Odessa Zara's

An early morning walk often feels calm and predictable, but today was different—an ambulance parked in my neighborhood, its lights flashing silently, made me slow down and reflect. While I was leisurely strolling, enjoying the stillness of the early hour, someone else was likely having a very different kind of morning—one filled with urgency, worry, and perhaps fear. I don’t know what happened. Maybe someone needed immediate medical attention, or maybe—just maybe—it was a different kind of emergency, like a birth. That thought gave me a bit of comfort—the idea that, perhaps, a new life was about to begin, offering a positive twist to an otherwise tense situation. Even then, starting your day with a rush to the hospital must feel like being thrown into the deep end of a pool before you’ve even had time to wake up properly. It’s interesting how life can show you such contrasts in a single moment. Life’s like that, isn’t it? Sometimes, we’re on a calm ride. Other times, we’re on a rollerc...

So, for the last few days, I've been staying off my earphones. No music while waiting for the bus, no tunes while walking from the bus stop to my dorm, not even while doing laundry or cooking. Just… silence. Well, not total silence—I hear my own footsteps, the doorknob turning, water boiling, the washing machine humming along. Even the whole chaotic mess of city noise: horns blaring, engines roaring, cars rushing past. Usually, I’m that one-song-on-repeat kind of person, same as I stick to the same food over and over. Once I like something, it's all I want. Guess I don’t like stepping outside my comfort zone. But lately, I’ve hit a wall. I’m bored, but I haven’t found a new playlist—or the energy—to search for fresh tunes. So here I am, just drifting through all these sounds around me, zoning out, barely using a brain cell, until—bam—I’m standing in front of my room door. Didn't even realize I’d arrived. Might as well have a "kidnap me" sign on my forehead the way...

Alright, this is gonna be a short one because I’m knee-deep in work right now. But an idea popped into my head, and I needed to jot it down to clear my head from some confusing tasks. So, here’s the scoop: I’m currently on a 3-month contract, and I’ll be wrapping it up in just over a month. It might get extended, and honestly, why not? I dodge the whole job hunting scene, which can totally crush your confidence for a bit. Plus, the pay’s a smidge above minimum wage, and there are those sweet perks like free snacks or lunch from office events or just random kindness from coworkers. But here’s the kicker—it’s all desk work, from 10 to 7. I’m starting to crave some adventure or at least some fresh air. Everyone here is super nice, but I can’t help but envy some of my friends whose supervisors are inspiring, motivating, and challenging in a good way. Maybe it’s because I’m stuck in a government gig that doesn’t really support that vibe (swear it’s not my supervisor’s fault!). As this is my...

When you don’t like someone, everything they do starts rubbing you the wrong way. My significant other once told me that, and man, it hits home. Recently, someone I don’t really vibe with started crying, and I knew it, but I just didn’t want to care. Part of me, a tiny, petty voice, was like, “ Ugh, are you just looking for attention? ” Meanwhile, the peer counselor side of me jumped in and said, “ Seriously? You call yourself a peer counselor, but you can’t even be empathetic right now? ”  Cue the internal conflict. I’m supposed to be the peer counselor—basically a volunteer “angel” for people. But here I am, feeling more like I’ve got a devil on my shoulder. I just didn’t want to ask what was wrong. I didn’t want to listen if they reached out. They’re not my client; I’m not responsible for them. But is that evil , or is it just being human ? That’s the question bouncing around in my head. And then, because the universe has a wicked sense of humor, they reached out to me. I felt c...

I visited a colleague in the hospital today. She’s just a few years older than me—still young—but diagnosed with cancer. I can’t imagine how I’d feel in her place, like my world had fallen apart.  I went with an old friend, and we caught up, laughing both before and after the visit. But later, as I sat at my desk, I started to wonder: is it really okay to enjoy ourselves like that while my colleague is suffering? She smiled, sure, but there’s no way she’s truly "okay" with what she’s going through.  Of course, we didn’t laugh in front of her. After the visit, we still mentioned her now and then, sent our prayers her way, but we also got back to our own lives. Meanwhile, she’s left facing this unimaginable hardship—alone.  Is that unfair? Or is that just life? People can support you, but in the end, you face your struggles on your own. They can still laugh while you can’t even muster a smile. Here I am, working in a lively, vibrant office, while she’s likely lying in a h...

Living far from home has its ups and downs. My university is on a different island, which means I'm separated from my family by miles. Today, I said goodbye to my grandmother, then to my mother at the airport, and finally to my father before he headed off on a business trip. It's always tough being apart from loved ones, but the hardest goodbyes are the ones caused by death. Luckily, in Islam, we have a beautiful concept called akhirat, the afterlife. In Islam, akhirat reminds us that our time in this world is temporary, but what lies beyond is everlasting. It's like planting seeds: if we do good deeds, they outweigh the bad ones, and we earn God's mercy and approval. This means we have a shot at entering paradise, where we can be reunited with our loved ones who also lived good lives. Isn't that a beautiful idea? It's something that encourages kindness in the world and gives us hope for a forever with those we hold dear. As I reflect on these thoughts, I find s...

During my time at Gramedia, I stumbled upon a heartwarming scene that left a lasting impression on me. A mother was engaging her young son, teaching him about the alphabet and encouraging him to return a book to its shelf. "Thank you. Good job," she lovingly expressed. Witnessing this exchange filled my heart with warmth and tenderness. It reminded me of the power of gentle words and positive reinforcement in nurturing a child's growth. As I immersed myself in the surroundings, another interaction caught my attention. A young elementary school student conversed with her mother in English. In that moment, a sense of admiration mingled with a tinge of envy within me. It wasn't until my third year of college that I gained the confidence to speak English fluently, and here were these young children already displaying a command of the language. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but also a sense of wonder at their early accomplishments. It made me reflect o...

Today, I embarked on a slow-motion journey, inspired by the title of a book I just bought, "The Things You Can See When You Slow Down." Although I haven't read its pages yet, my day seemed to unfold in a leisurely pace, allowing me to appreciate the little wonders around me. As I skimmed through the latest volumes of Detective Conan and Attack on Titan at Gramedia, I couldn't help but immerse myself in the joy of reading my favorite mangas. Lost in their captivating worlds, time seemed to stand still. However, amidst the pages, a glimpse caught my eye—a book different from the mangas that surrounded me. Intrigued, I decided to purchase it, defying my usual habit of contemplation. Sometimes, certain things simply capture our attention without needing days or weeks of deliberation. Fueled by curiosity, I embarked on a search for a pen and small notes, reminiscent of my high school days. I wandered through the aisles of Gramedia, retracing the familiar steps I once took ...

As I lay in bed, my mind was consumed by a heavy weight, the weight of my past mistakes and failures. It was as if a dark cloud had descended over me, and I couldn't escape its shadow. No matter how much I tried to push those negative thoughts away, they clung to me like a thick fog, suffocating me. The thought that I might have caused harm to myself and others lingered like a bad dream. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like my mistakes were ingrained in my character, a part of who I am. And this realization only added to my worries, causing me to wonder if I would ever be able to make things right. As I struggled to find a way forward, I couldn't help but feel helpless and lost. The gloom of my thoughts seemed to suffuse everything around me, casting a pall over even the brightest moments. It was as if I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of despair, unable to see a path out. In moments like these, it's easy to forget that we have the power to shape our own...

On the joyous occasion of Idul Fitri, I had the pleasure of visiting my extended family, and what I encountered there left me deeply impressed. Amongst the elders of my family were some truly remarkable people, who had carved out illustrious careers as leading anesthesiologists in Medan, eminent lawyers, and distinguished lecturers. As I conversed with them, I realized two critical things that would shape my perspective towards my chosen profession. Firstly, the sight of my extended family's accomplished professionals inspired me to become a force for positive change. It struck me that the professions they had chosen were not just "cool" but served as a catalyst for social and economic development, which motivated me to become a professional capable of benefiting society.  I was reminded of a beautiful analogy that I once heard - just like the mighty oak tree that casts its shadow to protect and nourish those beneath its boughs, our profession must serve as a shelter, pro...

📝👀✈️🙏🍜💤🌆👋🌎🔌💻📚 After more than a year and a half, I finally mustered the courage to sit beside the window on my flight to Kuala Lumpur. There were times when I cried a lot due to my fear of flying, but this time I decided to take the window seat and was rewarded with a beautiful view of the city lights at night. It was a long-awaited sight! Before my flight, I took some time to perform a short itikaf in the airport prayer room. I was feeling a mix of emotions- nervousness for the journey ahead, sadness for being alone, and maybe even a bit of overthinking about unfinished work and friendships. But during my prayers, I felt a sense of peace and comfort. After praying, I went on a search for sahoor. I hoped to find KFC in the airport, but there wasn't any open, so I looked for rice. Unfortunately, all I found was noodles, so I grabbed some to go and headed to my gate. As I arrived, people were already queuing to board, but I took a moment to sit and eat my noodles. Just in ...

Ajukan pendapatmu, sekalipun itu berlawanan, jika berada di dalam tim yang bersuara bulat, karena bisa jadi ada yang berpikiran serupa tetapi memutuskan tutup mulut;  Pertimbangkan besar kemungkinan sebuah peristiwa;  Nilailah produk dan layanan hanya berdasarkan harga dan keuntungannya;  Mulailah berpikir dari hal yang paling umum;  Sadari bahwa di dunia nyata, keseimbangan sangat mungkin tidak terjadi;  Saat ingin memengaruhi orang lain, beri umpan atau acuan terlebih dahulu;  Sadari bahwa kepastian adalah hal yang paling tidak pasti;  Sadari bahwa hal buruk memang lebih mudah diingat;  Buatlah sejelas mungkin pembagian tugas individual dalam kerja kelompok;  Saat menghadapi pertumbuhan sesuatu yang eksponensial, jangan di kira-kira berapa hasilnya. Hitunglah dengan kalkulator; Sebisa mungkin jangan ikuti lelang;  Jika ingin benar-benar memahami sesuatu, lihat apa yang ada di baliknya;  Cermati hubungan yang katanya "sebab-akibat"...

ピーピーという鳥の鳴き声で目が覚め、グッタリという日々の責任に肩を落とす。すべてを乗り越えることができるのか？心のキュンという痛みを乗り越えて、一日を乗り切れるだろうか？ ブツブツと音を立ててキッチンに向かい、ゴソゴソと考える。何を食べようか？カラカラと腹が鳴る。慰めになるもの、新しいもの、どちらが良いのだろう？良い朝食が一日を過ごす上で本当に重要なのだろうか？ お気に入りのアニメを見ながら、ドキドキと物語に没頭して自分自身を忘れるようにする。でも、エンディングで現実がブチッと戻ってくる。このまま本当に続けることができるのか？自分自身をこんなに酷使することが本当に価値があるのか？ ミーティングやクラスに出席しながら、ゴボゴボと胸の重さに耐える。休憩をとるようにと人々が言うのを聞くが、ピリピリとした気持ちと、あきらめずに一生懸命努力するようにと人々が言うのも聞こえる。正しい道はどちらなのか？正しい道が本当にあるのか？ 研究助手として働きながら、ドンドンと疲れが追いついてくる。でも、自分自身をガッチリと保ち、乗り切ろうとする。努力がガツンと報われるだろうか？それとも、ギュッと疲れと後悔しか残らないのだろうか？ 明日、明後日、その先がどうなるかわからないけれど、君はそれでもバリバリと試し続ける。すべてがトントンと困難なときでも、試し続けなければならない。どうなるのだろうか？強く生きる力をバンバン見つけることができるだろうか？答えはタタタと時間が解決してくれるだろう。

On this cloudy, rain-soaked day, both the sky and my heart seemed to share a melancholy dance. Was it the weather or simply the state of my mind that brought upon such gloom? In the midst of it all, I found solace in the small victories, the moments that brightened my day. The question remained: why did these little things matter so much? As I cooked and cleaned, my thoughts wandered to the tasks that awaited me. Was it a mere coincidence that I finished my shift on time, or was it fate's gentle push that led me to my next adventure? When I took that fiqh class, I couldn't help but wonder: was teaching really the best way to learn? As I shared my knowledge with a friend, I found an answer in the exchange of ideas and the strengthening of bonds. In the company of my dormitory mate, we talked and laughed for hours, making up for the lost time. Was it the rain that had brought us closer, or perhaps the simple realization that we had so much in common? The laughter, a balm for the ...

Ini adalah tulisan tengah malam sembari menunggu waktu memasak sahur. Langsung ke intinya – saya tinggal di asrama dan saya senang dengan kehidupan saya di sini. Tujuan saya terpenuhi: jaringan baru, rutinitas pagi yang produktif, kelas agama, dan lainnya. Namun, ada satu peraturan yang tetap selalu saya patuhi atau kalaupun saya langgar pasti saya jalankan “hukuman”-nya, tetapi menjadi landasan lahirnya tulisan ini. Sebagai catatan penting, saya hanya membicarakan asrama saya di tahun saya, dan saya menyadari asrama-asrama lain memiliki peraturan yang berbeda dengan justifikasi yang berbeda. Catatan penting lainnya adalah bahwa saya tidak berdiskusi lebih lanjut dengan pengurus asrama dan memulai debat, “Kenapa peraturan ini harus ada?” Tujuan saya bukan untuk mengkudeta asrama dan, sekali lagi, saya menerima adanya peraturan ini. Ini adalah apa-apa yang secara apa adanya pandangan saya saja. Peraturannya adalah, pukul 10 malam ialah batas waktu pulang untuk anggota putri, sementara a...

 I asked my successful professor for advice on how to find my passion and maintain consistency, hoping to gain some insight into what seemed like a daunting task. However, his response was simple: "Passion is something I like, just know about it, and consistency is difficult only at the beginning. Just do it." I couldn't help but wonder, is it really that easy? As a writer, I often struggle with motivation and consistency, even though I love what I do. Sometimes, I find myself procrastinating or trying out other things, like singing or dancing, instead of focusing on my writing. It's not that I don't enjoy writing, but sometimes I lack the motivation to start or stay consistent. My professor wasn't wrong, but his perspective didn't fully address the complexity of finding passion and maintaining consistency. While it may seem simple in theory, these things can be challenging to put into practice. I believe finding passion is not always straightforward. It...

 As a young person who values my independence, the idea of being in a serious relationship can be intimidating. How would I maintain my sense of self while also making room for another person in my life? It wasn't until I imagined myself in a relationship that I began to understand the importance of balance. The truth is, being in a relationship means that there are two different individuals with their own lives, interests, and priorities. It's not about sacrificing who I am for the sake of the relationship, but rather finding a way to integrate my personal life with my partner's. This means respecting each other's boundaries, communicating openly, and being mindful of how my actions affect the other person. At first, imagining how to find this balance can be a challenge. I might feel like I have to give up certain activities or hobbies to make time for my partner, or vice versa. However, it's important to remember that compromise is key. I wouldn't have to give...

Opportunity is abundant, but our time and energy are limited. As someone who loves exploring new things and taking on exciting challenges, I know how tempting it can be to say "yes" to every opportunity that comes your way. However, as I've learned from personal experience, trying to do everything at once is not only impossible but can also lead to burnout and stress. Currently, I'm pursuing a fast-track program, which means I'm taking both my bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously, on top of the many responsibilities I already have. While I would love to say "yes" to more opportunities, I realize that doing so would mean sacrificing the things that are already important to me. So, what can we do to avoid FOMO (fear of missing out) and choose wisely for happiness? Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Recognize that opportunity is abundant, but your time and energy are not Imagine you're at an all-you-can-eat buffet. The food is endles...

Growing up, I always felt like I had to put on a brave face. No matter how hard things got, I couldn't let anyone see me cry. I thought it was a sign of weakness, that if I let my emotions show, I would be seen as less than. So, I held it all in. Whenever I felt sad or overwhelmed, I retreated to a quiet corner and let the tears fall. I cried until I felt numb, until I couldn't feel anything at all. It was a way to cope, a way to let out the pain without anyone else knowing. But then, something changed. As I got older, I found myself unable to cry in private anymore. No matter how hard I tried to hold it in, the tears would start to fall as soon as someone asked me if I was okay. It was a strange feeling, to be so vulnerable in front of others. But at the same time, it was a relief. For once, I didn't have to pretend that everything was okay. I could be honest about how I was feeling, and people would listen. Still, there were times when I felt like I had to put on a brave ...

Of late, there's been someone who's caught my eye. What first struck me was his demeanor towards children. The way he would kneel down, smile and listen to their words, it's like he spoke the same language as them. There's something infectious about his laughter too, just like the sound of bells ringing through the air. He has a quick wit and a good sense of humor, or at least one that's in tune with mine. It's easy to laugh and joke around with him, and it feels like we could keep doing it for hours. And yet, he's also a thoughtful and intelligent person. He's well-read and knowledgeable on a variety of topics, and always has an interesting perspective to share. But there's something else about him that draws me in. Maybe it's his passion for the things he cares about, or the way he stubbornly refuses to compromise his ideals. It's not that he's difficult to understand, but he's definitely not one to follow the crowd. Some of my frie...