A few weeks ago, a friend asked me, “Do you think the market will crash again? I’m scared my savings won’t survive.” It reminded me of myself a few years ago, refreshing the stock app every hour and playing out doomsday scenarios in my head. At the same time, I was worrying about smaller things: … Continue reading The Art of Being Ready – and Letting Go
*Stoic calm meets modern self-care (think Ryan Holiday, Nedra Tawwab, Cal Newport).* A friend once sank into my sofa and sighed, “I’m drowning… kids, work, friends, everything needs me.” I’ve been there too. Honestly, sometimes life feels like starring in Mariah Carey’s Whenever You Call, except everyone’s calling and texting, and DM-ing at once. My calendar … Continue reading Protect Your Peace, Even in the DMs
Last month, a friend teased me: “You’re so nice, but also… kind of hard to reach.” I laughed it off, but it stayed with me. Was that a compliment or a quiet complaint? For years, I’ve kept myself approachable: warm, helpful, open. I tried to be someone others felt comfortable reaching out to. I said … Continue reading The Art of Unforgettable Presence
Sudah lama saya terkadang enggan menaruh harapan besar pada pejabat publik, bahkan pada pemimpin yang saya pilih sendiri sekalipun. Prinsip saya sederhana: maju-mundurnya hidup saya tergantung pada usaha saya, negara hanya sebatas mengkondisikan dan mendorong. Tapi pada akhirnya, harapan juga yang membuat kita tetap hidup penuh semangat. Sesekali, saya ingin meletakkan sebagian harapan itu ke … Continue reading Pak Purbaya, I’m Rooting for You! Pak Prabowo, You’re Doing Great!
A couple of days ago, I did something small but strangely significant: I texted an old friend. We hadn’t spoken in a while. Things between us had gone off track, not because we stopped being friends, but because life threw us into a disagreement we couldn’t quite navigate. Still, I remembered her. And for me, … Continue reading The Stoic Guide to Being Left on Read
