Monday, July 31, 2023

Hidup bersama Duka

Menuju 14 hari semenjak adikku pergi selamanya dari dunia ini, dan aku masih belum tahu bagaimana duka ini akan mereda. Aku bisa menjalani hari-hariku dengan biasa, melakukan aktivitas dengan biasa, dan aku sendiri heran, kekuatan darimana yang menguatkanku. Tentu saja dari Allah, satu-satunya tempatku menggantungkan semua kelemahan dan kesedihanku. Namun, meski semua terasa sama, aku tahu bahwa semuanya telah berubah sekarang. Menyadari bahwa adikku tak lagi ada di dunia yang sama denganku adalah duka terbesar yang kualami selama hidup, dan membayangkan bahwa aku akan mengalami duka yang sama jika suatu hari aku merasakan kehilangan orang-orang terkasih lagi... Mungkin hidup memang seperti ini adanya. Hasil usaha kita untuk terus bertahan ditengah kesedihan dan ujian tanpa pernah menyerah, berusaha jangan sampai hilang arah.

Aku terbiasa ditinggal kakak dan adikku pergi jauh dari rumah untuk waktu yang lama. Mereka berdua pernah kost untuk beberapa tahun, dan adikku sering menginap di rumah temannya seminggu. Tapi ternyata sama sekali tidak sebanding dengan mengetahui bahwa dia tak lagi ada, tak bisa lagi kurusuhi ketika aku sedang berdebat dengan mama, tak bisa kuomeli ketika aku sedang gemas saat cuci piring sendirian, ketiadaannya di rumah kami hingga saat ini membuat perbedaan yang begitu besar untuk kami semua. Aku tidak berani tidur di kamarku bukan karena rasa takut akan hantu atau semacamnya. Aku takut dengan diriku sendiri, dan kesedihan yang akan diam-diam menghampiriku jika aku sendiri di kamarku. Aku dan Mama selalu tidur bersama di ruang keluarga, melakukan semua bersama jika aku di rumah. Kami berdua dulu selalu bertiga dengan adikku sejak kakakku menikah dan memulai hidup barunya meski kami sering bertemu di akhir pekan. Namun, ketiadaan adikku yang kini selamanya membuat kami harus saling menguatkan. Entah sampai kapan duka ini akan ada bersama kami. Mungkin selamanya. 

Aku tahu bahwa kita tidak boleh berlarut dalam kesedihan. Namun siapalah aku, tak bisa mengendalikan otakku sendiri ketika ia tiba-tiba memutuskan untuk memainkan kenangan bersama adikku di waktu yang tidak terduga. Mungkin sebagai manusia, kita memang harus terus meminta kekuatan dan ketegaran, karena duka kehilangan orang yang begitu berharga bagi kita adalah selamanya. Di masa-masa tertentu, ia membaik, dan kita merasa bisa melaluinya, dan di waktu yang lain, ia menguasai kita kembali, dan hanya doa yang bisa kita panjatkan kepada-Nya agar kita tidak silap mata dalam duka.

Aku masih terus dan terus belajar hidup tanpa ada penyesalan. Hidup bersama duka tanpa dilemahkannya. Karena hanya itu satu-satunya yang bisa kulakukan. Untuk tidak menyerah, untuk tegar, karena kesedihan akan terus datang, namun hidup ini berputar, dan aku percaya kebahagiaan juga akan selalu mengiringiku dan menguatkanku karena aku telah berusaha.

Friday, July 28, 2023

Juli dan Perpisahan

Juli ini begitu berat. Perpisahan kualami lagi, meski kali ini bukan selamanya (insha Allah), tapi tetap saja, ada rasa sedih ketika kita harus berpisah dengan seseorang yang membuat sebuah tempat terasa seperti rumah. Di usia ini, sulit bagiku untuk menemukan teman baru yang bisa menjadi sahabat, tapi aku menemukannya di tempatku bekerja sekarang. Aku memanggilnya Kak Iin, dan dia memanggil aku (dan semua juniornya) Adek. Kita kenal sejak 2021 saat pertama memulai bekerja di Proyek Kementerian ini, lalu ternyata dia dan aku sama-sama Taurus dan tanggal lahir kita berdekatan, kita lulusan kampus yang sama, dan yang paling penting, dia adalah orang yang baik dan mau mengenalku dengan sabar, karena butuh sangat lama untukku bisa mengenal orang, tapi dia memahami sisi introvert dan diamku dan tidak pernah menganggapku aneh dengan kediamanku. Akhirnya secara natural terasa begitu mudah mengobrol dan menjalin pertemanan dengannya dan bekerja sama untuk berbagai urusan kantor pun sangat nyaman. Istilahnya, kantorku jadi terasa nyaman karena ada teman yang begitu baik disini.

Hari ini Kak Iin resign untuk mengejar mimpinya yang lain di tempat kerja yang dia impikan, dan aku sangat senang untuknya, tapi juga merasa sedikit kesepian, dan kantor dimana aku selalu merasa ada comfort zone untuk berbincang kecil sekarang sudah tidak ada lagi. Mengingat diriku yang seperti ini, mungkin kita juga akan jarang sekali untuk bisa bermain diluar karena rumah kami sangat jauh, tapi tidak apa-apa. Inilah hidup, ada pertemuan dan perpisahan, dan selama kita masih sama-sama di bumi, semoga kita bisa terus menjaga silaturahmi.

Good luck ya Kak Iin! Semoga kali ini benar-benar bisa menikmati pekerjaan impiannya, dan terima kasih sudah mengajarkan aku makan banyak buah-buahan, dan berbagai kebaikan lainnya ke aku selama disini. See you when I see you!

Monday, July 24, 2023

Sampai Nanti, De Nanda!

De Nanda... 7 hari sudah berlalu sejak lo kembali ke sisi Allah SWT pada 18 Juli 2023, tepat di hari ulang tahun kakak kita, dan meski gue sudah mengikhlaskan, tapi ternyata rasa sedih dan duka itu masih tetap terasa sangat berat. Duka dan sedih ini adalah yang paling berat yang pernah gue alami seumur hidup. Gue masih belum bisa membayangkan bagaimana orang-orang akhirnya bisa berdamai dengan duka kehilangan seseorang yang hidup begitu dekat dengan mereka, kehilangan orang yang berada di sisi lo sejak ia lahir hingga dewasa. Gue mencoba mengambil langkah-langkah untuk berdamai dengan duka itu, tapi sepertinya akan butuh waktu yang nggak sebentar. Sebesar itu tempat yang lo isi dalam hidup gue, hidup Mama, Mas Inu, Papa, dan keluarga serta teman-teman lo. You were the center of our lives. You were the reason why there was laughter in our house. You were the one that gives the perfect balance in our family. So now that you're gone, how do we even fill the place you left? 

Seringkali gue masih dipenuhi penyesalan, seandainya gue mengambil tindakan yang berbeda saat lo sakit, apakah lo masih akan bersama kita sekarang? Apakah lo tidak akan merasakan sakit yang berat? Jujur, gue masih nggak bisa kalau harus mengingat masa-masa terakhir lo bersama gue dan Mama. Gue ternyata selemah ini, dan lo adalah orang yang sepenting itu dalam hidup gue. Tapi takdir begitu lucu, di saat gue dipenuhi penyesalan, gue menemukan tulisan lo tentang betapa lo tidak suka berlarut dalam penyesalan, karena setiap orang akan terus menghadapi berbagai keadaan dimana mereka harus mengambil keputusan dan tindakan. Terkadang mereka benar, terkadang mereka salah, dan mereka akan terus mengalami penyesalan, tapi jangan sampai penyesalan itu menjadi fokus hidup kita. Mungkin Allah menuntun gue untuk menemukan tulisan lo itu agar gue bisa bersabar dan meringankan rasa sesal gue. Allah Maha Baik ya Dek...

Dek... gue percaya kok bahwa Allah SWT adalah sebaik-baik tempat kembali, dan insha Allah lo akan sangat bahagia disana. Akhirnya lo bisa menanyakan langsung pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang ingin lo dapatkan jawabannya dan Allah adalah sebaik-baik pemberi jawaban. Gue dan semuanya disini masih berduka, masih kehilangan, entah sampai kapan. Tolong doakan kami yang masih berada di dunia ini ya agar kuat dan tegar dan tidak hilang arah dalam menghadapi kesedihan sebesar apapun. Di dalam diri gue, ada rasa ingin sekali segera bertemu lagi sama lo, mendengarkan lawakan lo lagi, komentarin hal-hal random, ngetawain hal-hal sepele, tapi gue janji gue nggak akan gelap mata. Gue akan memaksimalkan hidup gue disini sampai nanti kita akhirnya bisa ketemu lagi. Dan semoga kita dipertemukan kembali di sisi terbaik Allah SWT ya Dek. 

Gue sayang banget sama lo. Gue kangen banget sama lo. Tapi gue akan hidup. Gue nggak akan memohon agar hidup gue berakhir lagi. Gue akan berjuang. Lo nggak usah khawatir, gue akan jagain Mama sebaik-baiknya, kita akan hidup sebaik-baiknya. Lo yang tenang disana. Dan insha Allah kita semua akan kumpul lagi nanti dengan cara terbaik. Sampai nanti, De Nanda. Adik kesayangan gue (karena cuma satu hehe), sahabat lawak gue, dan anggota keluarga yang paling disayangi semua orang. Sampai ketemu lagi di waktu terbaik nanti.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Dear, Nanda!

Right now, you're laying on the hospital bed trying your best to heal again, to survive, to win this battle. I couldn't say how proud I am of you and your perseverance. Please know that you will always have me and our family on your side. You're not fighting this journey alone. We are with you through every step of the way. If Allah SWT wills it, we will definitely win this battle and reach your best health once again. And I trust Allah the most that nothing but blessings that He will pour into you and us. This is the journey that's meant to be taken together, all of us, with you. Please know that your strength and perseverance is amazing, you will get through it again and again and we will return to our happy normal days soon.

Let's go to culinary trips as a journey for your recovery, I can't wait to taste many many foods with you and gain weight together, then let's exercise and then eat and exercise again all our lives. You have bright future and a long journey you are ready to take, I can't wait to cheer you on in those journeys. Get well soon, my little sneaky cheeky brother, we miss you a lot. So many love you, so many laughed because of of you, so many cheers and pray for you. I can't wait to see you again!

Monday, February 13, 2023

Live on Saturn Concert in Jakarta

On February 4, 2023, I watched Jeff Satur's solo concert, Live on Saturn, in Jakarta, which marks the first-ever solo tour he ever held. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me this year (yes, I know the year has just only begun, but I know that it's the best thing that ever happened to me this year! 😂)

the view from my seat
Short introduction about Jeff Satur: he's a singer, music producer, composer, and actor from Thailand. He's got one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard, so it didn't take long for me to become a fan once I saw his song cover on YouTube and watched him sing in his drama series. And the songs he wrote and produced are all so good too. If you're interested to know, some of my songs recommendations from him are Comedy, Stranger, Fade, Moment, Loop, Why Don't You Stay, Hide... (ok, I need to stop myself right here, or else I'll write his whole music discography 🙈)

Btw, it was thanks to my friend, Iqbal, who made it possible to watch this concert. I was broke, and the ticket started being sold on December 22, and I didn't have enough money to purchase it, but my friend who happened to work in this concert and ticketing business offered me a possible way to purchase it through him, so I will be forever grateful. Thank you, bro! ❤

It's been 11 years since my first and last proper concert, the Westlife concert I wrote about in this blog, too, so I was kinda clueless about what kind of look would be proper for a concert. I thought I went overboard with my makeup, but everyone wore so many amazing outfits and makeup when I got to the concert venue (Balai Sarbini). They truly dressed up to express themselves in the best way possible for this concert, and it's a such amazing sight to see. I was genuinely surprised and amazed by the effort from everyone.

I also met my Twitter friend whom I know from Saturdayss fandom (Jeff Satur's fandom name), and maybe it's because we've been talking for months on Twitter about Jeff and many other stuffs, so it doesn't feel awkward at all when we first met 😆


The whole concert experience was amazing. I've been watching Jeff's live performance on other people's fancams or videos, and I know this man is one high-quality musician who gives nothing but the best performance someone could give. It was the reason I started becoming his fan because I saw how fun and amazing he always is when he's performing on stage, so being able to experience it in real life was a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Despite his busy schedule, he sounds like he's in the best shape that night. His vocal sounds amazing, his band sounds amazing too, and he performed 20 songs that night, and not even a single song ever missed anything. He also performed a classic Indonesian song, "1000 Tahun Lamanya" which he's been singing since around 2019 when he used to do a live cover on his social media, and his pronunciation is amazing too. Also, the way he performed this song with his little dance is so cute, I always love how he does it whenever he sings. It's like watching a music personification in one man and that is Jeff Satur for me 😣
 
It always amazes me how much effort he's willing to give to appreciate every place he visits for a tour/concert. He's been on tour with his drama series team since last year, and he always makes sure to perform one classic/famous song from each country, which I find so amazing because it means he always has to memorize the lyrics in different languages and also learned its melody, and he never performed all of those songs half-heartedly too. From watching him in that one year since I discovered him, I know he's an artist who gives his all in performing, and that's why I knew that this concert would be totally worth it. So glad that I was right about that 😄

I didn't take many fancams tho, because my cellphone camera isn't really in a quality to take good fancams, so I just decided to enjoy the whole thing without using my cellphone too much. There are other fans who recorded good fancams already anyway 😁
 

Another thing that makes this concert memorable is how intimate it feels. Balai Sarbini made it possible for fans from every section to get a good look at Jeff, and Jeff always tried his best to look at every section and interact with the audience. His small talk, jokes, and motivational speech are mixed so amazingly, which makes it never boring to watch him even when he's not singing. He makes everything enjoyable and intimate with us. No wonder the fans can't move on even after two weeks after this concert is over 😭

Actually, there are so sooo many moments I would like to share, but I think I would end up writing the whole concert minutes instead, lol, so let's just keep those in my memories. Another unique thing new to me is getting all these freebies that fans made and shared for free in the venue. I didn't get a lot because I didn't come early, so most of the freebies already ran out, but I still got a few. It's amazing that there are fans who put so much effort into making all these to share with each other for free. Apparently, sharing freebies like this has been common in Thailand and K-Pop concerts, but this is something that I experienced for the first time at my big age, so it feels amazing 😁


This concert feels magical to me. I thought I would hate the crowded place because I went to watch this alone. My introverted self was anxious about being in a place with many people. But it turns out to be one of the best days ever. I initiated many small talks and conversations with fans in the concert venues, something I thought I was too scared to do. And the whole concert experience made me feel that maybe life is worth fighting for if it means I will experience this concert again in the future. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to aim to live a bit longer if it means I will experience the joy of being in this kind of concert again. Honestly, I've been having suicidal thoughts more than necessary this year. I even marked a year and a date and prayed to God to end my life at that time because I didn't dare to do it myself. I have been in such an awful state of mind since last year. But when I experienced this concert, the joy I felt lasted for days and even weeks until today. I still have very vivid memories of that day and how much I enjoyed it. It makes me feel like I found a new reason to live and to try again. If this kind of expensive event can give me such amazing happiness that could last for days and weeks, I think I wouldn't mind working harder and living longer so I will experience it again one day. This may sound exaggerated on my part, but this is what I really feel. Of course, I wouldn't go overboard or be depressed if I couldn't experience it again in the future because we can't expect what's gonna happen. But right now, in this very moment, maybe what I really need is that small hope, that small goal to aim for this momentary happiness, so I won't lose to my dark thoughts and sadness. Maybe for now, that's all that matters, a newfound will that will keep us going.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Being an Adult with all its problems...

I wish I never knew how expensive to afford living. All those payments we need to pay monthly for the rest of our lives, the cost of those foods. And with such minimum incomes... I started to understand why people questioning whether life is worthy for all these efforts just to stay alive. What do we gain from trying to pay for all these other than to avoid death? Death seems like an easier option, if I were not a Muslim, I'd probably choose that route. 

I understand why relationship could change because of economic problems. You really don't eat LOVE to stay alive. Parents who become depressed because they don't have enough to feed the whole family, I felt that now even though I'm not a parent, but responsibility for the whole family simply falls on me now. I can't really ask anyone for help because as I grow older, I realized that all of those I know also carry this burden, even sometimes, harder and heavier than me.

I want to find a purpose for living, but I barely managed to pass each day. When I read my blogs from 10 years ago, I was this young kid full of passions and dreams. I wonder where did she go. Why can't I believe in myself? I wonder if I really don't have desire for all those expensive things or did I choose to stop myself from wanting it cause I know they are hard to gain? Maybe deep down I know the answer, but the fear to confront what I really feel make me hate myself so much. I'm 30 now, and I still learn very slowly to love myself apparently. 

I want to change. Please... self, do something!

Monday, March 7, 2022

Going 30, Being Alone, or With Someone?

 It feels like the world keeps on moving, my days keep going like usual, I'm as busy as everyone else. I will be 30 this year, which shocks me because I started writing on this blog when I was still in high school. In this blog, I used to pour everything I felt, from sadness to happiness to what I love and hate. But as I grow older, I kinda stop myself from doing that. The fear of troubling anyone who read this blog if they read my nonsense sadness and the realization that I am no longer a kid, so I should stop sharing everything I feel here, is one of the reasons I stopped. It's funny... I don't think I've changed. I just learned to shut my feeling up. To stop making a big deal of everything. To stop being dramatic. I keep telling myself that I'm no longer at the age where I can pour my feelings and complaints on social media, including this blog, even though I doubt that anyone ever read this blog anymore. 

My life so far is fine. I gained like 5kg within 6 months, which makes me feel healthier than I used to be. I do things at my own pace. Nothing goes awfully wrong or things like that. So, I keep wondering what this emptiness I'm feeling is? Why haven't I changed? Is it the pressure of marriage, of having someone, that comes from my surroundings, that makes me feel like I may want a life partner? Or is it my real desire to have one?

I've always been fine being by myself. I've been sleeping in my bedroom alone for so long, the thought of having a life partner and sharing a bed with them is kinda scary to me, but at the same time, there are times when I also long to have what those happy-looking married couples have. But I don't even trust myself with such commitment or believe that I deserved that. Over the years, my trust in men has kept decreasing. I don't really like men. Only a few men I met in real life are actually kind and decent, but most of the men I ever encountered left me traumatized and scarred. It makes me scared to think that I should spend the rest of my life with one, but at the same time, I also long for that feeling of being cherished. Being together. Is it my true feeling to want to have someone, or is it because of the pressure from my surrounding who seem happy when they married, and the society who thinks unmarried women are not decent? I have all these worries in mind, yet I also don't feel like I can't survive without one. I don't know. I don't even know what I'm talking about. I just want to let my feeling out for once.  Maybe I will delete this post later when I already feel better. 

Anyway, it's good to be back and write some of my thoughts here. I miss it. Maybe I should make it regularly without caring for someone judging my life or my thoughts anymore. We're adults anyway. We don't care about anyone else. Just being able to survive another repetitive day is already an accomplishment, don't you think?

Oh God... I'm so bored.