Patriotism encompasses a wide range of meanings. It involves a love for the homeland, a commitment to protecting it from division, the abuse of power, and the acceptance of immoral behavior. Additionally, it is essential to study global conditions to fairly evaluate the policies implemented by the government.
My country is currently facing challenges in escaping the middle-income trap. This is not an easy struggle. A patriotic citizen should support government policies to elevate the country’s standing in the global community. If you disagree with a policy, express it with logical opinions and use polite language.
I don’t like some opposition figures in my country who claim to be patriotic. But their speaking style is rude and inappropriate. It seems only their point of view is right. The others are wrong.
Nature is a place for humans to learn, and that concept has guided me for a long time. My husband often reminds me that not everything is suitable for me. I must filter what I see and selectively choose the good aspects to incorporate into my life.
Yes, I agree with him. I realize that I am not a special woman. I have limitations, but I also have preferences. I will follow the developments in the world regarding the things that interest me.
I like to learn. I admire the achievements of others, not because I want to imitate them, but because I want to learn and maybe apply their philosophy in other activities.
Like today’s experience, I went to an Arabica coffee farm on Sonsang Hill, a small village in West Sumatra Province. The height of the place is about 1100 meters above sea level. I drove the car uphill to reach the destination and continued on foot.
The journey was not easy, but I was enthusiastic. I was happy to see young coffee trees. They grow healthily. Some are already bearing fruit. The view below was nice and soothing.
Some of the lessons I learned today include:
Never stop dreaming of starting a personal project. The coffee farm belongs to my brother-in-law. He lives in Jakarta. Previously, he had so many problems. Finally, he found an opportunity to establish this coffee plantation. Good job.
The location of the plantation is on a hilltop. The difficulty of starting a plantation a year ago must have been very heavy. One must have a strong commitment to achieve success.
Not all efforts will yield results but don’t view it that way. After carefully assessing all the risks and working hard to achieve your goals, let God decide to grant you success. Currently, the price of coffee in the international market is high, and I pray that it will be like that forever so that my brother-in-law will profit from what he has done. But if the opposite happens, there is no need to despair. Try again and wait for the best results.
After the coffee plantation grows well, the surrounding farmers who previously refused to join in planting coffee now start to see it as a potential future business. Humans need good examples. My brother-in-law has set a good example for society. I think it’s a good contribution to the community in this village.
I often feel tempted to share my plans that bring me happiness with my friends and family. I do this to share my joy and satisfy myself. I thought it was acceptable until I realized that by doing so, my plans were slipping further away from being achieved. Now, I am reconsidering my approach.
Am I cursed because I revealed it too early, or is an invisible force preventing me from realizing it? The goal seems to be to frustrate me and make me give up. This doubt often fills my mind.
It’s believed in Indonesian culture that you should not share your personal plans in advance.
Because not everyone is happy with you. Telling it can be interpreted as arrogance.
By conveying personal plans too early, you become easily changed if many criticize and do not support you. You will also feel pressured if the plan experiences obstacles from your side.
I’ve started to realize that revealing personal plans is not wise. It’s better to keep them as surprises. Others will find out once they are accomplished.
What about your culture or perspective on this matter? Do you need other people’s opinions before realizing a personal plan?
The campaign to not buy clothes for one year is active on social media. I applaud a girl who admits she hasn’t bought new clothes in five years. How strong she is, not tempted to buy new clothes amidst the many promotions for clothes from famous designers and online shops.
I take some time to reflect on myself. At home, I have a cupboard full of clothes. I didn’t realize I had accumulated—pants, shirts, and more. I only wear a small portion of them regularly. The others were purchased because of my consumerist appetite.
I never realized how my buying habits wasted money and the world’s resources. Do you know how many resources are required to produce a single piece of clothing?
Apart from raw materials such as cotton and wool, to make the clothes, you also need electrical energy to drive machines, water to wash, process, and dye materials, labor, and technology. In the production process, air and water pollution will occur around the factory and produce waste.
Indeed, the waste caused by a single person may seem insignificant. But if hundreds of millions of people engage in wasteful practices, the total amount of wasted resources becomes substantial.
I want to change my wasteful habits gradually. I’m not a fashionable person who believes that clothes enhance my beauty. This change is manageable.
What about you? Ready to take on the challenge of not buying clothes for a year?
Hey guys. Have you ever tried a new habit that made you feel better instantly?
I just experienced it, and I feel blessed.
Recently, I have been developing a new routine of taking a shower shortly after waking up. I shower right away (around 4 am) and then take wudu for the morning prayer.
After doing this routine for a few weeks, I feel a change in my spirit. The burden unconsciously carried in my sleep seems to disappear, and I am ready to welcome the new day.
I don’t mean to imply that this routine will work for everyone. But we should refresh ourselves by trying out or embracing new activities that resonate with us. There is a wealth of information available that can help us choose what might be a good fit.
Actually, previously, I was a conventional woman in general. I did the same routine for years. Until one day, I felt very bored and wanted to quit my job.
Alhamdulillah, I didn’t make that decision. (I still need money, hahaha). Instead, I took several online courses, including making herbal soap, environmental educator courses, registering to write an anthology book, etc.
After adopting a new routine of taking a shower early in the morning, I feel fresher and calmer.
Guys, have you thought about doing new things lately?
I would love it if you would share your experiences.
I once asked my late mother what my first name, Asnelly, meant. She said she didn’t know.
Your father came home one day and said his first child would be named Asnelly. He was sure a baby girl would be born, not a baby boy.
I was my father’s favorite child. I remember the moments we spent together to and from school. He bought me a cute bag and cookies for my lunch box. He took me to the beach to walk on the sand and listened to stories about my activities at school.
The name Asnelly is rare, unlike Rini, Dewi, or Siti, which are very common in my city. But I like my name. It’s a beautiful and soft name. My last name, Daulay, adds to its uniqueness.
Thanks to the advancement of search engines. When I checked the meaning of the name, I felt that it fit my personality quite well.
She (Asnelly) tends to lead with authority and is always looking for adventure. She is very interested in life and has an independent nature. This person also speaks frankly and is physically attracted to others.
The name is a prayer. Hopefully, the good things in the meaning of my name will come true.
Hmm, sounds idealistic, huh? Why is that? A dream job refers to someone’s interest, which may not be available unless one creates the job for himself.
A person may think he only accepts work that gives him a comfortable salary and benefits, a pleasant working atmosphere, a job that suits his skills and interests, and open opportunities for promotion.
However, in real life, that work may only meet one or two conditions; the rest are far from ideal.
In such a situation, many people persist and continue working because they need money to survive. Whatever happens, as long as it does not endanger his life, he will accept it.
Do I have a dream job? No. I stopped looking for it years ago.
If you still have your dream job, listen to me. Make as much money as you can now, then start your dream job with the money you earned from your previous job. Don’t forget to mentally prepare yourself for the worst that could happen.
Otherwise, you or your spouse and children may not be happy with that dream job.
During my time in government, I have encountered many poor leaders. Their governance is ineffective, and they jeopardize their careers and their subordinates.
I am sure every government leader has received much information about the rules that must be obeyed to avoid corruption, collusion, and nepotism. However, the rules are like a game once they hold office. A game of finding loopholes to cheat and seek benefits for themselves.
For instance, he hired many employees when it wasn’t necessary. Ultimately, this led to higher salary expenses and a waste of resources. Most of the new hires were either his family or friends.
I don’t need to mention examples of corrupt practices. The pattern of corruption is similar, namely, using their power to complicate other people’s affairs. The goal is, of course, to get money or gifts.
Why am I answering the daily prompt question this time with examples of bad leaders?
Frankly, I have not found examples of good leaders in my workplace. They are all bullshit.
Developing the concept of an ideal leader in my mind only makes me disappointed, as if I live in a different world.
Although there are many corrupt leaders in my country, I believe there are still figures who still carry out fair leadership in government, companies, and their families. I do not know them personally. I sincerely pray for their welfare and health.
May my children and all of us renew our willpower to be good leaders in our respective environments.
Good leaders are not simply born; they are shaped by the education they receive from their families and strengthened by their commitment to serve their communities fairly.
If I have set personal values for myself, do I need to envy someone whose values are far from mine?
Can I be as happy as S? (S is the initials of an imaginary figure).
Such questions often come to my mind.
She has everything a woman could dream of, a rich husband, a beautiful face and style, and luxurious goods (bags, cars, houses, etc.). Recently, she was promoted to a higher position in her office.
Everything seems perfect to her. At a young age, she has achieved all girl’s dreams. There is only one thing that is mediocre about her: her work skills. However, she was lucky to get a promotion.
Should I be envious? Or should I be angry at her luck? While my career is stagnant, her career is skyrocketing.
I feel that the working world is unfair.
But think again and take a deep breath. Who am I angry at?
I don’t think there is a good reason to hate her. She has been working on the way she believes to achieve her goals. Regarding the promotion she got, there may have been some behind-the-scenes dealings, or there may have been none. Maybe there was a factor that caused her to be promoted.
S certainly has her own life principles and values that she developed to find her own version of happiness. So do I. Every human being has their own values about the meaning of happiness. If I get angry with her, does that mean that S and I are competing on the same path to achieve happiness?
In fact, nothing is the same between S and I. Our life values are not the same.
If I have set personal values for myself, do I need to envy someone whose values are far from mine?
Nope. Everyone must be consistent with the values they adhere to. Never mix up with the values of others. You will get angry and disappointed easily.
In seeking happiness, you are spurring yourself on, not racing against other people’s dreams.
The story above is just my reflection on how to respond and behave well according to the values that I have set for myself. I am still learning to build a commitment to myself and not be envious of the happiness of others.
What about you? Do you often feel that the world is so unfair and jealous of others?
Many parents complain about being forgotten by their children. The children did not contact them for months because of their business. Calling or sending a message via WhatsApp is easy, yet they are not doing that to please their mothers.
What a sad.
Indeed, communication technology makes it easier for humans to connect with others because it can be done anytime, more efficiently, and at a low cost. As long as a telecommunications tower is in the area, your messages and calls reach across regions and countries.
However, online communication also has several weaknesses. Some urgent points are often missed and cause misunderstandings.
Online communication also has nonverbal limitations. The recipient cannot see your face and body language, and there is no eye contact. This makes communication very normative and less emotionally connected.
I prefer to use video calls to WhatsApp messages when contacting my children. Both live in other provinces. I need to see their faces and smiles and hear their voices at least once a week. It helps calm me down and take my mind off my worries.
No problem if I call first. The Mother’s love is forever, right?
my thoughts on the environment, travel and life reflections 