Time's Oblivion

Today is the 300th day of the year. Three hundred days of 2015 just went by like that! And also, co-incidentally, I was sitting for my O Levels six years ago. Sometimes it is terrifying to realise how fast time is flying. At the same time, I feel it is fascinating. What is time really?

To be honest, 2015 is the fastest year that I've experienced so far in my life. The record holder was 2011. I think a lot of (great) things happened in 2011 and life felt very awesome. And just like the golden rule of life, time flies when you're having fun. The slowest year for me was 2012. Because it was the year in which I had to be really really patient with everything I do, and things that happened to me.

Isn't it funny how sometimes a year feels faster or slower than the years that we went through before, although we went through the same number of days in a year (except for leap years of course). Sometimes I feel that we have all fallen into time's oblivion, walking aimlessly through the sea of time.

And we are accompanied by the events that happened to us. And the people who walked with us, whom we crossed paths with, and ultimately, who left us. 

I suppose time is like a huge ocean which we dived into. When we swim against its waves, we feel like time is flowing slowly. When we harvest the wind and ride with its waves, time flies very quickly. Ultimately, I think we have to recognise and feel its rhythms and waves. When we do so, and ride along with it, that's when we are living our life to its fullest. 

Well perhaps, I'm beginning to move along life's rhythms. Maybe. Just maybe.

Hello

 
So Adele recently released her new single, after 4 years, titled Hello. The song shook the whole world, cause after waiting for a long time (4 years is long okay), Adele finally released a new song! I really can't wait for the album to drop because I think it's going to be a great album. And definitely something I can relate to - cause she posted a photo of a note on Facebook about the new album. And in the note, she wrote "25 is about getting to know who I've become without realising". This sentence sounds very familiar to my heart. Mmhmm. I wish tomorrow is the 20th of November haha.

Adele's songs are emotionally powerful. I think she's just a wonderful singer. Her powerful voice, combined with lyrics that will definitely touch your heart. Although you're not in a relationship heh. I saw on Twitter how someone joked that Adele songs will make you think about your ex even though you've never been in a relationship with anyone haha. I share the same sentiment too!

I was talking to Syaz the other day about how this song is so sad. And I told her I can't imagine how people who had went through relationships that didn't work out feel after listening to this song. I mean... I've been single all my life and this song sounds super sad and emotional to me. That's how powerful Adele songs are I suppose. Someone Like You is also a brutal killer hahaha.

Anyway... I have listened to a lot of great songs and some of them are about you know, break-ups and moving on and so on. I do feel that these songs are great because they are beautifully written and that they are just pure amazing. But well, I can't feel a "connection" to these songs because I have never been in a relationship in my life. The only times when I would feel heartbroken would be when I realise my crush is either taken or well, knowing it's impossible for us to be in a relationship. Which is what happen most of the time. Not gonna lie. It's the story of my life.

Well to those who have been heartbroken, I know it's tough but it's more important to move on with life. Because there are reasons why you fall in love with someone, and why sometimes it just doesn't work out. You'll know the reason one day, but don't dwell on it! Because it gives you nothing but more sadness. Whatever is meant to be, is meant to be. And what isn't, will not.

I suck at giving relationship advices. Cause obviously, I've never been in one hah. But it's weird because a lot of times people ask me about them. Oh well, I hope you like Adele's new song as much as I do! I really can't wait for 20th November to come. Enya and Adele releasing their new album after such a long time. It's definitely going to be a superb album. Alright have a great week people :)

Somebody

When I was young, I've always thought of becoming a somebody. Or to be more accurate, I've always thought that I need to be somebody. Basically I have this thought that I need to become "someone" in my city, in my country and ultimately in this world. I thought I have to be successful, rich, this and that. People need to know me, or at least, they gotta know my name.

I always wanted to become a somebody. And somehow if I don't become one, I have failed as a human being. When I was young, I feel that people who have grown up are "somebodys".

But now I feel the complete opposite. As I grow up, I just want to become a nobody. Or at least let me be a somebody that nobody knows about. I don't really care if people know me or not, if I'm famous, or whether I will be remembered when I die. I don't care if people will remember the things that I do when I leave this world behind. At the end of the day, I carry nothing with me as I leave this earth. I will even leave this body of mine. This vehicle and place I am in since the day I was born.

What does it really mean, becoming a human? Are we simply measured by the number of people that know us when we are alive, and the number of people who will remember us when we die? Are we measured by how successful we are, how rich we are? 

There are days where I feel that life is completely meaningless. And days when I feel it is truly meaningful. I feel that it's meaningless cause one day I am going to leave everything behind. What people think about me, whether I will be remembered or not, all of these won't matter, at the end of the day.

Impermanence keeps me going.

The only thing that keeps me going in life, is the fact that I will one day leave everything behind.

Decisions, decisions

I had a rather rough week. But nevertheless, it's kinda ending on a pleasantly sweet note.

This week I experienced two things, that made me ponder about some things. I'm not gonna lie but ever since I returned home for good, the question of "How will life be if I decided to continue with school and not return home for good?" rings occasionally in my heart. And I often imagine and create scenarios of how my life would be. But then again, I always end up with my telling myself, I'm glad you came home.

One thing that happened in this week made me realise and understand why some of my Indonesian (or fellow international students) friends decided not to return home for good. Perhaps indeed life is better (in some ways, not all) outside of Indonesia. And maybe there are more things that they can do overseas. More opportunities to grow, and to do the things they've always wanted to do.

I remember when I told some of my Indonesian friends that I'm returning home, most of them sort of understood. Because I think that's what we're all "expected" to do, unless you're a special bunch that do not, or are not expected to (haha). Some of them are surprised because I stopped at a diploma. They wondered why I didn't want to go to university. Well it's not that I don't want to.

So this event made me wonder too. Why did I decide to go back for good?

But then another event made me realise why going back for good is the right choice to make. Or even, it is the choice I have to make. So I kinda left the previous thoughts of not going back. Although I knew one day these thoughts will return again. And the cycle will go on.

I come to a realisation that my life has been nothing but a very complex odyssey. It is so complex that I often wondered how I managed to endure it this far. Perhaps it is because I made all of the choices myself. No matter what happens, and whatever thoughts that come in my mind, I always return to the thought that I made all of these decisions myself. So I am mindfully aware of the outcome.

Like what Robin Esrock said in his TedX talk, wherever you are is where you're supposed to be, I feel that whatever decision I made in the past, is the right decision because in the future, I will know why I made these decisions. And that's the beauty of life. Everything happens for a reason.

And I'm gonna close this post with Paramore's Hello Cold World 

I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have.

Karma

So today wasn't really a good day because... Someone actually has the guts to break into one of my workers' house to steal his phone and some money. Money from the flower sales for this week, which is supposed to be deposited into the bank. But hey the burglar was kind enough to leave my worker's wallet and bag behind! Still, I wish you a smooth journey to hell.

Just kidding. 

People always say here that "Uang yang didapatkan secara tidak halal, pasti akan hilang". Which translates to: Money that you earned by inappropriate ways, will one day disappear. So I don't really give a fuck to the money that he stole because it won't be any good use to him. It will disappear. I hope it will get stolen by someone again. Cause karma is a bitch my friend.

Does it mean the money was earned via inappropriate ways? Hmm no. Well it was lost by something that is beyond our control (i.e: burglary). I think money that you earned by inappropriate ways will be lost voluntarily. You know like maybe you spent it on something that made you a loss. Or maybe you spend it on an electronic device and it will spoil/it will get lost too. You know what I mean.

My dad always tells me that when you lose things in life, you don't really lose anything. It is when you lose part of your health, that's when you truly lose something. The first thing I asked when my worker told me that someone stole his money and phone was: Are you okay? Is anyone hurt? If the answer is no then okay. If someone is hurt oh boy I will definitely take action.

You see when I lose things, I don't see the things that I lost. I simply see at the action of stealing. When I lose money (say I got ripped off etc), well I'll just tell myself "bukan rezeki saya" (it's not my luck). I don't feel unhappy with the fact that I lose some money, but I am unhappy with the fact that I someone has to do this bad deed to others. Why would you right?

I used to have this thought that when someone stole something, I'll just let it go because that person may need that thing more than me. But then again I think to myself - there are always more than one way to get out of a bad situation in life, other than stealing money to help your condition.

I always feel that whatever you do to others, you don't just do it between you and that person. You are also dealing with the God that you believe in. And if you don't believe in God, then you're dealing with your own life. Your life's journey. Your future, your family, your children and so on.

I'm a true believer in Karma and I don't think the karmic law only falls for Buddhists. Karma is a law of nature. Whatever you do, you will get something in return. You do bad things, you will get bad things and vice versa. Simple as that! So yep. To whoever stole that money, I wish you all the best in life. Because life will get rough on you. I can't help but to sympathise with you and your pathetic action. 

That's all.

Enya's New Album (Coming Soon)!

Enya's single from her upcoming album!

Something happened today that made me feel so excited and happy! So I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline when I saw "Enya updated their cover photo" and I saw her name and some tiny words below. I clicked on it and it reads "Dark Sky Islands, 20.11.15 and I literally wanted to exclaim "oh my god" but I was still in the office so... I tried to suppress my excitement really well. 

Seven is the number of years I waited for a new song from Enya! Her last album "And Winter Came" was released back in 2008. It was followed with a compilation album of her best songs and that's it. I saw on Wiki that she was writing and recording a new album so I was feeling very excited for her. But well it will only be released next month. And I really really can't wait! Time fly quickly please haha.

Anyway I was reading the YouTube comments just now when I discovered a good observation made by someone. He mentioned that this is Enya's first album "under the watchful eye of Social Media". Which is very true. I was reading the comments on her FB page and how some people were commenting that the song is boring, repetitive, or that it's the same old stuff. I was kinda upset about it!

I waited seven years for a new song from her and when I first heard it earlier, I am just so happy and glad that what I am listening to - is Enya. This is Enya and the song is her. Like I once mentioned, people need to stop thinking that artists write songs that cater to others' needs. Or her fans' needs! I mean shouldn't you feel glad too that she didn't drastically change a lot in these 7 years?

I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I'm just glad that I am hearing Enya in this new song of hers. Not anyone else, not another individual. But Enya herself! November is going to be an exciting month for music cause first there was Adele (not confirmed) and now there's Enya! :)

Hello LG

 

 Hello LG!

My Samsung S4 has been giving me a huge problem for the past 2 weeks now. Actually it's been having problems for a year now. Just that it's getting really bad these days. About a year ago my phone used to just restart on its own, suddenly, without me pressing anything and stuff. And about early this year, I think something is wrong with the sleep button, as my phone would restart on its own when I pressed the sleep button sometimes. Worst case, it cannot be switched back on.

I knew something was wrong with the sleep button cause my phone would return to its start-up screen (the Samsung logo) and refuses to be switched back on, even after I plucked the battery out and in again. I experienced this problem when I was in Iceland and freaked out cause I thought I wouldn't be able to use my phone throughout the trip :O But after pressing the sleep button in different ways it managed to return to life again haha. It was after 2015 began that this problem used to happen a lot. Like at least once a month or something. And this week, it happened everyday. 

It can happen like once every two hours and it is very annoying and disruptive when my phone died during a phone call, or when I am in an engaging conversation with my customer (or anyone else) in BBM/Whatsapp. So I told myself okay I need to get myself a new phone. Cause I think the problem with smartphone nowadays is that the price of fixing one, is almost the same as getting a new one.

I'm a fan of MKBHD (AKA Marques Brownlee) on YouTube and I've been watching his videos for about 2 years now? And watching his review of the new LG G4, I really want to make it my next phone. I think it's a photography-enthusiast dream phone, and I think it's a great phone overall. As much as I really love my S4, I don't like Samsung's S6 because of the fact that it doesn't have a replaceable battery and additional external memory. And also, it is expensive here. 2 of my cousins used LG G3 and I really love that phone. So I decided to jump into the LG ship instead!

I got my new LG G4 yesterday but I haven't -officially- used it as I am backing up and storing important information from my old phone. I've done them now so I'm going to change my phone real soon heh. I can't wait to use it! And also I haven't bought a memory card for the external memory. So gotta check it out too. I am especially excited for the camera. I know it's an awesome camera with F1.8 aperture and manual mode that includes manual focus! It's literally my dream phone hahaha.

Alright that's all for me today. I will share with you some photos I take from the new phone. Well goodbye and thank you mt dearest S4 for the sweet memories we've shared together. You've been a really great phone. But I can't have a faulty phone with me :( But no worries I'm saving you as my backup phone just in case I need to use you again heh. Alright, see you and have a great week ahead!