Dunia sedang mengalami ketidakpastian karena wabah covid-19. Ketidakpastian tentang selamat atau tidaknya penderita covid-19. Ketidakpastian tentang kapan wabah ini akan berakhir. Banyaknya korban meninggal dari berbagai negara terus diberitakan. Ratusan bahkan ribuan nyawa.
Kengerian ini menghantui setiap orang yang kuatir tertular wabah ini. Berbagai cara dilakukan supaya wabah ini tidak menjangkiti warga. Dari cara yang masuk akal sampai cara yang membuat orang bertanya-tanya apakah cara itu efektif. Semua karena ketidakpastian.
Saya orang awam yang tidak memahami penjelasan medis tentang virus itu dan bagaimana membunuh virus itu. Saya juga menghindari mengonsumsi pemberitaan terkait covid-19. Bukannya saya tidak mau peduli dengan kondisi sekitar. Saya hanya ingin merasa tenang menghadapi krisis ini.
Dengan sedikit pengetahuan tentang virus itu dan cara menjaga kebersihan agar bisa terhindar dari virus itu, itu sudah cukup bagi saya. Saya pun juga akan tahu diri bagaimana saya menjaga jarak dengan orang lain. Bukannya saya takut tertular, tapi saya takut menulari orang itu karena saya juga tidak tahu apakah saya membawa virus itu atau tidak. Jadi saya memposisikan diri saya sebagai orang yang sangat sehat dan sekaligus orang yang beresiko membawa virus itu. Semua serba tidak pasti.
Semua ketidakpastian dari kejadian wabah ini tetap memunculkan beberapa hal yang pasti terjadi, yaitu meredanya wabah ini ataupun kematian. Kapankah terjadinya? Belum pasti, tapi pasti terjadi.
Saya berharap semua ini akan berakhir baik-baik saja.
30/03/2020
18/03/2020
A Life Lesson from a Schoolkid
When I saw this picture for the first time, I directly fell in love. Then the owner of this picture, who happens to be the photographer and also a student that I know, gave me permission to use this picture for my blog. Plus, I don't have better photos at this moment. Big thanks to the photographer.
What a cute boy. I am not talking about the boy who is looking at the camera. That boy looking at the camera surely knows how to get attention. He realizes that somebody else, the photographer, is focusing on him. And there he is, giving his sweetest smile while looking at the camera.
Let me focus on the emphasis of that picture; the younger boy, who is not looking at the camera and doesn't even care if he is actually the center of attention.
Assuming that I don't know the background of that boy. Let me just look on the surface. His eyes are honest. He looks calm, very patient, though a little bit tired. But somehow, he manages to survive the standing. But one thing for sure, he doesn't like to get attention. He just likes to pay attention. He looks like an introvert type.
What if I tell you that actually his parents are in a different island, so far away from him? He is in another island to stay and study in an Islamic boarding school for some years ahead. I cannot imagine his emotions. I can only imagine what's underlying that picture; his face is telling me that he really misses being at home with his mom. But because he is now being away from her, he must accept that fact. And there he is, with his innocent face, wanting to survive from being separated from his mom, to get a better education with the hope that he will become a better man for his family and his religion.
Be a good boy, and thanks for the soul-touching inspiration.
What a cute boy. I am not talking about the boy who is looking at the camera. That boy looking at the camera surely knows how to get attention. He realizes that somebody else, the photographer, is focusing on him. And there he is, giving his sweetest smile while looking at the camera.
Let me focus on the emphasis of that picture; the younger boy, who is not looking at the camera and doesn't even care if he is actually the center of attention.
Assuming that I don't know the background of that boy. Let me just look on the surface. His eyes are honest. He looks calm, very patient, though a little bit tired. But somehow, he manages to survive the standing. But one thing for sure, he doesn't like to get attention. He just likes to pay attention. He looks like an introvert type.
What if I tell you that actually his parents are in a different island, so far away from him? He is in another island to stay and study in an Islamic boarding school for some years ahead. I cannot imagine his emotions. I can only imagine what's underlying that picture; his face is telling me that he really misses being at home with his mom. But because he is now being away from her, he must accept that fact. And there he is, with his innocent face, wanting to survive from being separated from his mom, to get a better education with the hope that he will become a better man for his family and his religion.
Be a good boy, and thanks for the soul-touching inspiration.
01/03/2020
Why I Listen a Lot
When I was still a kid, I used to stand in front of my house, at the front yard, looking up the sky, waiting for my favorite bird (I assume it belongs to the eagle family). When that bird already flew up the sky and shrieked its high pitched sound, I took my turn to imitate its shrieking sound, very loud. Then the bird shrieked again. Then my turn. Again and again until I stopped because my mom asked me to stop.
For me, it was fun doing it at that time. I also used to imitate the sounds of the birds in my house. My father was a bird lover, and he also taught me how to communicate with them. Because of my immature voice, it was easy for me to be in tune with the birds' high pitched sound.
Growing up, I feel very grateful with my need to listen. I listen to early morning birds. I listen to the drippings of water after the rain. I listen to the tickings of the clock. It feels like enjoying the music. I can even hear the music when I listen to the sound of a fan or an air conditioner.
That is why, perhaps, my ears are like magnets for some people around me who want to tell their stories, share their problems, or even talk about their secrets. They seem sure that I can be a good listener. I can't say to myself that I am a good listener. But when they start talking, I just focus on their words, really paying attention to every word they say.
So, the reason why I listen a lot is that I feel the need to tune in the here and the now. I need to be thankful for the present God has given to me; the present moment.
For me, it was fun doing it at that time. I also used to imitate the sounds of the birds in my house. My father was a bird lover, and he also taught me how to communicate with them. Because of my immature voice, it was easy for me to be in tune with the birds' high pitched sound.
Growing up, I feel very grateful with my need to listen. I listen to early morning birds. I listen to the drippings of water after the rain. I listen to the tickings of the clock. It feels like enjoying the music. I can even hear the music when I listen to the sound of a fan or an air conditioner.
That is why, perhaps, my ears are like magnets for some people around me who want to tell their stories, share their problems, or even talk about their secrets. They seem sure that I can be a good listener. I can't say to myself that I am a good listener. But when they start talking, I just focus on their words, really paying attention to every word they say.
So, the reason why I listen a lot is that I feel the need to tune in the here and the now. I need to be thankful for the present God has given to me; the present moment.