November 21st, 2010 § § permalink
What makes life so exciting? The idea of always trying something new. It is easy to get bored of doing the same thing all the time. Drinking the same coffee, hanging out at the same coffee shop, doing the exact same thing. It’s like someone asking you, “so, what did you do today?” and your answer is the mundane, “nothing special.” Yes, I do have em days… but I hope at least just once a week I have a great story to tell.
Exploring doesn’t take a lot of effort, all it needs is a little creativity and an open mind. Like today, when we tried this new Italian buffet for brunch at Ambiente, Aryaduta Hotel. Who would’ve thought it was so heavenly? After, we went to Pasar Baru to go fabric shopping. And no, I didn’t buy anything, but I sure had a lot of fun with my camera. I even discovered a nice little gallery that I never new existed there. And after, I shaved my head. Lol, not all, just the sides. When else can I do it? Not having a ‘job’ is perfect for such experiments 
Plus, if you don’t try something new, what does it say about you? You can say you have an open mind, but if you don’t try new things, don’t go on adventures, trying things that is not your ‘style’ or ‘cup of tea’, are you really an open-minded type of person?
Most of the time we want comfort, because trying something new has some risk. Like quitting my job, lol. I know a lot of people who are very finicky – they know exactly what they like and don’t like and wouldn’t even want to try something new. When they do, they say.. “see… I told you it’s…” or complain. I hope I will never be one of them people. How boring when everything becomes so predictable!
Life IS an adventure. At least for me, so if I don’t explore, try new things, make mistakes, get lost, then I am not exactly living. And no, you don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to have an adventure, but you can try order a different kind of drink, choose something in random when in restaurants, or wearing colored outfit when you always wear black. You might say “Why?” and I say “Why not?” Don’t you ever do something just for the sake of doing something? Plus it’s fun 
November 20th, 2010 § § permalink
As I get stood up waiting for an old friend in a cafe today, I can’t help but to think about how my close friends have changed throughout the years.
I am so inspired by my close friends. More than ever, my friends today inspire me to become a better person everyday: to live a life of passion and purpose. They bring out the joy, clarity, passion, purpose, brilliance and strength in me because that’s what I see when I see them. In some ways, I want to be a lot like them: the silent heroes.
Silent heroes for me are people who are making a difference everyday in their lives although not very many people are aware of what they do. Not only that, they have so much joy, energy, tenacity and enthusiasm doing what they do. They don’t really care what people think of them, they don’t care about branding, they are that proud of what they do. They make me wonder why they want to be my friends, lol – because they are THAT amazing in my eyes.
Do we really attract who we are? That becomes my question. I cannot help but think how I’ve changed throughout the years and how I love the ‘me’ now better than before. And maybe this is why I am drawn to these types of people, maybe this is why I am introduced to this amazing group of people. If we do attract who really are, I guess I am doing something right.
You make some, you lose some. As I change, as life changes, my friends change too. Understanding that, I don’t get too upset when some people don’t want to be my friends anymore, or when I get stood up. I see it as the universe’s way of telling me, “Ika, they are not the ‘right’ people for you.” So, why forces the friendship?
As I still dream to collaborate with the most amazing people EVER, I am reminded again to BE an amazing person – with my definition of amazing, of course Hence, the universe will open up and attract these amazing individuals into my life.
With that said, I still am VERY thankful for every person I have befriended throughout my years. Though we may not see each other very often now, each and one of them is still a part of me who make me who I am today. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today 
So, I guess, my message is:
- Look at your friends, they are the best mirror to see who you are and where you are NOW and THEN.
- I really believe that you will become the 5 people you spend most of your time with.
- If you’re not happy with who you are now, find new friends It’s probably easier than you think.
November 15th, 2010 § § permalink
My dad always says, “it is better to regret doing something than to regret not doing anything.”
A wise man that guy. Hence, he is the man I call every time I was about to buy something that’s not necessarily cheap, yet I’ve been craving for so long. So, as I call him asking, “Dad, this is how much I have in my savings account and no, I don’t have a fixed income yet, but you know I’ve been eye-ing this thing since months ago. Should I get it or not?”
His wisdom is simple, yet profound. Wisdom in shopping can be applied in life – when used properly, of course . Dad teaches me to take risks, to bear whatever consequences as a result of my decisions. And as I learn, he is right. I do regret more on things that I didn’t do – to live in the shadow of “what if’s”.
As Mark Twain has said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Sometimes, doing something that the heart wants is not a logical thing, nor rational, nor seem wise at that moment – like buying my dream camera when I just quit my job. I can easily rationalize it too, that I’ve wanted it for so long, that I will use it for my new endeavors, and many more. Paying for it was also a bit heavy, am I making the right choice? Am I spending too much?
A week later, after spending quality time with my new cam. I have no regrets. I am the happiest girl on earth. I get to channel my creativity more, I feel more alive. And I am not worried about spending too much anymore, because the joy I have with my new toy is beyond the price I paid for it.
What do I learn:
- Things you put off for a long time is probably the thing that you are supposed to do
- Take chances, listen to your heart, follow your passion – even when fear sets in at the beginning.
- You’ll never know you make the right or wrong decision at that moment, but I will always choose to make a mistake than not trying/doing anything.
November 13th, 2010 § § permalink
When one is passionate,
he’ll find and make ways to make his dream a reality.
Courage, Commitment and Care will come so natural.
As I haul my a** back to climbing after been missing-in-action for over 3 months this morning, I am reminded again of (1) how much I love and miss this sport and (2) how passionate these athletes are.
It is exciting to know that a new-more-extreme wall is being built in Pasar Festival. It is more amazing to know that this wall is being built by the athletes or the climbing-enthusiasts themselves as they prepare for the upcoming Rock Climbing National Championship 12-20 December 2010. And when I say they build it themselves, I mean, they are the ones who make the budget, find the funds, purchase all the tools and resources then climb up that steel-installations with their gear and make this wall with their own bare hands and sweats!
Oh, where did they get the funds you ask? Oh… they search. They get loans and donations from other Indonesian and Expat climbing’s enthusiasts because sponsorship will not want to liquidate the funds until the wall is up and done.
And while they are up there ‘working’ and ‘creating’, they still have the time to give me a hard time climbing the ‘easy’ wall next to them :p Awas kamu semua ya! Saya bukan kenek! :p
So, I ask myself:
- What motivates them, really? Just to have the joy of having a new wall and a great competition? They are not getting any material increase out of this.
- What gives them so much courage, commitment and care to manifest this wall that’s been their dream since last year?
- What gives them so much joy while doing it?
I guess, the answer is so obvious. Passion.
They remind me also of my friends who does Sundaze - which is such a huge event now. But I remember when it started its humble beginning five years ago in a small restaurant in Menteng. When I saw Ade last week at Sundaze, as I told him how proud I am with this growth, he told me, “I guess people see that we do it with heart…” In just 5 years, they have made a small get-together into a movement with massive sponsors.
Passion takes you far. Yet passion takes patience.
I thank you for all of my friends who are über passionate people. You, once again, have inspired and reminded me to continue to be passionate. *mwah!
… and my message is:
- I hope you know what your passions are – or what you’re passionate about.
- If not.. start asking yourself, “what makes you feel alive and fulfilled?”
Because as you come alive, you’ll inspire others to be and do the same.
November 12th, 2010 § § permalink
… You can ask me a million time,
I still don’t know what I’m going to do.
But I know what I’m passionate about,
I’ll start from there…
After my officially first week of no work, my girls and I ‘celebrate’ our Friday night at this secret gorgeous place that people don’t really know in Jakarta, cracking open couple bottles of sauvignon under the beautiful night sky. Yes, life is pretty #sexy. As we share what’s been happening that week, of course they ask me, “So, Ika.. what have you been doing this week? What’s the first week feel like?”
Believe it or not, I feel free. I feel inspired. I feel alive. So many ideas have flown into my being and I’ve been productive (well, you can see it from this blog ). I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do, but I feel like I’m going into the direction of where I want to go. It’s like exploring a new continent – where you’re not really sure where you’re going, but you’re definitely enjoying the journey.
But this is what I know:
- I want to be the change I want to see in Indonesia: joyful, beautiful, useful, passionate, authentic and tenacious!
- I know I want to do something in education/development – in sharing, in learning, in producing (as those are my passion). I want to spread great news. I want to create something that’ll empower a lot of people, especially women. I want us, as Indonesian people, inspire and empower one another. I believe we, as a country, have every capacity and resources to to that.
- I want to have the opportunity, the job, the life that will let me do all that – while balancing it with my other passions in family, friends, art, dancing, exercise, spirituality, etc Hey, I want a #sexy life, dahlin!
So, if I were to create an ‘ideal’ job for me, it would entail all of the above.
And with just one week of ‘free’ time, for the first time in my life, I get to sit down with no distractions, expectations, burdens to really day dream about my life at its best. You should see all the mind maps I’ve been working on, lol. But, I am here determined to determine my own destiny – that is part of a GREAT Indonesia!
As President Obama eloquently says in his speech in Universitas Indonesia during his visit on Heroes Day, “Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about — an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians.”
Be the hero in your own life, take charge of that destiny!
What’s my message?
- Know what you want: to be, to do, to have. Start from there, start from passion. Each day would be a day of discovery.
- If you don’t know what you want, start asking the questions!
- Take one little step daily, then you’ll get new ideas daily to guide you where you want to go.
Resources: