06.30.08
Learning Salsa
Yesterday afternoon, my sister, brother-in-law asked me to go for a dance lesson with them. They want to learn dancing for their wedding reception in October. They take private lessons because they do not have a lot of time to practice together.
Yesterday we learned the basic step for Salsa and Rumba. The basic step was quite easy to learn and we got the hang of it in a very short time. We also learned how to turn and cross over. It was not hard, but we definitely need more practice to be able to move without too much thinking about what to do.
We had a great time learning and practicing. We joked a lot during our session to make it even more fun. It also helped us to get into a learning state, just like when we were children learning something new.
Here I put a video of how to do the basic step
What I need now is a partner to learn salsa with me 
Learn and Grow!
06.26.08
Whistle While You Work – Heeding Your Life’s Calling
I have just finished preparing for my presentation which will be held at GSJA Injil Sepenuh tonight. The topic is “Whistle While You Work, Heeding Your Life’s Calling” based on a book with the same title by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro.
Last week, I prepared the presentation on different topic “Living a Positive Life” but two nights ago, suddenly I felt that the topic of heeding life’s calling was more appropriate.
The objective of the seminar is to understand the importance of motivation and to have a motivation to serve. I believe that living our life’s calling is the ultimate motivation because when we do what we are called to do, what we are good at, what we love to do, then the motivation is automatically there.
While preparing for this topic, I did the exercise of finding my calling card. The exercise really helped me to clarify my calling. My calling is to put things together and to advance ideas that empower others to discover and develop their potential through performing events.
When I asked my family and friends to do the exercise, they also found it very valuable. It can be an eye-opening experience for some people because they can see how everything seems to fit together. I’ve also seen people having an A-HA moment when they realize what their calling is, sometimes for the first time in their lives.
I have the desire to help more people to discover and heed their callings through seminars and coaching so that I can take part in making this world a better and happier place.
Learn and Grow!
06.24.08
What is the Meaning of Life?
In Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s Search For Meaning”
…the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.
…Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked… each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.
I often ask and ponder “What is the meaning of my life?” I often search for the magic formula that states “My life is ….”Until now, I still do not know the answer to that question and I haven’t found the magic formula either.
After reading Viktor E. Frankl’s book, I realize that the meaning of life changes from time to time. It is not just one thing, one meaning, nor a magic formula. It is how I respond to a specific situation that gives meaning to my life. I am the one and only who can give meaning to my life by answering life’s gifts and challenges.
Once again, being responsible for our lives gives it meaning!
Learn and Grow!
06.20.08
Overload…Overload!
I saw this overloaded truck on the way to Jogjakarta. It posed a danger not only on itself but also on other vehicles on the road. This is another example of complete disregard of rules and safety.
Learn and Grow
Photo by Inge Santoso
06.19.08
Most Precious Lessons about Letting Go and Abundance in My Life
Last Tuesday, before I went to Singapore Airport, I prepared S$70 (two $10 notes and one $50 note) and put them in my pocket to pay for taxi and buy some souvenirs.
When I paid for my taxi ride, I took the two $10 notes from my pocket and some more small change from my wallet, then I went inside the terminal.
When I was going to buy souvenirs, I put my hand into my pocket and suddenly I had a feeling of despair. I couldn’t find my $50 note anywhere! I searched all my pockets, my backpack and my passport wallet. I opened my wallet and counted the money…that $50 note was missing. It was nowhere to be found. My first thought: Did it fall out of my pocket when I paid the taxi? Did it fall when I walked to and from the GST refund booth?
At that time I realized that I need to change my thought and attitude because it was turning negative. I tried to console myself by thinking: Perhaps there was someone who needed the money more than me and I was just a conduit to make it happen.
At first it was hard to accept that I could’ve lost that $50 note. It was not a small amount for me. However I pressed on thinking and entertaining the thoughts that I was used by God to become a conduit to give someone who needed the money more than me. I also kept thinking that $50 was really a small amount in comparison to my net worth and it was not something that I needed to be upset about.
When I finally accepted the fact that I lost that $50 note and let go…I felt peace. By thinking that $50 was something that I could give easily because I had a lot where it came from,I had an instant boost of feeling abundance. By thinking that $50 notes could help someone in need, I felt even better.
It’s funny how things happened in life. When I fully accepted my situation, started to think positive and feel better, I continued to do my souvenir shopping. When I bought a box of chocolate for my parents and paid for it…There it was ! I found that $50 note! It was neatly folded on the side. It was so weird because I was sure that it was not there when I checked my wallet the first time. Apparently when I took some small change from my wallet paying for the cab, I folded the money and put it inside my wallet.
I was not sure what really happened that morning but I learned very important lessons:
- Let go, really let go and feel peace. How often do we keep on holding what we have lost? It is as though it vanishes from our physical reality and starts to exist as a burden in our mind. Why do we keep holding onto something that exists as a burden in our mind? Let it go and feel peace. Finally I understand what’s written in the Bible “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)
- I also understand one more aspect of the saying “the more you give, the more you receive”. When we give with the right motivation, we will have the feeling of abundance and this feeling will attract more abundance into our lives. You feel rich by giving! The more you give, the more you feel the riches in your life and this feeling attracts even more riches.
Learn and Grow!
06.16.08
Release Any Attachment to the Results of Good Actions
Yesterday when I re-attended Silva Method Basic Lecture Series, I drew a message card and on the card, it was written:
To reach out with love, to do your best and not be so concerned with results or outcomes – that’s the way to live.
I release any attachment to the results of my good actions.
This card rings so true to my situation at the moment. I’ve been so worried about what the outcome would be if I took any action. I worried about whether I would fail and disappoint people, whether I would be good enough to do what I wanted to do, and so on. This fear prevented me from taking action and moving forward. My fear of getting hurt also stopped me from reaching out with love. Living with these fears is like being trapped in a vicious circle because the more I don’t take action, the worse I feel about myself and this feeling makes me doubt myself and my abilities to take actions.
What do I learn from this? Living with fear is NOT the way to live! I’ve had enough! No more!
Now is the time to live my life!
Last week I dreamed that I was given just one more year to live. If it is true, what kind of life will I have in the next 365 days? What will I do in the next 365 days? Time suddenly becomes so precious and I must live my life to the fullest, make a difference, leave a legacy!
Now is the time to live my life!
I don’t want to worry about what will happen later because nobody can actually predict or know what is going to happen in the very next moment in life anyway. I just do my best in everything that I do and reach out with love and let God take care of the outcome.
I want to share this story with you because I want you to ask yourself the same questions.
How do you really want to live your life? What kind of life do you want to create for yourself and for the people close to you?
Have you live your life to your best potential? If not, it’s not too late. You still have today to something about it. Do it now!
Learn and Grow!
06.13.08
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
I’ve heard rave reviews about Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning” for years. Yesterday I finally read the book. I was captivated and I read it in one sitting. There were so many gems inside the book. If you have not read it, I really recommend this book for you to read. One passage that I’d like to share with you today:
“…everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. And there were always choices to make. Everyday, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance,…”
If the last of human freedom that can’t be taken away is the freedom to choose our attitudes in any given circumstances, then we will have no excuse for not being responsible for our own lives.
“I AM RESPONSIBLE”
How often do we try to avoid taking this responsibility? How often do we blame other people for our circumstances and our feelings? How often do we look to the outside instead of inside ourselves?
Personal growth starts when we accept that whatever happens, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE. “I AM RESPONSIBLE” is the starting point because it gives us complete control of our thoughts, our attitudes, our feelings, and finally what kind of person we become.
Today, let us take responsibility of our own lives! Take back what is truly ours…the last human freedom…the freedom to choose our attitude!
Learn and Grow!
06.11.08
Meeting Friends in Bookshop
Yesterday while I was browsing, looking for books at Kinokuniya Singapore I met my friends from Perth, Ferdinand, Carol and their daughter. In the morning, I have had a feeling that I would meet someone that I knew and it really happened.
This was not the first time that I met them in a bookshop. In September last year, I also coincidentally met them at Borders, Perth Australia. Imagine meeting each other in different bookshops in different continent
Carol commented that we kept bumping into each other in bookshops. Perhaps it is because we all love books. HAHAHA People with the same interest tend to go the similar places.
Anyway, you have better chances meeting me in bookshops, library, computer or electronic stores than any other places. My hangout places in Singapore are Borders, Kinokuniya, Times News Links, and Funan IT Mall.
Learn and Grow!
Shopping Bags and Bus – Singapore
What are those shopping bags sitting on top of the bus?
Surprise..It’s the bus stop!
Just for fun.
Have fun…learn and grow!
