Day 3, Quote 3, By Unknown (about Mom)

“Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a Mother.”
Unknown

IMHO, no quote more true about Mom than I wrote above. I mean, if you (Indonesian) still remember long time ago we had books called Buku Pintar, I believe we’re still looking for more of answers to our Mom than that books. Nothing more true that when we’re seeking for a manual for our life, we always go to our mother. When we had our first boyfriend/girlfriend. When we couldn’t decide an important things in life. Or….when we didn’t know when the leeks go into that soups. Ha! Aren’t we all?

Mother – Daughter relationship always special yet unique for me. For sure we love each other, but still, sometimes we argue things that we can’t even remember the causes. But then again, we always ends it with stronger bond than ever. Mothers are always daughter’s guardian angel, the compass in their children’s life. On the other side, daughters are always mother’s soul, the purpose in their life. They think that, they’re everything for each other.

My mom and I are blessed that we’re close to each other. When I was still in school, after I’ve done my homework and study (what a diligent student, I was, huh? haha!), I always spent almost an hour just to talk with my mom before I went to bed. I talked about almost everything, tho mostly about school, considering I was only a teenager. Up until now, I always call her when I need her advises. Sometimes, over a silly things such as how to cook things, which clothes to wear during business trips, how to manage my housemaid, or when I need to choose one of her purses that I’d like to borrow for any kind of occasion. Mostly, of course, over some important things in life.

Well, I think a “manual” is too underrated. Like I said, she is a compass in my life.

Day 2, Quote 2, by Shantideva

Whatever joy there is in the world
Arises from wishing for others’ happiness.
Whatever suffering there is in the world
Arises from wishing for your own happiness.
Shantideva

This year is definitely an irregular year. Everything turns upside down, it makes us questioning our purpose. We start thinking, is everything that used to makes us happy still the same? Or is it getting biased now? Are we put ourselves too much, or do we care our loved ones enough? What do we need, is it being loved? is it loving? or simply….striving and thriving?

A friend of mine share the quote in the group one day. It is a reminder of old saying that “we need to put others first before ourselves”. That we can attain such joy after we see our loved ones happy. That too much ambition could lead us to disappointment and suffering. A reminder that it is easy to be happy once others are happy.

Is it? Easy?

These uncertainties we’re having these days create many ambiguities. We were too stressed that everything becomes so biased. We’re forgetting our plans, giving up our initial hopes, and shifting our purpose. We don’t see far to the future, we just chase what is in front of us. We tend to think it’s the only way to makes us survive. We’re becoming too focus on ourselves, and less aware about the suffer that happens around us.

But, we’ve forgotten a simple, yet most important, goal. Happiness. Worse, we’ve forgotten, that we need home to have that. That the home must be welcoming, warm and full of love to make us feel safe and content. Your closest friends are your home. Your family is your home. Your community around you is your home. It’s where the happiness lies.

So, don’t you wanna try what the quote saying?

Day 1, Quote 1, by Bob Iger

Don’t start negatively, and don’t start small. People will often focus on little details as a way of masking a lack of any clear, coherent, big thoughts. If you start petty, you seem petty.
Robert Iger, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

Bob Iger’s book, The ride of a Lifetime, was one of the book that open my eyes this year. It really inspired me that it’s not impossible being a CEO in a big company, even if you started from the bottom, as long as you have faith in yourself, push the best out of you and great will to step up to the top.

Many quotes inspire me from the book. But only 1 quote that struck me in the heart. It didn’t give excitement from the feeling of inspired. Instead, it stabbed me hard.

All my life, I always be a generalist. I never have any deep skill. I learned how to play piano, never good at it. I learned many languages, I never be really fluent in it. I like to write, yet my writing is still mediocre (hopefully it’s getting better). I learn lots lots of things in my life, but nothing from it I become master of. And to make it worse, I always stop what I learn before I finish it. I got bored or felt enough, and eager to learn another new thing. Not only I start small, I end petty.

I think and think so many times. Should I change it? Should I focus on one skill? Should I be specialist, as it seems like easier to get attention. Or even a clear career path. Should I choose one skill, learn it deeply, and have something that I can really put as my main strength ?

But then again, the quote said about not masking a lack of big thoughts. What if to learn it all is part of it? What if to have a will to never stop learning is not to start smart at all? The quotes, anyway, remind me of something. To never give up learning. Stay focus as knowledges are never small. And indeed, it’s not petty at all.

Yoan is typing…

I don’t really remember when or even why I like to write. I think it began when I was still in middle school. I liked to write about how I felt. Not in a full story, not even in a sentence. It was just a doodling of words. Some kind of calligraphy, but of course in a font that a middle school student know of. When my friends like to doodling or drawing on the corner of their text book, I write instead. Some words like “Boring”, “Haha, funny!”, or “OMG! So cute!” (this must be when I saw my crush across the class room. HAHA!”). But, It’s just that. I can’t remember when I start to write for myself.

Yes, I write for myself. It could be about any kind or anyone. But I never meant to publish it before I knew about blog. Even when I started blogging, I didn’t really care about blog traffics, comments, or likes. And it doesn’t change that much now. The only reason why I publish my blog is just that I want to share about my thoughts, without worrying much how the thoughts will suit others. I mean, I don’t mind if anyone’s disagreeing with me about things I wrote. I just need to release some burdens.

I kept a note book that I always write on. I think it’s started when I was in high school to write every time I feel confused, sad or stressed. Most of my journal filled with my negative thoughts back then. I guess, until now, I write to calm myself. It’s my way of sorting out my thoughts. When I’m filled with negativity, my mind is always a mess. Somehow, when I write, my mind is getting clearer. My heart beats slower. I’m getting to know myself. But now, I write almost when I feel everything. When I get too excited about something. When I think I need to list all of my plans. Or even when I feel inspired after reading books or watching movies. I’m getting to know a complete version about myself. I know what I want, what I need and how to fill the life with purposes.

I wrote once that when I read, it feels like I drop off in a rest area where I can finally pull the hand break, take a deep breath and have a short walks enjoying the views. But in writing, it’s like a pull over and think to sort everything out. It’s not a short getaway. It feels more like a pit stop. A break to prepare more of life.

Years later.

Ever since I turned 30s, somehow my life goal has changed significantly. Especially since this pandemic. I used to have dreams like working in big company until retired. Or may be having my own company. Be a leader or someone important. It’s just like usual dreams or goal. Something that everyone aims.

But it changed a lot. All I think about now is just how to be happy. How to feel content. About doing what I love. To live up my passion. And how to help communities by doing what I love. How to be able to always be close with our loved ones. I used to aim to conquer the world. Now I want to start small. A small happy world for my loved ones and communities around me.

My passion always about meeting people. I think that’s why I love traveling at the first place. And my dream life is not far from that. I’m thinking to live outside Jakarta. A smaller city with slower pace. Having my own Airbnb which provide local guide. To greet my guests in person and serve them wholeheartedly. We’ll exchange our knowledge about culture. Perhaps, some of them could be my new family. Or maybe having them joining 1 day volunteering in local foundation. Or, may be having my own foundation as well? You see, this life goal is always about people.

I’m also thinking to go to school again. Or maybe taking some courses. I used to think to take master degree to support my career. But, right now, I want to take master degree to support my life. Being committed to learn something deeper that is aligned with my passion, which I can implement it daily into my community.

Most importantly, I want life that is fully connected. With my families or best friends. With people around. And I’m talking about connected in person. To always think and care about each other. To reach out and able to be reached out. To always be there when needed. Because, what are we without them? What can we do without our support system? We could be as important as a CEO, or busy chasing other dreams. Still, we need to come home at the end of the day. So yeah, If you ask me about my goals for the future, I want to be “home” for my loved ones.