You'll Know Me As...

My photo
Jakarta, Indonesia
Founder of @ProjekMimpi - a reality book and workshop project. Founder of @LenteraMahadaya - a non profit organization for Muallaf / Muslim convert Proud owner of Love Actually Planner @LA_Planner + @Lady Mosh Invaders [Rockin' clothing line for hijabers] @LadyMoshInvader - Twinkle Twinkle(band) Manager @thetwinkstars. Media / Promotion Manager of @KitchenDeath gothic band Jakarta - a rebel. a lover. a dreamer. a believer. a fighter. lately a muallaf. loves writing fiksimini and blogging. an ordinary someone with XTRAordinary dreams. a proud SINGLE mother of one adorable metalhead son \m/ .that i can be a bitch most of the times [err in a positive way I suppose?] .hopelessly romantic ordinary woman - LOOKING FOR that special someone to fill in the 'gap' and help making me whole; again -

Friday, October 14, 2011

Bukan Lagi Dua, Melainkan Satu

Setelah sekian lama absen menjentikkan jari bercerita dan meramu kata di halaman penuh makna (*tsah*) akibat menumpuknya jadwal kerja yang menggila, akhirnya sukses juga saya mendaratkan diri saya di lantai dua sebuah warnet di dekat kos tercinta.
Memang bukan tempat favorit buat nge-blogging sih secara saya harus beradu dengan rentetan suara yang memecah gendang telinga - ya pekikan kegirangan (malah kadang kemarahan) para gamer - juga backsound yang ngga kalah serunya dari playlist yang entah dari negara antah berantah mana referensinya.
Belum lagi sempat mencoba untuk sedikit menggeliatkan jemari di atas tuts yang menanti untuk 'disetubuhi', saya masih harus membagi otak saya dengan ribuan desibel suara yang menggelitik, memancing hasrat untuk melontarkan teriakan "BERISIK!"
Ya, bukan salah warnet-nya sih, salah saya juga kenapa memilih untuk menghabiskan sisa waktu saya disini.

Well anyway, setelah melalui perjuangan yang cukup panjang, termasuk mencoba menyabarkan diri dengan tampilan layar yang bergoyang-goyang dan mouse yang kurang kooperatif, sukses juga saya menyelesaikan setidaknya paragraf awal dari cerita yang entah akan bermuara dimana.

Ini kali kedua, saya dan #dia duduk bersama (walaupun agak jauh letaknya) untuk sekedar berbagi bahagia atas hari yang baru dilalui berdua.Sudah hampir bulan kedua sejak awal bertegur sapa hingga akhirnya mengambil keputusan besar untuk saling mengisi halaman demi halaman buku kehidupan kami.
Buat saya, ini adalah salah satu dari sekian keputusan-keputusan terbaik yang saya ambil di tahun ini, mendekati penghujung tahun. Boleh jadi ini adalah titik balik untuk saya setelah berulang kali jungkir balik dan nyaris terdampar di titik nadir. Kehadiran #dia membuat saya lebih mensyukuri kesederhanaan dalam hidup yang istimewanya bisa terasa begitu 'mewah' ketika diujicoba. Sedikit banyak saya belajar untuk melerai benang-benang kusut yang belakangan rajin berlari-larian menyumbat aliran darah di kepala - dan memintalnya menjadi sebuah karya indah yang menyenangkan untuk dipandang mata.
Esensi hidup pada hakikatnya adalah membuat manusia berjalan selangkah lebih maju dari hari sebelumnya - karena tentunya hidup tidak berjalan mundur, bukan? Dengan #dia, kebiasaan lama saya yang sering membubuhkan tanda bold dan underline pada masa lalu yang bergelantungan menunggu ditengok berganti dengan kecintaan baru saya pada renda-renda yang mempermanis halaman buku yang kami tulisi bersama.

Belum lama ini saya begitu antipati dengan kata "berkeluarga". Bagi saya (tadinya) berkeluarga hanyalah sekedar simbol status bagi kebanyakan orang bahkan salah satu syarat agar tidak tercoret dari daftar ahli waris keluarga karena lalai memberikan keturunan yang diharapkan menjadi penerus nama besar leluhur. Keluarga hanyalah sebuah lembaga - bagian dari tradisi dan ketentuan agama. Itu saja. Namun jika sekarang saya kembali berbunga-bunga dengan ide untuk hidup bersama yang disahkan oleh lembaga negara juga agama, salahkan saja #dia. Dengan seluruh kesabaran yang dia punya, dia mampu meyakinkan saya bahwa sejatinya kami memang ditakdirkan untuk menua bersama. Bayangan nenek-kakek yang sudah renta dimakan usia namun tetap saling memendarkan cinta lewat tatapan mata kala saling duduk mesra di beranda dan membahas headline sebuah harian ternama membuat saya tersipu malu. Atau.....menghabiskan senja dengan berjalan di pematang sawah dan membiarkan kaki kami yang telanjang beradu dengan rerumputan membuat saya jatuh dalam haru. Saya sudah menemukan yang saya cari. Seseorang yang tidak hanya ada untuk berbagi di saat saya tegak berdiri tetapi juga rela merendahkan diri demi menangkap saya yang nyaris tanpa daya pasrah pada gravitasi. 

Jika tiba saatnya nanti, seperti katanya yang sering ia bisikkan ditelinga bahwa "semua akan indah pada waktunya", maka saya akan tetap menunggu disini. Berkerudungkan satu harapan pasti bahwa apa yang kami miliki tidak akan pernah terbagi; sejak kini dan sampai pada akhirnya nanti.


"You've already won me over, in spite of me
and don't be alarmed if I fall, head over feet
don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it - It's all your fault"
-Alanis Morisette: Head Over Feet-







Friday, October 7, 2011

|Miracles Still Happen: When You Believe - A Story of Hope, Faith and ALLAH's Love: Waking Up From a Comma

This is a story of my dad. This is a story about miracle. This is a story about his personal encounter with ALLAH; and got his life saved.

About 3 years ago, my dad started to have really bad problems with his sight. He couldn't see clearly and need to undergo a series of eye therapy.
When finally his sight became worst the doctor recommend him to have eye surgery instead.
My dad had gone through 4 times eye surgery and his sight was even worst than ever. He only has 10% of his sight and everything became really blur for him.

My dad has diabetes and has already lost one eye due to diabetes complication. This is the only eye he has left and he became really stressful of the thoughts of losing his only eye.

Decision had been made; my mom decided to bring my dad for another eye surgery in Singapore in one of the best hospital in town. Meeting arrangement with the doctor had been set up, tickets had been ordered and passports had been renewed. All set.

Few days before my dad's departure to Singapore, I prayed. I felt really crushed because all I ever wanted is to have my dad walking beside me on my wedding day (one day) and I will be the one who will be holding his hands proudly. If the operation failed, how could I have him walk beside me?

In the middle of me crying, I heard ALLAH said 'stop crying, your dad is already healed'
I wasn't so sure at first. I kept asking ALLAH to show me proof if he's healed

I have a custom of laying my hand on the Holy Qur'an cover and ask for ALLAH's wisdom to show me what HE wants to say. Amazingly, HE shown me verses of miracle healing in two different Chapter. All verses about healing!

My heart jumped with joy and I dialed my mom number directly to tell her that no need to go to Singapore 'cause daddy is healed!

But I had to swallow my happiness in an instant. My mom doesn't believe me and even turn my call off when I mentioned about praying in faith.

Few days before leaving to Singapore, my mom called again and cried at the phone saying that my dad has to be hospitalized in Jakarta due to prostate infection and need to be operate soon.

I was at the office in Bali at that time and I felt that my head spin. What is this? My dad's eye is still in worrying condition and now, another operation need to be done for his prostate infection.

Honestly, at that time, I start questioning God....
"Why?????"

That morning on July 3rd, 2009; my dad undergo prostate surgery and need to be isolated in the ICU for thorough evaluation; in case anything happen due to his diabetes complication. For someone with diabetes like my dad, sugar level in his blood need to be well maintained. If it's too high or too low, my dad's life is at risk. Having a diabetes also means that the high sugar level above normal could affect other body parts and damage them.

That July 3rd, 2009 at 17:00, my mom called-cried-and told me that there had been bleeding. I was in complete shocked and decided to fly to Jakarta immediately on the first flight in the next morning.

When I finally reached the hospital, I stormed my way to the ICU; eagerly seeing my dad. What a relief seeing him a better condition and what surprise me the most is: he told me that he could see now! My dad said that his sight is fully recovered! Without any eye surgery at all!
Now I finally understand that, that night when I prayed; ALLAH healed my dad's sight. That's why HE asked me not to cry anymore.

But.........the story has not end yet.
July 5th, 05:00 AM, my dad has another bleeding and need to be rushed to the operating theater once again.....
"What now???"

July 5th, 13:00 PM, my dad started to had breathing difficulty. The oxygen level in his blood is not sufficient enough to supply his needs – and if it’s continued, my dad may lose his consciousness.

July 5th, 18:00 PM, my dad start to lose conscious; the oxygen level now was below normal; his heartbeat increasing rapidly. The normal rate is between 80 – 100, but my dad’s was 180!

Doctor said that my dad had a heart attack and pneumonia

Tears are all over my face. Seeing my dad in pain, trying to absorb the oxygen really tore my heart in pieces. I kept singing praying asking ALLAH to help my dad make it thru so he could breathe normally again.

But my prayers seemed didn’t change anything….My dad was like fish struggling for water. He’s now unconscious….

July 5th, 23:00 PM
My dad was now 100% fully supplied by oxygen from the machine and couldn't breathe on his own; his now in comma....

Doctor told us that with my dad's condition, he only had under 50% chance of survival and our family pastor 
(my family are Christians - mostly)  even said that we had to prepare for the worst.
He even told us to have a family prayer in my dad's ICU room and personally let him know that "it's okay if you have to go....."
My mom even already arranged my dad's best suites to be delivered from our home and my aunts and uncles had already discussed about my dad's coffin...

BUT.....
Human's way are not ALLAH's
ALLAH's power can't be limited.

After almost 2 days of comma.....my dad, finally opened his eyes.....and started breathing on his own

Theoretically, after almost 5 hours struggling with no sufficient oxygen, my dad was supposed to had some nerves damaged and might be some memory or brain function loss.
But guess what??? He's 100% cure! PERFECT!

I used to say that "dear GOD, I had a big problem"; but now, I will stand proudly and say "hey problem, I have a BIG GOD!"

Miracles do happen.....and will still happen as long as we believe in HIM



"and We sent down in the Quran that is healing and mercy to those who believe" Quran 17:82

Your Failures Do Not Define You

Ever wondered why you could not make everything going right?
Always stumble in the same old hole?
Always repeating the same mistakes even when we knew that it's the wrong thing to do?
And you're now desperately seeking the answer of "How Come?"; "Why"?
Maybe even the people that you trust and respect the most started to blame you for not being obedient enough; not praying enough; not reading Holy Qur'an enough OR for not being a good Christian or Buddhist or Hindu
And you're starting to feel so convicted by the judgment and starting to questioning whether you're worthy enough or not in HIS sight.

Well....
Our flesh is weak but we're strong in HIS spirit.
We could never win over any obstacles in our life if we're counting on our 'weak-self'

It's not about how many times we failed, stumbled or fell that matter the most.
NO! ALLAH does not count that.
The good news is, ALLAH only counting on how many times you gather your strength and trying your best to raise again.

HE understands who we are.
HE knows what we're thinking and even HE knows what we're about to do, even when we don't even know it yet.
So HE knows precisely how and when we're going to commit sins.

But....does all the facts above change the way HE feels about us?
NO! Certainly NOT!

ALLAH look deeper into our every hearts and feel every beat; every tears; every sorry-feeling; every pain and every effort we've tried to come back to HIS wonderful embrace.

So, life is not about what we think about who we are but it's about who we are in ALLAH's sight: 'Precious', 'Adorable', 'Loved', 'Trusted' and 'Wanted'

ALLAH is soooo ready to embrace you with HIS abundant love, from today on and will last forever

Have you made your choice today to stand up and receive HIS blessings - whatever the circumstances you're in?

ALLAH blesses you!

Tell Someone You Love Them

It doesn't require a great deal of energy to make a huge difference to your community.

Starting today, please spend some time to tell the people around you that you love them.
A simple word which could heal the broken-hearted, could give comfort to people with burden, could give courage to those who has no faith to go on, and could give a touch of love to those who yearn of ALLAH's unconditional love.

[a tiny baby step could change the whole world]


This is a movement to touch others' lives - ALLAH's way. 
Focusing on regaining our healthy identity back just as how the way ALLAH would want us to be.


People with broken past; growing up in unhealthy environment; victim of abusive parents or people that they trusted the most; people with emotional insecurity; abandoned children; and so many others who are emotionally damaged; are hard to accept themselves and always have negative sentiments over themselves; treat themselves badly in a harmful & destructive ways [both physically & mentally - often lead to suicide attempt]; no self respect; - which also affected the way they treated others

Me, for example; was raised in a very conservative family. A always means A, no toleration for AB, B or even C
On the other hand, I'm a very very strong headed person.
We often argue and ended up with verbal abuse - starting when I was 13
I was not a really bright kid - just ordinary. Didn't make many friends; not even talented and not even could be proud of.
I was adopted and....my adoptive parents said that all because of I was conceived from a bad seed
I was often told that I was no good.
No good and nice things could come out of me.


These verbal abuse starting to grow to physical abuses.
I was beat up; thrown at with chair; felt my dad's feet on my head; thrown to the wall and even forced to swallow poisonous ingredients with my mom cheering at my back

They could never heard me saying no on their condition.



I grew up into a very very destructive teenager.
Learn to smoke at the age of 13
Learn to love alcoholic drink & even use cannabis on later stage
Living a really wild life - for me my life started at midnight - when the normal people sleep, me and my homies just start dealing with rock and roll, drugs and party. Whew!

I even had tried to attempt suicide for 4 times!
I ended up in ICU for 4 times and wondered why I still alive

One day, I had a breakthrough, that changed my life in an instant.
On my 5th suicide attempt, I was at a bus; I heard a singing sung by a homeless. It was a religious song.
Amazingly, after a year of not having any interaction with God-and never been able to cry for any of religious songs I'd heard- but on that night, just when I about to end my life; I cried
But this time, a different cry....
I felt that all my burden; my hatred; my feeling of unloved-insecurity-unworthy-rejection are all washed away





I felt that on that night I have found my way out...
and miraculously the strength to forgive myself and my past flows from within
I'm now reborn - and even better: I now have abundant love to be given to those who are just like who I used to be



This is a story of how ALLAH has shown me the way back to HIS love. But unfortunately, not everyone has the chance to experience HIS great kindness & grace because they have never heard of HIM

This is a movement; to let people know that even we are broken and shattered [just like a vase]; ALLAH would love to glued us again with HIS abundant love-HIS unconditional acceptance and would love to put again a bundle of fresh beautiful flowers inside each one of us.
We may still look broken from the outside after all that we've been through, but, one thing for sure, it could never change the fact that from the broken vase, we could still see the beauty of the flowers within.



And moreover, we are destined to great things with our lives -don't just dream, make it happen! If ALLAH be with us when we cross the START line, HE will also be there when we finally reach the FINISH line.


This is my desire that each one of us could look at themselves the way ALLAH value us :)

-THIS IS A CROSS- CULTURE, RACE AND RELIGIONS MOVEMENT. WE'RE ALL HUMANS AND WE'RE A
LL EQUAL IN ALLAH'S SIGHT-

Monday, September 5, 2011

Ketika "Kelebihan" Jadi Terasa Berlebihan

















Ngga ada orang yang ingin jadi biasa-biasa saja.
Begitu juga saya.
Hidup normal dan berjalan mengikuti standar sangat ngga menarik di mata saya.
Makin absurd makin saya suka!
Tapi sepertinya kali ini saya kena batunya.
"Kelebihan" berbalik jadi beban yang berlebihan.
Saya semakin tenggelam dalam pusaran yang mematikan, antara yang nyata dan yang maya, bahkan diantara keduanya.
Ya, "indera perasa" saya memang agak sedikit berbeda dari kebanyakan manusia lainnya.
Saya bisa 'berjalan' diantara 'ada' dan 'tiada' tanpa harus meninggalkan ke-'manusia'-an saya.
Semakin bingung membacanya? Saya juga kikuk entah harus menjelaskan dari mana agar mudah dicerna.


Awalnya biasa saja. Seperti wajarnya anak umur 13-tahun lainnya.
Sekian belas tahun yang lalu cerita ini bermula.

Yang tidak lazim, saya bisa melihat yang tidak kasat mata, menembusi dimensi yang berbeda dan hampir setiap hari meregang nyawa hanya untuk terbangun dari tidur.
Jika banyak orang harus berebutan tiket pesawat untuk bisa merasakan sensasi terbang melintasi pegunungan atau lautan, saya hanya cukup memejamkan mata dan 'voila!' - terbang melayang pun sudah jadi hal yang biasa.
Raga boleh saja pulas terbaring di atas tempat tidur berukuran 120 x 80, disaat yang sama sukma bebas melenggang pergi.
Jika banyak yang penasaran akan masa depan, saya hanya cukup bermimpi dan rentetan kejadian yang akan terjadi bersegera melintas berganti-ganti.
Jika ingin tahu apa yang terjadi dengan mereka yang dekat di hati, cukup gunakan telepati dan tanpa perlu tergantung sinyal atau koneksi, jalinan komunikasi lancar terbagi.

Ah! Pasti saat ini sudah banyak dahi yang berlipat dan entah berapa banyak lagi mata yang terangkat tidak percaya.
Pasti saya akan dibilang 'ngelindur' jika bertutur tentang hal yang tak bisa dinalar oleh logika.
Entah harus bersyukur atau mengumpat kepada 'sang pemberi mandat'
Tapi yang jelas saya sekarang sedang merasakan hidup saya sedang di ambang sekarat.
Sudah tidak menyenangkan lagi rasanya harus terus-menerus melihat kelamnya hitam sementara dunia yang saya diami cerah berwarna.
Semakin hari semakin takut untuk sekedar memejamkan mata karena untuk kesekian kalinya sebelum orang-orang tercinta tiada, saya melihat mereka hadir melintasi mimpi. Dan dalam hitungan hari, saya harus menghadapi kenyataan bahwa mereka harus pergi tanpa akan pernah kembali.
Apa enaknya melihat manusia tanpa organ yang sempurna berserakan di sebuah bangsal rumah duka atau bertemu jiwa-jiwa terhilang di perbatasan yang inginkan jawaban atas sebuah kematian?

Entahlah.
Saya hanya ingin seperti orang-orang normal lainnya yang punya hak untuk tertidur pulas tanpa takut disambangi mimpi yang membuat bulu kuduk berdiri.








Rindu Itu Ibarat Candu dan Candu Itu Kamu

Baru masuk hitungan hari sejak terakhir kali bersama, tapi rindu yang terasa hampir saja membuat saya gila.
5 September - waktu menunjukkan pukul 17:55, untuk kesekian kalinya dalam hari ini saya memikirkannya.
Satu-satunya yang membuat lega adalah saya masih bisa menikmati pemikiran-pemikirannya yang terangkai dalam jutaan kata sarat makna ketika si dia nun jauh disana.

Enggan beranjak dari tempat saya duduk demi melahap baris demi baris kata sambil tak henti berdecak kagum dan gelengkan kepala ketika banyak hal yang disinggungnya bersamaan dengan cara pandang saya tentang kehidupan.
Ibarat kue nastar yang kami gila-i, setiap sensasinya selalu hadirkan rasa ingin lagi, lagi dan lagi. Enggan berhenti.
Biarpun entah sudah berapa banyak yang tercerna, masih saja mengiba untuk bisa gerogoti remahnya.


Kata orang, semut mati akibat gula; karena terlalu banyak rasa manis yang menjejali tubuh mungilnya.
Namun jika bicara soal "manis"nya cinta, sebanyak apapun rasa manis yang terserap, selalu saja ada ruang untuk asupan demi asupan berikutnya.

Apa relevansinya antara manisnya jalinan kata, cinta, kue nastar yang menggoda dengan candu? Semuanya mengingatkan saya akan: kamu!
Dan semakin saya ingat, semakin saya inginkan lagi, lagi, lagi dan lagi.

Sebuah Curhat Menyoal Rasa

Hari pertama kembali bekerja otak saya sedang tidak sinkron dengan mata dan koordinasi gerak saya.
Di kepala tersirat A, yang teraplikasikan malah bisa jadi Ab, B, C atau malah bahkan D.
Jadi maaf sekali Boss, seperti-nya saya harus memulai hari pertama saya bekerja hari ini dengan blogging saja agar saya tidak jadi semakin gila.
Ibarat besi kurang oli, seret. Dibuka paksa juga percuma, yang ada malah berantakan semua.

Well, and the story goes like this...

Berawal dari keisengan (yang disengaja tepatnya) membuka blog pasangan saya dan menilik satu persatu isinya hingga ke akar-akarnya , membuat saya agak sedikit sakit kepala.
Dari kepala, turun ke hati. Ada percikan cemburu yang menari-nari. Membuat dada bergemuruh tiada henti dan jantung berdegup seakan lari.
"Oh, no!" saya terserang gejala penyakit baru-kah?

Teringat akan sebuah stiker yang menempel dengan manisnya di laci kamar pasangan saya "kata adalah senjata", saya mulai kembali menelaah apa yang terpapar di halaman penuh cerita miliknya.
Tanggal posting-nya memang sudah lalu dan sudah tergantikan banyak cerita baru.
Tapi entah mengapa, rasanya masih seperti baru kemarin. Ngilu. Ibarat ada benda asing yang menelusup ke dalam lapisan kulit. Begitu mengganggu.
"Heran, rasa sakit kok dipelihara", saya mulai mengutuki diri sendiri dan menuding-nuding hati yang selalu beradu dengan logika dan fakta.
Ya, tapi tetap saja, biar diusir-usir dengan paksa, jejaknya masih tertinggal disana.
Saya jadi mulai membanding-bandingkan, apakah saya sebaik dia yang lama ataukah malah kebalikannya?
Berbagai tanya akan "mengapa, apa, siapa dan lalu bagaimana" seakan berebutan berlalu-lalang di kepala.
Bikin macet logika saja.

Gerah. Saya putuskan untuk basahi tenggorokan dengan segelas air dingin.
Lega? Tidak juga. Tapi setidaknya saya sudah ketemu jawabnya.
Sepertinya saya sedang kena sindrom "cemburu buta"
Cemburu sudah pasti karena objek yang dicemburui adalah juga wanita.
Buta? Ya karena saya masih rajin mengutak-atik kenangan lama dan membacanya dengan kaca pembesar pula! Akhirnya hal yang sebenarnya biasa jadi seolah tampak seperti raksasa yang siap menelan saya.

Saya seolah terlupa bahwa sebersih apapun sebuah goresan berusaha dihapus, tetap masih akan ada bekasnya. Mungkin saja bisa kembali putih, tapi tidak akan jernih.
Yang bisa saya lakukan sekarang hanyalah berusaha memberikan warna terbaik pada kanvas putih yang sudah dipercayakan kepada saya untuk didekorasi dan berharap bahwa pada akhirnya nanti warna yang saya bubuhkan bisa sepenuhnya mengisi bagian-bagian yang diperlukan.

Biar saja rasa takut kehilangan yang senang menyembul-nyembul ini saya gantikan dengan curahan perhatian bagi pasangan tersayang sambil tetap memberikan ruang baginya untuk tetap menjadi dirinya. Berkaya tanpa takut bermain kata.
Bukankah apa adanya dia yang membuat saya jatuh cinta? Kenapa harus jadi terobsesi untuk merubahnya?
Ketakutan yang saya punya hanya akan membuat penat kepala, otak, hati dan rasa saja. Buang-buang energi.
Saya hanya cukup lakukan yang terbaik, menyerahkan-NYA kepada Sang Khalik penguasa kehidupan dan berjalan dengan pengharapan bahwa saya dan pasangan diciptakan untuk saling berjalan beriringan, hingga maut memisahkan.

Insya Allah.