A Mom's Priority

So excuse another video post :) I was watching this what's in my hospital bag videos on YouTube (I think I watched about three) just because it was quite fun, seeing the different contents due to different hospitals and countries. One in USA said that you don't need to bring diapers or baby wipes, just bring empty diaper bags and stock up because the hospital is giving them out to you for free (or technically you have paid for them anyway ;)) Baby delivery is different in every country and in Netherlands it is most common to have your baby at home, so I think only several people are going to pack hospital bag here.

One thing I do notice, though, these mommies-to-be always pack a little make up and beauty products, such as travel size shower gel, shampoo, face wash, some make up and deodorant or perfume. I think it's quite common; mothers are, nevertheless, women who should take care of their own appearance as well. 

That's why it kinda bugged me when I saw comments like "anyone who is willing to give up time with their newborn baby to do their make up shouldn't have a baby" WTH? How can people be so against a mommy doing her make up??

I haven't had any baby yet (still working on it, crossing fingers ;)) but I figured it made sense to want to still look prim and proper after labor. I think having a baby is not an excuse to look disheveled and messy all the time. When you have a baby most likely people will visit, you would want to take pictures, and maybe you can't help feeling overwhelmed and tired, also. Putting a few minutes to look better will help with your self esteem, when you look better you feel better, I agree with that. I think when you have about ten to twenty minutes for yourself just to take a decent shower, make sure you are content with your look doesn't mean you are not grateful or not caring towards your baby. 

I hope I will look nice and pretty when I finally held our baby in my arms as well :) 

Message from Mrs. Anne Hathaway

Oscars were given out two nights ago but hubby and I watched it last night so I'm still starstruck this morning. I was watching interviews particularly Jennifer Lawrence's because she is just oh so funny and adorable. But I decided to post this one here because Anne Hathaway's interview was a little more serious and she ends it with an answer that I absolutely love. Here is how she responded to a question about staying positive:

You have to remember in life that there's a positive to every negative and a negative to every positive. The miracle of the universe is that as far as they know there is 51% matter versus 49% anti-matter. Things tipped in the scale for the positive. And so that is what I focused on; the fact that it all comes home. I live my life with love, I live my life with compassion, I live my life hoping the best for absolutely everyone no matter how they feel about me. And when you live your life that way it's amazing how beautiful every day can be.

She didn't say that in a way that she wanted to project herself as someone perfect, but I think the message she was trying to convey was that selflessness is one of the key to live a happy life :) I love her.

Arm(not)strong

Couple weeks ago the world was shocked by confession of Lance Armstrong, 7 times Tour de France winner and cancer survivor. He admitted using performance enhancement drug during his cycling career. And worse, he was suspected organizing drug supplement for his entire team to support his victory. The US anti doping body regarded this scandal as the most sophisticated and systematic doping scandal in sport history.

Many regard him not only as a sport superstar, but also a hero. He was the symbol of his respective sport, like Michael Jordan in basket ball, Tiger Wood in golf, Roger Federer in tennis, or Taufik Hidayat in badminton (Okay, the last one is my own opinion :). Even more dramatic, he achieved most of his victories after diagnosed with cancer and underwent series of chemotherapy. Cancer survivor itself is already extraordinary. Cancer survivor and 7 times Tour de France winner is superman. His life inspired many people, not only among cancer community. Outside his professional career, he is also actively involved in charity work through his Livestrong foundation. His book "Ït's not about the bike" became bestseller and inspired countless people, including myself. I bought the book back in 2007.

Now, after his confession, many people turn hating him. Many fans also stay to support him and blame the culture of the sport itself that force bikers to take drug. Armstrong is not the only biker using drug, and for sure will not be the last. Sponsors for sure leaving him. Many consider to sue him and try to squeeze every penny they invested to him. The last time I heard even US government considers to sue. His reputation now is shattered.

For sure I hear many times already celebrities, sport star, or public figure fall from grace due to scandal. But why this one really capture my attention? Because I bought the damn book! It moves me. It moves me because unlike other superstar, he started not from average..but from near death situation, a cancer survivor!

So what I have learned from Mr. Armstrong scandal:

• First, there is no such thing as superman. Human is human with all their talents and drawbacks. They rise and fall. 
• don't live a lie to get to your goal. It will be uncovered eventually no matter how smart you cover it. 
• be honest to yourself, live honest life and do not let people's judgment leads your way. 
• of course, don't use drugs 

At the same time I hope we do not lose faith for other superhero lives among us. Let's hope we can see heroes in our daily lives, who lives honest and inspirational life. I'm thinking now CNN heroes who spend most of his salary as pilot for international airliner to help education of orphans in East Timor. That's extraordinary!

One day at a time

Akhir-akhir ini saya merasa lebih tenang. Kalau setahun lalu rasanya selalu dikejar-kejar dengan rencana sekolah ataupun bekerja, semakin lama berada di sini makin lama belajar makin bersyukur dan ikhlas. Yang paling saya senangi tahun baru ini adalah berpikir hari ke hari. Bukan berarti tidak ada rencana sama sekali untuk masa depan, tapi tidak khawatir mengenai masa depan. Cukup satu hari ini masalah yang harus dihadapi, kemarin sudah berlalu, esok mungkin akan ada masalah lain, tapi biarlah dihadapi besok.

Akhir-akhir ini rasanya lebih lega, ditanya mengenai apa yang saya kerjakan, saya bisa terbuka menjelaskan. Tidak banyak yang muluk-muluk atau bizarre, tidak ada proyek besar secara profesional, pencapaian karir, transkrip nilai yang plus atau pencantuman nama saya di media tentunya. Proyek besar saya adalah: being happy. Banyak hal yang malah akan terhambat kalau ini tidak ada. Tanpa bermaksud egois, dalam hal ini saya coba dari diri sendiri dulu, dan kunci yang paling penting adalah menerima kenyataan kalau saya tidak bisa memuaskan semua orang. Satu yang paling penting buat saya sekarang hanyalah si Mr. yang saya ingin bisa happy bersama saya.

Kemarin ini saya menemukan kembali ucapan terkenal dari John Lennon (cmiiw)

When Lennon was young he asked his mother, "What is the point of living?" She told him, "The point of living is to experience happiness. " Some years later in school the teacher asked him, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Lennon said, "Happy." The teacher said, "I don't think you understand the question." to which he replied "I don't think you understand life."

Mungkin Lennon memang terdengar tidak mengerti pertanyaannya, tapi jawabannya tidak salah. Apa yang salah dengan ingin bahagia di masa depan? Saya tidak bisa menjawab pertanyaan tersebut dengan jawaban profesional, misalnya ingin menjadi arsitek atau manager atau apapun yang lainnya. Saya hanya berharap di masa depan saya (dan suami, dan (semoga) anak=anak kami) bisa berbahagia. Bahkan sekarang saya berharap malam nanti ketika saya menutup mata untuk tidur, saya merasa bahagia.

Tapi mungkin ada saatnya menyerah adalah pilihan satu-satunya.

Hoping for the opposite

Honestly sometimes I do wonder if something is wrong with me...

Masa Kuliah

Hari ini tidak sengaja saya membuka archive foto-foto yang pernah di upload di twitter. Kebanyakan lebih personal, mungkin, karena tidak saya upload di facebook. Semakin dilihat makin banyak foto-foto waktu masa kuliah. Berhubung saya baru aktif twitter setelah (calon) suami pergi ke Belanda, beberapa foto diambil waktu sedang keluar dengan teman-teman. 

Beberapa benar-benar bikin kangen, ada foto-foto beli Starbucks buy 1 get 1 free, foto waktu teman-teman wisuda duluan (saya batch ke-3 lulus dari angkatan), pertama kali semangat coba bikin cupcake di apartemen, pengumpulan tugas, makan-makan ke Pepper Lunch atau Sushi Tei setelah pengumpulan. Semuanya penuh kenangan dan sekarang saya kangen sama teman-teman; Farah yang cuma beda satu lantai apartment nya, telepon untuk buka pintu darurat biar nggak usah pake lift naik ke atas ^^ Andi yang dulu pernah audisi Indonesian Idol bareng, entah dulu mikir apaaa juga ikut-ikutan audisi segala... Reinard yang pernah dijadiin supir mendadak karena dulu saya nggak bisa nyetir padahal Jazz sudah parkir di apartment. Sasha yang dulu pergi Goethe bareng, hujan-hujanan, sekarang sudah jago pasti Deutsch nya sementara saya stuck bingung antara geen dan keine :D Laras yang sama-sama penggemar banana shake, nyetirnya heboh dan kecil-kecil cabe rawit... Westhi yang nggak pernah lupa bagi biskuit cokelat buatan mamanya yang dikirim dari rumah ;') juga semua teman-teman seangkatan dulu...

Orang bilang "A friend in need is a friend indeed." dan menurut saya teman-teman saya masuk ke kriteria itu. Kalau dibilang kangen Jakarta dan sekitarnya mungkin sebenarnya tidak, karena Jakarta macet dan rempong tentunya, tapi saya kangen mereka yang sekarang kebetulan berada di sana. Selama masih ada umur, pasti bisa bertemu lagi. 

Semoga saya juga termasuk "a friend indeed" dalam daftar mereka. :)

Yang Putih

Beberapa hari yang lalu saya menulis di status Path, "few things smelled better than freshly cooked white rice." Buat saya bener banget, nasi putih yang baru dimasak itu aromanya heavenly (kecuali memang busuk atau apa ya *bleh*)

Jadi teringat dulu sebelum nikah sempat dibilang bahwa kalau mau nikah itu biasanya berpuasa atau mutih, yaitu makan yang putih-putih, dalam hal ini nasi putih dan air putih. Kalau sekarang dipikir lagi saya sebenarnya nggak keberatan. Nasi putih tanpa lauk bisa membuat saya senang, dulu waktu kecil saya suka minta nasi putih di mangkok kecil (yang untuk cetak nasi) untuk dimakan pakai sendok kecil. Rasanya banyak dan lebih dari cukup, dikunyah lama terasa manis. Suka sekali!

Waktu dulu dibilang mengenai mutih, saya sempat bilang ke (dulu calon) suami, berarti enak juga, boleh makan nasi putih, susu dan whipped cream. Ya ya, walaupun suka makan nasi putih bukan berarti saya mau melepas semua produk susu. Dari dulu memang anak susu! Selain nasi putih, dulu waktu kecil snack saya adalah bubuk susu putih Dancow... Sekarang agak kangen juga karena di Belanda jarang ada susu bubuk, adanya susu di kotak yang sudah di pasteurisasi, kalau mau ditambah rasa biasanya beli Nesquik atau sejenisnya, yang tentunya beda dengan susu bubuk Dancow. *sigh* :(