Common Terms in Song

I was listening to Chrisye this afternoon while doing my final project. I’ve just realized that old songs really have poetical lyrics. Not like songs nowadays. But that’s not what I want to share in this post. I’d like to share about common terms used in a song.

Commonly, a song has this kind of schematic :

Intro – Verse 1 – Chorus – Verse 2 – Chorus – Ending

Well, every song has it’s own scheme. Now, I will try to explain some terms commonly used in a song. CMIIW

1. Intro
This is the part when the song begins. It’s also called the opening of the song. Usually intro is consisted of instrumental music which notes are taken from the song itself.

2. Verse
Verse is the initial of the song. Commonly it uses one pitch and rhythm with repeating notes, only changes the lyrics. Verse is the start of storytelling of the song.

3. Bridge
Bridge’s role is as the link between verse and intro. Songs these days usually have different levels between their verses and choruses. Between the verses and choruses there are too far note-gaps. If the verse already has ascending note, then it will be easy to entry the chorus. But mostly songs nowadays have flat notes, that’s why they need bridges to build the excitement of the song. In certain case, a songwriter purposely erases the bridge part between verse and chorus and let the gap in high level to create a different sensation. This case is happened in Adele’s song “Someone Like You” where there is a big gap between the last note of the verse and the first note of the chorus.
Not only between verse and chorus, bridge can be used between chorus 1 and chorus 2, just in case the songwriter makes different chorus in a song.

4. Chorus
Or refrain. Most people say chorus is the same with refrain, although it has a different meaning.
Chorus can be told as the core of a song. Usually, the lyrics in chorus are what the song wants to tell about. It has a more higher level of excitement than verse, and commonly associated as the top of the song. It is the long-awaited part of a song.

5. Refrain/Reff
The term refrain is used in arrangement context. The meaning of refrain is the repetition. It means there is a pert of a song that sung over and over again. In this case, commonly the chorus is sung repeatedly to make people remember the main story of a song. But not every refrain is a chorus. That’s why sometimes people mixed up between refrain and chorus.

6. Interlude
Interlude is like “intro” in the middle of a song. Usually it’s used to fit delay between verse and verse, or verse and chorus. Interlude has no lyrics or specific melody in it, and usually contains only some bars (4, 6, or 8 bars) or chord patterns.

7. Solo Instrument
The part of a song that shows the instrumental playing. There’s no singing in this part, except for a slightly back vocals. This is the part where instrumental playing is put forward.

8. Ending
The closing part of a song. Commonly it is in the form of Fade Off, or looping, or the end of the bar.

 

Hair-Fall Maintenance

Today’s post is about my hair maintenance. Sorry for you guys because I write this due to remind me about how to maintain my hair, but I hope this post can give you some useful information as well.

So, I have a hair-fall problem. This is happening due to my messy sleep schedule, a lot of pressure for my final task, and a lot of mistreatment for my hair. The stupid thing is, I used to wash my hair with warm-almost-hot water, dry my hair with hair-dryer every time I wash my hair, and seldom use hair tonic. I don’t often go to salon, and I don’t eat quiet healthy food that can help my hair growth. These are several things I’ve done that cause my thinner-more-each-day hair.

So then this afternoon, I went to salon. I was going to get a hair cut, because my hair had grown longer and I needed a fresh new look. The one that took care of my hair was named Mr.Asan. As usual, someone washed my hair and then came Mr.Asan.
“What model do you wish for?”, he said.
“Hmm, a layer cut, please. My (hair) bangs is already too long so it doesn’t exist anymore, can you please make the new one connected with the rest of my hair?”
“Sure.”
Then he started to cut my hair.

The first comment came out from him about my hair was,
“Don’t get sleep past 10 pm.”
Wow, how could he know I always sleep late?
“It helps the hair to reproduce new hairs. If you often sleep late, it will disturb the regeneration process.”
Okay. So the sleep schedule affected the hair-fall problem.
“Do you wash your hair everyday?”
“Umm,yeah?” I said it with hesitation.
“Washing your hair everyday will undermine the natural ability for hair to grow a new hair. Do it once every two days. And so does for using hair-dryer and hair-straightener. Using them everyday will corrupt your hair’s pigment. You see, your hair is supposed to be black but it’s color looks brownish now.”
Wow, I washed my hair everyday and even dried it with hair-dryer, everyday.
“And do you use warm water to wash your hair? Don’t do it! Every time you use warm water, the pore on your scalp widen and it makes the root of your hair loosen. That’s why your hair will easier to fall.”
Okay, it explained a lot.
“If you have to wash your hair everyday, you have to be diligent to do hair-spa. It helps your hair to gain his natural ability back. Or you can use aloe vera in replacement.”
Hair-spa. Remember it, hair-spa.
“Ah, and every time you comb your hair, don’t comb it to the side-down. Comb it to the back. You see this cleavage on your head. If you make it too sharp, it’ll slowly become bald on there. Avoid making such a cleavage on your head.”
So you said it.

While talking, I didn’t realize he was already finished with my hair. Waw, looked really fresh and nice. Then I paid for the bill, thanked him and asked for his name. After went from salon, I bought hair-spa, just like what he said.

Hopefully everyone who has the same problem with me would get some useful informations from this, hehe. Good luck!

 

L’arc~en~Ciel World Tour 2012 Concert in Jakarta

L’Arc~en~Ciel (“The Rainbow” in French) is a Japanese rock band that founded in 1991 in Osaka. They are consisted of 4 persons :

HIDE (Takarai Hideto 寶井 秀人) : lead vocals, occasional guitars



source : RollingStones Indonesia


TETSU (Ogawa Tetsuya 小川哲也) : bass, backing vocals



source : RollingStones Indonesia


KEN (Kitamura Ken 北村健) : guitars, backing vocals



source : RollingStones Indonesia


YUKIHIRO (Awaji Yukihiro 淡路幸宏) : drums, percussion



source : RollingStones Indonesia

On their 20 L’anniversary, they have a world tour to Hong Kong (March 3), Bangkok (March 7), Shanghai (March 10), Taipei (March 17), New York (March 25), London (April 11), Paris (April 14), Singapore (April 28), Jakarta (May 2), Seoul (May 5), Yokohama (May 12-13), Osaka (May 19-20), Tokyo (May 26-27), and Honolulu (May 31).

First of all, thanks God I got a chance to watch their live performance in Jakarta on May 2, 2012. It’s been 8 years since the first time I was captivated by their single, Jiyuu e No Shotai. I was still a 8th grade student and my childhood was full of anime and cartoons. I watch their MV on Animax, an anime channel on my cable TV. I was fell in love at first sight with that MV, how the song was really energetic and the MV fitted well with the music. I still can remember when I heard a slightly sound of that song, I would run from my room to in front of TV just to watch it again and again, and it happened continuously every time I got the chance. It was the first Japanese band I know and love. I bought most of their cassettes (at that time, we listened to music with walkman, cassette’s player) in Indonesia that I could find. I listened to their songs most of the times. I even took Japanese course just so I could swanky try to understand their songs’ lyrics. Hahaha, what a kid. They’re my childhood heroes.

I knew that they would come to Jakarta a while ago on January 26, 2012, where I saw my friend’s status on FB saying, “Laruku fix ke indonesia 2 mei! Tgl tggu harga tiket…. (Laruku is going to Indonesia on May 2, and it’s fix! Just have to wait for the ticket price….)”. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was it true what I saw? They would really come here? This wasn’t joking, right? OMG, OMG, I was speechless. I COULD REALLY SEE THEM LIVE!

The next passing weeks, I heard a rumor that their ticket will be on sale soon. With a lot of struggle, I finally got my ticket and a friend of mine whom was going to watch Laruku together. It’s still on February, but I really couldn’t wait for May to come soon. Finally, after 8 years of awaiting, Laruku was really going to Indonesia. It surely was like a dream comes true, since the last time rumor’s saying they’re going to Indonesia and it was merely a gossip, and it happened when I was still in middle school. But finally, they really were going to come.

So time went fast. It’s May 1, and I was super excited for tomorrow. I got a little clumsy that I forgot to exchange the voucher with ticket. I was so afraid that everything I’ve been waiting for becoming a vain. I even sent an e-mail to RajaKarcis.com if only I could exchange it at the venue. Well, I thought I overreacting, the exchanging could still be done until the moment before the concert began. Hahaha, to be honest, this was my first time watching a concert so I didn’t really understand what to prepare before. I was so embarrassed that I was doing such a thing, haha.

It’s May 2. I and my friends, were going to Jakarta from Bandung. We departed at around 9 am, and arrived at Senayan at 1 pm. Jakarta was so hot, but it seemed like not a matter for the people at the venue. They’re willing to line up a queue to buy Laruku’s official merchandise. Thank God, the ticket exchange line wasn’t that long that I got my ticket in less than 5 minutes. I was slightly thanks God that I didn’t exchange it the day before, it was a really long line they said. :p

Laruku’s World Tour 2012 Ticket

I and my friend, Arif, had lunch first to gain some energy for the next event. We had lunch at Baso Lapangan Tembak Senayan, then Arif took his time for sholat. We cooled down awhile in the car, and at 2 pm we joined the line at Gate 1.

Gate 1

It was really crowded, I almost lost my breath in there. The heat of Jakarta surely was different from Bandung. At 4 pm, the gate was opened. The crowds were scrambling and thrusting to come in. Through gate 1 there was security checking, and we were not allowed to bring any food or drink, neither professional camera and any recording devices. The crowds were running ahead to be back on line in front of gate 2. Inside the gate 1 area, there were some food and beverage stalls, and also SPGs offering L.A. Lights cigarettes.

Gate 2

At 5.30 pm, gate 2 was opened. We walk in a rush towards the premium gate where we once again had to line up. The queue this time was for another security check. While I was waiting, I got a light sticks from someone who handed out freely. Good point that I didn’t buy any light stick.

Light Saber!

Finally, at 6.15 pm we’re finally inside the area of performance. Well, it was still more than an hour until the concert began. It was so crowded that I felt like I was suffocated. I couldn’t breath well and the heat increased. The sky was already dark and threatened to rain. Grey clouds were already upon us like it would rain at any time. Even the lightning flashing too often, I was thought it would be rain soon. Drizzle fell off for awhile. The crew repeatedly opened and closed the cover of the screen because of it. Until at 5 minutes past 8 pm, the show began!

“いばらの涙 Ibara No Namida” was played along they’re came up on stage. I barely couldn’t see them because there were too many taller people in front of me. I tried so hard to see them using the binocular I specially bring for this concert. It was so hard to see them, even for breathing. Therefore, after the second song “CHASE” and third song “GOOD LUCK MY WAY“, I and Arif decided to move outside the crowds. Wuah, the view from the back side was way much better, you know. I could see the screen clearly, and with my binocular, I could see each and every faces of them clearly.

I still couldn’t believe my eyes. It’s really them, they’re really here in front of my eyes. That day, after a long waiting of 8 years dreams, I could finally see them LIVE! Fortunately I brought this binocular with me. I could enjoy seeing Tetsu’s face. Tetsu was the man of my childhood dreams. I remember back then when I was still in middle school, I dreamt a lot about meeting Tetsu and watching his live performances. Finally, my praying’s answered and I could really see him.

After the third song, Hyde greeted the audience in Bahasa Indonesia. “Halo Jakarta. Kami L’arc-en-Ciel. Kamu senang bertemu aku? Aku juga (Hallo Jakarta. We’re L’ar~en~Ciel. Do you like to meet me? Me too),” he said. He used a cheat sheet and spoke with stutter voice. It was really nice to see him trying to greet us with our language. I really felt his appreciation towards the audience where he held concert. Then he continued the concert with “Honey“. Waw, my favorite song! We sing along as I could see the live performance of Tetsu’s bass playing. This song’s bass playing was the best I ever heard.

“DRINK IT DOWN” was played, and it looked like Ken already lit a cigarette. I really loved the way he played his guitar with that cigarette on his mouth, it looked sexy. Then it’s time for Yukihiro to interact with the audience. He played “REVELATION” intro part. As he beat his drums, the audience shouted “OOII!!”.

The next song was “瞳の住人 Hitomi No Juunin“. Wow, another favorite song. Tetsu, Hyde, and Ken sat down near Yukihiro’s drum. I guess it’s time to relax for awhile. The most favorite part of this song is Hyde’s falsetto on last chorus. I couldn’t believe he still could do it in such an age. He’s already over 40 years old, FYI. Oh my, I fell in love with that voice.

It was followed with “XXX” where the audience made X sign with their light sticks. “Fate” was played next, and then “Forbidden Lover“. Hyde was crying while he was singing the “Forbidden Lover”. The song said about the unforgettable memories of forbidden lover. The translation of this song might be sounded like this :

Ah, towards the dark frozen sea
Swallowed by a wave of ever-flowing history

At any time now the curtain will rise
The conflict brought along by the fleeting dream will start a flame

Someday, the heart I’ve lost sight of
Commits the long forgotten sin once again
Bringing up faults, with that blood-stained love, I’ll build a paradise from the rubble

forbidden lover…… faint memories
Even if I hold them together tightly the colors won’t line up
I secretly pledge with my breath
The trick of never being able to predict when this sweet love will end

Being surrounding by flames
In this boat falling to shambles I hold onto dear life
Scared eyes look up to heaven, shouting the name of god

This heart flies high up to the sky, higher than the whirpool of nightmares
Released from these thoughts of you, releasing the brightness to a distant land
In a new country, in the days soon to come
I wonder if we’ll still continue on the same path…

forbidden lover…….

source : http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858762364/#lIx1z25jAqwa18Q9.99

Maybe it was based on true event Hyde experienced, I didn’t quiet understand. Then it was continued with “MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM“

This time was Ken’s time to speak. He read a text saying that he was going to Pasaraya to buy some Indonesian’s souvenir and he played some acts with Hyde. He pulled out Wayang, Gamelan, and Suling made of bamboo from the plastic bag. Ken showed off the Wayang and the audience shouted excitedly. Ken played the Gamelan and Hyde gave his effort to play the Suling. It was really funny to see them acting like that. Mostly, Ken’s voice was extremely shrill, especially when he said “Mantap! Ma-ntap! Ma ma-ntap! Mamamamamamamama….” Hahahahaha, it’s so funny.

Hyde and Ken looked like boys playing with those Gamelan and Suling. source : http://larcenciel.livejournal.com/1450679.html

“SEVENTH HEAVEN” and “Driver’s High” were the next song they played. When they played “Driver’s High”, I suddenly remembered anime titled “GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka)”. The childhood’s memories suddenly flashed back, and I couldn’t help myself but to sing along with everyone in the crowds. The heat amongst the audience was increased again.

“STAY AWAY” was played on stage. After that “READY STEADY GO” successfully made the crowds jumped into the beat. What I loved from their performance was the multimedia effects they used on the background screen. I thought they used some 3D technology to create such lively effects like the galaxy, disco ball, butterfly, etc. It was too amazing!

The band took a rest for awhile, and the drizzle started to fall again. As the drizzle fell, the screen showed “あなた Anata” song’s lyrics.

“Mune ni itsu no hi ni mo kagayaku.
Anata ga iru kara.
Namida kare hatete mo taisetsu na.
Anata ga iru kara“

In my heart from someday on it will shine.
Because you are here.
Even until all of my tears dry, so precious.
Because you are here.

Automatically, the audience sang a long as the ambience was really matched this song. I didn’t know if it was a coincidence or what that the rain was pouring down on time. But with this drizzle and “Anata” playing, my heart was surely moving.

Then was played another long-awaited song “The Fourth Avenue Cafe“. It was the original sound track of famous anime, “Samurai X”. Everyone on the yard were jumping to the beat and singing along. Hyde was strolling around the stage, he was so energetic in such an age.

It’s Tetsu’s time to interact with the audience. Here it came, the bananas joke! “Gue-punya-pisang. Apakah kamu mau pisang? (I have a banana. Do you want banana?)” he said. “Mauuuuuu!! (Yes!)” the crowds shouted. “Apakah kamu mau pisang gue? (Do you want my banana?)” Tetsu said. Suddenly a laughter exploded from the audience. Maybe he didn’t understand that saying such things would make misinterpretation amongst most people, haha. FYI, a word “pisang” in Indonesia would refer to “mr.p”, hahaha. That’s why the audience laughed for what he was saying. Then he continuous said “Atau kamu mau jilat lolipop gue? (Or do you want to lick my lollipop?)”. Well, there’s no need for another explanation right? :p

After that a little bit dirty jokes from Tetsu, “Link” was played on stage. Then Hyde was MC-ing again, saying that the next song would be their last song. He said “Terima kasih Jakarta. Kami (akan) datang lagi ke Indonesia. (Thank you, Jakarta. Will come here again.)” The audience shouted happily. I wished he meant it. I would like to watch their performance once again as well.

The last song was “虹 Niji“. After singing this song, Hyde said goodbye. Tetsu did another acts and threw his bananas and lollipops. Ken handed-out his guitar pick. What a lucky person to have Ken’s pick. Then they were off from stage.

I couldn’t explain more about my feelings. AMAZING! すごい, とても すごい!! My childhood’s heroes really made my day. My dream had come true. I was really satisfied with 2 hours of seeing Tetsu’s face, his bass collections, and amazing performances. I really loved Hyde’s beautiful appearance as well as his voice. I was amazed by Ken’s guitar playing, and of course his shrilly voice, haha. I liked the new hair cut of Yuki, he looked a lot more charming with this hair style. I loved L’arc~en~Ciel’s live performance! It was super amazing! I was really thankful for you guys to come here to Indonesia. I couldn’t be more grateful for this chance to see you guys after 8 years long-awaited moment.

Thank you for everything. I’ll be waiting for the next performance in Indonesia.
マッタね~ \(^o^)/

L’arc~en~Ciel

 

Parents Quarrel

When children are threatened at an emotional level they’re showing increases in negative symptoms such as depression, anxiety, aggression, hostility.
- Dr. Gordon Harold, researcher at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales -

In a family, quarrel amongst family member is a common thing. Children arguing their parents, siblings’ quarrel, parents dissent. Mostly the cause of the quarrel is a simple thing like miss communication or faux pas. Some maybe because of pressure in the family, adolescence rebellion, miss matched personality, miss understanding, etc. Many things can cause a quarrel in a family. Even though this is a common thing, still it brings bad damage for children. Especially parents quarrel.

When parents shouting at each other, slamming doors, throwing stuffs, and for the worst, hurting each other, children will know. They can hear through the wall, they can feel it. Children are powerless victims. In the beginning, they’ll afraid, knowing the other side of their parents. They’ll understand day by day, which their parents are angry. But a continuous fight makes the children not only be afraid of their parents, but also damaged inside little by little. Anxiety becomes an inevitable habit, because they know for sure if the quarrel will begin soon. Then the restlessness grows bigger and they start to escape from reality. They become ignorant, they don’t care anymore if their parents fighting. They try to find a distraction every time the slamming doors and the screaming start to be heard, like playing a loud music. They begin to reject the life they have and find a new world. Home runaway, rebellion, and in a worst case, fall for drugs or commit suicide.

Aggressive side like parents quarrel not only caused bad damages on kids, but also after they’re grown up. Parents mostly don’t recognize, even though the children remain silent every time they’re quarreling, their inside parts are eroded. For some kids, even though they’re tough enough to stand, there are moments when they just can’t stand. These continuously pressures would make children threatened at an emotional level. The parents wouldn’t know if their children are already in depression state. This depression state would make the children feel insecure, self-blaming, hard to trust in people, lost of faith. These are the things that mostly parents don’t realized of their calm-complaisant children.

source : http://forum.santabanta.com/showthread.htm?158123-Things-to-avoid-in-front-of-kids

Verbally or physically aggressive fights, the “silent treatment,” intense quarrels and arguments concerned with or involving the child are the worst for children. And all of them are ineffective fights.

The hardest thing as children to face parents quarrel are their feelings. Children love their parents, both of them. Seeing both of them fighting each other hurts the children. As the powerless party, their agonies are the worst. You know, when you love someone no matter what they do, you can always love them. Children’s love for parents is a blood-ship love. It might be less then what parents have for their children, but it still a great love that make them can’t hate their parents how cruel they may be hurt. It’s like there’s a little conscience whom persistent to vanish the hatred. This thing also the main source of the depression, the feeling of unable to choose.

Therefore, for the parents, think twice when you’re going to argue in front of your children. You might not realize the damage it causes to your children. That’s why I share it in here, how we, children, would feel for that. This is a little summary from my experience and observation as children. So, how’s yours?

 

M.I.N.O.P (Money is Not Our Problem), really?

This is just a little bit of my feeling about some people mostly say about me. Sorry if it looks too personal. Hehe. :p

I’ve known as an easy-going person. Yeah, literally “easy-going”. If my friend asked me to watch movie together, I’d almost always go, either I like the movie or not. If my friend asked me to eat somewhere, I’d almost always go, either it’s expensive or cheap. If my friend asked me to take a trip together, I’d almost always say yes, and I could go one to another place like within a short span time. In essence, I’m literally “easy-going”.

Thanks God I live in a little bit well-off family, well at least for now, so I still can accommodate my kind of lifestyle. I still can afford a good food, some nice gadgets, a good environment, and some nice entertainments in my own opinion. Well, it’s true that I’m a little bit spoiled by the amount I have with myself, but actually, I don’t really like to depend on my parents’ wealth. It’s true that my parents accommodate mostly of my living cost, and some of my savings, still until now. But I really did gather all the pennies I’ve got and manage them so I can save some for something I might want to spent with, someday when a nice opportunity comes.

The one thing that I love is traveling. I often do it if there’s an opportunity. But as I grow up, I only travel seldom. I don’t actually ask for my parents’ money when I want to go somewhere. Most of the time I travelled, I collected my saving and used it. Only one this last time when I traveled to Singapore I got some from my parents. Maybe because it’s the first time I went aboard, they got a little bit worry. Still I paid the flight tickets by myself.

However, actually, I like what people said about me being an easy-going person. I mean, may I make it as a conclusion that people might feel ease when they want to go out with me? Thanks, I might take it as a compliment.
But, just something I feel a little bit awkward. I know, it might be looked everything’s going so easy for me. Like, if I want to go somewhere then I just go. Too easy, too quick, even without any hesitation or consideration. But, I don’t think people really understand the way I’m thinking why I can be that easy. I know, I can’t force anyone to understand me. It just, I just want to write this, ok?

The thing is, I do save my money. I have my saving every month. A little surplus of my monthly fees, I keep it in another account. I’ve done this since my first year up ’til now. And it’s growing more each time, but I don’t really have something to spend it with. And I always save some for something I want to do in the future. Something when there comes an opportunity, a chance. And sometimes, those chances come too adjacent. So, it’s not that I don’t have any consideration or only go with the flow. I know how to acknowledge when those chances are and they just come like that. And I do prepare a budget for every travel I go. So please, I would not like to be judge that I’m a careless person about money. I just do what I like and I want, I make decisions base on it, and I do the consideration, really. You just won’t understand how I do it.

 

6 Main Powers of Human

Hello, it’s been such a long time since my last post. I’ve been to busy to write, so here comes a chance today.

Today’s post is basically adapted from a post by Terselubung, but I’d like to share it with you people in my own words. Enjoy.

1. The Power of Dreams
To achieve great things in life, we must have dreams and clear purpose of life. We must be brave to dream good things for our life and the life of people we love. Without dreams, we might walk an aimless path, and lose our vision of life.
The power of dreams invents most of sophisticated inventions nowadays. Imagine if people never use their imagination, maybe we would never know what we call car or plane right now. So, can you imagine how great is the power of dreams?

2. The Power of Focus
Focus is a power to see something (including future, dreams, goals, or other things like strengths and weaknesses in self, opportunities, etc.) in a clear view and take action to achieve it. Like a pair of glasses that help one to see more clearly, the power of focus helps us to see our dreams, goals, and strengths more clearly, therefor we won’t hesitate in stepping in to make it happen.
In some cases of us, it’s pretty hard to settle what we want to do in our life. I’ve seen it in some of my friends, and also in myself. The losing of our focus sometimes makes us bad in doing something. Like we want to do everything in one time and then it ends up we don’t finish anything at all. But look at people who use their power of focus. They do what they want and they’re great in it. It’s not only apply to people with good ability, but their focus on what they do that make them become great people.

3. The Power of Self Discipline
Repetition is a tremendous power to achieve excellence. We are what we do repetitively. According to Aristoteles, excellence is a habit. Habit is built from a consistent self discipline and constantly perform an act that brings in a person’s crowning achievement. Our habit determine our future. To build such as habit, we need a strong self discipline. In fact, self discipline is how we defeat ourselves and control them to achieve our dreams and good things in life.
An easiest example is when you on a diet. All you need to do to have a healthy diet is to have your low calories meals at punctual times, and have routine exercises. Do it with a strong self discipline, and I guarantee you’ll lose weight in a couple of months.

4. The Power of Survival
Every human is given the power to struggle through difficulties and pains. It’s precisely we are formed to be though God’s creation through those problems and failures. We often forget to learn how to face failures and difficulties in life because those failures themselves are the main components or ingredients in achieving success or abundant life.
Have you seen the movie Cast Away? In that movie, Tom Hanks is playing as the stranded man who survive a plane crash. The only thing that makes him survive struggling alone on that island is his power of survival. Just like in that movie, with the power of survival, we can believe that we can be a strong and though people even though great problems impede our life.

5. The Power of Learning
With learning, we can encounter and make changes in our life. With learning, we can grow up day by day and become a better human. Learning is a life-time process. By continuing to learn in this life, we can improve our living standards at the higher levels.
This one is a nature power we have since childhood. We learn how to speak, walk, read, write, eat, etc. As we’re grown up, we learn things in school. We learn how to communicate to others, how to manage our life, how to make things working, etc. When we become parents, we learn how to build a family, how to raise children, how to be good parents, etc. Then as elders, we learn how to make the rest of your live meaningful and peace. Learning is not ended as the school’s over. We will always learn for the rest of our life.

6. The Power of Mind
Mind is the greatest and the most beautiful gift from God. With understanding the way of works and how to utilize the power of mind, we can create great things for our life. With training and improving our power of mind, not only our intelligence and creativity, but also our emotional and spiritual intelligence are growing and increasing to a higher level. Every one of us has right to have power in achieving abundant life and good things in life. All of these are the products of our consciously choice, based on our beliefs, and not the products of our past or present existences. As stated by Jack Canfield in his book “The Power of Focus”, life doesn’t just happen to us. Life is a series of options and how we respond on every situation occurred to us.
The only one who can control our mind is ourselves. The power of mind has a great ability to manipulate the mind itself. Imagine you are in one condition where you have to cross a cliff with a fragile old wooden bridge. The bridge might be looked creepy like it could break while you crossing on it. But then you think of the bridge as a wide road, so then you can past the bridge without any hesitation. One turnover of mind can change something.

So that’s the 6 main powers of human. Have you find them in your life? Believe in every power you have in you,therefore you won’t hesitate to achieve good things in your life.

 

A Tribute To Music, and Mama

My mama once said,

“Never let music go off your life. Never stop listening to it. Never stop singing it. Never stop playing it. Because whenever you’re down, it helps you to get through this life.”

I understand well what my mama was saying that time.

My mama is the first person who introduces me to music. She has played piano since she was a little girl and sang like for her whole life. She could be an artist, if only my grandfather would let her. Unfortunately, my grandfather is really strict that he even didn’t allow her to be a lawyer, where Law is her major in university. So then she only can play it at home, where she can freely express her music.

Since I was a little, my mama has fed me, along with my brothers, with music. Every time I got back from school, I’d always meet my mama with her piano, playing and singing songs once I would never understand until I finally had them resound inside of my head. When I was in kindergarten, I joined choir group at my school. I joined another choir group at my church, and I even had classic piano courses for 6 years. I listened to Backstreet Boys and N’Sync, and thought Westlife was suck even when there’s nothing different between them. At sixth grade, I listened to Sheila on 7 (a famous pop band from Indonesia) and Blink 182. I became a big fan of punk rock such as Blink 182, GreenDay, New Found Glory, the coolest rapper I ever knew : EMINEM, and hahaha odd enough, System of The Down by the influence of my big brother. Funny thing is, I used these heavy South East America rock band’s songs as my lullaby, hahaha. Maybe it’s all because at my junior high school times, I was in a big struggling of my youth. Well, adolescence. I’ve grown up, and I listen to every kind of music now, and I’ve been becoming a victim of Hallyu (Korean’s entertainment wave), hahaha. I should admit it, some of their music is SUPER AWESOME, some people are just too good, and of course, their dramas are really something addictive. Well, that’s how everyday, I never let my ears miss even a single song.

Have you ever heard some said that a pregnant mom should listen to classic songs, so once the baby’s born, he/she has a stable emotion? Or if you want to learn something better, listen to classic songs while studying? Believe it or not, I guess those statements are right. When I was having my piano courses, I tried and learned so many piano sheets with a lot of notes on them. I though it was so hard, especially when the teacher demanded me to master a new complicated Chopin’s sheet in just a week, but then I realized, the longer I learned about these classic stuff, the more I got my ability to memorize more.

Music has saved my mind and heart since I was a little. It’s really hard for me to be mad at my friends, and I really couldn’t show it. So, the only way to solve it was to get those bad feelings disappeared, with music. I often got in a fight with my mom, but I had too high dignity to shed tears in front of her. Therefore I always directly run into my room, put my earphone really tight, and turned on a super loud music. Then after that, my anger would fade away, with music. I passed through a lot of heart-breaking moments in my high school where I was far from my home in boarding school and a really discipline school life. A lot of things happened, but I stayed still with that kind of life, as long as I have music. I was almost desperate when in the first three months of my 10th grade there was not allowed to use any music player devices. It suffocated me super! The biggest lonely feeling was in my first year of college where I suddenly had to live alone. It’s a big shock for me, and I was in my deepest desperate feelings. But thanks to my dear music, my super best friend of all time, I knew how to cheer myself.

In summary, I was born and raised with music. Apparently, music is still my savior at most of my lowest moments up until now. Thanks music for teaching me how to be tough. Thanks music for cheering me at my saddest moment. Thanks music for being my friend in my loneliness. Thanks music for showing me those beautiful harmonies. But most of all, thanks mama for introducing me the beauty of music, and of course, Jesus for creating music in this world.

Don’t let the music inside of you dies.

 

Narrow-minded Side of A Judgement

There was a story of a group of friends. This group was actually consisted of many people, and every time they did something together, the members of this group could be anyone as long as they’re available. This group was a group of friendly people who welcomed for anyone to be their friend.

Commonly, when they were younger, they spent so many times together. They had meals, watched movie, sang in karaoke box, traveled, played, studied, been doing most of things together. But as the time passed, they’re getting busier one and each other with their own activities, so the time they spent together were becoming less and less and less. Until finally, it was so hard to get everyone together in one big group to do something together like the old times. So this big group was divided into some little groups, the groups with a small number members with the same likes and schedules so they could spend times with each other like their old big group would do. They became close with each other in these little groups, but still played with the others from another groups, which actually were the other little groups from the old big group, but only with a more less time and just seldom. Even though, the dividing of the big group into many little groups didn’t make them becoming not friends. They’re still playing together sometimes.

People are grown up. Once we become adults, our priorities are increasing and becoming more specific. We by accident are forced to always make a choice in our life. So that’s what happened to these groups. Everyone have his or her own life. That’s why each and every group eventually is on their own way, walking the different lines. Every group is becoming a kind of “exclusive” in it’s own way, because they spend so much time with each other, and almost never spent time with another from different groups. But it’s not a big problem for everyone, we’re still friends although.

So the time is only just a little more for everyone before graduating the college time. Every little group spends more of its time intensely, becomes more exclusively day by day. Time is too short, they just want to spend a lot more sharing times with each other. Well, it’s so natural to be with close friends most of the times since in the beginning they’re close friends because of the comfort in each other. However, for some reason, one of this little group is judged as “the exclusive group” for their friendship. This little group is not a bunch of luxurious people, or arrogant people, or nearly genius people, or anything extraordinary, because when you say “exclusive” about something, it can be meant it’s too much of something when other’s not. But if that “something” was the time spending together with some close friends, wouldn’t it be unfair to judge something like that? So that’s why this little group feel disappointed with that judgement from their own friend in the old big group. They don’t understand why they can be judged like that when everyone does the same thing.

About the exclusively, well, this little group actually has a bigger size of members at certain times, but it’s all depends on the availability of each person. It’s just like a circle of friends with everyone in it with many intersections based on the schedule of availability. So in each time they want to do something but some just can’t make it, only the available ones go on with the plan, and most of the time, this little group’s members have same time of availability. The availability in this context means the same schedules, same interests, same affordability and easily reachable existences. In example, they could impulsively go somewhere together when they were accidentally in the same place at that moment, with the same mood for that thing, and the same leisure times, and no one would feel hurt if he or she didn’t join.

One of this group’s member is me. Sorry for the long post up there, I just don’t want to look like grumbling in this post. I just want to share my thoughts of this occurrence.

I, and my close friends, spent a lot of intensely times in this little group. I don’t know it’s we who are too impulsive or just love to be with each other. Well, done said that I didn’t always go with the same persons every day, I still went with other close friends and so did other persons in this little group. I just feel it’s so unfair to judge a friendship of someone like “too exclusive” when it indeed is his/her right to whom he/she feels comfortable, and when someone more out there doing a lot more “exclusive” life. What’s the point of insist a fake BFF’s friendship? Okay, I think it’s a little bit harsh phrase. I apologize for my words.

In my whole life, since I was in kindergarten, I played with anyone, and in my university life is the first time I face the situation where there are people who judge the friendship I have is too exclusive. It’s so unfair to make people feel bad with an unfair statement. I’m not angry, I’m currently feeling too much DISAPPOINTED instead of mad. Where does this narrow mind come from? What is so exclusive when a bunch of people spending time together doing nothing showing off but being happy together? Do we have to ask for everyone to go with us every time we want to go somewhere? Wouldn’t they feel annoyed too if someone they don’t usually go with is persistent to ask every single time? It’s just not in my logic, and someone just doesn’t simply feel ok with that.

What I want to say is, everyone has his/her own preferences. In this life, you can’t force everyone to become like you. Everyone has right to choose, and you just can’t simply tell someone what to feel. If someone feels uncomfortable to go with you, don’t insist, it’s inappropriate. If someone feels uncomfortable to go with someone else, don’t insist, it’s more inappropriate. If a bunch of people loves to be together and they’re accidentally become so intensely being together, it’s not their fault for being so close together. Don’t judge them “too exclusive”, especially when more of your friends do a lot more “exclusive” things. Just say if you want to join, but don’t judge them first if you’re not even in the same move with them. Friendship is not something you settle and control, it’s built by an honest feeling to be friends. And for once more I’ll say, you can’t tell someone what to feel.

 

It’s Not A Proper Reason

I’ve just watched a movie “Chronicle” with my friends. On the late parts, the main character keeps on telling to himself “human is on the top of food chain, human is powerful” something like that. He gets this idea from the scene (which you might usually see on Discovery Channel) where lion chases the deer and there’s nothing wrong with that. Well, maybe he misses the thought of lion does it due to hunt for its food, not just for playing or showing its strength.

Once when I was little, I watched a movie “The Jungle Book”. On this movie, there’s a baby boy whom lost in a jungle and then raised by a female wolf (well, I don’t quite remember is it the right movie or something else). He was taught to act like wolf, growl like wolf, hunt like a wolf, and even be breast-feed’ed by the mama wolf. One day, he played with other wolf cubs, chased an animal. But accidentally, he killed it. Mama wolf found out, and punished him so hard. She was really angry and warned him to never play with his food. That’s how I remember the story from my childhood.

The thing is, even in animal’s world, they don’t play with weaklings. They don’t kill other animal just to show their strength or play with it. Even a full lion won’t hurt the mice walking on his body. They kill each other for a reason, a reasonable reason. That’s why when I watched this movie, I felt a little upset with the main character’s point of view. I knew he was bullied all the time that’s he felt like doing a little kind of revenge with his life, but it’s not a proper reason to do bad things to other living things. Umm, there’s no proper reason for doing bad things to others though. But well, the movie wouldn’t be interesting without a conflict. It’s just a movie, hahaha.

 

My R.I.P Cat : ChunHo

This is a story of one of my cat.

A few days ago, my cat, ChunHo (He’s named after a character name in Korean Drama my mom watched), gave his last breath. Well, this isn’t the first time I have my cat dying, but somehow, I feel so sad. It’s been a while since I felt the sadness of losing, even though I didn’t spare much time at home where I can see him and play with him.

The first time he was born, I was away in another town. He was born with his other 3 sisters. A few days later, their mother died of food poisoning. At that time, they still closed their eyes (they really were new born babies!) and need breast-feeding. My mother thought, they wouldn’t survive, but with my brother’s patience and caring, they passed the days until they opened their eyes. Unfortunately one of them passed away, and I was the one who has to watch her dying and giving her last breath.

Months passed, and they’re growing into teenager cats. I was studying in other town, so I couldn’t watch them grown. Every time I got back home, they were always looked bigger than the last time. ChunHo has become a cute and playful cat, and his sisters has grown beautifully. ChunHo was the kindest of all. He always let his sisters having their meal first. One funny thing he ever did was bringing home a live cute hamster. Usually, cats will kill small creature along play with it, like cockroach, lizard (Cicak), ant, rat, and supposedly, hamster. But he brought this little fella home, ALIVE. Hahaha I still think of it as a sweet thing my cat would do. That hamster, was taken care by my brother, until now, and he has a large cage with it’s own playing space.

Last week was the last time I saw him. My mom called me a few days ago and said he was dying and dead, just two days after I went from home. I was shocked, but also glad when my mom said he was passed away peacefully. I got a heartbreak that day. I still have the videos I took of him playing with my little new cat (which I’m taking care of in Bandung, the town where I’m studying). I watched it last night, and I felt like I was going to cry. I like this cat a lot. He’s really kind, cute, and funny. I love this cat.

Well, maybe this is a sort of weird post, because I describe him as he was a human, hahaha. My friend said, he didn’t understand that kind of relationship between animal and human. Maybe some of you who have pets could understand the way I feel. For me, losing a pet is likely same with losing a relation or someone I know. I feel more sad on this losing, because I saw him since he hadn’t opened his eyes, I felt the worried of he might not pass childhood like his sister, and I had already felt his existences until he was adult. Growing up a pet is like having a child to take care of, as I’m not a parent yet.

Farewell, ChunHo.
I might be not a good master, but I hope you do well up there.
I’ll miss you.

Love.

P.S : thanks for everyone who mind to spare some time reading this post until the end. And for everyone who have pets, please take a good care of them.