Elizabeth Gilbert (Liz) believes that we should devote ourselves to those three things. And so she did.
This is an amazing book, with amazing characters (who, amazingly, are real), and an amazing way of story telling. This is a book that I don't want to put down, and I still dread the second when I reached the last word and had to put it down.
It's a book that made even an agnostic and skeptic like me tempted to leave everything that I have and search for great food, God(s), and a great lover. *sigh*
The story is about Liz's search for God in order for her to make peace with herself after a long tiring full-of-drama divorce. She finally travels to Italy -where she falls in love with the food and learns the art of pleasure, India -where she spends 24/7 praying and meditating and learn the art of devotion, Indonesia -where she learns a new kind of meditation, parties, falls in love, and learn the art of balancing pleasure and devotion.
At first, this book excites me for the mention of Indonesia. However, when I went on and read it, I fell in love. It's a really complete book, the kind that's hard to find these days. Liz tells us how to pray and bring ourselves closer to God without being a preacher. It's hard for anyone to dislike her. She's the kind of person that you just want to befriend with. In the end of the book, I felt like I've found a new best friend, Elizabeth Gilbert.
My faith in God and all those spiritual and religious stuff remains the same. (It's a really complicated thing that will create an entirely new novel if I try to explain, so don't bother.) However, this book fascinates me. Her ideas and her willingness amazed me.
It is the kind of book that if it's not a true story, readers will be all skeptical and say, "These kind of things will never happen in real life." I did say that in the middle of the book when I forgot for a split second that I was reading a semi-autobiography.
The only thing that concerns me is how hard it is to find God. Liz travels to 3 countries in 2 different continents in 1 solid year leaving everything that she has behind and changing her lifestyle completely, than, she found God. I don't know if I will ever find God, or if I will ever want to, but I'm positive that most of us won't have the courage neither the capability to do all things that she did. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong. But if I'm right, than what are we to do?
It's hard to explain the book. Just read it yourself. I promise you won't regret it.
This is a book that consists of thousand doctrines, yet not indoctrinating. It's an enlighting beautiful exceptionally funny great book.
Read it and give yourself a treat.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The face of our TV
For years, Indonesian has accepted the prolonged unreal reality shows, the over hyperbolic so-called sinetrons that goes on for years, the dry dim-witted comedy, and the over exposed privacy raiding infotainments over the justification of public demands and rating. People believe that these kind of shows, and only these kind of shows, that Indonesian would enjoy.
For years, we unconsciously underestimates our people's intelligent by saying that our people only understand dry slapstick humor and over exaggerated stories. We continuously tell ourselves that we don't need nor want nor able to absorb entertainments with better qualities.
I say, it's time to stop using public demand as an excuse to prolong these shows with bad qualities.
It has been proven that our society is capable of smarter shows. Imported TV shows with decent qualities such as F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Heroes or Sex and The City have a decent number of fans in Indonesia. When we finally celebrated democracy by the showing of Republik Mimpi (Dream Republic), there are many who became loyal audiences and enjoy the wit and satire provided by the show. When we started to respect our identity and finally got the luxury of enjoying a smart comedy in Bajaj Bajuri, people couldn't stop talking about the show night and day.
Of course, the rating of these shows remain low, and little of them survived our TV. Than, people put the burden on the so-called uneducated. They believe that people from that part of the society don't have the capability to understand these shows, and these people are those who watch TV the most.
However, let me remind you, who created the uneducated. If we blame it only to Indonesian poor education system, than we are wrong. We learn through every aspect of life, that's why a high school graduate like Bill Gates can be so smart and successful. I believe that not only our schools and universities, but also our medias such as newspapers, TVs, or radios that educate us.
If we keep justifying these stupid shows because the uneducated like them, than it will remain so. By it, I mean the stupid shows will remain stupid and the uneducated will remain uneducated. The number of uneducated and the quality of our TV shows are mutually inclusive. One can't happen without the other. It's hard as hell to better our education system, might as well educate our people with other system. Name, media.
Say no more to stupid singing contest who sell the drama more than the singing quality. Say no more to stupid sinetrons with circling plots, bad actors, and sleazy characters. Say no more to stupid comedies who assume that our audience will only laugh if someone is physically hurt. Say no more to infotainments who talk about divorce and dating like they are the most important things in the world. Say no more to the assumption that Indonesians are stupid.
Have a good one everyone
-me
Quote of the day:
"There are only two kinds of characters in Indonesian sinetron: those who are stupid and those who are evil."
-me
For years, we unconsciously underestimates our people's intelligent by saying that our people only understand dry slapstick humor and over exaggerated stories. We continuously tell ourselves that we don't need nor want nor able to absorb entertainments with better qualities.
I say, it's time to stop using public demand as an excuse to prolong these shows with bad qualities.
It has been proven that our society is capable of smarter shows. Imported TV shows with decent qualities such as F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Heroes or Sex and The City have a decent number of fans in Indonesia. When we finally celebrated democracy by the showing of Republik Mimpi (Dream Republic), there are many who became loyal audiences and enjoy the wit and satire provided by the show. When we started to respect our identity and finally got the luxury of enjoying a smart comedy in Bajaj Bajuri, people couldn't stop talking about the show night and day.
Of course, the rating of these shows remain low, and little of them survived our TV. Than, people put the burden on the so-called uneducated. They believe that people from that part of the society don't have the capability to understand these shows, and these people are those who watch TV the most.
However, let me remind you, who created the uneducated. If we blame it only to Indonesian poor education system, than we are wrong. We learn through every aspect of life, that's why a high school graduate like Bill Gates can be so smart and successful. I believe that not only our schools and universities, but also our medias such as newspapers, TVs, or radios that educate us.
If we keep justifying these stupid shows because the uneducated like them, than it will remain so. By it, I mean the stupid shows will remain stupid and the uneducated will remain uneducated. The number of uneducated and the quality of our TV shows are mutually inclusive. One can't happen without the other. It's hard as hell to better our education system, might as well educate our people with other system. Name, media.
Say no more to stupid singing contest who sell the drama more than the singing quality. Say no more to stupid sinetrons with circling plots, bad actors, and sleazy characters. Say no more to stupid comedies who assume that our audience will only laugh if someone is physically hurt. Say no more to infotainments who talk about divorce and dating like they are the most important things in the world. Say no more to the assumption that Indonesians are stupid.
Have a good one everyone
-me
Quote of the day:
"There are only two kinds of characters in Indonesian sinetron: those who are stupid and those who are evil."
-me
Monday, July 14, 2008
Overestimated
It's obvious that when someone underestimates you, you hate it. No further questions. When people think you are incapable of things that you know you are capable. When people see you lower than them, of course you want to (in Joey's word) rip your hand out just so you have something to throw at them.
However, what if the case is that people overestimate you. They think of you so highly that they expect you to do all these great things. People expect you to be this magic kid who can do anything.
I dare say, it's as annoying as being underestimated and the end result is the same I-want-to-rip-my-hand-out-just-so-I-have-something-to-throw-at-them feeling. *sigh*
Being an 18 years old who is quite professional in being a cocky arrogant bitch, who has been quite successful in making people think that I'm smarter than I really am, I face this overestimation quite often. Right now, I would like to declare to the whole world, borrowing the great Harry Potter (well, J.K. Rowling really)'s word, "Things like that always seem greater than it really is." (for further reference of this sentence, please do read Harry Potter series yourself, and I swear it's a great book, not some part of a Satan Evil Spreading Scheme)
So now, for all people that are being overestimated all the time's sake, I would like to sincerely send my arguments.
First, being overestimated causing people implementing double standard.
Second, like it or not, it makes people being hard on themselves.
Third, it violates their right to slack off.
Fourth, It gives them the urge to kill themselves. (For all debaters out there, I know a fourth point is unnecessary but I promise I won't elaborate on this, and I won't bother proving the burden of prove I just implemented on myself)
On the first point. When someone has done a lot of great things, people think that they are capable of being great all the time therefore they won't accept a so so work. They believe that when they do an imperfect job, they don't give their best on the job. Well, believe it or not, sometimes that IS their best. They don't always know everything. And it is tiring having to be better than others all the time just because they've been better in the past. An acceptable work for others aren't automatically acceptable when these underestimated people do them. People expect them to be brilliant all the time. Stop it. they are humans. Copy that? great.
Second, with all these burdens that people put on them, they are being hard on themselves. With all those expectation that people have, they don't want to disappoint them. They want to fulfill their expectation therefore they always fell that it's not enough. Even when they've done this perfectly great job, they feel that something is still not quite right. Than, they will stuck in that job for a long long time trying to figure out how they can make it better and end up ruining it.
Third, everybody wants to slack off once in a while. People want to stop working so hard now and then and people who are underestimated don't have the luxury to do that. People say that when they do that they're wasting the great talent that they have. Slacking off is apparently unacceptable for these people. Well, it shouldn't.
Fourth, it gives them the urge to kill themselves.
There you have it.
These are sleazy arguments with shitty elaborations. I know. As long as I get the point across, I don't care.
Therefore, I beg to oppose. Propose. Yeah, propose. My proposal is for people stop overestimating those people.
Therefore I beg to propose.
(These arguments are made to show that me, a person who people overestimated all the time, is inherently stupid)
Ps. I've told you before, I'm a cocky arrogant bitch.
Cheers
-me
Quote of the day:
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. -Dr. Seuss
However, what if the case is that people overestimate you. They think of you so highly that they expect you to do all these great things. People expect you to be this magic kid who can do anything.
I dare say, it's as annoying as being underestimated and the end result is the same I-want-to-rip-my-hand-out-just-so-I-have-something-to-throw-at-them feeling. *sigh*
Being an 18 years old who is quite professional in being a cocky arrogant bitch, who has been quite successful in making people think that I'm smarter than I really am, I face this overestimation quite often. Right now, I would like to declare to the whole world, borrowing the great Harry Potter (well, J.K. Rowling really)'s word, "Things like that always seem greater than it really is." (for further reference of this sentence, please do read Harry Potter series yourself, and I swear it's a great book, not some part of a Satan Evil Spreading Scheme)
So now, for all people that are being overestimated all the time's sake, I would like to sincerely send my arguments.
First, being overestimated causing people implementing double standard.
Second, like it or not, it makes people being hard on themselves.
Third, it violates their right to slack off.
Fourth, It gives them the urge to kill themselves. (For all debaters out there, I know a fourth point is unnecessary but I promise I won't elaborate on this, and I won't bother proving the burden of prove I just implemented on myself)
On the first point. When someone has done a lot of great things, people think that they are capable of being great all the time therefore they won't accept a so so work. They believe that when they do an imperfect job, they don't give their best on the job. Well, believe it or not, sometimes that IS their best. They don't always know everything. And it is tiring having to be better than others all the time just because they've been better in the past. An acceptable work for others aren't automatically acceptable when these underestimated people do them. People expect them to be brilliant all the time. Stop it. they are humans. Copy that? great.
Second, with all these burdens that people put on them, they are being hard on themselves. With all those expectation that people have, they don't want to disappoint them. They want to fulfill their expectation therefore they always fell that it's not enough. Even when they've done this perfectly great job, they feel that something is still not quite right. Than, they will stuck in that job for a long long time trying to figure out how they can make it better and end up ruining it.
Third, everybody wants to slack off once in a while. People want to stop working so hard now and then and people who are underestimated don't have the luxury to do that. People say that when they do that they're wasting the great talent that they have. Slacking off is apparently unacceptable for these people. Well, it shouldn't.
Fourth, it gives them the urge to kill themselves.
There you have it.
These are sleazy arguments with shitty elaborations. I know. As long as I get the point across, I don't care.
Therefore, I beg to oppose. Propose. Yeah, propose. My proposal is for people stop overestimating those people.
Therefore I beg to propose.
(These arguments are made to show that me, a person who people overestimated all the time, is inherently stupid)
Ps. I've told you before, I'm a cocky arrogant bitch.
Cheers
-me
Quote of the day:
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. -Dr. Seuss
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)