Live Love Life Leisure

Dot of friendship - Photo by Leah Newhouse: https://www.pexels.com As I stood in my kitchen, waiting for the water to boil to make myself a cup of coffee, I instinctively reached for my phone and opened Instagram. The first post that appeared was from Mel Robbins. It was a picture of her beaming smile with a big note next to it that read something like: "My circle of friends is getting smaller, and it's no longer a circle. It's a dot." I couldn’t help but smile; a big, knowing smile because I could totally relate. My circle of friends had also shrunk, reduced to what now felt like a dot. But instead of feeling lonely, I felt a profound sense of peace. It was a realization that settled warmly in my chest. Maybe this is exactly what I need right now. Maybe, for this season of my life, a dot is the perfect shape for my friendships. Then, I thought about how much I now enjoy solitude, not as an escape but as a choice. Even when I go on trips with friends, I find myself re...

Friendship - Photo by Chu Chup Hinh: https://www.pexels.com Lately, I’ve been grappling with the complexities of adult friendship. Since I moved away from Jakarta and settled in this new city over two and a half years ago, I’ve found myself in unfamiliar emotional territory.  Back then, forming a close-knit circle of friends always came naturally. But here, now? While I’ve met wonderful people (especially in my Zumba class, where, funnily enough, those people that I am close with are also from Jakarta) our connection remains confined to the studio. Despite making plans to hang out beyond our workout sessions, life keeps getting in the way. This got me thinking: Have I lost my ability to make meaningful friendships? Am I no longer a good friend? Or, even worse, do I simply not belong here? Just as these thoughts began to spiral, I stumbled upon a tweet from Handoko Tjung, the only creative content creator I follow in X. That day, he shared his perspective on adult friendship and how...

  Send gratitude -  Photo by George Dolgikh: https://www.pexels.com Have you ever heard about the magic of gratitude? It’s something every motivational speaker and spiritual guru loves to talk about. They’ll tell you it’s a simple act that can transform your life.  But here’s the big question: if it’s so simple, why do so many of us struggle to practice it consistently? Well... maybe, in a world enamored by complexity, gratitude seems too basic to hold our attention. Yes, I get it. I won't deny, I used to think the same way too. I’d heard about gratitude as a religious practice since I was a little girl. And at the time, for me, it was just words. I mean... I knew the meaning and I believed in its power (at least in theory) but never gave much thought about it. Even w hen praying, my “thank you’s” felt robotic, more of a routine than a genuine expression from the heart. Back then, of course I did say thanks, but it was more of a common social courtesy, not as a perso...

Happy dance - Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com The other day, I found myself trapped in frustration over something I couldn’t fix on my own. My electricity had gone out, but it was only in my place. And to make matters worse, I had no idea who to call for help. Back in Jakarta, solving problems like this was as easy as grabbing my phone, searching for a technician, making a quick call, and… boom! help was on the way. Sure, it cost money, but as long as everything functioned again, it was worth it. Here, however, I was left powerless; literally and emotionally. Feeling helpless, I flopped onto my bed, trying to manage my emotions. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and told myself, “I am experiencing anger.” I repeated the phrase like a mantra, over and over. And then, something unexpected happened. I realized how different I had become. To be honest, it was my first time consciously acknowledging my anger in such a way. I had never verbalized it before. Curious, I ...

Relax and unwind -  Photo by Viktoria Alipatova: https://www.pexels.com It’s finally raining again this morning. I turned my body away from my desk to face the door that I had opened, letting the cool, soothing breeze drift in. A wide smile stretched across my face as I whispered a heartfelt thank you to the rain for coming by to see us again. After the blazing heat of yesterday’s relentless sun, the rain felt like a balm for my soul, a welcome companion that seemed to wash away the lingering weight of all those jarring construction noises still replaying in my mind. I stared at my computer screen, a single sentence typed there, and then, without hesitation, I turned it off. Why would I let work keep me tethered indoors when such a rare and precious moment awaited outside? I felt a tinge of silliness at my earlier dedication but quickly let it go. This morning rain was a gift, an invitation to pause, to breathe, to simply be. In no time, I was in the kitchen, brewing myself a fresh...

Solo dining - Photo by Adrienn: https://www.pexels.com/photo Folks, what is your opinion about having meals in a restaurant or coffee in a cafe alone by yourself? Do you do that? Or do you think that’s weird, so you’d rather have a takeout? The reason I ask is because of something that happened a few weeks back. My cousin came to visit me for the second time since I moved to this place a couple of months ago. As we were catching up, she asked how I was settling in, and I told her how much I loved it here. One of the best things about my new home is that it’s so close to my favorite cafe that I can easily stop by for my fave hot cappuccino after my power walk. And when I feel like extending my morning relaxation, I enjoy dining in a cozy little restaurant nearby. The ambiance is comforting and refreshing, making my mornings even more enjoyable. But the moment I shared this, my cousin gave me a look, a weird one, like she couldn’t believe what I just said. Seeing her reaction, I asked wh...

  Idea - Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA: https://www.pexels.com I’ve been wrestling with this story I had in mind for three days now. Three long, frustrating days of staring at my screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, typing, deleting, rewriting; only to end up with something that feels hollow. No matter how many changes I make, the words don’t quite capture what I want to say. It’s like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. Desperate for a fresh perspective, I escaped to my favorite neighborhood meatball restaurant. The cozy garden, dappled in warm sunlight, the aroma of broth and spices curling around me. It should have been the perfect setting to unlock my creativity. But even as I sat there, twirling my spoon absentmindedly, my mind remained tangled. I did pour the idea into my laptop, though… But later that night, when I reread my work, the disappointment hit like a punch to the gut. Still not right. The next morning, I couldn’t bring myself to touch my computer. The fr...

Morning Habit - Photo by Aphiwat chuangchoem: https://www.pexels.com This happened some time last month. On that day, I remembered waking up way too early. Unlike my usual sluggish mornings, I instinctively went straight to the bathroom, washed up, and did my morning prayer. Then, I returned to bed, snuggled under my duvet, and planned to steal another hour of rest before heading out for my morning walk. As I lay there, a realization hit me: something had changed in me. The way I started my mornings felt different. At first, I was confused. Why did I rush off to the bathroom the moment I woke up? That wasn’t how I normally did things. I usually spent a few minutes (still on my bed) greeting good morning to God and thank Him for the great night sleep, then did the same thing to my body. But that morning? What happened to me? While thinking about that, suddenly, like a floodgate opening, memories from my past came rushing back. They were memories of my 9-to-5 life that I had left nearly...