Because the most beautiful thing in life is not what...

As I have been blessed to enjoy the finest things in life since I started working, sometimes I get too carried away with what I enjoy instead of whom I enjoy it with. 

Last Sunday, I went to church together with my entire family, then one key takeaways from the sermon is that the best thing you can give to your kids as parents are experience, not items. 

We had family lunch after church and there was a moment of awkward silence. Growing up from a humble family, I had to admit that sometimes I felt jealous with my friends who grew up in well-off family. 

I looked around the table and I realize that I have been blessed. As a family, we enjoy togetherness. And all my childhood memory came back. It was never what did we enjoy, it was their presence that I treasure. 

My parents never missed coming to school for report card. 

My parents always there for every badminton matches and piano concerts.

My parents ride a motorbike 3 hours once a month to visit me in my dormitory during high school. 

My dad taught me to ride motorcycle with his 30+ years old motorcycle. 

My mom always there for every love story and heartbreak.

And of course, against all odds, both of them attended my graduation ceremony in the US. 

And all of these experiences stick in my heart stronger than all the fancy dinners, parties, or even private jet ride. 

As a family we celebrated many things this month: my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, my brother's 2 month internship in Korea, and my sister's early 17th birthday. 

But on top of all we celebrated that through thick or thin, we all stay as a happy family. 

Here are some happy pictures from past weekend: 

1. When else I get a chance to "torture" my dad for a workout sesh?

2. It has been years since we all sleep in one bed. All smiles. 

3. Give-thanks dinner for our togetherness and celebrations. 

4. A picture at the airport before my genius brother leaving for Korea

Now all grown up, I think it also holds true that as a child, the best thing you can give to your parents are your time and experience, not items. 

Till next time, readers!

I hope that I can get back to actively blog writing - :)

To love

I came in to church today with a heavy heart, recent situations that happened in the past week made me lose my hope - personal hope and the bigger one. I spent most of my day yesterday reflecting and asking myself: what to do next? Is there anything I can do to express this heavy heart?

I came out of church with full spirit, thanks to Ps. Jose Carol for sharing such an inspirational message to remind all of us that God is good. Here, I would like to share his message to everyone in my circle.

We were reminded that as human, we see things in our perspective, We judge situation based on our small mindset. We were reminded the story of Job - he blamed God when he lost everything he has, yet in the end he realized that God loves him by restoring everything he had and some more.

Job's story showed that as human we could only see the current situation, and react to it. In life, we cannot directly relate the current situation to the lesson or reward that come after it. For example, in my own story, without my failures in the past, I would not be where I am today. Those failures are painful and bitter, and at the time I could only react by being disappointed.

Even after we have received God's love in our life, we still questioned his authority and way. A verse written that "the end is always good; it will be better than the beginning." 

There are four key points that Ps. Jose emphasized today about God's nature.

1. BENAR (righteous) - He is upright and faithful to his promise. God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot see His hand, we must trust His heart. 
2. ADIL (just) - As a human we judge things based on what is fair instead of what is just. Example, when a motorcycle and a mercedes-driver had an accident - most people would make the point that the mercedes-driver shall pay for the damage. Why? Can be because mercedes driver is richer, motorcycle had more damage, etc. We rarely questioning on why the accident happened. Thus, we miss the point of being just - and instead demand things to be fair. 
3. ILAHI (divine, sovereign, infinitude) - With His sovereignty, God is absolutely free to do what He knows to be the best. With His infinitude, he is without measure, and we as human most of time will fail to understand why. 
4. KASIH (love) - And yet above all, God is Love and his love is inside us. Thus this is the thing we have to do. We have to love and live with love. 

Remember this story in the old testament: 

Once upon a time, two moms were fighting for the right to take care of a newborn (one of the mom's baby died during birth that's why she wanted to take the other mom's newborn). They brought this to a judge. These two moms swore with everything they had that it is their baby. Then to make things fair, the judge decide to split the baby into two. Give each mom half of the baby. 

One of the mom said it is OK to split the baby into half and the other mom said it is OK for the other mom to have the baby and not split the baby. The real mom showed LOVE and not insisting on what is her right or what is fair. 

Currently, that baby is our country, and let's ask ourselves. Do we want to insist on what is fair and what is our right even though it is split into two? Or shall we show love for the sake of the baby? 

We know how the story of the baby ends, right? 

My personal choice is to show love - no matter if we care about something we show love instead of insist on what is right or what is fair. And I hope with this, I remind everyone that there are more important things than showing who is right or wrong. 

To love. To our beloved country...

May Us Never Lose the Fire

Fascinated by every single thing, eyes wide open for new opportunities, and eagerness to try new experience. That is how I describe kids discover the world around them. There is fire inside their heart, curiosity to unveil the shaded part of the map in their head. 

That little kid has grown up, having full time job, doing daily routine. And the same fire is not burning as hot as it was. Less excitement in unveiling new opportunities; even sometimes make conscious decision to stay rather than make the leap of faith. 

What happened? 

In between, the kid grew up. People around them said that the world is not exciting, life threw lemons, and their dreams seemed to be far-stretched. 

It is sad reality, as everyone had the fire inside them at one point - and most people seemed to lost it. Wake up on Monday and not excited for work, or worst unable to be excited for holiday and/or spending time with loved ones, these are signs that the fire is dimmed. 

Something that everyone can always do is to reflect - on what happened between that kids and yourself, on what dimmed that fire, and even more important what can re-light the fire. It can be hobbies that you haven't done, it can be places that you always want to go, it can be people that you missed, or it can be a leap that you need to take. I believe that that fire will never die, it is just dimmed, and can be re-lit. 

Let us all reflect on ourselves and keep the fire burning. Once the fire is on, may us never lose it again. 

Credit: http://quotesgram.com/passionate-quotes/

Are you allergic to success?

A: Hey, have you heard that our friend Y just received a scholarship for his masters' degree?
B: (Scoff) Yea, I heard. I think he's just lucky.

How many times that conversation happened in your life? Or maybe you've been the receiving end of "just lucky" comment from someone?

For me, it is surprising how easy people discredited others' achievement. Even more surprising, some people even feel discomfort when hear about their acquaintances or colleagues become successful. That sounds like an allergic (adj. having a strong dislike for.) reaction to success. In my opinion this happens because some people feel insecure when people in their circle are successful.

If you are allergic to something, how could you get closer to it? *ca-ching*

Let's put it this way, do you think successful people are insecure about themselves? Duh!? Of course not! Most successful people want others to be as successful as them or even more. Surprise, surprise. The are very secure about themselves, and it is shown when they share their tips easily, and help others to achieve.

And even more surprising as they feel secure about themselves, success seems to come more often.

So here's my two cents:

1. Start to build a habit of being happy for others' achievement
2. Share opportunities & open doors for others
3. See how it changes you as a person and changes your "luck"

To start the new week, ask yourself: Are you allergic to success?

Picture belongs to: https://theimpactnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Steps-to-Success-628x353.jpg

The Best Moment in My Life

"Having my parents with me on my graduation day is the best moment in my life." 

The story started around September 2015, three months away from my graduation date. I was sitting in my apartment room and thinking that it would be awesome if my parents could attend my graduation. Unfortunately, I was short on my savings to fund the expense myself. 

After spending sometime thinking, I decided to ask for a crowdfund my parents. It was not an easy decision for me, as I had to share my story to public with no certainty about the outcome. In a way, I was putting myself to be vulnerable. 

With the help of my two amazing roommates, Angga and Azman, I made a video and shared my story at gofundme.com. Here is the video: Gofundme - Timmy Wijaya

20, 40, 100, 200, 500, 1200, ...

I could not ask for a better outcome. The reaction was overwhelming to me, as I received donations and support from people close to me, Texas Tech alumni, to people whom I never met. In less than a month, the target was achieved for me to buy return tickets for my parents. 

The moment was special to me for multiple reasons:

• The amount of support from everyone made me speechless and forever grateful
• That was the first time my parents ever been abroad
• My parents were able to see me walk through the stage on my graduation
• For my parents to meet people who took care of me during my time in Lubbock

Even better, around June 2016, my friend who also went to school in the US came up to me and said: "Tim, thank you for showing the possibility of getting your parents to attend your graduation. You inspired me to do the same. Thank you."

This experience reminds me that my graduation would not be as special if my parents were not there to share it with me. Here is the picture to reminisce the good time

New Year, New Journey

Dear friends and colleagues,

Happy new year and I hope that you have a great start of 2017! 

2016 was a great year for me as I spent most part of the year in Indonesia and be close to my family. I also started my career by working at Palladium Consulting, in which I could not ask a better firm to start off my career. It also feels good to be reconnected to my mentor, best friends and colleagues in Indonesia. 

During 2016 I also had the chance to travel nationally (Bali, Palembang, Lampung) and internationally (Thailand and Vietnam). Those travels, especially nationally, made me realize how much I need to explore in Indonesia and I am looking forward to more traveling in 2017. 

Back in September 2016, out of the blue, a close friend of mine suddenly shared an opportunity to work for one of my dream companies. At that time, I was wondering if I shall pursue the opportunity or not as I was still less than one year in Palladium. I decided to apply and keep it to myself during the process. 

Written test passed. 
First interview passed.  
Second interview passed. 
Third interview passed. 

Then I found myself in the final round of interview with a Partner on my birthday. As I walked out the interview room, I told him that day was my birthday and it will be a great birthday gift if I could join the firm. A week later, the recruiter gave me a call to let me know that they decide to make me an offer. My heart filled with joy and excitement and deep inside I know that this is an offer that I could not refuse. 

This week is my last week in Palladium as I am preparing myself to start in the new company on February 1. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in Palladium as I was exposed and be able to learn so much from three major industries: International Development, Strategy Consulting, and Impact Investment. 

With an honour, I would like to let you know that I will be joining McKinsey and Company in their Global Financial Institutions Center. The opportunity to work for the best consulting firm in the world combined with focus in the industry that I am very passionate about is the reason why this is an offer that I could not refuse. I truly hope that I will be able to both contribute to the company as well as learn as much as possible from them. I am very excited and nervous as I realize a whole new opportunities and challenges in 2017.

The year 2017 is off to an amazing start and I know it is going to get better and better.

Sincere regards,

Christian Timothy Wijaya