Have we thought about it...?

Have we ever thought what we will become and how will our life be in the next 10 or 15 years? That’s when we are retired. My conversation with my friend, Lisa, this morning strikes my attention and got me really thinking about my future. This morning I went to Bank Syariah Mandiri (BSM) to withdraw some money, and met Lisa after that (Lisa works at BSM-red). We chatted for a while about usual things, like how she’s been doing lately, our work, family, etc. etc. But there is one subject that really got me thinking. It’s a story about Lisa’s office colleague who was retired last week. He is a 56 years old man with 12 children. 6 of the children were married which means that he still has obligation to raise and take care of them, and now he is jobless. He was so confused and wondering how he would live without a job. How will he raise his children and finance their family then?

This story really made me thinking about myself when I’m retired later. What would happen with me if I retired 10 or 15 years later? How am I gonna live then? How am I gonna finance myself? What job will I take or have to support and pay all my living expenses? How am I gonna support my parents and family? How am I gonna pay my mortgage? Is my saving enough? Do I have enough money to pay all those bills and installments? What if I don’t have enough money for that? Who’s gonna support and help me?

Those questions disturb me a lot and make me so terrified that it got me thinking that I must do something major now to prepare my retirement. It’s something that I must do urgently. When I’m retired, I must have enough money to pay all my living expenses, installments, bills, and at the same time still able to support my parents and family. I must force myself to do some financial rearrangements and set my financial goals for my retirement period. And I must do it right now!

First thing first, these are my financial goals for 2008:
1) By the end of Mar. 2008, no more bills on my credit card
2) By 13-Nov. 2008, I pay Rp10 million for my mortgage & restructure it to a shorter installment period (5 years)
3) By the end of Dec. 2008, I have Rp31 million savings (PIA, PAA, and savings)

These are my financial rearrangements in 2008:
1) Apply for PRUsyariah (PIA) with single premium of Rp15 million (31-Mar)
2) Apply for PRUsyariah (PAA) with monthly premium of Rp600,000 (31-Mar)
3) Use my BCA account for all travel allowance money (5-Feb)
4) Shopping fund is limited to Rp500.000,- for 3 months (starting January)
5) Dine-out fund is limited to Rp400.000,- for 3 months (starting January)
6) House renovation is limited to Rp20 million (first of March)
7) Total monthly expenses is limited to Rp3.655.000,- (incl. transport, meals, Astro, HP, PLN & PAM)
8) No travelling plan in 2008

Off course, along the way my financial goals and arrangements will be reviewed and revised accordingly in order to suit my needs and conditions at the time. However, I will try my very best to achieve all those goals and commit 100% to all my financial arrangements this year. May Allah guide and bless me. Amin ya Robbal alamin...

Just One Hour...

A person can not become a good moslem just because they were born from moslem parents nor raised in a moslem family. A person can only become a good moslem by having a knowledge about Islam. It is because Islam can only be achieved through knowledge. Without knowledge, we will walk in ignorance along the way and be fooled by dajjal (evil). By having knowledge of Islam, we will discover that Islam is the only true path in our lives. If we see thru and live in Islam in every step of our life, only then will we be able to acknowledge and avoid the path of the kufr, syirk, bid’ah and immorality that are standing in our way.

If we realise that, then why don’t we act seriously and work hard in finding the true knowledge of Islam where we depend ourselves to be called a good moslem and continue to being a moslem for rest of our lives? Isn’t it true that if we are not really serious in finding the knowledge of Islam, we will end up loosing something that is utmost valuable for ourselves, our iman or faith? Isn’t it true that our iman is the utmost valuable thing for us, even than our life itself?

Let’s spare a little of our so many times that we spend to work and chase the world. Can’t we just spend one tenth of our times to protect our iman? Just one hour out of the 24-hour that we have in a day that we reserve our time for learning and studying about our diin, understanding the essence of Al-Quran and searching the real meaning of why Allah SWT reveal HIS divine revelation in the Al-Quran.

For us, our iman is the utmost precious thing compare to all the things that exist in this world. It is not hard for us to spare just one hour of our time everyday to learn, study and understand the knowledge of Islam. Just one hour a day... everyday...

And... this was, is and will be my resolution every year, including this year of 2008... insha Allah...

My Blessings in 2007...

Today is the first day in January 2008. A year has changed. It’s 2008 now! 2007 has already passed. And sometimes we didn’t even realize that it was over. What we have now is only the memories of great 2007. Well, at least we have to always think that 2007 was a great year for all of us, despite of all the challenges we had, we must always be thankful to Allah SWT for all of HIS love and guidance all the time.

As for me, year 2007 was a blessing year. I’ve got so many things realized that year and I can’t stop praying and thanking Allah SWT for giving me such blessings. I would have not done, nor achieved anything without HIS blessings and guidance. It was all because of HIS love and HIS merciful that I’ve got all the blessings and achievements in 2007. Alhamdulillahi Robbil alamin…

Here are some of those:

In January, I went through a surgery for my tumor in the wrist, and syukur alhamdulillah, it all went well.
In February, I’ve had a new challenge in my work and I’ve done it prettywell and everybody recognized it. Lately, I even had to refuse some of the requests to come to many cities because my schedules did not fit me anymore. I’m really sorry, friends… I hope this year is gonna get better.
In March, I had a chance to see my lovely niece, Nadia. She was in Jakarta. I always love to see her. I love you so much, Nadia. You know that, don’t you?
In April, travelling to Singapore with Rita. It was like old time… Now Rita is very busy, don’t know if we will have a chance to travel together again…
In May, I’ve got a very valuable lesson in my love life. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. It’s just that I have chosen not to go on with the relationship. It was too complicated and I didn’t think I could do it.
In June, it's holiday time. I went to Singapore and KL visiting my niece, Nadia. I spent two weeks in KL. My schedules were: playing with Nadia, shopping, shopping, shopping, and shopping… ;p
In July, went to Balikpapan for the first time. Met someone. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. The busiest month at work.
In August, went to Aceh for the first time. It was a great experience. No more tsunami marks there, the life of Acehness is back to normal again.
In September, started new side business and it went pretty well actually, but I just did it to fill my free time. I felt Allah answered my prayer… I’ve had a very good lesson here. Allah really listens to my prayer. I’m trying to get closer to Allah everyday and in every step of the way. I bought a new house at Legenda Wisata. I love it!
In October, my feeling for him was getting stronger. With Allah’s help and guidance, I will do what it takes to make it happen…
In November, went to Bali for work… ;p It was really enjoyable being around with my dearest friends… We laughed a lot… ;p
In December, continued my praying to Allah for HIS love and blessing. HE realized my prayers…