Hola! It’s the end of January, but as usual, better late than never: Welcome and Happy New Year 2026!
2025 wasn’t always as I expected it to be, but I survived it so I’m grateful to make it here. I don’t really have a resolution, but I always hope and pray that I can be better than I was before, more grateful and content with what God has written for me, more capable to practice what I preach, walk the talk, khusnudzon instead of assuming the worst in people (unless it’s Indonesian corrupt and incompetent officials🙏🏻), own my mistakes instead of shifting the blame and shoving it onto others, and last but not the least: not projecting my own negativities on others, not becoming someone who repays kindness with enmity, and not becoming the kind I despise. I’d also like to apologize for posts, harsh words, bad attitude, etc. I know that even though it’s not directed at you, it might make you feel uncomfortable. I’ve been reminded that the way we treat or talk about others do not reflect who they are but rather how we are. Surely I’m still struggling to control this. Sorry. But I wish you all be at peace with every decision you make. May you be surrounded with good, nice, and kind people who are happy and grateful for you, just like I have been. And may you get rid of people who make your life worse.
Andddddddd, yeah, I know it’s really late to post this for Happy New Year, but it’s nothing new anyway. I know I should get rid of this bad habit, but things got so hectic. After coming back from vacation, I went back straight to work, and I’m getting new students too, so yeah, all I wanted to do when I wasn’t working was just to laze around 😝
But hey, remember in the last post when I said how “something might happen at the very end of year and need to be highlighted”? Yep, something did happen, but I sorta didn’t want to waste too much precious time talking about it since I was too overwhelmed with emotions, shocked, disappointed, etc. But well, I shouldn’t have kept too high of an expectation (though I didn’t expect much, though, but holy, didn’t think they could be so low!). But well, didn’t really want to give them a spotlight since they’ve had no significant positive contributions to my life. But well, lesson learned the hard way: I shouldn’t have ignored someone’s negative traits just because I tried to keep a good faith in them, tried to understand them, or got where they came from, etc. because if they could be an asshole to others, they could very well be an asshole to me. I knew it, but I ignored it, and when it eventually happened it’s too late, they played victim, defensive, gaslighting, throwing tantrum and accusations, etc. But well, I learned my lesson. Sometimes it’s a good riddance too, so I’m thankful🤲🏻
Anyway, let’s talk about my vacation. It’s superb! Amazing, incredible, remarkable, etc. you name it! I met my friend from UofA that I hadn’t met for almost 10 years and confirmed that the friends he recommended to help me with my travel in Wakatobi were good, nice, and kind people. I tried discovery diving, I did snorkeling, I ate food I hadn’t tried before. It all was expensive but it’s worth it! For the first time in my life, I dived, but surely accompanied by a licensed guide & buddy, so I kinda only focused on breathing under water. LoL But subhanallah, the view was breathtaking. All praises to Allah, God the Creator the AlMighty. And while I was scared at the beginning, once I got used to breathing, man, I kinda didn’t want to go up, and just wanted to go deeper and deeper. Crazy, but that’s how “extraterrestrial” it was! I even dived up to 9m for 45ish minutes. They said it exceeded the average newbies! And then snorkeling! It’s not my first, but it’s my first feeling that I did it right or properly. Previously I was always struggling with breathing and such, but once you got the right equipment (snorkeling mask, glasses and hose), everything was alright. I was so happy!
Well, surely not everything went well, it wasn’t perfect. For example, my sandals got broken (?), one ship wasn’t on time, the tide didn’t come as expected, etc. But that’s alright. No need to blame anyone. Thankfully, having traveled to 30 countries and mostly alone, I fully know that traveling comes with its conveniences no matter how well we’ve planned and prepared. If you want things to be perfect, better stay home, though of course sometimes the unexpected still happens at home. But again, instead of whining because I don’t get the most, I always try to make the most of what I get. And I’m sure this is a significant skill in life: to ADAPT & ADJUST. And that’s what makes traveling fun 😉
What else? Oh yeah, books. Remember I brought Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith with me? Yeah, I didn’t really read it. I read only few pages in one of my boat rides when hopping to another island. But that’s it. But no worries, after I got back home, I continued reading while biking – back to the usual routine – and managed to finish it. I even started a new book now. (Not new, but I bought it new but only started reading it now. LoL). Anyway, Mitch Albom’s a great writer, but this one book, I don’t know, it’s simply hard for me to read and finish. Some parts are intriguing and surely quotable, but I was really forcing myself to continue and finish. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood, maybe it’s not the right time, or maybe simply because I wasn’t really a non-fiction girl. I can’t even remember when I started reading that book before pausing and resuming reading again, but gosh, glad I finally finished it and continued with another book. One take, though: the book talked about a priest and a rabbi, and it really strengthened the fact that anti Zionism doesn’t in anyway anti Semitism or anti Jewish. Not at all. The rabbi in the book didn’t condone killing children or non-children, but well, look at what Israhell did to Palestinians?
Anyway, the new book I’m now reading is In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. I bought it when I was still in the States. But dang, I just found out that she might be supporting Zionism though she was part of Gaza Evacuation Fund Book Auction. Now I regretted buying some of her books. I know I won’t buy her books anymore, but the ones I already bought, hopefully I get forgiven for reading them and not letting them go to waste. But I haven’t finished it. I cheated, I got interested and read the ending and somewhat not pleased ’cause it might not be as I wanted. Actually I am taking a break from biking+reading for now because I’m preparing to move to a new bedroom so I’m kinda busy with redecorating and such. (Boy, it’s satisfying to buy all furniture in my bedroom with my own money!) But well, I’m bracing myself, though. Hopefully I finish the book in February. I aim to read another book in February, so we’ll see.
Oh, by the way, this month I went to visit my sister and tried “facial” for the first time ever. Now I got it better when people say “beauty is pain” because yessss, it’s painful. Painful on the body, painful on the wallet. LoL But even before doing it, I’d been thinking that perhaps “beauty is only for the rich.” Well, surely the poor can be beautiful too, but if talking about skincare and such, I think it’s always easier for the rich. For example, some skincare products will ask you to rinse using lukewarm water. For the rich, they can simply turn the tap water and use the warm one. No hassle. For the poor? Well, okay, for poor Indonesians? No, if you want warm water, you’ll need to first boil it. What a hassle. (Well, okay, maybe I’m just lazy. Wkwkwk) But anyway, I love it, though. I think I need to care more about my skin ’cause it’s part of health too, no?^^
Alright, I guess that’s the update for now. Hope I can do more good things and meet more good people this year. And most importantly: be a better self for myself. Aamiin 🤲🏻
