tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82594339656173184332024-02-07T11:37:04.784+07:00scribbled contemplations by puji maharanipuji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-80716705422304917492015-01-18T03:00:00.001+07:002015-01-18T03:00:01.277+07:00Fallen<p dir="ltr">"Look at me. I am a wreck," she said, weeping. Her eyeliner was smudging, her mascara running down her cheeks. The stream of tears washed away their blush, yet her face was red due to overflowing emotion. As her cosmetic mask was fading, she exposed her vulnerability in a way that only he could observe.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"The way I see it, you have been through a storm, but you're not exceedingly messed up. For that, it is quite natural to assume that, instead, you went on a rather smooth sailing," he replied, admiring her for being unbelievably candid. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"But people judge me nevertheless," she added, although she was now no longer looking as sombre.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He shrugged. "Oh, they do little else."</p>
<p dir="ltr">"They need to find something more interesting to do," she responded solemnly. "Would you, though?"</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I'll leave it to you, who does it better than anyone else. After all, we are our own worst critic."</p>
<p dir="ltr">"That's better than what I wanted to hear." She smiled, at last.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With her in his arms, suddenly the world seems to be a little kinder, because now he has a place to call home.</p>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-90285656500113635032014-12-01T18:28:00.003+07:002014-12-01T20:50:10.961+07:00December 1: At the Start<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is true that one can never forget their first, because that is when something new starts to roll. My 2014 has been full of firsts, and each of them deserves to be celebrated. <br />
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First thing first, though: I cannot be more grateful of my choice to be back to journalism last year, because this year it brought me the opportunity of first-time out of town and overseas reporting assignment. <br />
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The former, a trip to Wonogiri, Central Java, was arranged for a piece about a village called <a href="http://www.wayangvillage.com/" target="_blank">Kepuhsari</a>, and how the people are striving to keep the tradition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_play#Indonesia" target="_blank">shadow puppetry</a> (<i>wayang kulit</i>) alive. After it was published, I submitted the article to a <i>wayang</i>-themed writing competition, and I ended up getting my very first award as a magazine journalist as well as being the only female winner. <br />
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To follow that is my first ever work trip abroad, conducted less than a month ago. I went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which a friend of mine described as, “Visiting your neighbour’s house across the street”, to cover the finale of a reality show titled <a href="http://fitforfashion.tv/" target="_blank"><i>Fit for Fashion</i></a>. It was quite glitzy and glamorous, with my staying in a five-star historical hotel called <a href="http://www.majestickl.com/" target="_blank">Majestic</a> that lives up to its name, and the chance of meeting <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/jimmy-choo-20692491" target="_blank">Jimmy Choo</a>.<br />
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It has been an interesting ride, career-wise and all, and I am looking forward for more to come. On another note, I cannot help but contemplating the journey so far. <br />
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I remember starting this year feeling hopeful, especially after I interviewed a feng shui master as the Year of the Horse was coming, and he said that good fortune was coming up my way. Being an avid reader of the magazine’s horoscope page, I come to the conclusion that although it is interesting to take a peek into what the future holds, my fate is neither set on stone or written in the stars. It is up to me to make my choices and decisions, and I choose the path that makes the most of what I have and enables me to be the best I can.<br />
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A first time is a curious thing. As a first-timer, it is natural to be inexperienced; no matter how much one is expected to be, because of their age or whatnot. Unsurprisingly, one’s age does not necessarily correspond to being well-exposed to the mysteries of the world and knowing how to deal with them. I once had the thought that every day is, in a way or another, is a first day all over again, because to some extent it gives one a(nother) chance to start over.<br />
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As the year is ending, I look back and am feeling pretty content. I am not saying that I am completely over the turbulence called quarter-life crisis, but I now have a private health insurance card in my wallet and no credit card, so I suppose that is a start. No matter how much I like surprises, I can be terrible at handling stuff that started as something unexpected. Thus, when it comes to accidents and emergencies, I would like to have a safety net prepared. Remember when Julia Robert showed Richard Gere an array of condoms in <i>Pretty Woman</i> and said, “I’m a safety girl.”? It is something like that.</div>
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Nevertheless, I am ready for more surprises, and to be a first-timer all over again.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3caBmsZst22bMqwEulCQegzUiBg1LBkUSdvxGY-MT18IFMhhCPppZTqcHHfm_U085zZfc9xOGOqcDxZT2ws7yloj5mvCVaAO6HpTcjE3jWX5zamjDrGv6IYGc6Tpzh_JN3fZzY25axvo/s1600/Words-to-live-quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3caBmsZst22bMqwEulCQegzUiBg1LBkUSdvxGY-MT18IFMhhCPppZTqcHHfm_U085zZfc9xOGOqcDxZT2ws7yloj5mvCVaAO6HpTcjE3jWX5zamjDrGv6IYGc6Tpzh_JN3fZzY25axvo/s1600/Words-to-live-quote.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken from <a href="http://geniusquotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Words-to-live-quote.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-71742120394007013012014-09-12T00:27:00.001+07:002014-09-12T00:27:31.909+07:00The Longing<p dir="ltr">"I will miss you."<br>
"Of course you will. If anything, you have to, because I will miss you too and you know that. After all, you'll be deceased, not forgotten."<br>
As he laughed, I watched his pain melted along with his joy in the form of tears and smiling eyes. I could not help but joining him. It was like our own way of celebrating life.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I remember the first time I had the feeling of longing for someone even more just after we met, the moment he waved goodbye before dissappeared from my sight. When I told him so, he said, "Me too. Shame that we only had so little time."</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the meantime, we have told each other, through our words or embraces, for too many times, "Please stay, a little longer." I knew he wanted to. I always knew I wanted to. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Today, he did not leave me they way he used to. This time, his hands were cold. And I was the only one who got the chance to say, "I will see you soon."</p>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-4968822381756884902014-07-12T05:15:00.001+07:002014-07-12T05:15:22.122+07:00Baru!<p dir="ltr">Singkat cerita, satu keinginan lagi sudah terpenuhi. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Keriangan duniawi dini hari ini wujudnya berupa hasil unduhan beragam aplikasi Android yang sejak dulu ingin dimiliki tapi tak bisa, maklum ponselnya impoten karena sistem operasinya Symbian. Mulai menjajaki aplikasi-aplikasi "gaul" semacam Path dan Instagram, juga Line yang unggul dari WhatsApp berkat fitur nelpon gratis, tapi yang paling mengasyikkan adalah Blogger Mobile, jadi bisa ngeblog di mana saja dan kapan saja, hore!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Senangnya, masih punya kesempatan untuk menikmati hal-hal baru (dan punya gadget yang bisa dipakai nge-post foto di Twitter, jadi kalau disuruh livetweeting nggak harus pinjem hp atau kirim foto via Whatsapp lagi hihihi).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Selain itu, juga ada waktu untuk nostalgia, yang datang tepat waktu di akhir pekan.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As I have said once: Once one is a debater, they will always be one. The only difference is the setting. <br>
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puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-66281801749880139312014-06-30T22:30:00.000+07:002014-07-07T15:30:02.316+07:00Dari Kotak Sampah<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<![endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kotak itu
hampir kosong. Tidak seperti biasanya, ia membiarkan sepucuk surat tersisa di
sana.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dibacanya lagi
nama sang pengirim. Nama yang ia kira telah menghapus segala ingatan tentang
dirinya. Ia tahu, ia seharusnya tak usah banyak berharap. Makanya ia sempat berusaha
meyakinkan diri, bahwa surat itu dikirimkan secara tak sengaja, atau mungkin
salah alamat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rupanya, ia
tidak salah-salah amat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Surat itu
bahkan tak berisi basa-basi. Hanya sebatas tautan tak bermakna, pertanda bahwa
sang pengirim bahkan tak pernah punya niat untuk menyuratinya.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Kalau bukan
karena kebetulan, saya rasa kita tidak akan pernah bertemu lagi,” ujarnya kala
itu, pada perjumpaan mereka yang terakhir.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sudah berhari-hari
berlalu sejak surat itu tiba, dan ia masih belum sanggup membuangnya. Pun ia
belum kuasa meredakan rindunya, atau godaan untuk membalas surat itu. Tak usah
panjang lebar, pikirnya, cukup memberitahu sang pengirim bahwa ia mungkin membutuhkan
sedikit kehati-hatian ekstra. Siapa tahu, dengan begitu, menyisipkan “Apa kabar?”
di dalamnya jadi tidak begitu canggung.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tapi,
haruskah?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Memang,
sebenarnya tidak ada tuntutan apapun untuk itu. Sebenarnya, ia hanya ingin. Tetapi,
ia takut. Takut akan segala macam, tapi kemungkinan terburuk adalah suratnya
tak dipedulikan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kalau sudah
begini, rasanya waktu seolah tak pernah berlalu, maka ia belumlah sempat
melanjutkan hidup. Padahal, mereka sudah berhenti saling menyapa sejak empat
tahun silam, untuk alasan yang bahkan ia tak ingat lagi, akibat pertengkaran
yang penyebabnya sudah ada jauh di luar kepala.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mungkin, ia
hanya sedang merindukan masa lalunya, tepatnya saat-saat mereka masih rukun dan
bahagia. Tapi, kenyataan seolah tak lelah mengingatkannya, bahwa setiap hal di
dunia bisa habis masa berlakunya.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ada masanya
untuk berpindah dan berganti. Bisa jadi, ini juga berlaku untuk perihal
sengketa yang tak sempat dituntaskan. Seberapa pun besarnya ia berharap bahwa
waktu cukup memiliki daya penyembuhan. Baru sekarang ia menyadari, ternyata
berakhirnya jalinan erat dengan teman sepermainan sejak remaja pun bisa
menyebabkan patah hati.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ia ternyata
perlu sedikit usaha agar hatinya tetap teguh. Lagi-lagi ia mengingatkan dirinya
sendiri, bahwa mereka berdua sekarang lebih baik hidup sendiri-sendiri.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dihampirinya
kotak sampah itu. Ia menarik napas, menghirup tekad dalam-dalam dan bertindak
lekas-lekas, sebelum ia keburu berubah pikiran. Sejurus kemudian, ia tersenyum
getir menatap pemandangan di hadapannya.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hooray, no spam here!</i>” </span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-45488124329919434932014-06-24T20:21:00.002+07:002014-06-24T21:51:48.580+07:00On (Summer) Holiday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Staycation (\ˈstā-ˈkā-shən\), noun: a vacation spent at
home or nearby </i>(Merriam-Webster.com).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The thing about living in a tropical country is to have
summer all year round (hence the dream of experiencing snow and winter, and
Frozen is somehow challenging to be relatable, climate-wise). In Jakarta,
Indonesia, the middle of the year becomes particularly pleasant not only
because it is the holiday season, but also due to the city’s anniversary on
June 22<sup>nd</sup>, that leads to culture festivals and shopping frenzy for
two months straight. But I am not going to address more on the festivities,
albeit I am delightful to see the discount sign everywhere (Hello, Jakarta
Great Sale!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Since the topic for this month’s prompt include the word ‘home’,
it calls for a bit of personal contemplation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You see, I have been living in the capital city for the past
two years, since I graduated from college. I am about to have my first work
anniversary in a few days’ time and it gets me a little bit sentimental,
because I never thought that Jakarta could ever be my pond.<br />
<br />
I grew up in a considerably
big city because it is also a capital city of one of the most overpopulated
provinces in the country, but the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan was not something I used to experience in a daily basis. However, living and working in Jakarta have its own perks, especially because I live in the heart of the capital city and everything is nearby. Going places (and spending hard-earned cash) is far easier now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I might have made Jakarta my home, simply because I spend
most of my days in a week living here. On the other hand, I am still officially
a resident of another town, and it is not one of the satellite cities nearby
the capital city. I go to my hometown every a couple of weeks, but these days, the
trips are merely weekend visits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A place I used to call home for years is now where I would
spend six nights a month at most. The town I used to live in would now welcome
me like another domestic tourist when I come on Saturdays and leave on Mondays.
This is not a strange circumstance as it happens to millions of others, but
sometimes it can make me feel out of place. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
People said things like <i>‘Home is where the heart is’</i> and <i>‘Absence
makes the heart grows fonder’</i>. It makes me realise that no matter where one’s
home is, they have to know for sure the ways they have to take to get there. In
the end, distance is not merely a matter of geography, but also a challenge to
meet, so one could keep their loved ones close to their heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAEFV-Yv3vM8FbjkWx7ho_rook9Knm3PVooTjr-OWxQXwOqQgpGTNRLJF9WWnuu3o4SGX4aDOUrBA3QfDBiKuSQddWT3wP6FoDpC94MOEV4Ix-3-ms9YA_qgfJeBA-JrOsIdJoWvrNf8/s1600/summertime-blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAEFV-Yv3vM8FbjkWx7ho_rook9Knm3PVooTjr-OWxQXwOqQgpGTNRLJF9WWnuu3o4SGX4aDOUrBA3QfDBiKuSQddWT3wP6FoDpC94MOEV4Ix-3-ms9YA_qgfJeBA-JrOsIdJoWvrNf8/s1600/summertime-blues.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAEFV-Yv3vM8FbjkWx7ho_rook9Knm3PVooTjr-OWxQXwOqQgpGTNRLJF9WWnuu3o4SGX4aDOUrBA3QfDBiKuSQddWT3wP6FoDpC94MOEV4Ix-3-ms9YA_qgfJeBA-JrOsIdJoWvrNf8/s1600/summertime-blues.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Therefore, summer at home and staycationing are basically
what I do on the weekends. It means time-off, making it a perfect time to
rekindle. It means the pleasure of taking my family out for lunch or dinner, or
catching up with friends in my hometown. Summertime for me is the weekends with
the sunshine, because without it I would not get my laundry dry in a day. I would
also love to try reading in the park or some afternoon-jogging.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The actual summer holiday in the country, though, if I may
say so, is the last week of July, which marks the festivities of Eid al-Fitr
that is celebrated by more than 80 percent of the country’s population. It has
been regarded as the perfect timing, for many who works places far away from
their families, be it their nuclear or extended ones, to ‘come home’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
These days, people would also spend the one-week break for a
long-overdue holiday, making it a peak traveling season in the country. And that
is what I plan to do this Eid holiday with my family. Details are still
brewing, but I cannot be more excited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Going on a holiday is particularly refreshing, for one,
because it brings my family together again after mundane daily activities keep
us apart. Also, adhering to the words ‘Home is where is the heart is’, it is
like having your home with you in a different setting, absorbing all the fun in
foreign places with those who are near and dear.<o:p></o:p></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-21820718487543339672014-06-21T23:10:00.000+07:002014-06-25T16:10:43.574+07:00A Little Surprise<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I never thought that, in my lifetime, I would ever say those
words to anyone, but I just did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I have tumours. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, that’s plural.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I was at a health fair a couple of hours ago and there was a
booth offering a special price for breast ultrasonography, so I decided to give
it a go. Ten minutes later, the general practitioner found three lumps in my
right breast, telling me that they “seem to be solid, but benign.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I took them as a threat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She told me that I should not worry about it, because each
of them is less than half a centimetre in size. I just need to eat more
vegetables and fruits, and get myself screened again in three to six months.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nevertheless, I left the building with shaking hands and
cold feet after a shattering revelation. It felt like something pinched my
bosom from the inside. It did not hurt as much, but it hurt still.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“You know, surprises are part of my favourite things, but I am
not good at this. Not for this kind of surprise,” I mumbled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You looked confused for one moment, but then you held my hand
and gathered your words, saying, “I am sorry for being so clueless right now. I
wish I know any better way to soothe you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“That’s okay,” I forced myself to smile. “Eating more greens
is not that much of a challenge anyway.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Does your mum know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I will tell her later when I am home. As much as I am
tempted to talk it out on the phone so that I do not have to cry in front of
her, I think this is face-to-face news.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Come here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At this moment, I could not be more thankful for having you
and your heart-warming embrace wrapped around me, although my stream of tears
was the only way of saying it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I know it is cliché, and you usually hate people for saying
things just because it is something you want to hear, but everything is going
to be okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vancouverisawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/martincreed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://vancouverisawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/martincreed.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="http://vancouverisawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/martincreed.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-85571873063288282042014-06-13T00:46:00.002+07:002014-06-13T00:47:22.250+07:00Hujan Tadi Malam<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Malam ini, sepatu baruku resmi sudah dipelonco oleh hujan. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Air dan bahan beledu pun bertemu akibat ketidaksengajaan. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Belum lagi kakiku jadi lecet, sebab masih dalam masa penjajakan.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Untungnya, sepatu itu tak sempat kena lumpur, dan aku masih punya alas kaki cadangan.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Di luar itu, sepatu basah tak jadi soal, toh aku sudah dibuat terlampau senang oleh sebuah kencan.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jangan cemburu dulu, sayang, karena perempuan yang kutemui itu adalah seorang teman.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jauh dari romantis, kami lebih banyak bertukar kabar dan memperbincangkan sesama kawan, meski sempat jalan kaki berduaan.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aku janji, akan meluangkan waktu sehari penuh untuk bersenang-senang bersamamu di akhir pekan.</span></i></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://p1.pichost.me/i/41/1644706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://p1.pichost.me/i/41/1644706.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="http://p1.pichost.me/i/41/1644706.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-50746938151901751322014-06-03T00:37:00.004+07:002014-06-03T00:58:14.360+07:00Stalk Now, Confess Later<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I finally met him. So I started off with the question I was
dying to ask. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Recently, you said that you stalk people on-line in your
spare time. Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“At best, it is curiosity. At worst, curiosity went wrong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Wrong, in what way?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It would feel pretty gruesome afterwards, because I would
not like what I find. However, by that time, it would be too late. And I keep
on making the same mistake.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He later claimed that he had no particular object of
interest. He admitted, though, that his last target was his former lover, who recently
tied the knot with someone whom he deemed far from worthy. “Still, I believe
that I have dodged the bullet. I have seen the wedding pictures on Facebook. The
bride looked hideous.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I could not help pointing out to him that although
on-line stalking is undeniably common these days, given the easy access of search
engines and social media, he might have gone a little overboard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Maybe,” he replied matter-of-factly. “I believe that I am
not supposed to scrutinise what I dislike about people just to make me feel
good about myself. For the time being, though, I choose to see it as a bit of research
that I must do before moving on to do something else, which may or may not be more worthwhile.
We’ll see.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://data3.whicdn.com/images/21499042/large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://data3.whicdn.com/images/21499042/large.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="http://data3.whicdn.com/images/21499042/large.png" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-56650064291441521532014-06-02T23:58:00.000+07:002014-06-03T00:48:27.668+07:00The Very Thought of Caffeine<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It's like, we rarely talk because we were too busy getting
laid, and suddenly I realised that we barely connected in any level, you know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was a strange question to ask a virgin, but I immediately
swallowed my objection and decided to stay silent, hesitantly handed him his cup
of coffee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I don't know whether I should be glad or sad, when I say
that there's nothing good coming out of this, other than great sex,” he said
mournfully.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“But I remember you told me that it was pleasurable?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Yes, that’s true. It was pleasurable, and I was delusional. Yet just because it was delightful, doesn't mean it's real.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I couldn't help but to be surprised. Coming from him, it was
like the end of an era. This heartless bastard was finally beaten down, and I thought he deserved it. But does that matter now?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He sipped his caffeine and looked at me in the eye, as if he
was trying to say, “I am okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Of course,” I replied, trying to imply that I agreed with him
just so he would stop lying. It was heart-wrenching to watch that poor sod
harming himself even further.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
His heart does not tolerate coffee. But, since he was
heartbroken now, so he thought, why bother anyway?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.prernacentre.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cup_of_coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.prernacentre.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cup_of_coffee.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="http://www.prernacentre.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cup_of_coffee.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-65603789756655120402014-06-01T22:01:00.000+07:002014-06-03T23:20:10.581+07:00The Bitter Face<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Do you really have to put it on?” He asked, as I dipped my index
finger into a jar of night cream.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Yes. Why?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It doesn't taste good.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It's not that you have to lick it,” I replied, tapping my
face lightly so that the cream would sink better into my skin. “Besides, you
can always kiss me on the mouth. Why is it an issue, anyway?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He merely shrugged. “Well, I guess I miss kissing your cheek
to say goodnight, and not getting any aftertaste.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I chuckled. “We have to continuously strive for the better
version of ourselves. Oh, and there is this thing about wrinkles, too. I don't
really fancy the idea of having time etched on my face over the years,
especially since we're not getting any younger.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Does this matter that much to you?” He wondered intently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I suppose,” I said flatly. “And does kissing my cheek
matter that much to you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He nodded. “Oh well, whatever floats your boat, darling. We'll figure
something out,” he concluded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was not until the next day, when a ray of sunshine sneaks
through the windows, that he figured something out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Good morning,” he greeted me with a kiss on my left cheek. “You
look beautiful today.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Must be the combo of the cream and beauty sleep,” I mumbled.
“How does it taste?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Less bitter,” he grinned. “The smile helped.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.livingonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/encouragement-smiley-faces-308x210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.livingonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/encouragement-smiley-faces-308x210.jpg" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">(photo taken from <a href="http://www.livingonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/encouragement-smiley-faces-308x210.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></h2>
</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-16125942477079009842014-06-01T21:57:00.000+07:002014-06-03T23:27:15.580+07:00An Introduction to storiesofjune<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, June!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To begin the second semester of 2014, I would like to make a self-reminder on how delightful it is to write for pleasure, by committing myself to a writing project throughout the month.<br />
<br />
So here comes <a href="http://maharaniwrites.blogspot.com/search/label/storiesofjune" target="_blank">storiesofjune</a>, a new label for rather short (about 200 words long) stories I shall be, hopefully, posting daily. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Enjoy! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.writeathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Tell_Stories_Eco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.writeathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Tell_Stories_Eco.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken from <a href="http://blog.writeathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Tell_Stories_Eco.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-28425204955889981892014-05-28T01:23:00.000+07:002014-06-25T15:48:06.817+07:00A little note on loss<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I just lost my phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My secondary mobile phone, to be exact, the one I used just
recently for work-related purposes (I hate using past tense for this). This is
the first time I ever lost my phone since I started using this particular
gadget twelve years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As expected, words of encouragement, as well as criticism,
follow. I was told that the unfortunate event is yet another example of “When
it happens, it happens”, just like how things generally would fall into places;
hence there is no point of mourning the loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I did not. Well, maybe a little, because a loss is a loss
nevertheless. Once you had something, now you do not. And there is this famous
line, “You never know what you got ‘till it’s gone”, to put some extra regret
into the situation. Although, maybe because I did not put so much important and
irreplaceable information, I did not feel so much at loss for losing it. This also
serves as a reminder for me to regularly backup the content of my phone, just
in case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My only consolation was to wish that my phone could be of
better use for the person who took it, in any way possible. Still, it is a shame;
I thought to myself, that I did not manage to be more careful. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“But why blaming yourself for something that is supposed to
happen anyway?” was my dad’s next sentence, after reminding me not to play the
victim card and secretly hope for anything bad to happen to the perpetrator.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Because I should not have let that happened, and I have
managed to done so all this time,” I replied repentantly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Somehow, I can hear his comforting smile as he said, “Be
grateful, though, and don’t forget to pray. Something way better is coming
along the way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-17592905938918778652013-12-31T15:52:00.003+07:002013-12-31T15:52:51.754+07:00Day 31: So long farewell<i>What's next for you?</i><div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Quitting sedentary life.</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-80483529502769970072013-12-13T23:00:00.000+07:002014-02-02T03:55:44.863+07:00Day 13: Favourite things<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Give us a list of your favourite things from 2013. Could be material items, food, people, anything!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In no particular order:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Interviewing <a href="http://www.sharoncorr.com/" target="_blank">Sharon Corr</a>.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have always been a fan of The Corrs, many of their songs were the anthems of some of the most memorable moments I had in the 2000's. It was only natural that I jumped into the offer to exclusively interview her when she visited Jakarta in September. In about twenty minutes, I went from being star-struck to inspired, as she talked about her many experiences and thoughts as a musician, a humanitarian, a mum, and a woman.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Taking candid pictures.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is something challenging, yet compelling, when it comes to taking a picture of someone doing something without telling them to pose beforehand, knowing that I am about to make the moment immortal to some extent. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Kindle Paperwhite.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After being in my wish list for far too long, I can finally own my very own e-book reader. Credit goes to <a href="https://twitter.com/angga_dm" target="_blank">Angga</a>, who bought this for me when he went to the States earlier this year. It was almost like a birthday present, too, because I got it only a couple of days after my birthday. Yays!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Shumai. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even writing the name of this food ignites my craving already. Buying it from Star Mart was almost a daily thing, then I started a new job in which not one, but two persons actually sell it at the office, willingly visit my floor and offer it right in front of my eyes. What else can I do?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Spending a week in Hong Kong and Macau with mum and baby sister.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was raining for hours everyday during our trip, but we got to go to Disneyland, shopped like there's no tomorrow for a week, and tried delicious dishes at a halal restaurant nearby our hostel. Also, having people I hold most dear as travelling companions made me feel at home all along, only with different setting.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div>
<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632679/" target="_blank">Van Gogh: Painted With Words</a></b><br />
The BBC production has everything I want in a TV movie - and more. A documentary drama in period setting, check. Historical accuracy, because the entire dialogue was made from written documents, including Vincent Van Gogh's letter to his brother Theo, check. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/" target="_blank">Benedict Cumberbatch</a>, check. Completely awed? Obviously. My favourite line is when he talked about his infatuation for his cousin, Kee, <i>"To love... what a business."</i><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugo_Tokumaru" target="_blank">Shugo Tokumaru.</a></b></div>
<div>
I discovered the Japanese multi-talented musician when somebody posted the music video of his song<i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-WM-x__BOk" target="_blank">Katachi</a></i> on Facebook, and I was hooked. Since then, I have been listening to his songs over and over again it practically became my anthem for the first few months of the year. One of these days, should I need a little pick-me-up, <i>Rum Hee </i>and<i> Parachute</i> never fail to put a smile upon my face.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34647" target="_blank">Letters of a Javanese Princess.</a></b></div>
<div>
This is a compilation of RA Kartini's letter, translated from Dutch into English. This book is an eye-opener, to say the least, especially because some of her written thoughts are unbelievably relevant after over a hundred years. Quote-worthy lines are all over the book, and one of my favourite is on gratitude: <i>"But is it not a sad thought that we must be reminded of the lack in others, in order to appreciate our own advantage?"</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<b>A bouquet of white roses.</b><br />
My two co-workers at that time, <a href="https://twitter.com/achiemarta" target="_blank">Achie</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FahmiRamadhan" target="_blank">Fahmi</a>, gave it to me for my birthday present. I still have it in its original shape. It smells like honey and I love it. Maybe, some time later, I shall make a pot-pourri out of the petals.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Dresses. </b></div>
<div>
I get to wear this clothing item more often now, as I do not have to take public transportations to get to work any more. I enjoy wearing them as they are so versatile and I cannot get enough of them. Obviously, I intend to have more. There is no such thing as too many dresses.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Lactasoy Green Tea.</b></div>
<div>
Cannot talk too much about it other than this: I would rather buy this other than any green tea blend/frappé drink from literally anywhere. It is THAT good. Plus, it is only about IDR 20k a box.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Hello Kitty travel pillow. </b></div>
<div>
When I saw it in a little store in Ladies Market area in Hong Kong, I grabbed it with no second thoughts. First, it is Hello Kitty - it has catlike ears and all. Second, it is cute. It may be white, therefore it might get dirty easily, but I can always sent it to the laundry when that happens.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Postcards sent by friends.</b> </div>
<div>
I love sending and receiving postcards, although I don't really fancy the notion of "if I have sent you a postcard you must reply it". I have always wanted to display them somewhere so I can see them all the time, and I am glad to have as I dedicated a special corner for them in my room. If you feel like sending me one, let me know so I can share you my address privately ;)</div>
</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-54333689711205665672013-12-06T22:30:00.000+07:002014-02-06T01:23:13.941+07:00Day 6: Blowing Out the Candles<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><i>You’re another year older! How did you celebrate the passage of another year? Did it turn out the way you had hoped?</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">I had rice-flavoured Cerelac for breakfast at my workplace, simply because I could. (Honestly, though, those who believe that this has to do with my, or anyone's, maturity, might want to Google a little bit more about what maturity actually is.) Did some work. Then the delivery man arrived with my order: assorted shiumay arranged in a cone shape, just like the traditional tumpeng, for everyone at the office. No candle to blow, but I did make a bit of birthday wish. It is safe to say that my colleagues loved the food, and the birthday wishes they gave me were truly heart-warming.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The holy workload called again after the lunch break. Sometime after dusk, my colleagues <a href="https://twitter.com/achiemarta" target="_blank">Achie</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FahmiRamadhan" target="_blank">Fahmi</a> and I</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> went to a steakhouse to claim their free steak promo for everyone on their birthday. (<a href="https://twitter.com/angga_dm" target="_blank">Angga</a> was not there because he was in San Francisco, busy mingling with Agnes Monica and all). One of the waiters at the steakhouse gave me a tiara-shaped head accessory "for the birthday girl to wear", he said. So I did. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Some time later after that, I had a dinner with my mum and baby sister, some other after-office meetup with friends from different circles, then a lunch with my dad (not really in that order). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">There was not really any party or anything fancy, but the best celebrations are ones that includes food, friends (and/or loved ones), and conversations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Another highlight of the day: <a href="https://twitter.com/erycorniawati11" target="_blank">Ery</a>, a member of the volunteer team I worked with at the <a href="http://icpdbeyond2014.org/key-events/view/13-icpd-global-youth-forum" target="_blank">Global Youth Forum</a> last year made me a thoroughly thoughtful video, compiling the birthday wishes from the fellow volunteers. I was overwhelmingly touched with the effort of everyone involved. This reminded me about how genuine and invaluable some presents can be, and I loved every second of it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">I cannot really recall what I hoped for on my birthday. It is good, I suppose, because I ended up not over-think about how some things did not work out. All things considered, though, it was a good start.</span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-87594814368988623092013-12-05T22:30:00.000+07:002014-02-02T18:26:49.642+07:00Day 5: Challenge<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Did you take on a new challenge? What was it? Is there any challenge you deliberately avoided? What do you want to do to challenge yourself in 2014?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(Note: this will be a long post.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>On New Thrills</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The word "challenge" has a special place in my dictionary. I believe that challenges come in many ways, but the way we handle them depends on how we see them at the first sight. For the past several years, I have learned not to label things as neither "difficult" nor "easy", but simply "challenging". Apparently, such state of mind helps me to take things in a more lighthearted and welcoming manner, with no unnecessary over (or under) estimation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am pleased to say that I did take a new challenge this year, which may even be life-changing. Starting over a career was particularly challenging, especially because I used to be so unsure about how good will I do in journalism. To finally being able to do journalism works in a regular basis is apparently very fulfilling, and I cannot be happier. </div>
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<br /></div>
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My (at that time) prospective boss were right after all, when she said to me in the final interview, "Working here, you will encounter plenty of challenges along the way. I know you would like it, though, because you seem to like being challenged." </div>
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<br /></div>
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True, there is something about challenges that I simply cannot get enough with. Maybe it is the sense of accomplishment, or possibly the rush of gratification for simply trying and giving my best shot. Challenges give me something to aim for, and they elevate my self-esteem once they are done.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the other hand, I believe that challenges can also be alarming, that is if one takes it by incorporating others’ achievements into their benchmark, ending up with them making comparisons. I agree with Kristin Neff, Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, when she stated that comparing ourselves to others has been a means to generate self-esteem, and it is not seen as good enough to be average.</div>
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Arguably, this is how we start being the worst critic for our own self.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>On Making Comparisons</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to social comparison theory, we compare ourselves to others in an effort to make accurate self-evaluation and produce further self-enhancement. Nevertheless, I have always felt uneasy with the notion "If others can do it, I (or you) can do it, too". It may sound discouraging, as the statement provokes the spirit of competition and conquering challenges, yet I could not really reason such discomfort, until very recently.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Comparisons may be a promising source of motivation, but it feels personally awkward for me to determine my self-worth using others as points of reference. Often times, instead of motivating, it gets me questioning my own worth, and eventually drags me into the abyss of self-doubt. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is not so challenging to say, "Oh, I am nothing compared to X, she is effortlessly good-looking, she has a GPA that lands her the job I have always dream of, she had been travelling to every destination I put in my "places to go before you die" list, she can get her hands on things I want to own but can never afford, her non-academic achievements are unbeatable, and look at that gorgeous boyfriend of hers…" and it goes on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Apparently, there are two kinds of comparisons: upward (observing those who seem to have it better than us regarding qualities that we desire) and downward (observing those who seem to have it worse). Thomas Plante, Ph.D., former President of Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality of the American Psychological Association,furthermore explains, "We often feel better about ourselves and our lives when making downward comparisons, and feel bad about ourselves when making upward comparisons."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I believe that the core problem of comparisons comes down to the concept of gratitude. Many of us have been taught to be grateful "because there are a lot of less unfortunate people out there". I never quite able to grasp this concept, because what is the point of being grateful for your own life if you have to firstly take a glimpse of others’ just to be able to do that?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even as a kid, I was happy to have a lollipop in my hand not because my other friends did not, but because I could taste it and it tasted good. Under that notion, should I then be grateful for my lollipop because I had it and others did not, even if it was because they prefer chocolate or ice cream to lollipops?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sometime in 2013, I realised that measuring own strength and weaknesses through other people’s achievements is simply unfair. It is a losing battle, because I have always been aware that each individual in this world is unique, yet somehow I forgot that it contributes to who they are and what they could be.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Instead, it would only make me pity myself for being unable to be what others are, or to get what others have.On another hand, even if I want their accomplishments, but would I be able to walk on their shoes and die trying?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The Upcoming Challenge</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To encounter self-criticism as one of the possible harms of comparisons, Neff coined the term 'self-compassion’, highlighting two problems that stop us from obtaining it. "One, when we criticize ourselves, we reinforce the illusion of control… It’s scary to admit how little control we sometimes have. Two, we really believe that we need self-criticism to motivate ourselves… [W]hen we are in a self-critical place, this is the worst possible mindset in which to do our best," she affirmed.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I believe that, although comparisons may still be relevant to some extent, it is time to start looking inward, to appreciate who we essentially are, the particular life and experiences we have, and what are we capable of as an individual, among other personal highlights.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Making peace with our own self, I suppose, is a lifelong challenge. Nevertheless, acknowledging this feels liberating, because I know that I have better alternative than to succumb to the (subjectively) vague concept of motivation and gratitude. Now that I am aware of the vicious threat of comparing myself with others, and how it interferes the way I am being genuinely thankful, I establish this notion as my main homework in 2014.</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-39746381727840305162013-12-04T20:35:00.000+07:002013-12-11T09:49:13.964+07:00Day 4: 20/20<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Hindsight is the one thing we never benefit from in the present. Is there one moment you wish you could do over?</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sometimes, nay, often, I believe that I did not work hard enough, well enough, whole-hearted enough, it makes me feel like going back to the past so I can do it better. But since I cannot, because even in time-travel related movies it is an illusion, let me take this thought into a different light and make a totally hypothetical point.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Earlier this year, I had a job interview with a prominent print media. To be one of their reporters used to be my dream job back in college, and after a few selection phases, I was there for an one-on-one interview with an executive editor.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember he commented on my look, and said, "If you were to work at my place, you might not be able to keep dressing up like this. You will be taking public transportations and chasing deadlines every single day, you will not have time to spare to touch-up."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I still believe that he may be right. After all, he was the one with more experience. But he may also be wrong, because he has never put any make-up on and been clueless on deciding what to wear in the morning, before leaving home and seizing the day. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am not sure if my answer at that time has enlightened him enough, that I believe that looking shabby should not be a prerequisite to be a newspaper journalist, and what matters more is to be presentable so your sources will not look down on you because of how you look. I would love to have a(nother) shot to tell him that.</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-82762436906705845902013-12-03T19:59:00.000+07:002013-12-10T19:59:53.651+07:00Day 3: Brave<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>What was the bravest thing you did in 2013?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Bravery is a strange thing. I had to look it up on Google to find what it actually means, and I ended up not only finding entries on what it means literally and what people have previously said about it, but also myself even more confounded.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have written something on this matter, actually, but I do not think it is not quite relevant with today's prompt. Besides, there are a lot of reason to be afraid that I have encountered this year, and some of them linger up until this very moment.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On the other hand, I believe that bravery does not come in bulky size or in form of a big, strong man who saves the world. Sometimes, it presents itself in small, virtually undetectable things, but they are things that actually matter.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maybe, it is like when I told my mum that I have just interviewed an ENT specialist and talked about respiratory allergies. I hinted that having too much stuff in the house means more dust mites, which is one of the most common allergens. I encouraged myself to say, "I think we have a little too much."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Surprisingly, she responded, "Yes, I think you're right. Let's get rid of some stuff."</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-33071708738713227312013-12-02T19:23:00.000+07:002013-12-10T19:23:25.956+07:00Day 2: Shine<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>What was the best moment of 2013?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know that in order to have something started, something else has to end first. Probably, though, sometimes I wish for some things never to end, making me forget what I have initially known. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Parting is such a sweet sorrow, Shakespeare wrote, and I know it is. Especially when it is a surprise farewell party, with cheesecake and some of the best co-workers in the world included.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I remember when I laughed tearfully with the people I lived this moment with. I believe that people with whom I can laugh so hard I cry my eyes out are some of the nicest people to be with, and I have found them then. Working with them was a pleasure and an honour I wish never to end.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was like an amicable break-up, that I know will happen eventually. I felt relieved that it happened anyway, because afterwards, I returned to the path I always knew I was meant to take: journalism.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/The-Perfect-Cheesecake-ap3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/The-Perfect-Cheesecake-ap3.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disclaimer: this was not the actual strawberry cheesecake. Photo taken from <a href="http://www.vosizneias.com/130842/2013/05/13/new-york-halachic-analysis-shavuos-the-dairy-bread-and-the-korban-cheesecake/" target="_blank">here</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/FahmiRamadhan" target="_blank">Fahmi </a>did an awesome job filming the moment, but I am so private I will not share it :p</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-28843879748880791442013-12-01T18:45:00.000+07:002013-12-10T19:25:19.823+07:00Day 1: Start<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Where did you start 2013? Give some background on this year.</i></span></div>
<br />
As I began 2013, I was in the heart of the capital city, spending the New Year's Eve with my mother, who came all the way from my home town. There were fireworks and music, but there was literally rain on the parade and the car-free night was awfully packed with people. It didn't matter much, because we then decided to go back to my lodging, located only ten minutes walk from where we were. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I had a pleasant mother-daughter date in the afternoon. It felt nice to be able to take her out to lunch and dinner. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But you are not here to read that kind of bland description, are you?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the beginning of the year, I remember feeling a void, as I realised that I was living in a borrowed heaven. I knew that the clock was ticking, and I did not like it. Knowing what was coming did not help me preparing for it, because instead, I went frantic.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I kept on telling myself that things can only get better, and in the meantime, I just need to make the most of what I had. However, I guess that at that time I was not convincing enough, because I did not believe what I said. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, I believed that people can never really be ready for anything. As something happens, one got to do what one got to do, and make necessary adjustments along the way, as long as you stick with where you are going.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It brings back a little bit of bitterness actually, to reminisce and write about what happened. Nevertheless, I am glad it happened, because it made the rest of the year so much more palatable. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, you know, like dark chocolate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2008/12/081210091039-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2008/12/081210091039-large.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken from <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210091039.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yum.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-182511382103047172013-11-29T02:00:00.000+07:002013-11-29T13:07:49.508+07:00Tentang Ramal-Meramal (Bagian II)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Menyambung <i>post </i>tentang
ramal-meramal <a href="http://maharaniwrites.blogspot.com/2013/11/tentang-ramal-meramal-bagian-i.html" target="_blank">bagian pertama</a>, sekarang gue mau membahas hasil pembacaan salah
satu narasumber yang gue wawancara. Sang pembaca karakter lewat horoskop ini
namanya <a href="http://twitter.com/salamatahari" target="_blank">Sundea</a>, tapi biar lebih ikrib, jadilah gue manggilnya Dea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Setelah ngobrol dengan Dea buat keperluan
tugas negara, gue memutuskan memesan salah satu jenis layanan yang ditawarkan
Dea di Zodiak Gembira, yaitu Zombiku alias Zodiak Gembiraku. Untuk lebih
jelasnya seputar Zodiak Gembira, mampirlah <a href="http://zodiakgembira.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">kemari</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Singkat cerita, dua minggu kemudian, hasil
pembacaan pun mendarat dengan manis di kotak masuk surel gue. Seperti gue
sempat bilang di <i>post </i>pertama, menikmati hasil pembacaan karakter rasanya
kaya baca buku panduan tentang diri sendiri, juga penjelasannya dari segi
astrologi.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Misalnya, soal kegemaran gue menikmati
saat-saat sendirian sambil memerhatikan sekeliling, karena dari sana, ada saja
hal-hal yang kemudian bisa gue tulis. Rupanya, itu karena posisi matahari
sekaligus Merkurius gue ada di rumah kesembilan, <i>house of philosophy, higher
learning, and personal growth</i>. Gue jadi punya kebutuhan tinggi buat memelajari
dan memahami dunia sekitar, di manapun gue berada, dan membagikan kembali
pemahaman itu ke orang lain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Di sisi lain, planet Merkurius menjadi
simbol komunikasi dalam primbon astrologi. Dengan posisi Merkurius ada di bawah
rasi bintang Aquarius, gue menjadi orang yang bisa menikmati argumentasi tanpa
terintimidasi oleh perbedaan pendapat, alias senang berdebat. Lah, ternyata hal
ini juga dipengaruhi horoskop? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Dea juga 'membaca' dengan tepat kalau hal
yang paling gue suka dari sebuah perjalanan adalah memelajari budaya lain. Rupanya,
berdasarkan penelusuran, dilihat dari posisi planet Mars –simbol ambisi– yang dalam
kasus gue adanya di Sagitarius, ambisi gue berkaitan dengan kebebasan dan
perjalanan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Sementara itu, dengan posisi rumah pertama,
house of personality, di Taurus, gue cenderung setia dengan pola dan kebiasaan.
Salah satu hal menarik dari aspek ini adalah bahwa gue ternyata tipikal yang susah
pindah ke lain hati untuk urusan karier, khususnya tempat kerja. Hihihi :D</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Setelah kepribadian, mari beralih ke emosi,
yang direpresentasikan dalam chart oleh bulan (lunar). Bulan gue ada di Virgo,
rasi bintang dengan unsur tanah seperti halnya Taurus. Kondisi ini memertegas
karakteristik Taurus dalam kepribadian gue. Selain itu, sebagai seorang Lunar
Virgo, gue nggak suka jadi pusat perhatian. Karena lebih senang mengamati, gue
akan merasa aneh sendiri kalau gue justru jadi pihak yang diamati. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Secara keseluruhan, hasil pembacaan
karakter gue versi Dea ini seru! Meski pemahaman gue relatif minim untuk urusan
posisi benda-benda langit dan pengaruhnya terhadap hidup seseorang, gue nggak
dibuat pusing dengan hal-hal teknis seputar primbon astrologi. Gaya penuturan
Dea mengalir ringan, bikin gue nggak kebingungan untuk menghubungkan hasil
pembacaan horoskop dengan karakter asli gue. Rasanya seolah lagi ngobrol dengan
teman yang sudah dikenal cukup lama.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Oh ya, karena jenis layanan yang gue pesan
adalah Parit alias paket irit, gue masih penasaran dengan hasil pembacaan Dea
kalau dituangkan secara visual. Ini berarti, pe-er gue selanjutnya adalah memesan
ilustrasi personal karya 'jin'-nya Zodiak Gembira. Hmm... dijadiin kado ulang tahun
buat diri sendiri kayanya lucu juga! :)</span></div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-71085145419737156802013-11-29T00:30:00.000+07:002013-11-29T12:54:08.891+07:00Resensi: Rhapsody (Mahir Pradana, 2013)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Awalnya, gara-gara judulnya, awalnya saya mengira <i>Rhapsody </i>akan kental dengan penceritaan tentang musik (Bohemian Rhapsody, anyone?). Ternyata, setelah mengintip <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rhapsody?s=t" target="_blank">kamus</a>, kata ini juga berarti <i>"an ecstatic expression of feeling or enthusiasm."</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Ditambah dengan kalimat "Selalu ada alasan untuk pulang" di sampulnya, saya langsung terpikir satu kata: <i>homesick</i>. Saat seseorang merindukan rumahnya, alasan apapun yang memberi mereka kesempatan untuk pulang bisa membuat mereka senang bukan kepalang.</div>
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Dalam <i>Rhapsody</i>, di titik inilah cerita berawal. </div>
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Terinspirasi dari pengalamannya saat melancong di Eropa, Abdul Latif Said alias Al memutuskan untuk 'menyulap' hotel peninggalan orangtuanya di Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, menjadi sebuah <i>youth hostel</i>. Dibantu Bambang alias Bebi, yang sebelumnya bekerja di salon kakak perempuannya, Al mengelola hostelnya, Makassar Paradise, yang berada di pesisir Pantai Losari. Uniknya, ternyata nama hostel Al ini punya inisial yang sama dengan sang penulis, Mahir Pradana. <i>Quite a catchy detail!</i></div>
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Sementara itu, meski sempat goyah karena usahanya seolah berjalan di tempat. Al berupaya bertahan, berpegangan pada kekuatan cita-citanya.</div>
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<i>Aku meyakini bahwa jika aku berhasil merealisasikan dan membangun mimpiku, kebahagiaan akan datang dengan sendirinya untuk mewarnai hidupku</i> (halaman 11).</div>
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Meminjam istilah penulis favorit Al, Paulo Coelho, semesta pun berkonspirasi untuk mewujudkan impiannya menjadi pemilik sebuah hostel. Datanglah Miguel Luis Carrion Martinez, jauh-jauh dari Madrid, Spanyol, dengan alasan yang terlalu bagus untuk jadi nyata, tapi sungguhan adanya.</div>
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<i>"Takdir membawaku ke sini. Terus terang, aku pun tidak mengerti. Tapi, bermodalkan keyakinan dalam hati, aku memilih jalanku. Dan, semuanya harus dimulai dengan membalas budi kepadamu. </i>That's why I'm here.<i>" </i>(halaman 64)</div>
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Sejak munculnya Miguel, kejutan demi kejutan hadir dalam hidup Al. Tak hanya bisnisnya yang maju pesat, kisah asmaranya pun kembali semarak. Al kembali berjumpa dengan mantan kekasihnya di masa SMP, Sari, yang datang ke Makassar untuk berlibur. Padahal, di saat yang sama, ia masih berusaha memulihkan luka hatinya akibat dikhianati mantan pacarnya yang terakhir, Nadia, saat masih berada di Eropa.</div>
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<i>Ada orang bijak zaman dulu yang bilang, history teaches everything including the future </i>(halaman 76).</div>
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Sementara itu, kejutan-kejutan yang telah datang tak selamanya menyenangkan. Al pun harus berjuang untuk memertahankan hal-hal yang membawa <i>rhapsody </i>dalam hidupnya, yaitu impian dan cinta sejati.</div>
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Terlepas dari kisah Al sebagai tokoh utama, saya justru lebih terpikat pada karakter Miguel. Pengembaraannya ke negeri asing, yang digerakkan oleh tujuan membalas budi, justru menjadi awal hidup baru yang menantang, namun kemudian membawa kebahagiaan tak terduga. Jika saja Al tak pernah pergi ke Eropa, cerita hidup Miguel akan lebih menarik untuk diangkat dalam novel. Di beberapa bagian cerita, penggambaran kisah Miguel seolah mencuri <i>spotlight</i>, membuat sang tokoh utama cemburu. </div>
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Di lain pihak, kisah cinta memang tak harus melulu penuh drama. Dalam Rhapsody, sosok pembawa tawa itu hadir lewat tokoh Bebi. Tak hanya membantu Al mengurus hostelnya, Bebi tampil sebagai <i>sidekick </i>yang setia, sekaligus <i>comic relief</i> dalam cerita lewat logat okkots-nya. Tak muncul hanya sebagai tokoh tempelan, sisi lain Bebi pun terkuak saat ia mengungkapkan isi hatinya pada Al.</div>
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<i>"...Di hostel ini, orang-orang tidak pernah menertawakan saya. Sebaliknya, di tempat ini, orang-orang tertawa bersama saya." </i>(halaman 147 – <i>my favourite 'human moment'</i>!)</div>
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Salah satu kekuatan <i>Rhapsody</i>, menurut saya, adalah latar ceritanya. Berbekal pengalaman mengunjungi sejumlah kota di benua Eropa dan tumbuh besar di Makassar, Mahir menggambarkan pesona kota-kota itu sambil mengajak pembaca menyusuri masa lalu Al. Selain itu, lewat tokoh Sari, yang kemudian diceritakan memenangkan kontes kecantikan dan bepergian keliling dunia, pesan-pesan seputar pentingnya <i>traveling </i>turut diperkuat. Aspek ini memang bukan sesuatu yang baru dalam karya-karya penulis Indonesia. Tapi, sebagai seseorang yang suka diajak jalan-jalan, termasuk lewat cerita orang lain, saya cukup menikmati kesempatan untuk 'melancong' bersama tokoh utama.</div>
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Dengan adanya kilas balik perjalanan Al di Eropa, juga acara tur keliling tempat-tempat bersejarah yang menjadi program andalan hostel Makassar Paradise, <i>Rhapsody </i>tidak semata menawarkan kisah dua sejoli yang dimabuk asmara. Ada berbagai bumbu yang ikut memerkaya kisahnya, mulai dari kekuatan impian hingga keindahan negeri sendiri, menjadikan <i>Rhapsody </i>sebuah kisah tentang cita dan cinta yang menghangatkan hati.</div>
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P.S: Kalau novel pertama Mahir, <i>Here, After,</i> membuat saya teringat kata-kata Jenderal Tian Feng di serial Kera Sakti, "Sejak dahulu beginilah cinta, deritanya tiada akhir", <i>Rhapsody </i>meninggalkan sebuah pesan tentang pentingnya tempat pulang: <i>Home is where the heart is. </i></div>
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puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-85730897865698495822013-11-28T23:00:00.000+07:002013-11-29T13:04:04.781+07:00Tentang Ramal-Meramal (Bagian I)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Penafian: Kalau nggak percaya ramalan, bacanya sampai sini aja, ya. :p</b></div>
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Suatu hari, gue dihadapkan dengan pertanyaan yang agak mengusik.</div>
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"Kenapa sih, cewek percaya banget sama yang namanya ramalan?"</div>
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Spontan, gue bilang, karena penasaran. Manusia boleh bercita-cita, tapi mereka nggak mungkin tahu pasti mereka nantinya jadi apa. Malah, gue menduga kalau lagu <i>Que Sera Sera</i> itu ditulis sama seseorang yang sudah terlalu bingung, akan jadi apa dirinya kelak. Mungkin, kalau diciptakan di zaman sekarang, judul lagunya bakal jadi "Yaudahlah Ya."</div>
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Kembali ke rasa ingin tahu. Pada umumnya, hal inilah yang mendorong seseorang, bukan hanya kaum perempuan, untuk berupaya mencari jawaban. Upaya ini rupa-rupa macamnya; mulai dari mengacungkan tangan waktu guru menerangkan pelajaran, memanfaatkan situs pencari, sampai diam-diam memantau akun media sosial pihak yang jadi incaran. Ramalan, bagi sebagian kalangan, dipandang sebagai salah satu sumber jawaban.</div>
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Buat gue pribadi, ramal-meramal adalah sekadar senang-senang. Biarpun menyadur rubrik ramalan bintang pernah jadi bagian dari pekerjaan gue, dan gue nggak jarang mengisinya dengan karangan bebas semata, horoskop adalah salah satu rubrik favorit gue sejak SMP. Selain itu, gue suka buka situs <i>fortune cookie generator</i>, pernah coba meramal peruntungan lewat nama di <a href="http://www.kabalarians.com/" target="_blank">sini</a> dan dibilang kalau gue cocoknya jadi detektif, juga iseng ngetes kecocokan horoskop gue dan pasangan. Benar atau tidaknya, lihat saja nanti. </div>
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Di lain pihak, ramal-meramal nggak hanya sebatas urusan peruntungan di masa depan. Lewat berbagai metode, mulai dari astrologi, tarot, garis tangan, dan macam-macam lagi, karakter seseorang pun bisa dianalisa lewat penerawangan para ahli nujum, bahkan program komputer. Jasa meramal pun seringkali tidak ditawarkan dengan gratis, apalagi kalau pembacaan dilakukan secara personal dan terperinci.</div>
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Menurut gue, seseorang nggak hanya punya rasa ingin tahu terhadap keadaan sekelilingnya, tapi juga dirinya sendiri. Makanya, pembacaan karakter pribadi lewat metode-metode ramalan punya daya tarik tersendiri buat gue. Biasanya, gue coba juga mencocokkan hasil-hasil pembacaan itu dengan hasil tes psikologi (<i>I am an INTP, by the way</i>), maupun keadaan diri sendiri secara empiris, dan ternyata lumayan banyak benarnya.</div>
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Pucuk dicinta ulam tiba. Beberapa waktu lalu, dalam rangka menulis tentang tren jasa astrologi, gue mewawancara tiga orang pakar ramal-meramal dengan bidang keahlian masing-masing: pembaca karakter lewat horoskop, pembaca kartu tarot dan garis tangan, serta pembaca aura.</div>
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Secara garis besar, ketiganya punya kesamaan: karena hasil pembacaan mereka bisa dijelaskan dengan logika, bahkan bisa diperbandingkan keakuratannya dengan tes psikologi pada umumnya, mereka enggan dianggap bahwa ramalan adalah hal yang klenik atau mistis. Apalagi, dua di antaranya tidak menawarkan jasa ramal nasib, melainkan murni menganalisis kepribadian.</div>
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Sebagai seseorang yang sudah mencoba sendiri jasa mereka, gue mengakui hal ini. Gue nggak kesulitan memahami analisis mereka, ataupun terheran-heran dari mana mereka bisa mendapatkan hasil pembacaan itu. Paling-paling, gue dibuat bengong ketika apa yang mereka paparkan ternyata memang benar, padahal mereka semua belum pernah ketemu gue sebelumnya. </div>
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Dengan adanya hal-hal yang sesuai sama kondisi nyata, hasil bacaan ketiga ahli ramal ini pada akhirnya gue manfaatkan sebagai bahan refleksi diri, sekaligus langkah awal untuk berusaha ‘memerbaiki’ masa depan. Karena, menurut sang pembaca aura, <b>masa depan seseorang sangat mungkin berubah, tergantung dari apa yang dilakukannya saat ini.</b> </div>
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Menilik hasil analisis karakter, khususnya lewat pembacaan horoskop dan aura, rasanya seperti membaca buku panduan tentang diri sendiri. Kesempatan untuk lebih mengenali dan memahami diri sendiri turut membantu gue menerima segala "kelebihan" dan "kekurangan" pribadi. Meminjam kata-kata sang pembaca karakter, <b>perbaikilah apa yang bisa diperbaiki, tapi jangan terlalu keras pada diri sendiri, karena kita tidak harus bisa melakukan segalanya.</b></div>
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Untuk soal ramalan nasib, gue berusaha santai-santai saja, meskipun hasilnya berhasil bikin gue girang sekaligus gentar. Sang pembaca tarot, yang sempat memeriksa garis tangan kiri gue dan memaparkan beberapa hal terkait masa depan, juga mengingatkan hal yang sama. Dia bilang, <b>seorang peramal hanya bisa membacakan apa yang dilihatnya, dengan tujuan semata-mata membantu kliennya memberdayakan diri mereka sendiri. </b></div>
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Pada akhirnya, percaya tidak percaya, ramalan akan selalu dicari oleh orang-orang yang dirundung rasa ingin tahu. Ke mana mereka memilih untuk bertanya, itu adalah pilihan mereka sendiri. </div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259433965617318433.post-1784979925573880722013-10-17T01:00:00.000+07:002013-10-18T10:51:03.362+07:00What the Fortune Teller Told Me<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
"You would not believe what the fortune teller has told me earlier tonight!"</div>
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Of course, I could not expect anything less intriguing from you as your first sentence, every time after we bid each other hello. With what you do for a living, it is only natural for you to come up with enthralling stories every now and then, and I could only respond it by eagerly saying, "Do tell!"</div>
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So, apparently, you are currently working on a story about modern fortune tellers, which has been keeping you occupied for the past week. For three days in a row, you interviewed three fortune tellers with different specialities. The first one reads people's personalities from a custom-made horoscope chart, and the other two was a tarot and palmistry specialist and an aura reader respectively.</div>
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As much as I wanted to encourage myself to be interested, I am never really into this fortune-telling thing. Others may think that believing in a fortune-teller is a form of infidelity for not solely believing in God, but I only have one word for it: bogus. I cannot comprehend that people still look for fortune tellers just to be told things that they want to hear, then stop making efforts and waiting for their life to change.</div>
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"The first thing I have to tell you is this: nobody should take what a fortune teller has said for granted and embrace it as their fate, then they would stop doing their best. This is, I believe, the biggest fallacy people have been embracing for ages, making them thinking that fortune tellers are frauds. Whether they read your personality or your future, using whatever method they are good at, the genuine fortune tellers would not fool you just so they can dig deeper into your pockets. Instead, they would help you discover who you are so you can furthermore empower and develop yourself."</div>
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"But fortune tellers are humans too, and they make mistakes just like everybody else. What if they are hiding behind this logic and actually make things up?" I argued.</div>
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"Exactly," you responded. "But nobody should even come near a fortune teller, if they know they would not believe a word from them. It is a matter of exercising your choices, really. I think it is as simple as taking things with sufficient reasoning. Also, I believe that my fate is in my own hands, not the fortune tellers', so I should not, for one, stop looking for the most suitable romantic partner although I was told that I'll be meeting him by next year."</div>
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"Nobody can win an argument with you," I sighed hopelessly. You responded with a smile, saying, "Actually, all three fortune tellers said that."</div>
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"You're joking!"</div>
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"The horoscope reader said that it has something to do with my having Aquarius in my Mercury. On the other hand, the aura reader claimed that the red in my aura is the thing to blame."</div>
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I believe my face could have told you better than having to say, 'I have no idea what any of those words mean.'</div>
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"Horoscope-wise, Mercury is the planet that represents communication. In my case, it makes me see debates as an opportunity to express my thoughts and beliefs with no hesitation in the slightest. Aura-wise, red means a logical self, making me a straightforward and dominant person. The palmist was more straightforward, she called me a dominant." We laughed in unison.</div>
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"That was spot on," I reluctantly admitted. "Nevertheless, you went to three fortune tellers in a week – that must have been an indulgence for an enthusiast like you!"</div>
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"Indeed! Other than getting my personality analysed, I got a glimpse of my future too, as thrilling as it may sound. I know that you are the kind of person who is rather sceptical on this matter, but as you've seen for yourself earlier, there are bits of their readings that actually have very similar premises, and they are bizarrely accurate."</div>
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I could not help but grinning. "Try me."</div>
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"The palmist told me that when I fall in love, I fall deeply. Probably, I have in my heart a bottomless pit into which I have the tendency to jump, and for now I have been keeping myself away from it by running in circles around it. Of course, I might have been tripped once in a while because I have poor balance, but gravity has yet to pull me into the abyss as I fall for someone.</div>
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"The horoscope and aura reader agreed with this. The former claimed that the element of Pisces and Scorpio under the romance part of my chart makes me a hopeless romantic at heart. The latter, on the other hand, believed that it has something to do with the blue-coloured aura I have in my personality."</div>
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"But you didn't interview them simply for free consultations, did you? What else did they talk about?"</div>
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"We talked a lot about human beings in general, actually. The palmist told me that it is human nature to be curious when they are being clueless about something, and once they are exposed to the truth, they have the desire to change what is supposed to happen. Some things, on the other hand, are meant to be the way it is, and nobody can change it no matter how bad they want to do so. Nevertheless, knowing that fact would make one understand the cause behind the consequence, and that would help them in accepting it, as well as making necessary improvements."</div>
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"That sounds like something a philosopher, instead of a fortune teller, I would say," I muttered. "It makes them sound more reasonable. Speaking of curiosity, though, I bet they have quite a number of curious clients?"</div>
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"Yes, actually. The aura reader told me a rather eventful fact, that many of her clients are women in their 30s with an almost similar issue: they are yet to be married and wondering what is wrong with them."</div>
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And here you are in your twenties, sharing their sentiments. You should have put such concern on hold. "Did she tell you why such thing happens?"</div>
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"They are red-dominated, this women," you said, matter-of-factly. "The presence of this colour in their personality makes them stronger, a person with ambition who strives for a successful and prosperous life. Having set a high standard for themselves, they tend to be picky in looking for a romantic partner. On another hand, many men would be intimidated by the nature of these red-coloured women. They prefer blue-coloured ones, who are somewhat less stubborn and would look up to them."</div>
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"You mean, like our mothers and grandmothers?"</div>
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"Yes. Strangely enough, the changing way of parenting actually contributes to this change of how women today behave and see themselves. My mother saw my grandmother as a stay-at-home mum growing up, and she didn't find that kind of role comfortable because it restricted her room to grow, so she taught me that I must do whatever it takes for me to be on my two feet. And now, ta-da!"</div>
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Sometimes I hate that I am so bad at encouraging people. Can you read my eyes, which tried to tell you that there's nothing wrong about being a red-coloured woman?</div>
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"Don't worry, I'm not blaming anyone here," you affirmed. "The horoscope reader told me that I should not be too pushy. 'There is nothing good from being so hard on yourself,' she said. 'You can start brushing up your personality here and there, but you must bear in mind that everybody was created with different set of characteristics, thus it is okay for us not to master everything there is to master in life.' She even said that after knowing her own character better through her reading, she doesn't blame herself as much as she used to do.</div>
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This is why I am all for horoscope and aura reading to get to understand one's personal nature better. Why should we stop trying to know ourselves a little bit more, if it would help us in understanding who we are and making the most of what we can do as a human being?</div>
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"It may sound a little unusual, but after listening to what the fortune tellers have told me, I am engulfed with relief. There is something heart-warming about getting to know someone better, and my own self is no exception. Now, I don't have the urge to say 'I might not be able to swim, or draw, or drive, or other gazillion things I cannot do, but I am not doing so badly' either, because comparing myself with others doesn't bring me anywhere."</div>
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"You are doing your best for yourself, and that's what matters." I finally managed to say something, to which you nodded in agreement.</div>
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"I am trying. I still have so much to work on. For one, I am learning not to be judgmental of others, believing that I am the only person in the world who is doing everything right. The aura reader told me that what she does now has taught her to see the good side of people. She said that no matter how 'bad' they may seem to be, there are reasons behind each of their conduct, that they don't want everybody else to see."</div>
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"I second you," I smiled, raising my mug of hazelnut latte. "To the future, and whatever fortune it may bring."</div>
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You grabbed your cup of green tea. "Cheers!"</div>
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And that was it, and then we moved on to talk about other things, but mostly about how fascinating your life has been. Not that I mind.</div>
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There is one thing, though.</div>
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I should have asked you to continue that bit about meeting your dream man in the near future. I need to know if it has any substantial clue that would draw you closer to me.</div>
puji maharanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015208943851061166noreply@blogger.com0