Sunday, July 12, 2009

Forget about knowledge and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times better off.
Throw away charity and righteousness,
and people will return to brotherly love.
Throw away profit and greed,
and there won't be any thieves.

These three are superficial and aren't enough
to keep us at the center of the circle, so we must also:

Embrace simplicity.
Put others first.
Desire little.

(from "Tao Teh Ching")

Thursday, June 25, 2009

If I could catch a rainbow

If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you are feeling blue
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own
A place to find serenity
A place to be alone
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea
But all these things I am finding
Are impossible for me
I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair
But let me be what I know best
A friend that's always there

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
(John Heywood)

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Happiest People In The World

“Every person in the world may not become a personage. But every person may become a personality. The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Interesting thoughts can live only in cutivated minds. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays at the theater, good company, good conversation–what are they? They are the happiest people in the world; and they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others.” (William Lyon Phelps)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, "We have done this ourselves". (Lao Tzu)
This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sonet 12

karya: Sapardi Djoko Damono

Perjalanan kita selama ini ternyata tanpa tanda baca,
tak ada huruf kapital di awalnya. Yang tak kita ingat
aksara apa. Kita tak pernah yakin apakah titik mesti ada;
tanpa tanda petik, huruf demi huruf berderet rapat -

dan setiap kali terlepas, kita pun segera merasa gerah lagi
dihimpitnya. Tanpa pernah bisa membaca ulang dengan cermat
harus terus kita susun kalimat demi kalimat ini -
tanpa perlu merisaukan apakah semua nanti mampat

pada sebuah tanda tanya. Tapi bukankah kita sudah mencari
jawaban, sudah tahu apa yang harus kita contreng
jika tersedia pilihan? Dan kemudian memulai lagi
merakit alinea demi alinea, menyusun sebuah dongeng?

Tapi bukankah tak ada huruf kapital ketika kita bicara?
Bukankah kisah cinta memang tak memerlukan tanda baca?

Sonet 10

karya: Sapardi Djoko Damono

Ada selembar kertas yang belum bertulisan.
Apakah kauharapkan aku ke mari seperti semula,
belum penuh dengan coretan?
Ada yang ingin menulis aksara demi aksara

dan tahu tak akan mencapai kalimat meski ada tanda seru
di ujungnya. Tidak semua memerlukan tulisan,
(Apakah aku kaubayangkan selembar kertas itu?)
meski sudah terlanjur tercatat sebelum sempat diucapkan.

Air menyeret catatan berkelok-kelok di sepanjang sungai
bila penghujan. Tetapi sama sekali tak terbaca
bahkan ketika sudah begitu rekah-rekah perangai
kemarau. Tinggal garis-garis yang carut-marut di dasarnya.

Kau mengharapkanku kembali seperti itu? Risaukah kita
ketika menyadari bahwa tulisan tak perlu, ternyata?

Friday, December 26, 2008

The Beauty of Life

The Beauty of Life
does not depend on
how happy you are,
but how happy others
because of you.

Best Wishes For a Blessed Christmas

Life Is Too Short,
Break The Rules, Forgive Quickly,
Kiss Slowly, Love Truly,
Laugh Uncontrollably,
And Never Regret Anything
That Made You Smile.
Life May Not Be The Party
We Hoped For,
But While We're Here, We Should Dance...

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Life Long Struggle
(Henry Ward Beecher)

It is not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned.
It is not what we intend, but what we do that makes us useful.
It is not a few faint wishes, but a life long struggle that makes us valiant.

Everything in Its Time

here is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

the wise heart will know the proper time and
procedure.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a mans misery weighs heavily upon him.

Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?

No man has power over the wind to contain it;
so no one has power over the day of his death.

Do not say, Why were the old days better than these?
For it is not wise to ask such questions.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

I thought in my heart,

God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.

Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

There is not a righteous man on earth
who does what is right and never sins.

(Pondering the meaning of Life - discovering
ancient wisdom)

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Time Doesn't Wait




Time doesn't wait.
If you think you might have found the right one,
treasure the person,
don't let that person get away.
Don't let fear hold you back.
Give it a try else you might regret later...

"No one other than ourselves know
what can truly makes us happy."

Rahasia Kecil Kebahagiaan

Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah memusatkan perhatian pada kebaikan dalam diri orang lain.
Sebab, hidup bagaikan lukisan: Untuk melihat keindahan lukisan yang terbaik sekalipun, lihatlah di bawah sinar yang terang, bukan di tempat yang tertutup dan gelap sama halnya sebuah gudang.
Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah tidak menghindari kesulitan. Dengan memanjat bukit, bukan meluncurinya, kaki seseorang tumbuh menjadi kuat.

Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah melakukan segala sesuatu bagi orang lain. Air yang tak mengalir tidak berkembang. Namun, air yang mengalir dengan bebas selalu segar dan jernih.
Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah belajar dari orang lain, dan bukan mencoba mengajari mereka.
Semakin Anda menunjukkan seberapa banyak Anda tahu, semakin orang lain akan mencoba menemukan kekurangan dalam pengetahuan Anda. Mengapa bebek disebut "bodoh"? Karena terlalu banyak bercuap-cuap.

Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah kebaikan hati: memandang orang lain sebagai anggota keluarga besar Anda. Sebab, setiap ciptaan adalah milik Anda. Kita semua adalah ciptaan Tuhan yang satu.
Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah tertawa bersama orang lain, sebagai sahabat, dan bukan menertawakan mereka, sebagai hakim.
Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah tidak sombong. Bila Anda menganggap mereka penting, Anda akan memiliki sahabat ke manapun Anda pergi. Ingatlah bahwa musang yang paling besar akan mengeluarkan bau yang paling menyengat.

Kebahagiaan datang kepada mereka yang memberikan cintanya secara bebas, yang tidak meminta orang lain mencintai mereka terlebih dahulu. Bermurah hatilah seperti mentari yang memancarkan sinarnya tanpa terlebih dahulu bertanya apakah orang-orang patut menerima kehangatannya.
Kebahagiaan berarti menerima apapun yang datang, dan selalu mengatakan kepada diri sendiri "Aku bebas dalam diriku".
Kebahagiaan berarti membuat orang lain bahagia. Padang rumput yang penuh bunga membutuhkan pohon-pohon di sekelilingnya, bukan bangunan-bangunan beton yang kaku. Kelilingilah padang hidup Anda dengan kebahagiaan.
Kebahagiaan berasal dari menerima orang lain sebagaimana adanya; nyatanya menginginkan mereka bukan sebagaimana adanya. Betapa akan membosankan hidup ini jika setiap orang sama. Bukankah taman pun akan tampak janggal bila semua bunganya berwarna ungu?

Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah menjaga agar hati Anda terbuka bagi orang lain, dan bagi pengalaman-pengalaman hidup. Hati laksana pintu sebuah rumah. Cahaya matahari hanya dapat masuk bilamana pintu rumah itu terbuka lebar.

Rahasia kebahagiaan adalah memahami bahwa persahabatan jauh lebih berharga daripada barang; lebih berharga daripada mengurusi urusan sendiri; lebih berharga daripada bersikukuh pada kebenaran dalam perkara-perkara yang tidak prinsipiil.

Renungkan setiap rahasia yang ada di dalamnya. Rasakan apa yang dikatakannya.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

(Dalai Lama)
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, live and love.

(Leo Buscaglia)

Friday, August 15, 2008

Odd Titles (part 2)

Found some (more) interesting books' titles. No offense for the authors.












Thursday, August 14, 2008

If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough.

(Ann Landers)