Something Inspired of The 11th Image on Your Phone

Well, this is the eleventh image of the favorites album on my phone. This picture was taken a year ago. There are my bestfriends and I in the picture. We went to Jazz Traffic, an annual music festival in Surabaya. It was my first music festival ever. And it was Henny’s birthday at the same time. Double the happiness, double the memories.

I had no expectation at first. I wasn’t even interested to go. Going to a music festival is not something exciting for me at that time. I love to watch a music concert, but not a festival music. But someone made me buy the ticket. I supposed to go there with him. Out of a sudden he cancelled it, I don’t know why. 

I ended up went there with my bestfriends. Novia was the first person I forced to go with me. She doesn’t want to at first. But of course I won~ Several days before the day, Henny and Okta decided to go with us! It was like a remedy to my broken heart! I thought I could enjoy that two days music festival because I will be with my besties~

And I did! I enjoyed it! Really! Walking from one stage to another stage. Singing along for hours. Having much conversations as well as laughing until my stomach hurt. Writing “Say HBD Henny Please” on our phone and hoping Tulus notice us. Omg crazy little thing that make me beyond happy. It was a really good day at that time. A cure to my broken heart. A little thing that refresh my mind from a chaotic days of college.

That moment was one of the best moment with them. A moment I will always remember. A moment I love and cherish. A moment where they didn’t let me go there alone. A moment that make me believe that they truly care about me. 

To these people in this picture, I love you. I really do. Thank you for not letting me go alone. Thank you for having my back. Thank you for always trying to cheer me up. Thank you for supporting me on everything I do. Thank you for always be there. Thank you for staying with me. To forever, shall we?

Write about A Lesson You’ve Learned; Some Things Are Not Up To Us

These past months have taught me that no matter how hard we try, there’s always something we can’t control. It’s a truth to be told.

I was planning to finish my study earlier. It’s always been my dream to graduate before the fourth year. I worked so hard and tried my best on my thesis. I wrote it as fast as I could, hoping my lecturer will correct it as soon as possible. Turned out she did the correction as late as possible:) I waited for about 3 weeks. Oh, and she changed her mind. She asked me to do the first until the third chapter. But when she finally correct my work, she returned the second and third chapters. She said I should’ve do only the first chapter. She asked me to give her the chapter one by one. I really lost much time. I spent a lot of time making the proposal as she asked me in our first meeting. I lost my time waiting her correction. Double kill.

Long story short, I failed to graduate in January. A hard slaps on my face. I failed my first dream. I need one month to recover from my stress. I need a little time to have a rest and charge my energy. 

After a month break, I was back to the track. I did what I have to do. I tried to make it as perfect as I could. I tried to be patient to face my lecturer. Then after months of work, I finally come to the end of the thesis, which is the defense. We used to call it sidang lisan. A funny yet annoying thing happened. One of the panelists asked me to correct my thesis, exactly like the first time I made it, before my lecturer told me to change it. Triple kill.

3 weeks later, I received my thesis score. It’s not the score I expect. It’s below my expectation. After all those things. After those kills. I’m dead. I was dead.

All I thought at that time was it’s not fair. This life is not fair. I worked my ass off and I didn’t get that score. It’s not only I failed my first dream, I even failed my expectation score! I couldn’t think any positive thing at that time.

Not long after that, I read Filosofi Teras. A book about stoicism. It say that some things are up to us, some things are not up to us. We can’t control everything. And those things are not supposed to bother our happiness. As long as we did our best on the things we can control, we should be happy. It’s the process, not the result. 

My thesis score is based on my lecturer; is she happy with my thesis, is she in a good mood and so on. Those things are not up to me. I can’t control them. It means my score isn’t supposed to make me sad. I should not be disappointed by my score. Because I know I already tried my best. I already worked hard. I paid attention on details. And that should be enough to make me happy. As I already did the process as perfect as I could. I should be happy no matter what my score will be.

That was a meaningful lesson to me. Some things are up to us. Work your best on them. Some things are not up to us. And that’s okay. That’s called life.

A Letter to Someone

Dear you,

This is the second draft I make

Still my mind travels

And memories come up

No matter how many draft I write

We used to be so closed back then

The fourth of us

An unexpected friendship I got

From high school

We’re having many talks

From the unimportant one to the important and deep one

We’re having each others’ back

As we care about each other

Little did I know our words hurt you

As we ask you to reduce alcohol 

To stop smoking

To be a good man

But one thing I can assure you

It’s not because we don’t want you as you

It’s because we don’t want you to lost the track

And somehow be apart from us

We didn’t realize we care too much about you

Too much that we unconsciously made you uncomfortable

There’s a time where you were busy with your own world

And they wondered why you forget us

That’s when my heart broken

To see us separated

By this letter,

I’d like to say a little thing

That has been in my head

For a long time

I’m sorry for asking you too much

I’m sorry for wanting you quitting many things

I’m sorry for being annoying 

One day

If you eventually want to tell us more of your life-

just like the old days-

We are all ears 

Write about Today

I’m writing this on Tuesday October, 13th 2020. Basically there’s nothing special today. I woke up at 8 and cooked oatmeal for my breakfast. Then I drank the honey and water. After that I prepare the banana on the bowl. After the oatmeal cooked, I put it in the bowl and ate it as I scrolled my Instagram. At 9 my mom and I cooked sweet compote made of banana and cassava stewed in coconut milk and brown sugar. Or in Indonesia we call it kolak.

We finished cooking at 10. After that we cleaned the house and took a shower. I used my face sunscreen and put on some lotions on my body. And I read the bible while waiting for luch time. Then at 12 we had our lunch, which were tempeh and tofu with some veggies and rice of course. I’m on the plant based diet, so my food will always be like that.

After lunch, I scrolled my social media (again). Omg I guess I spent too much time on social media. Actually, it’s time for me to open my laptop after lunch. I should’ve do something according to my daily schedule (yup I made a daily schedule, complete with the exact time). But I was so sleepy and I fell asleep. Hhh...

I woke up at 15.30 and I opened my laptop to do something. I usually having my laptop time in the back terrace of of house. It feels like I am in a different place. A little way to make my mind refresh at home.

We have a coffee time routine here in my home. On 16.30 everyday, we have our coffee or juice, with some snacks. Since we made kolak in the morning, so it was a kolak time. It’s our time to talk to each other, beside on lunch and dinner time. Hmm but actually we always talk to each other all the time...

Then I took a shower at 18.00. And I did my skin routine; cleaning my face with micellar water, putting some lotion on my body and so on. I do this routine as I listen to a podcast or some songs. It was a podcast today. Rapot Podcast for the win.

Right after I finished it, I open the notes in my phone. And I started to think about the topic of today’s writing challenge. As soon as I find the concept, I write it on the notes. I find it more comfortable to write in my phone rather than on my laptop. It’s easier and more relaxing.

After I finish writing, I directly post it on my blog. Then I post it on the social media of my writing too. It’s @tulisanlau on Instagram. Kindly follow it, okay? Xoxo

If I had more time, I usually spend it by reading a book. It depends on my mood. Usually it’s a self improvement one. I currently am reading 101 Essays that Will Change The Way You Thing. It’s really good, I promise! But if I don’t feel good, I read a romance novel. Then I have my sleep on 22 o’clock. Or 23 o’clock.

That’s it. That’s what happened in my life today. Well, that’s more like I’m telling you my daily life routine. But hope you enjoy it xo

LOVE

Love. One word full of meaning. It can be found in many things. Well, to me, love means taking care of the person, supporting them, being there for them and having their back. 

When you do something to make them happy, it is love. When you push them to achieve their dreams, it is love. When you give you time to be with them, it is love. When you accept them just the ways they are, it is love.

When I saw my dad bringing a flip-flops for my mom so she can change her high heels, I know it’s love. When I saw my dad giving an umbrella to my mom so she won’t have a headache because of the sun, I know it’s love. When my dad texting me “please take care of your mom”, I know it’s love.

When I saw my mom cooking every morning and packing my dad’s lunch, I know it’s love. When I saw my mom waiting my dad to come home from work, I know it’s love.

There are many ways to express love. People have their own way. It could be by their words or by their action. Open your eyes. There must be love around you. It’s just you that didn’t realize. 

My Celebrity Crush

Daniel Timothy Wenas, a basketball player. I knew him from my friend when I was in high school. We were talking about some athletes and on of my friend sent DW’s photo. Surprisingly, he’s my bestfriend’s distant cousin! I thought she was joking at first. It turned out she’s not.

He is handsome, tall, toned. He has many achievements. Well, are those enough to be the reason to have a crush on him?

Last year I got a chance to meet him. He was having a talkshow in one of sport store in Galaxy Mall. I knew the event from his instastory several days before the day. The event was two days in a row. 

Then, my friend and I went to Galaxy Mall after church, which is the second day of the event. As We walked to the food corner, I saw that sport store was full of people. I saw him from a far. I was a little amazed because he is really handsome! But I can’t get closer because it was too full.

After my friend and I had our lunch, we went back to the sport store, hoping the crowd a little bit lessen. Turned out, the event was already done. I was a little disappointed.

Then we chose to go window shopping. When we were on the escalator, I saw DW on the escalator two floor below my escalator. Guess what I did! Right, I ran after him! He stopped in the Starbucks. I was hesitate whether to ask him for a photo or not. But I thought he already saw us. With all my braveness, I walked to him, and ask for a photo together. I said “Hi, kak Daniel. Boleh minta foto nggak?” And he said yes. And we took a photo together. And done. I thank him after that. And I walked away from him.

After about 5 meters away, I jumped and laughed. I was so so happy! He was my crush for more than 3 years. And finally I had a chance to take a photo with him. Well, for other people it’s not a big deal. But that trivial thing could make me really happy! I won’t let you see the picture just because xixi

My First Love

If I may defined, the first love of mine is the first person who can cross the wall I made for years. He is possibly not breaking it. He finds a little door there and knock it until I finally am ready to open it by all means.

He is the first person I put my trust to hold my heart. The first person that is able to be closer to me than anyone else. The first person I introduce to my friends. The first person I date.

Perhaps, that’s what I could imagine about first love. There’s not much I could talk about. It is something I have always wondered. The person. The time. The feeling.

30 Facts About Me

This is my first time doing this. Leggo!

1. My full name is Laura Shinta Vitha.
2. My junior high school friends call me Lala.
3. I was born on May, 8th 1999.
4. I am a Taurean. My moon sign is Aquarius. Yes I still am into astrology.
5. I’m the first daughter in my family.
6. I’m a Bataknese. Napitupulu it is.
7. Single and ready to mingle lol
8. My favorite number is 8.
9. I am a sweet tooth.
10. I love chocolate a lot.
11. I love love love love ice cream.
12. I could eat pizza every once in a week.
13. Spicy food is also my thing.
14. I am a perfectionist (my friend told me so). I pay attention to details and I try to things as perfect as I could.
15. I was a Communication Studies student.
16. I went to acceleration class in junior high school.
17. I’m not an animal person. I don’t hate animals, but I definitely don’t love them.
18. I had my first solo flight when I was 17th.
19. I love coloring my nails since I was in elementary school. I did my nails every long holidays.
20. I love reading so much. Magazines were my friend to spend holidays when I was a kid.
21. I am into self-development books right now. Just giving you a hint if you want to give me a gift.
22. I am one of the author of The Voice of Youth. 
23. I’m on plant based diet now. It’s been 23 days.
24. Before I go plant based, I drank milk at least one glass a day.
25. I forget the exact time I tried my first cup of coffee. But coffee became my stress reliever ever since.
26. I love beaches.
27. Christmas is my most favorite time.
28. I have a sensitive skin. Just like my heart. Joke:)
29. Confidence is a problem to me. But it gets better as I grow up.
30. I have a dream to spend some days in Amanjiwo. Enjoying the quite place. Having some relaxing days. Reading books. Watching the night skies.

Ways to Win My Heart

Well, it’s never easy to talk about winning my heart. I don’t even know how. To make it easier, I’ll just talk about how to make me impressed. Mostly I find someone attractive by his personality traits. Here’s some :

.1. Be kind to people.

How a person act to others says a lot. Saying thank you to a parking man. Helping the waitress when they can’t reach the plate. Saying thank you to the lift attendant. When I see those kind of gestures in you, you have a little part of my heart.

.2. Be modest.

I can’t stand an arrogant person. As soon as I found you act as a superior, I’ll never see you on anymore. 

.3. Broad minded.

It’s fun to talk to that kinda person. We can talk a lot of things. 

.4. Open-minded.

Someone who is willing to listen, understand and try to see everything from different point of view is attractive for me. The one who doesn’t easily judge people’s opinion. 

.5. Good looking.

It’s nice to be with someone that concern about his look. How he keeps his hair in cut. How he choose the right shirt. How he manage to look good.

.6. Play any music instrument.

Those are the things that can impressed me. However, to win my heart is a whole new level. I could easily fall for someone I only know for a week. I could lost my interest to someone that I thought a nice person to date. Maybe you could ask my friend how hard it is to have my heart. The last time someone wins my heart is when I saw a video of him singing and playing piano. It’s exactly two years ago. And he still has my heart.

Someone I Miss

Two years ago, life brought me to meet a new person. I already know her before. But it was two years ago when I had a chance to have a talk with her. A talk that means alot at that time. A talk that bring me closer to her and claimed her as my bestfriend.

I was in a really bad situation at that time. Really fucked of “friendship” thing. I told her literally everything I felt. I didn't expect anything. Turned out, she gave me a new perspective in life. She didn't say any judgement at all. By her own ways, she teached me. To always be kind no matter what. To be a good listener. To respect others. But the most important thing, to forgive everyone that broke my heart. I learned that to forgive someone is hard. But once you do it, it feels so good.  It was a really meaningful talk for me.

Now she becomes someone I always look for. We share the same energy. We have our own dreams. And we support each other to catch that big dreams. She is a friend that always make me believe that my dreams will come true. And she becomes an elder sister I never have.

She is someone I forever grateful to know. She is the one I have a chat as I write this. “Kadang kalo liat awan kelabu di pinterest atau ig walaupun kelam dia jg indah lohhhhh” she said. She is giving me strength at this moment. She is the person I miss right now.

If I could run away now...

 If I could run away now, I would run to the time where I could meet my bestfriends. I don’t know where it is. I don’t really care either. It’s only the people I care about.

If I could run away now, I would ask my bestfriends to come with me. We would go to a place where we could see the blue clear skies. A place where we couldn’t hear any sound of the bustle of a big city.

If I could run away now, I would choose to spend a little time with them. To see their face. To hear their laugh. To have a real talk we miss.

If I could run away, I would go just for a moment. To recharge my energy. Then, I would be ready to face the reality.

Describing My Style

I’m more into a simple kinda style when it comes to fashion. I’m not that good to mix and match my clothes. I feel safe to wear t-shirt and jeans or legging. Most of the time I choose to wear a oversized t-shirt, it’s really comfortable. And flat shoes to complete the look. 

I love to wear midi length dress when I go to church or some party. I’m not confident to wear a mini dress or a mini skirt. And to match my dress, I usually pick a black high heels. 

Most of my clothes are monochrome and neutral colors. My closet will full of black clothes if my mom never complain about it. 

I’m always on middle length hairstyle. I don’t really like short hair. And I can’t stand too long, either.

Over all, I always choose comfortable things to wear. I don’t really care about what people think. I am just the way I am.