Bright Saturday!

Today is an exceptionally bright Saturday for me. Up at 9.30 a.m. I feel so extraordinarily refreshed after a few days lack of sleep and overworked brain (I put all the blame on Freud!). I still have a few hours before 1 p.m., the designated time for my friends and I to meet up and go to Jogja to watch a concert, so I give myself a long, refreshing bath. After thinking for a few seconds what I'm gonna cook for today, I checked out my best friend's blog and saw her write about an awakening moment -and I do feel inspired at once.

(Check this out: Patricia Sugianto's blog)

This particular thing that she said, "The awakening moment begins when you start doing something different," is something that I realize I have been striving for these past few months. One of the most obvious is -see the word cook in bold in the last sentence above? That's it! Me, cooking? Yes, me, cooking. That is one different thing that has awed anyone who really knows me. By the way, I'm cooking fettucine carbonara and I will post the picture below for you to give you an idea on how much I love this new activity :D

Doing something different uplifts my spirit and I feel good, knowing that I am making a good change in my life. It also gives me a positive atmosphere because I get rid of my boring routine and stagnancy in my other aspects of life.

However, there is one thing that Patty said that got me into thinking, "Your tiny little details in life could bring to a journey that change other’s life."

I have succeeded in directing my life from a hazy road into a clear path through positive changes. So I am hoping I can make a contribution in someone's life that can help him/her get through their stagnancy or struggles. I have already had some close people in mind, and I know I have greatly contributed to the life of the people I love.

So one thing left to do is to stay committed to doing the best things for our life, while at the same time, spreading joyful positive ions that demolish people's negative ions and brighten both of our days!

Thanks my sist, Patty!

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth B. Browning
-Sonnets from the Portuguese

It's St. Valentine's day! I do not particularly celebrate Valentine, nor do my loved ones, but I agree that it is the one day that human, for once in their graciously given 365 days can agree on one occasion to love their fellow and forget how they tend to step on one another (Oh sorry for being so skeptical and depressing on this very lovely day).

Anyway, I especially love this piece, which I think is suitable for expressing what Valentine is about -love- because of its sincere and passionate tone. Saying "I love thee" alone sounds simple but in fact it's not an easy thing to do. In my family, I have never heard my dad say "I love you" to my mom. I reckon that my mom is not that lovey-dovey type and that she does not even consider saying "I love you" as a crucial part of our parent-daughter relationship. However, I do not mean that expressing love has to be through words, as well as through a celebrated (commercial) event like Valentine -it can be in any way. My mom is one of a kind. She transmits her love to my brother and I through her supportive phone calls, constant delivery of vitamins, snacks, frozen food, and many other edible stuffs, and various other things she considers best for us. I know just how much she loves me.

Even if I do not celebrate Valentine, I celebrate its values -the values of love, appreciation, and respect that human should apply everyday, not only on this one specific day. So therefore, instead of sending chocolate to my boyfriend today (which he do not like anyway), I prefer doing things that we both love, which, anyway, have been done practically everyday. I texted my parents and brother too. So for me, it's St. Valentine's day everyday!

Autumn Leaves

My soul longs to dance
to dance the autumn leaves
the autumn leaves in red
red hot fire
fire of the underworld
the underworld that longs
longs for a breeze
breeze of the evening wind
wind that caresses the dreams
the dreams of the earth
the earth for everyone
for everyone to be free
free like the autumn leaves
the autumn leaves that dance