What do you do when you — the adults — want to have a group photo and a child suddenly walks into the frame (because he wants to be with his Mom)?
You include him in the picture; welcome him with the warmest greeting and laughter; make him feel accepted and loved.
I am so grateful this response comes spontaneously in our family. Thank You.
I had seen the pictures a thousand times — those Stonehenges. Never had I seen them Nor would have I, had it not for my friend’s insistence.
They say the stones came as far as the northern Scotland. We were in the South of England. To travel all the way — why, how? Continue reading
Pada ulang tahun saya beberapa waktu lalu, saya meminta tiga orang teman mengajukan tiga pertanyaan. Pertanyaan dibebaskan apa saja yang muncul dalam benak mereka. Tiga teman yang kebetulan semua berkecimpung di @writingtable, yaitu Hanny, Nia, dan Windy (berdasarkan urutan abjad).
Ada pertanyaan yang diajukan dalam Bahasa Inggris, ada yang dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Akan saya tanggapi sesuai bahasa pertanyaan. Semoga nantinya diberi waktu untuk menuliskan terjemahannya.
Pertanyaan Windy saya tanggapi dalam postingan ini. Pertanyaan Nia sudah saya tanggapi terlebih dahulu. Sementara pertanyaan Hanny masih berproses.
Pada ulang tahun saya beberapa waktu lalu, saya meminta tiga orang teman mengajukan tiga pertanyaan. Pertanyaan dibebaskan apa saja yang muncul dalam benak mereka. Tiga teman yang kebetulan semua berkecimpung di @writingtable, yaitu Hanny, Nia, dan Windy (berdasarkan urutan abjad).
Ada pertanyaan yang diajukan dalam Bahasa Inggris, ada yang dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Akan saya tanggapi sesuai bahasa pertanyaan. Semoga nantinya diberi waktu untuk menuliskan terjemahannya.
Pertanyaan dari Nia akan saya jawab pertama. Sekadar karena tanggapan untuk pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini terasa mengalir terlebih dahulu. Pertanyaan Windy saya jawab pada posting berikutnya. Pertanyaan Hanny masih berproses.
Untuk Nia, tiga (pertanyaan) menjadi lima. Beklah.
#kadangTuhan mengingatkan bahwa Dia Mendengar (As-Sami’), menuntun (Al Hadi) kita dalam menemukan jawaban secara halus (Al Latif), lembut (Al Halim), dan penuh kasih (Al Rahim), dan mengingatkan akan kemurahan hati-Nya (Al Karim) dengan cara begini:
“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
Desiderata by Max Ehrmann.
Definitely posted under “things I wished I had written”.
Entah sudah berapa lama aku ingin menulis ini. Aku merasa tidak tahu bagaimana menulisnya. Bahkan ketika aku menulis kalimat ini pun aku tidak tahu apa yang kumaksud tentang “ini” – apa yang mesti dan akan kutulis. Aku hanya tahu bahwa aku menuliskan ini kepadamu.
Kubiarkan tulisan ini bergulir.
Continue reading
