Wisdom-to-share

“ Non est ad astra mollis e terris via" - "There is no easy way from the earth to the stars ” ― Seneca In this world, people can underestimate or overestimate our ability. I probably prefer when people underestimate my ability. It was happened, when my friend wanted to hire me to teach a group of people. They asked my friend, “ Why do you choose Lina? She is not famous and we don ’ t know her ability. We can hire the famous motivator or famous speaker ” I said to my friend, “ It is okay if they don ’ t want me to be their trainer or teacher. I am fine with that ” My friend told me, “ I told them to give you a chance and see what you can do ” A month before that class, I told my husband, “ I am not famous, but I will do my best to share my knowledge ” With smiling face my husband only said, “ You can do it and it is good when they underestimate you … you will be greater than they think ” The class was very well, I got a good feedback from the par

People told me to celebrate my 25 th wedding anniversary as a big celebration. I wonder what actually we need to celebrate?   This is actually the accumulation of years that a couple has been through together. This is not to celebrate the love, the sweetness or the happiest moments in that marriage life. I think it is more into celebration of the pain, the fights, the bitterness and ups and downs in life during those years. We celebrate that we could bear together “ For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer ” that is one of the commitment sentence in the wedding vow Yes … that is all about marriage … Funny that in the vow they only mention “ for better, not for the best … for worse, not for the worse, for richer, not the richest, … for poorer, not for the poorest ” All make sense for me, because it is easier to promise one level higher condition than the reality itself. It is already hard for us to accept or to adjust when everything not as good as our

One day I entered a complex of luxurious houses. I was amazed with all the beautiful houses there. But I wondered there were so quiet, there were no sign of people living inside or people did activities there. Probably they were inside and there is such a big house to hide them. This is my comment at that time, “ These beautiful and big houses are like the cemetery, so empty and quiet “ Some thoughts came into my minds: there are so many people work so hard to have a beautiful house to tell the world their achievement in their life, but for that reason they work late at the office and then they only enjoy a few hours in their beautiful house. That is probably a great award for some people or that is something worthy to have in life.   I saw similar thing in this world, the big house is like the cemetery, we might build to enjoy but we are not really enjoy it. I come across Dalai Lama ’ s quote: “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacri

The question was asked when I conducted the communication class last week. That question actually opened my mind that could be my goal in this life. I don ’ t want to die soon, but death is the most certain thing in this world. And I don ’ t know what people will say about me in my funeral. However if I know I will die one day … and I still have time to make a difference in other's people life … I will be able to predict what will be happened in my funeral. I want to make, statement from the people in my funeral as the legacy for my children. Since today till the end of my life, I will make sure I will be a nice person, I am more helpful to others, I love people more, and I will do my best in everything I do. I wish they could tell my children, “ Your mom has done many good deeds in her life time. … Or I am glad to know her … or she is a simple and nice person … “ This is what I want my children to hear, so they can continue their life with the legacy, that they

This story is one of our common conversations in the car during the bad traffic in Jakarta.   My husband told my daughter and me that his colleague who is very smart, quit her job to take care of her children. I said to my husband, “ It is good for her and I am happy for her too. That is probably the hardest decision for most of the career women ”   Then I said to my daughter, “ I am grateful to your dad, who could give me the opportunity to stay home being a mother. We didn ’ t have much money or luxurious life, but that I had the most precious time to be with you when your sister and you were babies. I could enjoy every moment of your growth. It is really priceless and I never regret it “ My daughter asked me, “ What if your husband didn ’ t earn enough money for you to stay home? ”   “ I think it is more into how you manage the income and you need to sacrifice for not wanting too much in life. And if you have a choice to work at home so you can still take care of your c