Do You Care?

By Imam B. Prasojo
Director of "Nurani Dunia" (World Conscience)
A foundation that serves for Indonesian children

We have seen our nation
turn into a land of suffering
natural disaster and never-ending quarrels

In every corner of the Archipelago
fires burn,
bullets explode,
floods and landslides reach out,
pushing their victims into the mud of suffering.

More than a million of people
have been driven from their villages.
The dirty tends are full of children,
women and old people.
They live in extraordinary misery.
A million people sit confused
wondering if their lives will never improve.

The future of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians
hangs in the balance.
They do not attend school.
Their teacher have vanished.
The buildings have been reduced to rubble.
Their trauma is endless.
Never ceasing disasters
destroy us, divide us,
and make us live in pain.

It is time
for every citizen
to show their love for equality.
We must lighten their suffering.
We must create a better life
for our fellow human beings...

Hours of Life

There is a story about animals who complains about their life. A fly complained: "I do not have much time. Can you imagine how to enjoy life this short. Born, grow, have fun, experience joy and sorrow, get old and die. Everything happened so quick in just a couple of hours . "

Donkey commented: "Indeed you are right, but I imagine how wonderful it is to have a short and smooth life, must be a lot of fun. Not like me who lives longer. But with continuous work, while you always have fun flying from one food to another. Life a short, but sweet. "

Turtles that looked at the donkey and the fly said: "I find it hard to understand you guys. I am now 300 years old and did not have much time to tell you my experiences. My experiences are too much. Back when I was 200 years old I I hope that life will soon be over. I envy you donkey and am sorry for you fly. "

Donkey immediately commented: "When I heard the explanation about the experiences you've got are so much, I think I have no objection to live 300 years. I imagine a good life because you have a chance to experience everything in life, having wealth and experience, being able to feel everything in a long time. "

After they finally stopped they seek advice from the spider, a wise teacher. Spiders advises them: "The tortoise, stop complaining. Who has lots of experience like you? Be thankful for your life. And you fly, stop complaining. Who could have so much fun as you? And you're a donkey, I can not give you any advice because you want a sweet short life and a long life with many experiences. It is not possible. You are a fool. "

Human beings in this world not so different as the story above. Sometimes we feel that time is so long and very long walk, especially when we are experiencing difficulties. However, we realize that time really passed by so quickly. It was not long ago we went to school, then graduate, working, continue to grow older and without noticing, time passes by so fast. We become people who can not be satisfied.

These days we have to learn through our days. Not how long we live, but how we live. Not what we feel, but how to fill our lives with meaningful things.

(Source: Strings of words of wisdom: Joint Communication Foundation, Facebook: Hands of God)

Express through Writing

Writing is one way to express your feelings. When you really want to tell something to others, but you can't because it's embarrassing, try writing. When you want to put your imagination into shape, try writing. When you want to make an important event last forever, try writing it in a diary.

I started writing in this blog for many reasons. One, I could learn how to write in English better. Two, I've heard you could earn money from blogging. Three, I wanted to share the things I've learned with other people. And there are still many reasons for me to write in this blog.

Here are some benefits from writing:
1. A Way to Express Yourself
Truth is, I can't fully express myself in real life. Writing is an alternative way for me to shape my ideas. Everyone has their own method on expressing themselves. Some are different, others have the same.

2. Experience
By writing, you'll improve your vocabulary and grammar (especially with the auto-correct for English). One day, your writing skills might become handy, who knows. You could even be an author, or a writer no matter what your profession is.

3. Earn Money
Like I mentioned before, you could earn money from the things you write. Imagine yourself becoming a book writer, or a blog writer. You can start out small, creating scraps. Then combine them in the end to create a book.

Inspiration may not always come in short notice. But its best to wait for inspiration to come. When it does, write on a piece of paper or a mobile phone. So you won't forget what your ideas. Then you can write down the whole idea afterwards.

You can start writing anytime. You can't be too old or too young to write. Writing doesn't really cost much either. Start writing and express your ideas.

Acceptance

There is a saying, there is no such thing as perfect human beings. There's no way someone can do everything. Even though you could, not all abilities would be used and become wasted.
It's still good if our ability could be useful someday.

Including me, there are many flaws in me that has been found by myself or others. I admit that I'm not perfect. Not that I'm worthless, but it means that there are still many things I could not do.

I want to be accepted as it is by others. I'm sure you all have the same opinion. If we are accepted by others, but not who we truly are then that's not really us. Just our role play that's being accepted by others.

Criterias of accepting others differs from each person. On average, if someone else wants us to accept him or her, then he or she is required to change first. Only few are going to adapt to the appropriate criteria.

The main problem, our identity is also going to change. So we won't be acceptable in the eyes of other people. So, we can not be accepted by exactly everyone. Therefore, be your true selves. Let people accept the real you, not yourself pretending to be someone you're not.

Ability

The main factors affecting the development of one's ability is interest. For example, if someone was forced by his father to major in Business Administration, but he did not like it. He will not likely be able to optimize their ability.

Another factor that influences the development of abilities is a talent. Some people who have talent in can improve more quickly. In another case, there are talented people but not interested in what they're doing.

So the best combination that can be formed is if someone is talented and interested in the same thing. So he or she can maximize its usefulness to others. Remember that hard work or interests are more influential on the development of ability.

I also have an interest and talent in many ways. For example, I am not talented in mathematics. But I keep trying to improve my ability to learn and practice questions.

Self Portrait

Self Portrait. Roughly, It defines your inner self. It differentiates you from other people. It makes us unique in a very own way. It gives us characteristics and forms our true nature. It makes us who we are now. We all have our own self portrait, it helps us get to know ourselves better.

Basically, self portrait is our way of looking ourselves, based on our characteristics and potential. No one else can see this deep within ourselves.

Why is self portrait so important?
1. Respect ourselves just the way we are
2. Leads us to respecting others
3. Respect all that we have in life now

There are 4 kinds of people based on their self portraits:
1. Those who knows themselves
2. Those who haven't known themselves
3. Those who doesn't show their characteristics
4. Those who wear masks (hiding their true identity)

The concept in our lives are usually formed from what others think of us. As we grow older, we sum up what others think of us.
Example:
- What's my talent?
- Am I trustworthy?
Other people can give opinions of who we are. But that doesn't mean we can't give opinions about ourselves. Because you are what you believe in.

Iceberg
Remember how Titanic sunk because of hitting an iceberg. The captain saw a small chunk of ice on the surface of the water. He thought it was nothing, and didn't bother to change the boat's direction. But beneath the chunk of ice, was an enormous mountain made of ice. The captain didn't see the danger beneath the water.
There are 3 parts in an iceberg that resembles a personality:
1. Behavior (top). Which anyone can see.
2. Motivation & ambition (middle). Which sometimes can be seen.
3. Self portrait (base). Which no one else can see.

Self portrait is influenced by 3 factors:
1. Family
- Genetics
- How we are raised
2. Environment
- School
- Office
3. Past Experiences
- Traumatic experiences
- Joy of youth

Poem For Writers

By Frances Bourne Taft

God, make my pen an implement of Your power.
Where there is ignorance, let it bring enlightenment;
Where there is prejudice, understanding;
Where there is cynicism, faith;
Where there is indifference, challenge;
Where there is loneliness, companionship;
Where there is fear, courage;
Where there is ugliness, beauty;
Where there is weariness, re-creation.
Place upon the feeble fingers that guide the pen
Thine all encompassing hand.
Fill my hand with Your truth,
My heart with Your love,
My whole being with Your spirit.
Grant me the supreme gift
Of forgetfulness of self in service to others,
And make Your purpose mine.