my thoughts on the environment, travel and life reflections

HAPPY LIKE A CHILD. WOULD IT POSSIBLE?

December 29th, 2024
I blame the monotonous routine for the lack of peace in life. It’s time to cut back and welcome a more meaningful and joyful new year of 2025.

Why do I think that? I feel that I have a child’s soul buried inside me. When I let the soul of a child live for a moment, a feeling of lightness and happiness appears.

An article I read explains why children are happier than adults; (1) Children have less burden of thought and responsibility; (2) their curiosity and desire to explore the surrounding environment are high; (3). the ability to play and have fun without limits, and (4) their openness to new experiences. They experience very little stress and anxiety.

Of course, it is not easy to let go of my daily responsibilities at work and home. However, I must be selective in accepting those responsibilities and burdens and focus more on pampering myself.

There are some simple things that I can develop from now on.
- Building a more positive perception of the world.
- Reduce negative thoughts and pessimism.
- Continue learning and absorbing new information.
- Explore curiosity and creative and imaginative thinking skills.
If lucky, I’ll be a grown woman who can enjoy the little things with joy and happiness. Worth a try, right?
POLITIC GETS ME CONFUSED

December 28th, 2024

Daily writing prompt
How have your political views changed over time?
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Politics. I don’t understand how to interpret it to improve the nation’s welfare. Indeed, every five years, we Indonesians elect new leaders as president and vice president, governor and vice governor, and mayor and vice mayor. We also elect representatives who sit in parliament.

I should vote for someone who represents my point of view to build the country, but quite often, the person I vote for is carried by a party with a very different political view. Conversely, sometimes I like the political view of a party, but in the election, the party carries a gubernatorial or presidential candidate whose past and actions are not satisfactory.

So, I can’t write much about this daily prompt. I am also confused about my political views, which are always changing.

Unlike the United States, which has two political parties, Indonesia has dozens of parties. Their political lines are slightly different from each other and often show inconsistency in making political decisions.
GET MYSELF USED TO WRITING

December 27th, 2024

Daily writing prompt
You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?
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Writing and reading have different atmospheres to start with. Reading is easier. I can read highly literary literature like Pride and Prejudice anytime. However, I will not allow any conversation while I read such classic novels. It’s not the same when I read contemporary novels/books.

When I write a blog or any article, the situation is different. I need more; the tranquility of the surrounding environment, ideas for writing, and supporting data/information to develop the writing. Sometimes, in the middle of completing the writing, I need to watch TikTok, Instagram, or Netflix and click on related topics to give a refreshing touch to my writing.

I challenge myself to write anything daily, so I get used to writing. Writing and gardening are two activities that I plan to accompany my retirement days.

Do you know the challenging part of completing a writing?

Inserting the nuances of my feelings so that the writing is truly unique and does not only contain normative things. How about you? Is the difficulty the same with me?
FAVORITE CAR FOR THRIFTY PERSON

December 26th, 2024

Daily writing prompt
What is your all time favorite automobile?
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Cars become a luxury item for some people, especially cars of high-class brands. Yet, I am not tempted.

Cars were created to facilitate human activities; the focus should be on their function, not the model or image as a luxury brand. This luxury car is a favorite of many people.

I think this is the sin of the rich. They have changed the perception of cars and encouraged the creation of luxury car brands.

I’m not a car freak. I am a reasonable person when deciding on a car. Financial ability is an important consideration. As long as the old car is still good, does not often break down, and the model is as my wish, I will be happy to prolong the use of that car.

Because I am not a car enthusiast, I prefer to stay at home or in the office if there is no urgent need outside. I don’t like spending my days behind the steering wheel of a car without a specific purpose.

Am I a frugal person? I seem too theoretical, huh? Yes, to some extent. My family car is not my favorite, but it is a car that suits our needs and is affordable.
CHRISTMAS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION

December 25th, 2024

All my friends who celebrate Christmas today, may you enjoy happiness and warmth in your families.

I am a Muslim. I do not celebrate Christmas. We Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was a prophet, one of the highest prophets, because of the trials he went through during his life. Our scholars praise Jesus Christ and his mother, Mary, as two holy figures who have a unique place in the history of the spread of belief in the One Almighty God.

Our not celebrating Christmas does not mean that we do not respect Christians. The Quran praises Christians for being kind to Muslims.

You will surely find the most bitter towards the believers to be the Jews and polytheists and the most gracious to be those who call themselves Christian. That is because there are priests and monks among them and they are not arrogant. (Surah Al-Maidah Verse 82)

We do not celebrate it for a strong reason, namely that we view Jesus Christ as only a prophet, not as the son of God. Islam is firm in the belief that “God never had offspring.”

Even though our beliefs are different, let’s enjoy the gladness of this day. For a more peaceful and beautiful world, we need to disguise our differences in private and express our delight and commonality in public.

Salam, cheers.
NO SINGLE DOMINANT INFLUENCER

December 24th, 2024

Daily writing prompt
Who are the biggest influences in your life?
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I can’t name anyone who influenced me to be who I am today, but I didn’t develop myself solely based on my tastes. Many influenced me in the way I treat others, manage my home and belongings, raise my children, or behave as a religious woman.

I imitate many people in the process of character building. But I also feel free to discard things I have previously adopted from others if there is a better approach or style to apply.

Life is a never-ending learning process; do you agree with me?

Currently, I follow several lifestyles promoted on social media. Again, I never follow these lifestyles because they are important people or famous artists/celebrities. I follow daily habits or lifestyles purely to improve the quality of my life.

Being influenced by someone up to idolizing would potentially damage your character and show symptoms of a lack of self-confidence. Enlarge your horizon. I never tire of reminding my sons and nieces/nephews to associate with people with good morals, develop good habits, and never blindly imitate others.
WASTEFUL LIFESTYLE IN INDONESIAN CULTURE

December 24th, 2024
My husband and I have been working for more than 25 years. Our jobs are classified as professional jobs with reasonable salaries. Thankfully, we can live comfortably. Our two children have received a decent education and are working in their dream fields with bright prospects.

However, I think that my family could catch up to a more prosperous life if we managed our income well. I don’t need to worry about my retirement if I have planned to invest some of my income.

I review the lifestyle experienced by many families who fall into the Middle-Class Trap; a situation in which families earn enough income to meet basic needs but fail to improve their economic status due to several factors.

The five luxurious lifestyles below are very familiar in my country:
1. Consumptive. I like to shop, especially for clothes. I follow trends without thinking that the money is better invested or saved for retirement. I was so naive that my pension money could cover my needs in old age. After sharing my experiences with my seniors, I realized that pension funds only cover the lowest basic needs.
2. Satisfied with just one source of income. Many want to live as it is without being burdened with targets. Most people lack awareness of financial planning. Many assume that saving in a bank will guarantee financial stability in retirement. They forget that banks only provide a profit of around 4-5%. That’s just for inflation. Issues like this are rarely discussed among civil servants like me.
3. The demand to look classy in society. The house and car are two things that must have to support style. Many prefer to buy a new car on credit with high interest rather than buying a used car in cash. The endless debt style is commonplace and drains family resources.
4. Big party. Indonesian people have a habit of celebrating family events by inviting many people, not only the closest people but also many who are not known personally. As a result, there is a budget overrun. The parties include weddings, joint prayers for the deceased, birthday celebrations, welcoming the birth of a baby, and so on.
5. Supporting the economy of the extended family. It is common in Indonesia for someone to continue supporting their siblings even though they already have a family. It is a kind of abdication to the family.
In my opinion, Indonesians need additional time to change. How much longer, yeah?
RAIN THAT SOFTENS HEART

December 23rd, 2024

It’s the rainy season here. Plants in my garden sway and look fresher and greener under the pouring rain. While sipping warm tea, I remembered my childhood under my parents’ roof.

We lived in a small town. My late father was a civil servant with a low income. He was a librarian. Life was not easy; he had 6 children, but I never saw him stressed with such a burden.

On the contrary, I saw him trying to bring happiness to his big family. On rainy days like this, he gathered us in the living room to play dominoes or cards. He gathered us so we wouldn’t play in the rain, which would make Mom angry because it would add to the dirty clothes that had to be washed.

You can imagine how noisy our living room was at that time. 4 players (Dad, me, and my two brothers) and three little babies watched the game. We played without strategy, but everyone wanted to win.

On a rainy day, one easily gets hungry. Can you guess what snack Mom gave us? She cooked boiled or fried cassava. It was a cheap snack, but when we ate it after playing and laughing together, we were like other families who lived more prosperously.

Sometimes, Dad had to work overtime and then took me and my younger brothers to the library. I got acquainted with several magazines and biographies of famous people in Indonesia. While my brothers ran along the bookshelves, I was immersed in reading. That was where I began to grow my interest in reading and writing.

The rain had brought back that simple moment of the past. It was so clear like I was watching a movie.
I AM NOT A GOOD JUDGE

December 22nd, 2024

Daily writing prompt
Are you a good judge of character?
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When you meet a new friend or boss, a question arises in your mind: What kind of person is he? You may not do it out of bad intentions; you want to learn about his character so that it is easier to understand and the relationship will go well.

Judging someone’s character is an everyday prejudice that many people do.

However, I must admit that I often make mistakes when judging someone. The characters that I see on the surface will be very different as time goes by.

I once met a woman who looked so kind and hardworking. She spoke very convincingly and gracefully and seemed empathetic to others. Her way of dressing was also quite luxurious. Then I got the news that she was hiding some secrets and a mountain of debt that cornered her and finally made her run away.

Judging someone’s character is like a guessing game. Many people don’t want to be easily read by others. They hide a part of themselves for their safety or work purposes. That can mislead you, right?

Anyhow, one with a somewhat introverted personality makes you curious, and he looks unique. So, let people think hard about defining you, ha..ha..ha.
HAPPINESS NOT FOREVER

December 21st, 2024

Daily writing prompt
When are you most happy?
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Seekers of happiness must understand that happiness does not last forever; God creates sad, happy, boring, and ordinary moments to teach humans what makes them exist and different from each other and how to take meaning from them.

Some people may still associate happiness with material achievement and pride in obtaining something special. Happiness arises at the moment of achievement, but its duration is very short compared to the 24 hours you have in a day or the length of your life, then gradually sinks.

I realized happiness grows continuously when my heart is full of gratitude. The more grateful I am for what I have, the more long-lasting happiness stays within me.

“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]”
surah ibrahim, verse 7

When do I feel the happiest? I can’t answer that precisely since happiness has a qualitative dimension.

What about you, my friends? Are you sure that the moment you feel most happy is really the happiest time in your life?