Monday, December 31, 2012

‡ Review: 2012 ‡


31 December 2012.
The last day of 2012.
2013 is only hours away from now.

To be honest, which is pretty obvious, I don't update many blog posts here this year, unlike previous years.
In fact I almost updated nothing here.
However posting up the review of one year is still a tradition for me and I'm not thinking of an excuse to avoid it anyway, no matter how busy or lazy I am.

Somehow whenever I read it every year, I can't help but to smile as I remember those days.
I cherish them one by one and I am grateful of my life till this very day.


January.
The opening of 2012 where I must collected my final project a.k.a. thesis on 28 but I ended up collecting it late due to one and another reason.
This month I also learned that even listening gave you a good lesson for life.


February.
My last final exams had finished within this month but I was waiting for the day of my final project presentation, which would decide whether I was allowed to graduate this year or not.
It's also the month when I had my first interview for work.


March.
This is one of the most remarkable months for me this year.
7 March 2012. I still remember the day when the lecturer gave the statement: I was able to graduate this year with good score!
To be honest, I didn't feel satisfied but now that I look back at those moments, I'm grateful to have them.
15 March 2012, I went to the very first concert: BEAUTIFUL SHOW in JAKARTA. Thankful for attending the concert for BEAST!
26 March 2012, I started to work at my current office officially.


April.
Had a presentation during probation at office and I realized that you would earn equally as what you had worked for, that being curious is not enough if you don't try to be better with time.


May.
I turned 22 this month and I bought a new phone with my own salary. It's Sony Xperia S and I was really, really happy.


June.
A month of sorrow for me. I lost my bag unfortunately for the second time and it's even worse than the last time. I lost both of my mobile phones and everything inside.
However I was all safe and that's what matter at the moment.


July.
I officially graduated on 21 July 2012! Officially a bachelor of Information Systems and I'm proud that I could make both of my parents proud as well.


August.
There is no special moment happened during this month but it's actually the moment where I learned that your decision is sometimes questionable for others, but it might be the best for you.


September.
I fell in love with a Korean drama. I'm not the type who loves to watch Korean drama but this one eventually caught my heart from the start till the end.
Reply 1997. It made me laugh and cry at some points so... yeah, I love it.


October.
Blackberry was one thing I would never prefer to have but, receiving mixed opinions, I finally had one. Yeah, laugh on me, I got it for two months already.
It actually helped me a lot for work and communication so, well, I live with it and an Android now.


November.
Second visit to Singapore with different companions. Different experience, more adventures indeed.
The project at my office with me as one of the members also started and I met with new colleagues.


December.
Last month of 2012 and it's also one of the most memorable months this year.
Let's say that I made a big decision for myself.
The repetitive date 12.12.12 and 20.12.2012 also happened in this month.


Anyway this year I watched three Indonesian movies, something I almost never did before. I really wish that Indonesian movies will keep producing amazing movies and I will loveee to watch them on wide screen! :)

How about your 2012?

I enjoyed mine to the fullest.
It might not be my best year but, hey, it could have been worse. ;)

Besides, a year ago, I would have never pictured my life the way it is now.

So, well, enjoy your New Year's Eve!

;)


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

‡ Merry Christmas 2012 ‡


25 December.

It's a day to celebrate. It's Christmas Day.

People send greetings through messages. Some meet up with friends and families to share moments together. Others enjoy their long holiday according to the plan.

However for Allan it's just another ordinary day.

It's his first Christmas out of the orphanage. He is already seventeen years old last July so he finally left the orphanage and continues to live on by himself.

Working as a waiter in a restaurant, he is envious with the customers: all those young couples who spend their parents' money happily, the complete families who can take pictures together, the youngsters who can enjoy Christmas time with joy.

He wants to be one.

Allan wants to have someone special with him on Christmas day. Everyday.

He is not a cheerful boy to start with. Even during orphanage days, he doesn't have close friends. He closed himself from the others, building wall, too afraid to feel alone if he grew too attached with them.

Loneliness has been his best friend but, the fact is, he hates to be alone.

Since he has the night shift for today, Allan decides to take a walk around, doing nothing. His footsteps are printed on the white snow as he tucks his hands inside the pockets.

"Sir," a soft voice calls out for him. Allan stops his step to see a little girl is tucking his long coat.

He frowns and looks around to find the parents but no one looks to care about her. Allan squats down to level their eyes and asks, "Are you lost?"

The girl shakes her head and then smiles brightly, "Merry Christmas, Sir!"

Allan blinks in confusion. He doesn't even know her and she stops him just to give him a Christmas greeting. It doesn't make sense at all.

"Where is your mother?" he chooses to ask, trying to shrug off the question in mind.

The smile disappears from her face as she drops her gaze reluctantly, "Mom... She is in heaven, they said..."

It feels like someone just stabs Allan's chest with an imaginary knife. The girl continues by saying that her father has left the house last Christmas and today her mother also left her. Forever.

"They said Mom is sick. Really sick. God took her so she would not be in pain anymore," the little girl tried to draw circle on snow with her shoe. "I will have a new house. It's called White Noel."

Allan gasps in surprise. White Noel is the name of his old orphanage.

"Mom once said that Christmas is Jesus' birthday," she puts a grin back on her face. "So we must celebrate it with a smile! So merry Christmas, Sir!"

This little girl who stands in front of him lost her parents on Christmas but, instead of crying over her lost and feel unfair with the world, she greeted a stranger to wish him a merry Christmas.

Sure she is still a kid. She has no idea yet that the world is not as simple as she thinks but somehow she reminds Allan of something.

That Christmas is the day he must cherishes with pure heart.

That Christmas doesn't mean he is alone and turned to be the most unlucky person in the world. There might be people who have more difficulties compare to him.

That one little kindness can make you feel that the world is a better place.

"Hey, what's your name?" Allan pats the little girl gently, smiling for the very first time today. "I know your new house. It's also my house. Want to go there together?"

Now Allan has a plan for Christmas already.

To share the joy and happiness in White Noel.

To be a part of the world who celebrates Christmas with warm in heart and love towards others.


__________


It's a really simple, original story that I just wrote for today's celebration.
It might be too cliche or else but there is one thing that I want to share within the story.

You might not be the happiest today.
You might be unlucky.
But always remember to be grateful.

Because you're still alive and that's all what matters.
Do a little kindness, share the happiness, and enjoy your life.



Merry Christmas.

May you have a blessed Christmas day.

:)



Sunday, December 16, 2012

‡ Dec 14, 2012. Sandy Hook. ‡



These thoughts below are not written by me but they represent what I have in mind, even after two days have passed but the sadness and sorrow stay still.

My deepest condolences for the tragedy happened on December 14, 2012. For everyone who is affected by the horrible incident in Newtown, Connecticut.

__________

The children.

"Those children will not be trying to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus this Christmas.
Those children won't have their first kiss.
Those children won't know how it feels to have their heartbroken and become better after it.
Those children won't go to prom.
Those children won't know what it feels like to graduate.
Those children won't know what it feels like to be accepted to college.
Those children won't know how it feels to turn 21 with their friends.
Those children will never get married one day.
Those children will never be able to have children on their own.

They will never know how they made all of us realize that we take life for granted."

__________

The parents.

"Those parents rushed to the school to pick up their children and bring them home to safety, only to watch other parents find their children while they waited to be told their children wouldn't be coming out.

Those parents will have to live with the pain of knowing their young children went to school like any other morning but will never be coming home again.

Those parents will have to go home and see their child's bedroom, knowing they won't be tucking them in and giving them goodnight kisses anymore.

Those parents will have to unwrap and return all the Christmas gifts they bought their children, knowing they were only a few days away from seeing the joy on their children's faces when they opened them."

__________

Morgan Freeman's brilliant take on.

“You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here’s why.

It’s because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed
people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he’ll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.

CNN’s article says that if the body count “holds up”, this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer’s face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer’s identity? None that I’ve seen yet. Because they don’t sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you’ve just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.

You can help by forgetting you ever read this man’s name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news.”