, resentments and negativities.
Then re-union becomes de-union. Unfortunate. Unnecessary. Sad.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
We talked about first impression. Last impression. I supposed it is a topic close to our heart, (professional heart that is, if there is such thing) since we are in communications field.
People often talked about the importance of first impression. To me last impression is just as important.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I had breakfast with a dear friend last Saturday for about two and a half hours. It was one of those times when I felt time passed by. Yet I have carried so many memories from that chat.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I have just realized that my recent threads have gotten back to being very contemplative and idealistic.
I wonder what it means. I have a hunch, but I am not ready to share it.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Today Indonesia is celebrating the 62nd anniversary of its independence day. I was trying to find the right picture for this thread.
My choice goes to the picture below, showing the double badminton players from Indonesia: hendra Gunawan and Joko Riyadi during the current World Championship in Malaysia. 
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Still from the conversation with Pak Brotoseno.
We spoke about contemplation. We spoke about feeling grateful. To contemplate how much we have received from everybody and every single thing in nature.
Look at the obvious. People who have explicitly and directed given us many things. Our parents. Our teachers. Our friends. Our sponsors.
Look at the less obvious.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Last weekend me and my fam went to our hometown, Solo. My sister wanted to find some antiques for her house. She was referred by a friend to this person: Pak Brotoseno.
When we got there, it turned out that he was not into antiques anymore, rather he is making some wooden furniture. It was obvious how he really loves his work. And only did what he wanted to do. What a beautiful thing to do. or to be.
I went to the second level of his house and I asked what this room was for. He said he is teaching meditation every night. Hm.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The regional election day when Jakarta votes to elect a new governor.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I have just had a good conversation tonight with a friend. (Actually every conversation with her is a good one). We talked about this and that. One particular subject stuck in mind. Hope she does not mind.
You know when you get too close to a subject or a person, our view become not so objective anymore. The perception is skewed. We begin to apply double standards. I will use general examples.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
One of the biggest obvious blessings in my life (apart from my family) is the things that I have learned just by watching people around me.
People who make their way by using their own two hands. They did not come from a wealthy family yet look at where they are now financially speaking. The survivors.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Somehow all interesting stuff in life starts with “coincidences”. I was not planning to join this yoga retreat with Ann Barros in Ubud Bali.
But ‘coincidently’, my friend kept asking me whether I wanted to come. ‘Coincidently’, I was joining another yoga retreat that made me change my mind, and ‘coincidently’ my workload has got me thinking “perhaps a little break would be nice..”
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I felt so tired today at the office. I thought I was going to be ill. All I wanted was to go home and meet my family. Then I went home. The drive home was slow. Yet I felt better, bit by bit.
I have just returned from a five day yoga 'retreat' with Ann Barros. One of the nicest short getaway I have ever had.
I just want to say that at the moment. Will write a bit more later. First thing first. Reading Harry Potter.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
A friend of friend was working his b*tt off. He stayed at the office until late night after night. One day he sms-ed his manager, "I am so tired". He SMS-ed twice. He went home. Late. Again.
The next thing they heard about him was that he had passed away. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Is it all really worth it? Let's see..
[Bahasa Indonesia]
My friends (let’s say a male, “he”) is quite well off. An advantage that leads to dilema. An advantage that are often misused, abused, by other people.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I always love to hear my friends’ dreams. I do believe that everything starts from a dream. But we cannot stop there. Let's turn them into objectives, targets and think of ways to achieve them.
That is why every time a person told me about his/her dream, I tend to say, “That’s great. Make it real.” Sometimes I think I have more faith in them than themselves.
I was attending a friend’s farewell party at a hotel. I was early, so I sat in the hotel lounge. Next to me was a group of people, cosmopolitan socialités. I could not help hearing their conversation.
They were talking about setting up a party. A real party from the sound of it. The rave music they want to use. The glitzy lighting. The avant garde decoration. The drinks. The food, or should I say hors d’oeuvres.
Wow. I did not realize how distant I am now to that life now. I could not remember the last time I attended that kind of party.
It is not that it is good or bad. It is just what it is. I have just realized how different my life is now. Moving on.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Do you have a place where you can freely cry and pour your heart out without anybody making judgement about you? I do. Or at least I used to have one. The catholic churches.
If you see my ID card, I am not catholic. Yet I find this place welcoming. I used to come there often. At one time, everyday. Perhaps historically speaking, churches are safe havens. It is my safe haven. It used to be.
But here, now, where the religion is not exactly the majority's, where you feel like you know everybody (and they all know you), and where you know that people are sensitive with inter-religion practices, suddenly safe haven is not so safe anymore.
I miss that.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Still continuing on the same topic. From another angle. When I arrived home, I turned on the TV. My mother said that a lot of people attended Taufik’s funeral. Praise the Lord. Such a huge amount of attention put on the passing of one Taufik Savalas.
As the TV show was over, I flicked to another TV channel, Metro TV. Headline News. A ship accident somewhere in the Eastern Indonesia. 120 passengers. They have found 30 so far, two died.
120 people went missing and most probably would not survive the accident. I wonder how much attention people would put on these 120 missing people. Or the 30 million people living below the poverty line in Indonesia.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
This morning people were taken back by the news that comedian Taufik Savalas has died from an accident. The guy was known for his sense of humor, kindness and humbleness. All comes from God and will eventually return to Him.
I was touched by all the impressions Taufik made among his friends – as his friends were interviewed by the TV channels. The sympathy that he had received was overwhelming and was obvious, judging by the TV and radio news coverage.
“He is not a big guy, but he is kind,” said Ulfa, one of his best friends. Patience and pleasing for everybody.
Pleasing for everybody. That was the topic of today’s radio talkshow. Looks like that is the message of the day for me.
The death of someone, anyone, always makes us think of our own death. What kind of impression will you leave behind among friends and family when you die?
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I have heard this many times. Too many. The problem is people seldom feel that they are rich enough, never enough. We are always too busy with 'other priorities' so they end up never doing any deeds for other people.
Back to the "being rich" issue. I think we all know that helping is not equal to money and, hence, no need to wait for us to be rich. I have just discussed this with another friend this afternoon. And I told her a story..
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Next week the school season starts again. Are your kids or nephews and nieces going back to school?
Now let me ask, are your maid's, driver's, security guard's, neighbor's, office janitor's kids going back to school as well? Have you asked?
Pic: Bu Sudan's Istiqon school.
.start doing something. anything.
I have just returned from a business trip in Semarang. It was a good trip. I have good friends in Semarang. It was a nice trip.
Pic: overlooking Simpang Lima, from the 7th Fl of Ciputra Hotel.
A lover has four streams inside,
of water, wine, honey, and milk.
Find those in yourself and pay no attention
to what so-and-so says about such-and-such.
The rose does not care
if someone calls it a thorn, or a jasmine.
Ordinary eyes categorize human beings.
That one is a Zoroastrian. This one a Muslim.
Walk instead with the other vision given you,
your first eyes. Bow to the essense
in human being. Do not be content
with judging people good and bad.
Grow out of that.
The great blessing is that Shams
has poured a strength into the ground
that lets us wait and trust the waiting.
Taken from p174 of Coleman Barks's A Year with Rumi.
-snif-
post script: I like the way he called "the other vision" our first eyes, instead of the third eye as we often refer to it. These eyes are indeed our first eyes, the ones we should use when we look at the world. The ones that see things as they are. As beautiful as they really are.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
We like to do things that we like, and not what He likes. We like to do our fasting, night prayers, but we keep hating, not giving to our people, and we keep lying. We like to make ourselves pretty yet we seldom clean up ourselves.
A hadits kudtsi said that (God says that): if a person trying to get close to me by doing what I like, I will like him back eventually. And when I like him, My sight becomes his, My hearing becomes his, My arms become what he use to reach out with, and My legs become what he use to walk with.
Thus, it is important to know what He likes. According to the Quran, two of his most favorite people are those who are:
- Just. The kind of justice that can make everybody happy.
- Kind, even to those who have done him wrong.
Complete note of this discussion (In Indonesian) can be downloaded from here.
Accept what can be accepted. Appreciate the difference among us. Each with her/his own’s needs and stage of growth.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I am quoting a quote taken from Mbak Lita’s pages. The thread was originally posted by Ira Lathief in August 2006. The posting was titled “"Don't know what I've got until it's gone..."
It is in Indonesian, so allow me to translate it to English:
One and a half year ago, my mom passed away. There are so many things that I have not told her.
"Mom.. at last I have been accepted for a job. This is due to your prayer.”
“Mom.. here’s my first paycheck. I should give it all as a present to you.”
“Mom.. I will receive a bonus soon. When I receive it, let’s go on a trip.”
And, when the time comes, I will not be able to tell her..
“Mom.. meet my future husband.”
“Mom.. please give me your blessings, I want to get married.”
"Mom.. this is your grandchild, teach my how to be a great mother like you.”
A mother is like air to breathe to human life. It is so grand yet rarely we notice it, until it is gone.
Here’s to all the mothers in the world. Huge hugs, kisses and love to mine.
Postscript: I forwarded this to a friend. His response was “So, love ur mum, while she is still with you, Va.”
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Still from the interview with Yos Luhukay. A person is only limited by her dreams. How brave are we to dream? Perhaps the majority of us are being pragmatic, realistic. Trapped in our current condition.
Don’t be. Let’s start from the end. Try to imagine, have a vision, of what we want to achieve in certain stages of our lives, in terms of career, personal, family and spirituality. After that, back track to what we should do to achive it. What we should do now.
Does what we are doing right now support our vision? Decide on how long we should stay in our current place, what the end target in this place is.
These words have made me think. I can imagine what I want to be. I am questioning whether I have done enough to achieve it. Perhaps not.
I became sad. But sad is not what I should be. I should try. I should do my best. I should be what I want to become.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
A brilliant suggestion by Yos Luhukay, during an interview by Trijaya FM last Friday. Wherever you are, make yourself obsolete. Train your people to do what you do, so that you become obsolete (and thus are free to go your merry way whenever you want to).
I recently helped manage an event in my project. All I did was give a bit of suggestions here and there. The rest was my colleagues’ doing. I felt happy and proud to see the event went very well. I felt that I have become obsolete. And I felt happy.
-Perhaps now I can go my merry way. Perhaps I should. Second sign.-
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Last week my mom lost a close friend, Bu Zul. The last time I met Bu Zul was about a couple of weeks ago. My family (about 12 of us) had just had a family breakfast in a restaurant. Mom insisted we visited Ibu Zul, bringing her some pancakes from the restaurant.
Bu Zul was lying on her bed. She looked weaker than usual. I was a bit stunned. She looked.. Anyway, each of us kissed her by her cheeks. And to each, she gave us her prayers, different from one to another.
Still, the news came as a surprise somehow. The night before she still called some of her friends. At midnight, her sister called all her children to come to the house.
She had a fall out recently with one of her daughters, but they had reconciled. To her, she asked her forgiveness. The daughter said, “no mom, it was my mistake. I am the one who should apologize.”
Bu Zul asked her to recite a prayer. The daughter did and Bu Zul said amen to every phrase. Then Bu Zul recited her own prayer, in Javanese, and that was it. She passed a way. What a beautiful way to go.
May God grant her with peace and His light for the rest of her journey. Thank you for being such a good and loyal family friend.
[Pic: jasmine, her favourite flower. Taken from here.]
cavort discuss | |
| Definition: | (verb) Play boisterously. |
| Synonyms: | frisk, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp, run around, skylark, sport, disport |
| Usage: | The children cavorted in the water, splashing and ducking each other. |
  As the World Turns Premieres (1956)Soap operas began in the early 1930s as 15-minute radio episodes and continued in that format when they began appearing on TV in the early 1950s. As the World Turns premiered as the first half-hour TV soap. The show, which primarily focused on two professional families in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, ran for 54 years and aired nearly 14,000 episodes. For 20 of those years, it was most-watched daytime drama in the US. What interrupted a live broadcast of the show in 1963? More... Discuss |
 Émile François Zola (1840)Zola was the founder of French naturalism, a literary school that maintained that novel-writing should be scientific, appraising reality in terms of natural forces such as heredity or environment. Inspired by his readings in sociology and medicine, he applied his theory in a vast series of novels in which the characters are impartially observed and presented in minute, often sordid, detail. Zola also had an ardent zeal for social reform. He died in his sleep under what suspicious circumstances? More... Discuss |
 Virtue is insufficient temptation.George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Discuss |
