Somethink to think about...

Just to share what I've got this afternoon from a friend. I hope this story inspires us... Enjoy your reading...

Sometimes you read something and it makes you stop and think... and then you want to share it with everyone you care about. Please read this and share it with the people you love...

"There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her: "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him.

Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

"JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES PLEASE."

This is how humans change when their status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who has always been there in the most painful situations."

Setetes Embun

Andrew Moore mengatakan: “Segala sesuatu yang sesuai dengan keinginan kita tampak menjadi sebuah kebenaran, dan yang tidak sesuai akan memicu kemarahan kita.”

Demikian halnya dengan nasihat-nasihat dan kritikan. Umumnya, kita senang dengan pujian dan kita merasa tersanjung mesti pujian itu palsu. Sebaliknya, kita enggan terhadap kritikan dan celaan meski kritik dan celaan itu benar adanya. Ini sebenarnya sebuah aib yang sangat besar dan kesalahan yang fatal.

Dan, apabila mereka dipanggil kepada Allah, dan Rasul-Nya, agar Rasul menghukum (mengadili) di antara mereka, tiba-tiba mereka menolak untuk datang. Tetapi jika keputusan itu untuk (kemaslahatan) mereka, mereka datang kepada Rasul dengan patuh. (QS An-Nur:48-49)

William James mengatakan: ”Saat sampai pada sebuah keputusan untuk dilakukan pada hari itu juga, maka Anda akan terbebas sepenuhnya dari pikiran-pikiran yang akan menguasai diri Anda berkaitan dengan kemungkinan-kemungkinan hasil yang akan Anda capai. Artinya, jika Anda sudah mengambil keputusan yang didasarkan kepada kenyataan, maka lakukanlah dan jangan maju mundur atau punya pikiran yang tidak-tidak. Jangan campakkan diri ke dalam keraguan yang hanya akan melahirkan keraguan yang lebih besar, dan jangan terus mengutak-atik hal-hal yang sudah berlalu.”

Seorang penyair berkata: ”Jika engkau punya ide maka segera satukan tekad untuk melakukannya. Sebab jika rusaknya ide itu karena keraguan semata.”

Keberanian mengambil keputusan akan banyak mendorong untuk melepaskan diri dari depresi, stres dan kesedihan.

Apabila telah tetap perintah perang (mereka tidak menyukainya). Tetapi jikalau mereka benar (imannya) terhadap Allah, niscaya yang demikian itu alan lebih baik bagi mereka. (QS Muhammad:21)

Jangan gusar dengan kritik yang membangun.


(Dikutip dari buku ”La Tahzan” – Al Qarni)

So Immature

Ternyata gw belum bener-bener mature alias dewasa walaupun low dilihat dari umur, udah dewasa banget kaleee… 37 bow…! Selama ini low gw terbentur masalah, cara yang gw ambil adalah gw langsung aja gitu ‘mutung’ alias give up or brenti di tengah jalan, atau lebih tepatnya ambil jalan pintas. Bukan berusaha untuk menghadapi masalah tersebut dan memperbaikinya sekuat tenaga, eeeh… malah gw cari jalan keluar yang cepet ajah atau malah lari dari masalah tersebut dan gak berupaya untuk mengubah sikap gw yang jelas-jelas salah (tapi waktu itu gw gak sadar low sikap gw salah).

Sekarang gw baru sadar low sikap gw itu bener-bener gak dewasa banget. Gw lebih memilih untuk lari dari masalah daripada berupaya untuk mencari solusi yang paling baik guna memuaskan semua pihak, dan berupaya untuk memperbaikinya. Tapi, mudah-mudahan sih dengan kejadian yang gw alami kemaren ini, gw bisa jadi lebih dewasa ke depannya, dan berani mengambil keputusan yang baik dan memuaskan buat semua pihak.

Sekarang ini gw harus menunjukkan kedewasaan dan keseriusan gw untuk berubah. Gw harus bisa menyakinkan semua pihak low gw dah berubah dan mau menjadi dewasa. Walaupun ada hal-hal yang harus gw tekan serendah-rendahnya, misalnya saja gengsi dan sikap keras kepala gw itu.

Sabar

Kata orang sabar itu ada batasnya, tapi low menurut gw sih sabar itu tidak ada batasnya ya… Jadi ya harus selamanya tetep sabar, sampe akhir hayat. Maksudnya once gw udah memutuskan sesuatu hal, gw kudu tetap konsisten dan bersabar dalam menjalaninya sampe tujuan itu tercapai or until I take it to the grave.

But then again, it’s better said than done. Gw sadar banget sih emang susah banget low pengen jadi orang yang bener-bener sabar secara ikhlas, apalagi terhadap hal yang menjadi tujuan gw. Pasti banyak deh kendala, cobaan, tangisan, sakit hati, pertentangan, terlebih dari orang-orang terdekat gw yang paling gw sayangi, dan hal-hal lainnya, yang gw temui di sepanjang jalan menuju tujuan gw itu. Tapi low gw bisa (atau tepatnya harus bisa) sabar, tentunya gw yakin gw akan dapat lebih menikmati hasilnya kali yee... Jadi lebih gimanaaaa gitu… Puaaaas banget deh… Apalagi low gw bisa nunjukin low apa yang gw yakini dan keputusan yang gw ambil adalah benar dan orang-orang yang gw sayangi dan cintai melihatnya dan akhirnya mengakuinya… Aduuuh, rasanya itulah kepuasan yang paling gw inginkan…

But I know that there’s a very long long way that I must pass before I can get to the final destination… to prove that I have made the right decision, and that I am strong enough to show everybody that what I believe is right. And I really believe that Allah will help me… and He will always be with me if I keep looking for His merciful and guidance.

Ya Allah, jadikanlah aku termasuk orang-orang yang sabar. Amin.

Mengalah itu ternyata susah ya...?

Aduh… kenapa mengalah itu susah banget ya…? Gw gak rela banget deh rasanya kalo harus mengalah… Pengennya ngotot terus… apalagi kalo gw tahu bahwa sikap gw bener… But, now I realize that sometimes even when I am right, I just have to have a big heart to let someone thinks that they’re the one who is right. And all I can do is accept it with a very big heart.

Tapi tetep… gw masih gak rela untuk mengalah untuk sesuatu yang menurut gw bener…! Aduuuuh, susah banget seeech menghilangkan perasaan kesel dan sedih yang masih tinggal di hati gw ini? Is it just me or it happens to everybody too?

Gak tahu aaah… Gelap...! Pokoknya sekarang ini gw tetep masih gak rela untuk mengalah! ;o(

Le 22 juillet

Le 22 juillet

C’est mon anniversaire
N y a pas beaucoup d’evenement qui se passe
Y a q’une petite fete avec mon cher ami...

Il faut que je me reflechit…
Ce-que j’avait fait et ce-que je vais faire dans ma vie

Je croit que c’est pas beaucoup
Ca me suffit pas encore…
Il faut que je doive faire beaucoup plus…
Pour que ma vie ne reste toujours de meme

(Mardi, le 22 juillet 2008)

Kata-kata bagus...

"Saya adalah salah satu di antara begitu banyak orang yang mendapatkan dan menerima hidayah Allah SWT sebagai Tuhannya, Islam sebagai agamanya, dan Muhammad SAW sebagai pembimbing dan rasulnya"

(Muhammad Al Ghazali, 1917 - 1996, teolog dan pendakwah dari Mesir)

Kangen itu masih betah ada di sini...

Kangen…
Aduh…, kenapa sih kamu masih saja ada di sini?
Kenapa sih kamu betah sekali hinggap di relung hatiku?
Aku sudah gak kuat lagi
Ayo donk, pergi dari sini!
Pergilah ke tempat yang jauh!
Jauhi aku…
Tinggalkan aku…
Hinggaplah di relung hati yang lain
yang menyambutmu dengan gembira
dan sebelum aku tergoda untuk memeluk dan merengkuhmu kembali

Kangen…
Kadang kamu membuatku sedih dan tak berdaya
Tapi sering pula kamu membuatku senang dan tertawa
Bahkan kamu juga pernah membuat aku marah dan kecewa
Tapi aku menikmatinya walau kadang kamu membuat aku lelah
Jujur, aku masih mau… dan mau lagi…

Aah, tapi sudahlah…
Kangen ini mungkin hanya sesaat
Tapi bisa juga kamu di sini untuk waktu lama

Aah, aku bingung denganmu…
Aku nikmati saja keberadaanmu kini
Hingga kamu tidak lagi betah di sini
Hingga kamu menjauh dariku
Hingga kamu pergi meninggalkanku
untuk pindah ke tempat lain
dan hinggap ke hati lain yang mau memelukmu dengan erat…

Kangen…
Jika kamu memang masih betah ada di sini…
Aku biarkan kamu tetap di sini
Hingga suatu saat kamu menghilang
atau bahkan kamu tetap betah ada di sini…

Sore menjelang maghrib
@28 Juni 2008

My Favorite Preacher

I would consider this experience as the precious one in my life. It happened last January this year when the company that I work for invited a religious preacher to give preach about syariah law and product at the annual agency convention in Jakarta. And I was appointed to arrange all the preparation. Then, we invited Ustadz Ikhsan Tanjung to give preach about syariah fundamental and syariah product to match with the company’s objective which is to boost syariah product selling in the market.

I was so happy that my company chose to invite Ustadz Ikhsan Tanjung to the event because for me he was one of my favorite ustadz. And I really honor him. When I had a chance becoming the moderator on his preach, I was feeling so nervous and blessed at the same time. I was so nervous because for me he was such a great man so that I was so afraid of making mistakes when I was moderating his preach. And I was feeling blessed because I had a chance to meet him personally and learn many things from him, which I did from his preach that day.

Ustadz Ikhsan Tanjung was not a stranger for me. I’ve known him long time ago from his TV preaches. For me he was one of few ustadz that had strong commitment in telling only the truth according to Al Quran and Hadist. He has the quality that I find rare amongst the other popular and famous ustadz that are nowadays.

I remembered that I used to watch his preaches at TV stations. I was so impressed by his intelligence and sharpness. And one of my favorite of his TV preaches was when he discussed about Tafsir Sayyid al-Qutbh. He was so intelligent and sharp. When he conveyed a message, he delivered it so clearly and organized that the viewers, like myself would clearly and easily understand it. He is also one of the few ustadz that has strong commitment to say the truth according to Al Quran and Sunnah. When he delivered a message from Al Quran or Hadist, he delivered and explained it as it is, nothing less, nothing more. He never worried what his audiences would react or whether they would agree with it or not. What mattered for him was that what he explained and delivered was the truth according to what it says in Al Quran and Sunnah. He would never have a doubt of delivering the truth. And he would never bend his commitment just for the sake of his audiences’ satisfaction. He has that strong commitment and quality which are hardly found in other ustadz that are well-known. Some people might say that he is too strong. But in my opinion, you must be strong and convinced when you deliver something that you believe in, right?

For Pak Ustadz Ikhsan Tanjung, I really honor you and I pray to Allah that may you always have that strong commitment and quality to only tell the truth according to Al Quran and Sunnah. May you always have Allah SWT blessings and merciful. Amin ya Robbal alamin…

What Can We Do About It...?

Surabaya, Feb. 2nd, 2008

The mistakes that we keep on doing...
Today is Saturday, Feb 2nd, 2008. I am in Surabaya for business assignment. I’m supposed to go back to Jakarta today afternoon at 5pm. Unfortunately, I had to change my plan. Jakarta is flooding again! How terrible it is… All flights were delayed or even cancelled due to the weather and flooding in Jakarta, especially at the airport area. Even one of our guest speaker for Surabaya event had to cancel his trip due to the situation.

So, I and my colleagues decided to stay over in Surabaya for another night. As much as I wanted to go home the soonest, there was nothing I could do other that postpone my flight. I just didn’t want to force myself for something that is out of my control.

Finally, I and my colleagues managed to fly on Sunday morning. Although our flight was delayed and we were separated, I was so blessed actually because my flight wasn’t delayed for more than just 1 hour. The other flight was delayed until 2pm. I arrived in Cengkareng at 1200. I took Damri to get home as I heard that taxi fare was ridiculous. It could cost us at least Rp400.000,-!!! It’s amazing how people can actually use the moment to take advantage for themselves. But then again, they have to feed gasoline to their cars, don’t they…?

It was so sad to see that we have to face the same old situation again every year. As far as I can recall, Jakarta has been experiencing flooding every year since the last 10 years. It seems that we just keep doing the same mistake all over again. I think the nation never learns the mistake… we never learn from the mistakes. But whose mistakes are these anyway? Are we fair if we point our finger and say that this is all the government’s mistake…? I don’t think so… For me, it is everybody’s mistake, including myself. It is the mistake of the nation. Everybody is responsible of what is happening in our country these days… Everybody…, including myself…

The questions left for each of us are: what can we do to save our nation? Do we have strong will to really help our nation? Do we have strong desire and passion to make a different for our nation? Where do we start, if we do…? Have we done enough for our country? Have we even done something? Have we really thought about Allah's verses below...? It's time for each of us to think and take our portion to make a different, for ourselves, others and the country.

Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengubah keadaan suatu kaum sehingga mereka mengubah keadaan yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri…” – QS 13:11

“…Sesungguhnya Allah sekali-kali tidak akan mengubah sesuatu ni’mat yang telah dianugerahkan-Nya kepada suatu kaum, hingga kaum itu mengubah apa yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri…” – QS 8:53

“Sesungguhnya Allah tidak berbuat zalim kepada manusia sedikitpun, akan tetapi manusia itulah yang berbuat zalim kepada diri mereka sendiri.” – QS 10:44

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…

What's inside my bag...

Have you ever wondered what's inside other people's bag? Especially woman's? We all know that women always carry bags everywhere they go. Either to office, mall, friend's or family's houses, or even to mosque or church. It's just the way they are. Women are known with their habit in putting so many things inside their bags... Despite they really actually need those things they're bringing or they're just feeling that they might need those things, just in case... And the bigger the bag the more they want to put things inside... It's funny, isn't it?

Out of the girlsfriends I know, most of them like to bring bag everywhere they go. It's just like they don't feel complete without their bag. And I'm one of them too...

For men, it's much more simpler. Men don't like carrying bag everywhere they go. The will carry bag if only they really really have to or need to. Otherwise, they'll just go with their wallet inside their pocket and a handphone. That's it! As simple as that. Then, why women can't do the same as men do? So I was wondering what is it really that make women want to bring bag and put many things inside it?

I, myself, bring at least 5 things inside my bag almost everyday, from the most-needed things to the least-needed things. Many times, I don't even use most of the things that I bring... ;p Here is my list:

1) wallet where I keep my money, credit cards, ATM, ID card, discount cards, notes, bills, etc. (even inside the wallet I tend to put everything...;p)
2) handphone & headset (basically I can say that I can live without a handphone, after all I spend most of my time in office where people can track me down there. However, I store all data inside it so I still need it)
3) make up purse where I put four lipsticks (why four? I have no idea, I just need those four ;p), lip balm, mirror, paper blotter and basic manicure set (nail clipper & emery board, just in case I broke my nail)
4) my spectacle and its case
5) umbrella (it's rainy season now so I have to be prepared)
6) 1 external hard disk (this is where I keep all my work and personal data)
7) pen (just in case)
8) tissue paper (just in case)
9) key BCA (just in case I need to do internet transaction)
10) 2 flash disks (I have no idea why I always bring those two?)

Now you can see how complicated my life is, right? Why do I need all those things? Do I really need to bring them all everyday? I don't think so..., then why I keep bringing them? I guess it shows how insecure I am. It shows that I'm not in control of myself. It's the picture of insecurity and how big my dependence upon things is. I guess what I need to do now is to reorganize my life and habit, starting by organizing what's inside my bag and purse. It may sound trivial for some people, but for me it's a big thing. I need to let go of my dependence upon things so that I don't have to worry about things that I shouldn't be worried about.