The Slaps of Reality

A:” What would you like to be in the future?”

B: “I would like to be the next president of United Nation”

A: “Oh, you were young and naïve. I was like you when I was younger and I think you should not aim that high so it won’t hurt when you fail.”

I remember some times when I told people about my dream to be the future finance minister of Indonesia, people will always react. And there are two kinds of reaction: support or slaps of reality. The type of support I could get would be: That is a great dream, Timmy. You can do it and go for it!

And here I will talk about the slaps of reality…

I had a conversation with couple of colleagues during lunch time; I told them about my dream about being the finance minister. There was one surprising reaction: Oh, you are so young and naïve. I was like you when I was younger. Go ahead and pursue your dream. It sounded like a great support but I wasn’t because the sarcastic tone of behind the support.

After a year I could finally understand the reason behind the sarcastic tone.

I do realize that some people, when they were younger, they could conquer the world. Yes, I bet you are one of them. However, some of them become bitter because reality doesn’t turn out like what they dreamed of. On the other hand, I witness some people who actually surpassed what they dreamed of.

 The bitter people believe that reality is cruel and they believe that it happens to everyone. And that is where everything related. These people love to give the slaps of reality to younger generation with the justification as if someone is aiming too high; it will hurt when they fall.

I might be young and naïve, but I think people should stop trying to explain slaps of reality to younger generation. As humans, we are all a dreamer and nobody knows what will happen in the future. For whatever dream people dream of, support them even you thought it is impossible (And I think you should learn to believe that nothing is impossible). Don’t be those people who think they know what the future holds. And even you really really think it is impossible for someone to reach their dream, let the reality slaps them because it is not your job to discourage them.

My Writing Inspiration - Meeting with Mas Iwan Setyawan

Several weeks ago, I had a dinner with my friends and Sampoerna Foundation team. I was glad get to see my friends yet there was a really nice surprise during the dinner. I met with Mas Iwan Setyawan, the inspiring writer of 9 Summers 10 Autumns book (you can buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Summers-10-Autumns-Apples-Apple/dp/9792275959)

I could not deny that he is one of the most inspiring people I ever met. If you might have recalled, I keep writing because I would like to inspire my readers (read: http://chtimw13.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-pleasure-from-writing.html). Meeting him was like a reassurance for me that a story or a writing could change people’s live. 

The dinner with Mas Iwan Setyawan - He sat right across me!

His story was very touching; coming from a very very humble background from a small town in Indonesia, he made it big in New York through hard work, tenacity, and a will to achieve. He told me a story when his inspired reader finally achieved his dream to go to New York and took a picture with his book in front of Lady Liberty. He told me that it is not the fame that makes writing of the book very special, but the feedbacks he received from his reader. Deep in my heart, I might not have a book but I would love to inspire people as much as he is doing.

Currently Mas Iwan is running his own analytics firm in Jakarta which made me ask him a question, what encouraged him to come back to Indonesia?

“Because life in Indonesia is more meaningful, coming back to the place you were nurtured and inspire people. Living in a third world country means there are a lot more people needs help. And your life would be more meaningful when you are able to brighten people’s lives.”

His answer struck me deeply.

As a promise, I would keep writing with a wish that one day I will inspire at least one person to reach their dream.

Me and my friends and colleagues with Mas Iwan!

Can't Keep Hanging to the Past

Yesterday I had a nice conversation with my roommate in which led me to this idea. After participating in a Google Hangout event with Kompas TV we talked about how impressive our colleagues from high school are. Some of my juniors won gold medal in international science project,  some of my friends are enjoying overseas travel as part of the exchange programs, Model United Nation conference, or travel for free because they win some competition.

Their achievements make me very happy for them. I witness they reach their dream since high school, and even surpass it in which makes me look back....

I had a very successful run during high school, but during my first year at college I didn't do much other than studying. I did not participate in any kind of extracurricular activity nor joining any competition. All of those high school success did not help me much other than a good reminder that I can. I cannot keep hanging on the memories that I was very successful during high school and tell myself that I did enough.

I realize that all the good stuff during high school was in my past - no longer a present, it is a memories - no longer a reality. And that is the wake up call for me.

I learn that in life, we need consistency or sometimes improvement. As a person, we should never had too much pride on what we had achieved because it will become memories. We should keep improving ourselves, to achieve more and more to reach higher summit.

On the upside part, knowing that all what happened in the past is just memories, never worries that you had bad high school, or bad college experience, because you can always achieve more. Never let bad past drag you down because it is the past not the present, and of course not the future. Even you had a dark past, your future is still white as snow. 

And one day we can sit and stop, where we are content with our condition, and tell stories to younger generation that we had not just great high school experience, or just great college experience, or just great working career. We will tell them stories that we had a great run in our life.

So friends, never let the past either drag you down or put you on too much pride. What is past is past, and let's focus to create great new memories and experiences in the future.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard