When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 am and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind. But to hold to such repetition for so long — six months to a year — requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.

for the-i-don’t-know-anymore-time, i fall in love with this video, and the song :)

chibird:

“Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” -UnknownYou just have to find that good in each day, and then even the bad ones don’t seem so bad.

chibird:

“Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” -Unknown

You just have to find that good in each day, and then even the bad ones don’t seem so bad.

chibird:

Teddy bear and real person hugs are the most comforting, but as a last resort, take my virtual hug. >w<

chibird:

Teddy bear and real person hugs are the most comforting, but as a last resort, take my virtual hug. >w<

bluepueblo:

Aspen Road, Boulder, Colorado
photo via michelle

bluepueblo:

Aspen Road, Boulder, Colorado

photo via michelle

kopi hitam selalu mengulang cerita. tentang pertemuan yang tidak selesai, tentang perjalanan yang tidak sampai ujung. tentang asam yang seakan-akan mengganggu lambung. tentang pahit yang tertinggal, lalu pelan-pelan jadi candu.

kopi hitam selalu mengulang cerita. tentang pertemuan yang tidak selesai, tentang perjalanan yang tidak sampai ujung. tentang asam yang seakan-akan mengganggu lambung. tentang pahit yang tertinggal, lalu pelan-pelan jadi candu.

lampu kafe ini mengingatkanku pada kelambu dari tempat tidur antik di rumah tua kakekku. dulu setiap aku mau tidur, kakek selalu membacakan dongeng bayang-bayang. tangannya menari di balik kelambu, membuat aku tertawa-tawa. sejak itu aku  melihat gelap sebagai sesuatu yang ramah, pengantar tidur, penjaga jiwa kecil yang dalam masa-masa lelap. 

lampu kafe ini mengingatkanku pada kelambu dari tempat tidur antik di rumah tua kakekku. dulu setiap aku mau tidur, kakek selalu membacakan dongeng bayang-bayang. tangannya menari di balik kelambu, membuat aku tertawa-tawa. sejak itu aku  melihat gelap sebagai sesuatu yang ramah, pengantar tidur, penjaga jiwa kecil yang dalam masa-masa lelap. 

the happiness project : my version.

Get the logic and feel the feel. Happiness is within ourselves, we only need to dig it, which happens to be a never ending journey. The starting point is the principles, hence the twelve pillars of my version. Here I go :

  1. Be Astri. Be a person I always picture myself gonna be. Be it in faith, habits, behavior, style and thoughts.
  2. If I ever to meet people who disagree about things with me, I gotta remember that I do not have any responsibility to make them agree with me.
  3. However every things certainly must come up with basic logical reason, hence the argumentation (if needed) would have gone fair for both side.
  4. Never pin an answer “…well, I’ve just feel like to…” Even you trust an intuition because of its valid reasoning, not mere feeling.
  5. When I ever to encounter things those were not of my preferences, I need to remember to  rather ignore them than being an anti. And of course, focus to those of my liking, instead.
  6. But, still, do remember that some people deal with it by being cynical, sarcastic, throwing satire or tantrum, in short being a hypocrite (in my standard). Accept differences on people’s view in accepting the world.
  7. Tighten the belly, broaden the view!
  8. Be a lady I’d wish my future daughter to see in her mom.
  9. Keep calm and maintain rush management.
  10. Fall in love (this time with heart), free the mind, risk the heart.
  11. Be honest, be brave, be a woman with full of love.
  12. Never ever quit writing, whatever happens, whatever it takes :)

inspired by Rubin Gretchen’s The Happiness Project.