Interesting Facts

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma. 

Butterflies taste with their feet. 

 In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined. 

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -myth is more potent than history -dreams are more powerful than facts -hope always triumphs over experience -laughter is the cure for grief -love is stronger than death"

-Robert F

Rainbow Colors

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.

All claimed that they were the best. The most important, the most useful, the most beautiful and the favorite.

Green said:

"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope."

Blue interrupted:

"Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled:

"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:

"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life."

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:

"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood!I am the color of danger and of bravery."

Purple rose up to his full height:

"I am the color of royalty and power."

Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others. But with just as much determination:

"Think of me. I am the color of silence.

You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial."

In the midst of the clamor, the Rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky. In a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain-washes the world and a Rainbow appears in the sky, is to let us remember to appreciate one another.

Freedom

"Freedom is not something that anybody can be given. Freedom is something that people take and people are as free as they want to be" -James Baldwin 

"HAPPINESS is a way of travel.. not a destination" -Anonymus

Song Lyrics- Only Hope by Mandy Moore

There's a song that's inside of my soul. 
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again 
I'm awake in the infinite cold. 
But you sing to me over and over and over again. 

So, I lay my head back down. 
And I lift my hands and pray 
To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours 
I know now you're my only hope. 

Sing to me the song of the stars. 
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again. 
When it feels like my dreams are so far 
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again. 

So I lay my head back down. 
And I lift my hands and pray 
To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours 
I know now, you're my only hope. 

I give you my destiny. 
I'm giving you all of me. 
I want your symphony, singing in all that I am 
At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back. 

So I lay my head back down. 
And I lift my hands and pray 
To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours 
I pray, to be only yours 
I know now you're my only hope. 

Failure

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."

-Sir Winston Churchill

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better" -Samuel Beckett

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" -Saint Augustine

Everything Happens For a Reason

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be; your roommate, your neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never have realized your potential, strength, will power of heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments or true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of the soul.

Lance Armstrong- A Great Survivor

Lance Armstrong was born in Plano, Texas, on September 18, 1971. His biological father moved out when he was a baby, and he and his father were on their own. At age sixteen, he become a triathlete. Suddenly, when he already reached the top of success, approximately after his 25th birthday, he began coughing up blood. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer that has been spread to his abdomen, lungs, lymph nodes and brain.

Then he underwent surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy which brings lots of side effects. In 1998, he was married with Kristin Richard (Kik). In late 1998, he was get back to riding. He got the spirit from his wife and his dream to won the most famous bike competition, which is Tour de France. Then he joined the Tour de Luxembourg, the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt in Germany, and Tour de France (a three-week ride through France), and he did it! 

Lance Armstrong is never give up even though he got severe cancer disease,and he always keep his positive spirit, ambition and love.

A Faithful Lizard

This is a true story in Japan.

One day, a house in Japan need to be renovated and someone tear open the wall. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stucked there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet.

He saw this, felt pity and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was firstly built.

What happened? The lizard has survived in such position for 10 years?! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is very impossible.

Then he wondered, how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step - since its feet was nailed!

So, he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what has it been doing and what has it eating? Later, don't know from where appears another lizard, with food in its mouth.

He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stucked by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past 10 years..

Movie Review - Street Dance

This is a dance-genre movie with energetic British drama. The story begin when Jay (Roach) decided to leave Street Dance Crew and break up with her girlfriend, Carly (Burley). Suddenly, Carly is in charge for the team, and she makes the deal with a ballet teacher to rent the dance studio in exchange for adding five of the students to her team. The difference of background and interest makes them chaotic and they think that it is impossible to combine ballet and street dance. But they have one dream, becoming a winner in a big dance competition. Until in the end, they succeed to perform a stunning combination between those different dances. 

See, another story of how to turn something impossible into possible?

One thing, the dream could be reach by a hard work.

The Miracle of Bumblebee!

"Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."  -Mary Kay Ash

You know what, I found this quote and really interested to it. I thought, this quotation is just a joke, but after I do research  through the internet, I found that according to the aerodynamics theory, it is true! bumblebee has too small wings compared to their body. Moreover, some scientists said that if an airplane were built the same way, it would never get off the ground. But the bumblebee doesn't know about this fact, so they just tricking their wing muscle and nerve impulse. They can do what people thought impossible for them!

We can learn something from the bumblebee. This often happen in our life. We often think that we can't do something because people said that it is hard and impossible to do. But actually, it is possible! So, don't get 'down' by what people said. Just ignore the negative feelings and do your best.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness. A single word that we often hear and say. A single word that is very familiar to us. But it is a single word that would brings tons of positive impacts. It may heal the hurts. It may relieved our heart. It lets go the obstruction. It may heals depression, anger or stress. And it may gives us more hope. 

So, in the moment of Idul Fitri 1431 H, let us forgive each other, forgive every single mistakes that we have done, and let god do the rest. 

"You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness." -Anonymus

Book Review- Bidadari Santa Monica

'Bidadari Santa Monica' is an Indonesian book which tells about a tragical love story between Pelita and Effraim, but it ends up with an unpredictable endings. 

Pelita was an illustrator in a magazine. One day, she asked to interview an artist, and this is her first time to met Effraim. As the time goes by, they were in love. But when they arranged their marriage, Effraim was died. Pelita decided to forget Effraim, until one day she met a harpist in Santa Monica, America. People called her as 'Angel of Santa Monica' or 'Bidadari Santa Monica'. Pelita is amazed with that angel's eyes. When Pelita is on her flight to Jakarta, suddenly she met the angel, and the angel asked Pelita to tell every single story of her life.. When they arrived in Jakarta, the angel gave Pelita a blue paint. What is the meaning of blue paint? But, after all, Pelita whispered, "thank you for loving me that much Effraim.."

Seriously, when I read this book, I was surprised with the endings and my eyes can't stop shed tears.. Even though there are some unreasonable parts in this book but overall, it is an amazing book. So, happy reading everyone.. :)

Quotes of the Day

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."--Jim Ryun

Inspiring Story: A Box Full of Kisses

One day, there was a 3-year-old girl who used a gold wrapping paper and her father was very angry of that until he punished her. The little girl tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, she brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. 

Don't stop loving your family, no matter how they are. 
Because they really love you actually.

Your Attitude, Your Life, Your Decision.

Here, I want to share the story that I have read, enjoy :)

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant in America. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.  One day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life."

"But it's not always that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Jerry said "Life is all about choices. 

Several years later, Jerry had an accident. The left the back door of his restaurant open one morning and was robbed by three armed men. The robbers shot him.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital. I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or choose to die. I chose to live."
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me. I was going to be fine. 

"What did you do then?" I asked.

"I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. 

Our attitude is our own decision.. 

No one can take control of our decision, and if we choose the good one, our life will be lots easier. 

We can choose whether we want to be a good person or bad person, whether we want to think positive or negative, and even whether we want to live or not. 

Hello Deutschland!

Here I just want to share my experience, and to bring the memories back..

2 months ago, I joined the summer camp program held by Pasch and Goethe Institute in Germany. This summer camp is actually a 3-weeks full scholarship program from Pasch. There are approximately 40 Indonesian students that flew to Germany this summer (20 June-10 July 2010), but we are divided into 2 different places, I went to Kirchheimbolanden (Kibo) and another group went to Walbeck. In Kibo, there are another 40 students from other countries, such as Bolivia, India, South Africa and Egypt. 

Departing from Jakarta (at Soekarno-Hatta Airport)

Here are the photos of priceless moments in Germany;

 

There are so many things that we do there, such as studying German language, bonfire, playing games, foot ball, volleyball, swimming, Kultur Abend or 'culture night', talent show, playing music, party in the 'Disco', shopping, and EXCURSION!

Excursion to Frankfurt! :D

Me and my friends from India, South Africa, Egypt and Bolivia

Akshita (India), me, Tumi (South Africa) & Rrivu (India)

Me and Egyptian Girls (Ola, Farah, Amira)

We are also taught to make the doll like this in art and craft session!

Making a cute 'doll' (my doll is the blue one in the left side) and this is the most important thing that we must bring to Germany, Indonesian noodle a.k.a Indomie!! Can you imagine, we miss Indomie very much!

Indomie, the 'most prestigious' food in Germany :) HAHA

In the last week, there is a program called as 'Kultur Abend' or culture night, which all the participants performed their own country's culture. Indonesia performed 'Indonesia Pusaka', 'Apuse', 'Bendera' song and 'Remo' dance. Indonesia also performed the presentation. And surprisingly, lots of participants from the other countries are amazed with Indonesia. They said that, "Indonesia is a rich country which has lots of cultures, traditions, islands, and also beautiful scenery", and many of them want to visit Indonesia. How cool is that?

Indonesian Students wearing 'Batik' and their traditional clothes

South Africa

Bolivia

And after all, we had the photo shoot together.. so sad.. the moment we spent together in 3 weeks is the most wonderful moment in my life. I miss you guys ;(

All participants

And this is the 'Kibo' song that we made..

IN KIBO! Hab ich mein Herz verloren

in einer wunderschoenen Stadt

in Deustchland..

Like a bed lamp, tekamolo

ai karamba, brood und auch shukra sind cool

basta Bella, hilla ke rakh denge, bodoh und

genau sind auch.. genau.

Sollen wir noch etwas sagen?

Am Ende zu Hause errinern wir uns, was wir

gemacht haben

Errinerung Erfahrungen

Viele neue Freundschaften und Gluck

SIND SCHON hier in meinem HERZ

"Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.-- John Evelyn"

BE OPTIMIST!

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we took so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened up for us”
- Helen Keller

“Pessimist : A person who says that O is the last letter of ZERO, instead of the first letter in word OPPORTUNITY.”
- Anonymous

YES I'M ABSOLUTELY AGREE!

Sometimes, when we got the problems, when we failed to do something, when the result is totally different with our thought, we feel that all that we do is useless, we can't get anything better than this and there is no way to reach the happiness. When we thought like that, automatically we are focus on the 'unhappy things' and we are not realize that there are sooo many 'happiness doors' that wait for us. The only way to see those 'doors' is by being an optimist person. By being optimist, you can 'SEE' the big opportunity. Oppositely, if you are 'stay' in your position and do nothing to repair your fate a.k.a being pessimist, I'm sure that you cannot see the 'happiness doors' in front of your eyes.

SO, all that you can do is.. BE OPTIMIST! :D

Hello!

Hi! Actually this is my first time making blog, so i'm sorry if there are some deficiencies in my blog. This blog will consists of positive things, like inspiring stories, positive quotes, movie and book review, my journey, some song lyrics or anything which will make you feel happy and optimist. In each of the post, I will make the reflection to learn what we have read there. I hope this blog will bring soo many benefits for us by reading the positive things. I will do my best and hope you'll enjoy it :)
Best Regards,
Lina