Live Love Life Leisure

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...

  Freedom -  Photo by Olga: https://www.pexels.com/photo Last night, even though I went to bed at my usual time, I found it hard to actually fall asleep. I wasn’t sure what time I was finally asleep, but for sure I was still awake the next hour. Therefore, I expected that this morning, after a restless night, I would wake up a bit later, or at least at my usual time, given the lack of sleep. But no, I woke up an hour earlier than usual.  Mathematically, actually I spent roughly the same amount of time sleeping as I normally do, despite the rocky start the night before. Yet, the difference in how I felt today was striking. Yesterday, I woke up with a heaviness that lingered in both my mind and my heart, but today, I woke up with a profound sense of gratitude and lightness. It felt as if I had been reborn. like I was starting a fresh, new chapter in my life. What changed? I think the Sedona Method I practiced the day before worked its usual magic. This method, if you’re not...

  Pleasant surprise - Photo by Alena Darmel: https://www.pexels.com A couple of weeks ago, I was suddenly in the mood to watch Emily in Paris again. The last time I had watched it was during Season 2, and since then, I had taken a long break from subscribing to Netflix and HBO Asia. As I scrolled through my options, it hit me. I hadn’t watched any TV shows for a year and a half. That realization made me reflect on my journey with television: how it evolved, how I let it go, and how I eventually found my way back to it, but this time, with a different mindset. The Decision to Unsubscribe Around 1.5 years ago, I decided to cancel my subscriptions. At the time, my life was packed between work and personal commitments that made me barely have time to sit down and watch anything else on TV. And even if I had time, I’d rather watch my favorite game, badminton, when there were tournaments. So, I guess…paying for something I rarely used definitely felt like a waste of money. But years bef...

  Trust the Unknown - Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com My morning today began with a simple thought, a desire to capture my feelings and share them in this blog. But as I powered on my laptop, the gentle sound of rain greeted me, an unexpected but joyful companion.  Like a child welcoming parents home from a long trip, I burst out the door, arms wide open, a smile stretched across my face. The excitement I felt was reminiscent of how I used to welcome my father back from a trip. That homecoming was always brimming with surprises; be it toys, books, or delicious treats; and the anticipation of his return filled our home with joy.  And in that same spirit, I whispered a heartfelt thank-you to the rain for visiting me again, right on cue, as though the universe had orchestrated it just for me. Before the rain, I had prepared a cup of coffee, not out of habit but because I was simply in the mood for it that morning. Alongside it was a pastry I’d saved from last...

  Life is to enjoy every moment -  Photo by SlipcoverKAS .COM: pexels.com There’s something profoundly beautiful I recently realized: my healing process has been deeply supported by the minimalist lifestyle I began adopting a few years ago. It’s almost weird how one seemingly simple concept has rippled across different facets of my life, leaving behind clarity, peace, and freedom. The heart of minimalism lies in reducing possessions, but don’t get me wrong, it’s not about living a sparse, joyless life. Instead, it’s about learning to cherish what truly matters. By shedding unnecessary stuff, I’ve come to understand that the memories we treasure far outweigh the physical objects we accumulate. For sure, minimalism has taught me that wealth isn’t measured by how many things we own, but by the value we find in them. Decluttering: The Mind-Body Connection Decluttering has been an essential practice in my minimalist journey. Even after the massive decluttering I undertook when I fi...

  A Journey of Life -  Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR: https://www.pexels.com The other day, I found myself at a crossroads. I felt this calling — a nudge from somewhere deep inside me — telling me to take a specific action. It wasn’t anything grand, just something that I knew could push me out of my comfort zone. But then, resistance hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m talking about fear, doubt, and overthinking. My brain, in full analytical mode, labeled it as ego manipulation: a ploy to convince me I needed to do this to gain something, all while masking it as a brave move to confront my fear. I’m sure many of you have been there. You’ve felt that internal tug-of-war between what feels like intuition and the fear-soaked voice in your head telling you to pause. It’s frustrating, confusing, and, honestly, exhausting. Was this really my intuition trying to guide me, or was it my ego, cleverly disguised, trying to exploit my insecurities? For days, I pondered this. What if it really is ...

  A Healing Journey -  Photo by Oleksandr P: https://www.pexels.com I turned off my computer with a sense of finality. “Let’s call it a day,” I murmured to myself, stretching my body and sinking back gently into the chair. Leaning back, I took a few deep breaths, allowing myself a moment of stillness.  The hum of the air conditioner blended with the soft symphony of the night - the rhythmic chirping of crickets, the occasional croak of frogs, and the faint pattern of lingering raindrops. Weird, though… I didn’t feel it like noise to my ears. Instead, it was a melody of nature, a spontaneous harmony that wrapped around me like a soothing balm. Could that be nature’s brainwave? I wondered. Amidst this nocturnal orchestra, I felt a stirring within, a desire to invite something deeper, something that could complement and elevate the raw beauty of these sounds. So, I turned on my favorite Ho’oponopono music and let its healing vibrations mingle with the night’s ambiance. I cho...