Tae-Ho, An Inspiring Boy

I'm ashamed on me as I watch this video. Tae-ho is a little boy with-no-arms from South Korea, born in 2000. This boy has taught me that life gives me more than what I know. I just need to open my eyes wider and wider, so I can see more "colors" that makes my life be a perfect painting.

The documentary about a deformed 11-year-old boy was aired by MBC last year, but it wasn’t until recently that the video has spread virally on social-networking website Tumblr. Born with congenital deformity, young Yu Tae-ho has no arms and only has four toes on each foot. After being told by doctors that he might not make it, he was abandoned by his biological parents before his mother today, Seung Ga-Won raised him. His story has sparked an outpouring of support to orphanages in Korea.

But life is looking great 11 years later – Tae-ho loves going to school, helps his brother and sisters get ready for school and even maintains his good looks. It seems like his four toes are limitless to what they can do: he has no trouble of getting changed or brushing his own teeth. Almost Korean-drama-like, his classmate Nam-Goong Ingee has been childhood friends with Tae-ho since 2nd-grade and has been nothing but supportive towards him and even has her eyes set on marriage – but a date hasn’t been decided yet!

PS: I like the way he smiles. And I wanna know how he becomes so positive, doesn’t care about how he looks or how not have both hands stops him from doing normal child stuff, how he becomes so bright. He's wonderful! What do you think?

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Pain, Is It All Bad?

Two days ago I noticed a point of Pharmacotherapy lecturing that my lecturer told in front of class. It’s about emesis (vomiting).

“Emesis on a pregnant woman may be disturbing and annoying, but it’s not all bad coz we can see it as an ‘alert’ for the new mom-wanna-be to take more care of her health, especially in eating. She may eat something which not good for her fetus (she doesn’t realize it), then it physiologically rejected….”

Those statements tempted me to write this note.

The point I got from those statements is that something which you feel disturbing and annoying (all bad) may be not that bad. So may pain.

***

Pain, What Is It Anyway?

We can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch coz we’re given built-in senses to do it all. Other senses include hunger, thirst, temperature, proprioception, spatial, time, and visceral sensations… and pain. The last one sounds bad. I think everyone knows how it feels and I doubt that somebody likes it.

Pain is an unpleasant sensation caused by noxious stimulation of the sensory nerve endings. It is a subjective feeling and an individual response to the cause. Pain may be mild or severe, chronic, acute, lancinating, burning, dull, or sharp, precisely or poorly localized, or referred.

People in Pain

Everyone gives different respond –verbally and nonverbally– for each pain like self-protective (a narrowed focus that is indicated by an altered time perception, withdrawal from social contact, or impaired thought processes), distraction behavior (marked by moaning, crying, pacing, restlessness, or the seeking out of other people or activities), a facial mask of pain (recognized by eyes that appear dull and lusterless, a 'beaten' look, and fixed or scattered facial movements or grimace), alteration in muscle tone (ranging from listlessness to rigidity); and autonomic responses to increasing pain (including diaphoresis, changes in blood pressure and pulse rate, pupillary dilation, and an increased or decreased rate of respiration). What about you?

Nowadays, many people seem fragile (I heard many stories from mom about how good people-in-the-past managing pain – they’re tough). It recalls my memory to my childhood when I used to cry and couldn’t stand up after falling until my dad carried me up, though it’s only for the lightest injury (oh! how spoiled I was). But now I’m no longer that spoiled of course.

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Belajar Hidup

Saat semua menjadi lemah,

harus ada yang bersedia mengambil peran sebagai yang kuat,

untuk menguatkan yang lain…

Saat semua mengumbar amarah,

harus ada yang mau menjernihkan hati dan menjadi penyejuk,

untuk mengembalikan kedamaian bagi semua…

Saat semua mengeluh tentang kekurangan,

harus ada yang meneladankan kebersyukuran atas semua yang diperoleh,

untuk mengajarkan keikhlasan…

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Caught in a War

Being caught in a war/conflict or difficult situation is something I never want to imagine. But here I am, playing as the third person out of the story – the observer.

How it feels? Though I’m just an observer, I’m not comfort with it, especially if it happens to my closest (whether it's between parents, parents-children, siblings, or friends, I'd rather to talk generally). Just like what Cera said in The Mad Song (The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze):

When your tummy feels all sticky and hot

Like it's filled with bubbly goo

And those fuzzy, buzzy things inside your head

Make you sad and blue

I’m, a melancholic girl with ratio of logic vs feeling = 2 : 3, tend to see this situation emotionally. (Apparently, it depends on the degree of complexity and tension of situation. For this case, in the range of 0 – 10 of scale, I mark it 8.5).  

If only a slap can wake up someone’s awareness, I’d do what this hand urges.

But in the meantime, the angel part of me whispering that negative feeling never bear good things, it worsens situations instead.

… Unfortunately, life never be that simple. A slap never exist in any prescription for “heart”-disease therapy. If it does exist, that’s irrational prescription.

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Gratitude Episode Aug 18

When my "owh..." is turning into "wow!", I see life full of blessing.
(feeling of abundance)

Alhamdulillaahi rabbil'alamiin....

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Gratitude Episode Aug 15

These are miracles!
Thanks to everyone who's contributed.
Praise be to Allah for everything.

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God (Always) Answers My Prayers

Everything I Need

I asked for strength and,

God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom and,

God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity and,

God gave me brawn and brains to work.

I asked for courage and,

God gave me dangers to overcome.

I asked for patience and,

God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.

I asked for love and,

God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for favors and,

God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted,

I received everything I needed.

My prayers have all been answered.

-Anonymous-

What an awesome and so deeply meaningful poem that I call it “a wake-up call”.

When there is a will, there is a way; a way to make our dream comes true. We’ve got to try to reach it, but effort isn’t worthy. Prayer is the complement way we should not forget.

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The Almost Forgotten One

1:28:09 AM

Aktivitas seharian kemarin membuat saya lemas (lagi puasa, nggak sempat sahur, in take 0!) dan akhirnya tertidur pulas di ruang keluarga waktu lagi nonton Islam KTP habis memasang horden yang baru dicuci mama. Berhubung dibangunin untuk pindah ke kamar, saya pun terbangun, merasakan pegal di bagian lutut yang membutuhkan kehangatan dari balsam super panas yang tidak saya sukai, dan akhirnya tidak bisa tidur.

Hmm… begadang kali ini dirasa kurang pas untuk ngerjain tugas. Wanna something enjoyable. Yah, waktunya cek inbox (yang sejak beberapa hari lalu ditangguhnya untuk message yang terlalu panjang dan tidak terlalu urgent). Oops, ternyata ada yang curhat colongan (tapi waktu itu nggak ditanggapi karena message-nya nggak dibaca tuntas, jadinya saya nggak tahu kalau ada yang lagi butuh teman sharing. Sorry, I wasn’t there for you, friend. I’ve been out of order in recent days coz of my own to-dos). Ada juga message tanpa ID dari nomor tak dikenal dengan maksud pesan yang nggak dimengerti (tapi saya pun sedang tidak berniat untuk mempertanyakannya saat ini). Lainnya, ucapan Happy welcoming Ramadan. Wait! Ada 1 message yang hampir terlewatkan.

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"Gratitude" Coin for This Morn'

Now I know how happiness sheds someone’s tear which deeply feels much pleasant (happy to cry).

Now I feel a “thank you” is not enough to show how great a gratitude I have deep inside. I don’t know how to show it wholly and clearly. Hmpp… how glad I am, knowing God has taught us how to do it. Alhamdulillaahi rabbil’alamiin (praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds.

Gratitude. That’s how I call the coin (coins of life) I’ve just got this morning. I feel like having stepped up the stair. What I learned this morning is that no matter how tiny a miracle (luck) is, that is a miracle as it is. Miracle (luck) is a blessing from God that I have to be grateful for, not a trifle which I used to respond by a simple “owh” (flat expression, not consider important). I regret for my “owhs”. Now I know how great every tiny miracle is (this tiny miracle has made me happy to cry), and it’s too good to respond just by an “owh”.

Thanks, God, for the coin. Alhamdulillah.

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White Lies

When somebody lies you doesn’t always mean he wants to hurt you though you feel it (hurt) true. Maybe he just wants to make you happy, favor your flavor, and keep you away from hurt. Maybe he’d tried hard, but still got no fine way tell you. He lies not because he wants to hurt you, but he does care about you instead. That’s what people call white lie. And it sometimes happens in family.

taken from: http://www.daemonsmovies.com/2009/10/19/everybodys-fine-movie-poster/

This topic came across my mind after watching Everybody’s Fine (2009). Yeah, we can’t deny that white lies sometimes exist in family. Before talking further about why people tell white lies, what a white lie anyway? 

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Hitam Putih

taken from: http://free-extras.com/images/black_and_white_cats-1541.htm.

Setelah menyelesaikan logic problem brain teaser tentang Honestants and Swindlecants dan Lion and Unicorn, saya jadi teringat sebuah ungkapan klise “mana ada maling yang ngaku (maling)” –biasanya akan disambung dengan kalimat “kalo maling ngaku, penjara bisa penuh”. Kalimat tersebut seolah claim dirinya sebagai kebenaran mutlak. Maling tidak akan pernah mengatakan bahwa dirinya maling. Jika ada yang mengaku maling, maka dia bukan maling. Nah lo, benar nggak sih?

Jika mengacu pada konsep klise tersebut dan menggunakan prinsip logika sederhana, maka jawabannya benar. Dalam sebuah teka-teki, clue yang sederhana membantu kita untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan dengan lebih mudah. Masalahnya, dalam kehidupan real, apakah memang sesederhana itu?

Bohong atau Jujur Nih?

Saat memecahkan In the Court of Law, saya belajar bahwa orang yang tidak bersalah akan mengajukan pembelaan diri berdasarkan kebenaran yang diyakininya untuk mendukung ketidakbersalahan (innocence) dirinya. Akan tetapi, orang yang salah pun akan melakukan hal yang tampak serupa –mengajukan pembelaan agar tampak tidak bersalah. Jika kita dihadapkan pada kedua orang tersebut, apakah kita benar-benar bisa membedakannya?

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I Can See A Rainbow

No matter how perfect a plan designed, no one can guarantee it would be totally realized. If everything’s running well, it's a luck, then be thankful. But if your steps are hampered, that’s a bad luck. Is that right? Then who’s to blame?

A Nice Starting Point

Everything’s already set up. Though I couldn’t deny the fear of failure inside, but ignored it then. I knew that success and failure were always on the same box of possibility. When I made the first step, I saw that it’s not as frightening as I’ve thought before. I was ready for the next step.

I thought I was so lucky for my accelerated running speed (compared to other friends). It did not take so long for me to start it. Being full of confidence, I told myself that I could get through it all well. That's not an arrogance or over confidence, but an optimism I should keep in mind. However, a nice starting point boosted extra energy for heading up the next steps.

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It’s Okay If You Say “No”

Everyone wants their requests accepted. Everyone wants their wish comes true. But, does everyone have a big heart for a refusal? Does everyone feel okay for a “no” answer?

taken from http://kristencook.com.au.

When I was too young, I used to be mad when mommy said “no” for my request. I wanted a new school bag like my friend had, but mom said “no”. She said my old school bag was still fine and no tears. But I thought it was old-fashioned and I wanted a new one. I was angry at mom coz I thought she not want me happy, she not want me be and have like other girls. I was jealous of those girls.

Now, when I see nowadays mommies, I see them fulfill anything their children want. They buy them expensive toys, update gadgets, grant their every wish, but I no longer feel jealous of those children coz I’ve got “no” which have taught me that “no” not always bad and “yes” not always good.

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The Loretta Claiborne Story

What an inspiring story about a never-give-up fighting of a woman with all lacks and potentials she had. Loretta Claiborne was a mentally retarded woman who garnered numerous awards throughout her lifetime. When she was a child, she was nobody, even she couldn’t talk. She used to be mocked at school because of her oddity. But her life had changed since a dedicated social worker inspired her to remarkable heights while overcoming all odds. Now she’s a champhionship athlete and dedicated advocate for the physically challenged that Los Angeles Daily News applauds as “a smart and moving tribute”.

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I Love Today for (at Least) 6 Reasons

“I love today because of at least 6 reasons,” that’s my closing words for yesterday. What a beautiful words. And it came across my mind after my friend’s too-late what’s-up-call.

Yesterday at 11.01 p.m. I had been sleeping. It was a tiring day for me. Physically and mentally drained. But, I still had to stay up all night for unfinished to-dos. I needed such a sound sleep to recharge my energy and refresh my mind. So I thought it’s okay if I continued my to-dos tomorrow. Time to sleep! Cheerio (+.+).

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I'm Growing

My life isn’t only about me as an individual, but also about me as a part of a community.

Everyone’s growing. I know that. But I’m much surprised realizing my self’s growing this far. I’m no longer a little daddy girl who used to cry whenever I fell (though I got no injured! Whadda crybaby girl), but already became a lady. And a lady must be not tough (bye bye crybaby girl!). 

One thing I must realize is that I can't think about me only (anymore), but have to think about others –family, friends, and whoever relates to me.

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3 Coins in My Life

I always say to myself not to fall in vain (I don’t mean that I plan to fall, what I mean is that I might fall though I’ve set everything up to step up stairs). Pick something good from every fall. In this fall, I’ve found 3 coins. These are not ordinary coins you know. I’ve given each a name. And each of them recalls my memory about lessons I’ve got from this fall.

Coin #1 called “Chances”. In life, there’ll always be chances. Chances to do and make something new, chances to do anything you want to, chances to reach your dream, chances to achieve what others say impossible. Each chance may come in different or same time (at one time, you may find only one chance or more). But one thing for sure, each chance only comes once in your life. Once you waste it, you’ll never get it back (just like time, you never could turn it back). If you think you find it twice, you’ve got to know that they’re (first and second chances) the different chances which seem similar.

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Fear of Falling (or Fear of Feeling Pain?)

Uhmm… pelajaran berharga pagi ini: fear holds your movement.

Akhirnya, terealisasikan juga niat untuk (kembali) belajar bersepeda setelah 13 tahun vacuum. Rewind lagi ingatan cara belajar bersepeda waktu masih kelas 1 atau 2 SD dulu. Dulu sempat bisa, bahkan cukup mahir untuk standar anak-anak, walaupun belum pernah mencoba bersepeda di jalan raya. Saat itu sepeda memang lagi “in” di kompleks. Sejak pindah ke rumah yang baru, yang pekarangannya tidak cukup luas untuk bersepeda, ditambah lagi belum akrab dengan lingkungan baru, saya jadi malas untuk melanjutkan hobby bersepeda. Lama-kelamaan, saya jadi lupa cara bersepeda.

Menginjak junior high, sempat ada keinginan untuk kembali belajar bersepeda, tapi perasaan malu (“udah gede kok belum bisa naik sepeda, sih?”) itu lebih mendominasi sehingga keinginan itu urung direalisasikan. Makin dewasa, perasaan malu itu malah bertambah besar.

But, sejak mindset diubah, saya jadi tebal muka. Tidak terpikir untuk merasa malu karena toh tidak ada kemampuan yang dicapai tanpa belajar. Jadi, pada dasarnya, semua orang bisa melakukan apapun jika mereka bersedia untuk belajar. Dan dalam belajar, kesalahan itu dimaafkan selagi kita dapat belajar untuk menjadi lebih baik. Tidak perlu malu untuk belajar untuk alasan apapun. Tidak karena usia, tidak karena status, dan sebagainya. Bagaimanapun, kebisaan itu diawali oleh ketidakbisaan. Jika sekarang kita tidak bisa, nanti insya Allah bisa. Jangan malu karena berpikir akan ditertawakan. Toh, prasangka itu hanya perasaan negatif kita saja (orang lain belum tentu berpikiran demikian).

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Tuhan Tak Pernah Salah Alamat

Akhir-akhir ini ada dua topik penting yang taking place di pikiran saya, yaitu tentang "Test" dan "Priority". Pada tulisan kali ini, saya akan bahas terlebih dahulu topik pertama, tentang "Test" atau "Soal Ujian".

It's just a share. Please kindly read, enjoy, and absorb!

Tuhan Tak Pernah Salah Alamat

Sebelumnya, seringkali saya merasa soal-soal ujian yang diberikan Tuhan jauh di atas kompetensi yang saya miliki. Seperti anak kelas 5 SD yang diberikan soal ujian tingkat 1 SMA, itu keluh saya saat itu. Saya merasa Tuhan telah membagikan lembaran soal yang salah. How depressed I was.

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Temukan Pelangimu

Sehebat apapun rencana yang telah kita rancang, tak jarang pada realisasinya rencana tersebut tidak berjalan persis seperti apa yang telah dirancang. Jika berjalan dengan lebih baik, itu keberuntungan (kemudahan), maka bersyukurlah. Akan tetapi, jika berjalan tersendat karena dipenuhi kendala, benarkah itu sebuah ketidakberuntungan? Siapa yang harus dipersalahkan?

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