New-found Addiction(s)

I just love it when I found new things on the web, either by accident or by a friend's suggestion. Here are 3 of my latest addictions:

1. hellogiggles.com a site that literally made me giggle for its fun contents - which are just, oh, so real..a place for real girls to share their thoughts and give a pat on each other's backs. I think it's also a project pioneered by Zooey Deschanel - since her photo is on their Twitter cover, together with 3 other girls whom I'm not familiar with. A big fan in an instant :)

2. http://lissarankin.com/ by Lissa Rankin, a frequent TEDx speaker, who shares a lot about the essence of healing from the mind - instead of from outer factors, such as medicine, pain killers, etc. even though she used to be a doctor herself. She speaks about soulful spirituality without at all being preachy. I subscribe to Your Inner Pilot  daily newsletter or The Daily Flame that goes straight to my email, and it's very encouraging. No wordy lines, just one that soothes the soul after a long day. Just take a look at this one I got yesterday:

Mira, my dear, 

You are infinitely adored.
You are enough.
You are on the right path, event if you don't know where you're going.
You are worthy. 
You are loving and lovable. 

Just in case you forgot, 
Your Inner Pilot Light 

Thank you, Inner Pilot Light! I love you!

3. http://diyforthesoul.tumblr.com simply a collection of wonderful DIY bits and pieces in a single link. Always adored DIY crafts, yet too lazy to browse through Pinterest or other links. I found this Tumblr account very helpful, and the creations are also doable. Love..love..love..

   

Under Pressure

I believe that stress is a result of our mindset; thinking that we have no option or way out from a problem. Nowadays, stress is associated with a lot of things, especially in the cosmopolitan city, Jakarta.  Every day, there are always people who mention how stressed out they are due to traffic jams, heavy work load, or an irritating client/  colleague. For women who are still single, the pressure is doubled by “When are you going to get married?” questions raised (by family and friends).

It’s understandable that city people then search for places where they can soothe their ‘pain’. From hip cafés to prestigious vacation destinations, their motto is ‘work hard, play hard’. A dear friend of mine would be restless if she doesn’t have any plans at weekends. Part of it is because weekends are ‘the catch’ of the week, something to look forward to every day at work…an escapism. Another part of it is because it is almost “challenging” to stay put and enjoy the stillness.

Going to fancy places can be relaxing indeed for recreation is necessary. However, if we can’t make peace and accept the daily traffic jams, heavy work load, irritating client/  colleague and/or marriage-related questions, we would remain stressful. Remember, nobody (and nothing) can hurt us without our consent.

We always have options; whether to live with it or leave from it. In any other way, life’s challenges will always be present. What matters is the choices we make on how we live our lives. It’s all right to be upset when something doesn’t come out as we expected, but don’t get too carried away. As happiness that will always come to an end, so does sadness. It’s what the cycle of life is all about.   

Perfect World vs Reality

In the perfect world, I would teach only the ‘good’ students

In the perfect world, I would get married to Prince Charming

In the perfect world, I would eat as much as I’d like without getting fat

In the perfect world, I would travel around the world with first class service and wear the prettiest dresses like Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City

In the perfect world, I would live be an adored Queen in a magical palace

The perfect world does exist…in movies

In reality, I have students with all kinds of behavior (which aren’t always pleasant)

In reality, I’m still looking for a decent person whom I can spend the rest of my life with (with no guarantee of a ‘happily ever after’)

In reality, I love to eat, and exercise isn’t exactly my favorite thing to do

In reality, yes, I do occassionally travel (nothing posh…but I do try to make the best of it); as for pretty dresses, I do enjoy watching fashionable people, but my personal style is clean and classic with a touch of ‘today’ accessories

In reality, I’m nothing near a Queen…but I’m spoiled enough by having a household assistant who does my laundry, clean my space and serve delish food :9

In reality, life is like a book. On every turning of a page, each question asked in the past will naturally be unfolded along the journey. I realize that every experience gives a better understanding to who I am and why I’m here. Sometimes I’m too focused in the thing I ‘want’ that the bigger picture is outlooked …which is, in fact, the thing I ‘need’ (to grow). Thus, regrets are useless. Just like in a book; on each ending of a chapter, there’s always a new beginning. And I’ve walked long enough to learn that there’s no such thing as a ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ ending. My stories (and yours), both happy and sad, will be written unpausingly, until we finally exhale our last breath.            

A pinch of Katy Perry

A pinch of Katy Perry by itnarimuya featuring a cloche hat

Laid back summer

Laid back summer by itnarimuya featuring a lip gloss

Heartbreak is hard to heal

Heartbreak is hard to heal by itnarimuya featuring a brimmed hat

Inspiration from Sonia Choquette's "The Answer is Simple"

'Share your gift to the world’, a phrase that resonates in my head after I watched Spiderman. I believe that when I’m exposed to such line or phrase over and over again, it’s a message addressed to me.  

Noted.

According to ‘The Answer is Simple’, a book written by Sonia Choquette, your gift does not necessarily means saving the world from hunger or join Greenpeace. It can be as simple as lending a hand to your mom to clean the house, helping your nephews on their homework, or being true to your friends instead of talking about them behind their backs. It’s the simple things that’s done wholeheartedly that touch others and leave a mark that remain for good. Here are some of the things I captured from reading the book:

We can never ever share our gift if we don’t feel whole. That’s why, always always always give thanks. That way, we will always feel complete. Even if we can't find anything to be thankful for, thank your breathing...

Begin from the beginning of the day. Before running errands and distracted by anything else...close your eyes, breathe deeply and feel the peaceful sensation and give thanks (for your wholeness, for your functioning heart, your hands, your eyes, your nose, your legs, the chance to live another day). Nothing is ever too urgent. Nothing can hurt you. Enjoy the now.  As you have grasp calmness, slip in with your daily activities, nice and easy.

Don’t fight the flow of life. Learn to listen to your intuition, even if it doesn’t make sense. For instance, you suddenly have the urge to have avocado juice this afternoon. Follow it...you’ll never know, maybe you bump into an old flame and reconnect J

At the end of the day, take out your little book of gratefulness...and note down at least 3 things you’re grateful for that day. The effect is miraculous...you’ll feel like the luckiest person on earth. Seriously.

Picture courtesty of Claire HM (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairehm/4794380000/)

I, myself, have been skipping the routine for quite a while. However, I intend to pull it together again. Why? Because acquiring peace of mind is something that values more than anything in the world. I realized that i’ve been too occupied with work and been stretched way too far from the spirituality realms that makes me feel good no matter how chaotic life can be.

Being detached from the inner pilot frustrates me, because everything is so overwhelming...it's like having nothing to grasp onto. 

I trust that the best things in life are ones we feel – physical and non-physical. And I believe, the moment we feel completely safe and comfortable in our own skin is the moment we can start sharing our gift.