Jumlah manusia yang hidup di dunia ini sungguh banyak. Miliaran orang menghembuskan nafas setiap hari. Dan setiap orang bangun pagi-pagi berlomba untuk segera sampai di tempat pekerjaan dengan secepak mungkin, berpacu dengan waktu dan tenaga.
Pernahkah anda terpikir untuk menentukan tujuan hidupmu setiap pagi? Pernahkah anda bertanya pada diri anda untuk apa bangun pagi-pagi, berangkat terburu-buru tanpa sempat sarapan pagi. Kemudian di jalan bermacet-macet setiap hari. Pernahkah anda bertanya untuk apa saya lakukan ini setiap pagi. Mengapa saya selalu bermac dengan waktu setiap saat. Apakah kegiatan rutinitas aku lakukan mempunai tujuan?
Apakah kamu mempunyai tujuan hidup? Apakah tujuan hidupmu sudah kamu tentukan? Bangun pagi, berpacu dengan waktu setiap hari dan pulang larut malam dengan tenaga yang sudah terkuras habis, dilakukan tanpa tujuan. Apakah semua itu dilakukan untuk mencapai tujuan?
Pernahkah terpikir untuk menentukan apa yang menjadi tujuan hidupmu? Pernahkah kita pastikan untuk apa kita bernafas setiap hari? Tujuannya apa?
Jangan-jangan kehidupan yang kita jalani hanya untuk menghabiskan waktu maupun umur Tuhan diberikan. Apa yang menjadi tujuan hidup anda? Apakah anda dan pasangan anda pernah duduk bersama-sama untuk merancang tujuan hidup anda. Tujuan hidup keluarga atau tujuan hidup pribadi untuk jangka waktu tertentu?
Apabila anda adalah orang yang sudah menentukan tujuan hidup, anda adalah salah seorang yang paling berbahagia di muka bumi ini. Karena keluarga maupun orang-orang terdekat anda akan sangat bersyukur sekali memiliki seseorang seperti anda. Karena anda sudah menentukan dan menrancang suatu tujuan hidup untuk keluarga maupun pribadi untuk beberapa tahun ke depan.
Artinya anda bangun pagi-pagi, berangkat pagi-pagi bergelut dengan kemacetan dan pulang larut malam, tanpa kesia-siaan.
Setelah menentukan tujuan hidup, hal yang paling utama adalah berdoa dan memohon pada yang Kuasa agar tujuan yang anda sudah tetapkan dapat tercapai.
Pepatah orang tua mengatakan, "hidup di dunia itu cuma sebentar".Kalau dipikir-pikir ada juga benarnya. Saking sebentarnya, ibarat seseorang yang kebetulan lewat didepan rumah kita dan dia kehausan. Saking hausnya kemudian dia mampir ke rumah kita untuk meminta minum.
Sangatlah disayangkan apabila waktu yang hanya sebentar dipergunakan dengan tidak berarti. Menggunakan waktu pemberian Tuhan dengan sebaik-baiknya adalah merupakan suatu kesempatan untuk berbuat yang terbaik. Memang harus diakui bahwa tidak semua orang dapat dengan mudah menentukan untuk apa yang menjadi tujuan dalam hidupnya. Percaya atau tidak kita semua, tua atau muda, besar atau kecil, kaya atau miskin kita akan sama-sama melalui perjalanan yang sangat panjang dalam hidup ini.
Perjalanan panjang hidup yang mungkin berliku-liku membuat kita semakin kuat dan kuat untuk bertahan dan mencapai tujuan hidup yang kita doakan dan inginkan. Setelah kita sadar dan menemukan apa yang sebenarnya kita cari dalam umur kita yang pendek, dimana kesempatan Ia telah berikan membuat kita segera dapat bangkit dari keterlenaan akan kesibukan sehari-hari kita. Memang menentukan tujuan hidup bukanlah suatu ambisi, tetapi bagi banyak orang menentukan tujuan hidup merupakan suatu ambisi. Apapun bentuknya yang pasti, semuanya hanya tidak lebih dari pada sebuah jati diri atau ingin menunjukkan jati diri kita siapa. Yang bagi kebanyakan orang jati diri atau harga diri adalah sangat penting. Menentukan tujuan hidup, dengan alasan mengevaluasi hal-hal yang sudah dicapai memang alasan terpentung dan masuk akal. Apapun alasannya. Yang pasti menentukan tujuan hidup tetapi tidak ngoyo. Menentukan tujuan hidup diatas kehendakNya, itu adalah cita-cita luhur dan hidup penuh dengan penyerahan.
Sudahkah anda menentukan tujuan hidup anda? Jika, ya itulah diri mari jalani hidup ini dengan meminta bantuan dariNya. Jika belum, tentukan sekarang. Jangan sampai terlambat! Karena kita hidup adalah untuk mencapai tujuan hidup yang sudah kita tetapkan.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Health Important Notice
*Reduce the amount of TEA you consume.
*Do not eat bread which has only JUST been toasted.
*Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS .
*Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night .
*Do not drink coffee TWICE a day.
*Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume.
*Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning.
*Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm.
*Do not take alcohol more than one glass/cup/serving a day.
*Do not take pills with COOL water.
*Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping.
*Getting LESS than 8 hours of sleep affects your health.
*People used to napping will not get old easily.
*When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone, the radiation is 1000 times.
*Answer the phone by LEFT ear, it'll spoil your brain directly by using right ear.
*Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time, rest your ear awhile after 1 hour.
Read More..
*Do not eat bread which has only JUST been toasted.
*Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS .
*Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night .
*Do not drink coffee TWICE a day.
*Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume.
*Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning.
*Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm.
*Do not take alcohol more than one glass/cup/serving a day.
*Do not take pills with COOL water.
*Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping.
*Getting LESS than 8 hours of sleep affects your health.
*People used to napping will not get old easily.
*When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone, the radiation is 1000 times.
*Answer the phone by LEFT ear, it'll spoil your brain directly by using right ear.
*Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time, rest your ear awhile after 1 hour.
Read More..
Belajar Mencintai Seseorang
Suatu malam BAPA menyapa seorang anakNya, hamba perempuanNya yang setia, "Selamat malam anakKu," hamba perempuan itu membalas salam TUHAN dengan lembut, "Selamat malam, TUHAN," "AnakKu, maukah kau belajar tentang KASIH?"
Saat itu dia dipenuhi sukacita dan menjawab, "Tentu TUHAN!"
"Baiklah," kata BAPA," Aku akan menunjukkan KASIH padamu."
Beberapa waktu berlalu, hamba perempuan itu dengan setia menantikan panggilan TUHAN kembali. Suatu hari dia menemukan janin tertanam dalam kandungannya. Dipenuhi kegembiraan, dia bersama suami dan keluarganya merayakan moment itu.
Bulan demi bulan berlalu, hamba perempuan ini kian menyayangi janin dalam kandungannya, anaknya. Akhirnya waktu bersalin pun tiba. Dipenuhi degup- degup emosi, perjuangan antara hidup dan mati, dia melahirkan anaknya, seorang anak perempuan yang mungil dan cantik seperti dirinya. Hatinya dan seluruh keluarganya dipenuhi sukacita.
Namun tidak berlangsung lama. Beberapa menit sesudahnya, dokter menyatakan bahwa bayi yang dilahirkannya tidak bisa bertahan hidup dan akhirnya meninggal dalam hitungan jam.
Di tengah rasa kecewa, BAPA datang menyapanya, "AnakKu,"
Dengan bibir bergetar, antara marah dan kecewa, dia menjawab, Kenapa TUHAN? Kenapa ini semua terjadi?"
Dengan penuh kasih, TUHAN menjawab, "AnakKu yang terkasih, bukankah kau ingin belajar KASIH? Apakah kau sudah belajar sesuatu?"Bagaimana rasanya kehilangan?"
Dengan isakan dia menjawab, "Tak terkatakan TUHAN..Sakiiiit sekali..."
Kata TUHAN, "Syukurlah kau mengerti sekarang. Kau telah kehilangan seorang anak yang kau kasihi. Dan rasanya sungguh amat sakit. Pernahkah kau bayangkan begitu amat banyak anakKu yang terhilang di dunia ini? Mengertikah kau perasaanKu sekarang?"
Hamba perempuan itu hanya bisa terdiam memikirkan pernyataan TUHAN.
Itulah KASIH.
KASIH adalah rasa sakit saat kita kehilangan sesuatu yang kita kasihi. Terlebih saat kita kehilangan KASIH itu sendiri.
Di sekeliling kita banyak sekali orang yang sangat membutuhkan
KASIH.
Dan kita bisa menemukan mereka di lingkungan terdekat kita.
Mereka adalah orang- orang yang kita kasihi dan kita tidak ingin kehilangan mereka.
Mulai sekarang berikanlah KASIH pada setiap orang yang kamu cintai setiap hari. Jangan sampai kamu menyesal saat kehilangan mereka.
Ingatlah! Orang- orang yang kelihatan tegar dari luar, yang biasanya menjadi pelindung bagi orang lain, justru merekalah yang lebih membutuhkan perlindungan. Mereka bahkan lebih rapuh dari orang- orang yang mereka lindungi. Jika kamu menemukan orang- orang seperti itu, mereka sangat membutuhkan KASIH darimu
Read More..Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Happiness, Loving And Money
Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city
by George Burns
Money can’t buy you love. It can’t buy you happiness either.
Today’s materialistic world often urges us to buy the coolest gadgets, the trendiest clothes, bigger and better things, but research shows that possessions and purchases don’t buy us happiness. According to an article on CNN:
By and large, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once you pass an income of $50,000, more money doesn’t buy much more happiness, [according to a happiness studies].
So while we are being pushed towards materialism, it’s for monetary gain by corporations, not for our own happiness. Unfortunately, it’s hard to escape the trap of materialism, and find happiness in other ways than buying stuff online or finding joy in the mall.
But it’s possible. Here’s a guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Escaping Materialism
All around us, there are messages telling us to buy stuff. On the Internet (blogs included), we see continuous advertising trying to get us to purchase a product or service. It’s the main reason for television, and movies are continually made with products placed throughout, so that we aren’t always sure what is advertising and what was put in there by the director.
Flip on the radio or open up a newspaper or magazine, and you’re bombarded my more advertising. Go to a shopping center/mall, and the urge to buy comes from every direction.
This message to continually buy, buy, buy … and that it will somehow make us happpier … is drilled into our heads from the days of Happy Meals and cartoons until the day we die. It’s inescapable.
Well, almost. You could go and live in a cabin in the woods (and that actually sounds nice), or you could still live in our modern society, but find ways to escape materialism.
Here are some suggestions:
* Limit television.
Do you really enjoy watching TV for hours? Think about which shows you really, really love, and only watch during that time. When the commercials come on, go do something else. Or use Tivo to watch TV. You can even give up cable TV entirely, if you’re brave — I have, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
* Eschew the news.
Journalists will never tell you this, but if they’re completely honest, they’ll confess that the most important part of any news company, from TV or radio news to Internet or print new, is the advertising division. It’s the division that pays the paychecks of the rest of the company. The news is important in driving traffic to the advertising. So when you’re watching or reading news, you’re really being sucked in to advertising. Try this instead: boycott the news for a week. I’ve done it for about two years, and it hasn’t hurt me a bit. In fact, it’s helped me a lot.
* Limit Internet reading.
I’m not saying you should cancel your cable Internet subscription or anything. I love reading blogs. But find just those that you truly love reading, that give you the most value, and limit your reading to those. And just do it once a day, for 30 minutes or so. If you can do that, you’ve gone a long way towards tearing yourself away from advertising.
* Give up magazines for books.
Magazines are also designed with advertising in mind. And they rarely give you much value. Try reading an ad-free book instead. It’s a much better use of your time.
* Don’t go to the mall or Walmart.
The only purpose of these places is for you to spend money. If you just want a place to spend your Saturday afternoon, find a place where you don’t need to spend money to have fun — a park or a beach, for example. If you need to buy something, go to a single store (not the mall) and go in and get what you need. Don’t browse and walk around looking at stuff. You’ll get sucked in.
* Monitor your urges.
When you’re online, or watching TV, or at a store, keep track of the number of times you want to buy something. Keep a little notebook or index card, and just put tally marks. Once you become more aware of your urges to buy things, you can start to control them. If you could control them, limiting your consumption of media (see above tips) isn’t really necessary — although I would argue that it still gives you a better quality of life.
* Use a 30-day list.
If you still really want to buy something, put it on a list, and write down the date you added the item to the list. Now tell yourself you cannot buy that item for 30 days. It might be difficult, but you can do it. When the 30 days have passed, if you still want it, then buy it. But you can’t buy anything (besides essentials like groceries) without putting it on the list for 30 days first. Many times, our urges to buy something will pass during this waiting period.
* Declutter.
I find it pretty amazing to see all the crap I buy over a period of years, when I go through my closets and other possessions and start getting rid of stuff I don’t use or want anymore. It’s a gratifying process, and at the same time, it makes me realize how useless all our consumer shopping is. I don’t need any of the stuff! When you do this, you may be less likely to buy more stuff. Especially if you enjoy the decluttered look of your house as much as I do.
* Find other forms of entertainment.
There are other things to do besides watch TV or movies or read magazines or newspapers or the Internet. Try playing sports or exercising, or playing board games or creating art or writing or reading a book. Try doing fun things with your kids or visiting relatives and other loved ones. Try volunteering with a charity. I’m sure you could come up with 100 free or cheap things to do.
* Buy used.
When you get the urge to buy something, and you’re convinced that it’s needed, try finding it used instead of new. Look in thrift shops or garage sales or flea markets or similar places.
A True Path to Happiness
So, if you’re able to escape materialism, how can you find true happiness? There are many ways, and each of us is different, but here are some things I suggest trying:
* Grateful list.
Make a list of things about which you’re grateful in your life. Give thanks for them daily.
* Think positive.
Try eliminating negative thinking from your life, and thinking positive instead.
* Small pleasures.
Make a list of small things that give you great pleasure. Sprinkle them throughout your day. Notice other small pleasures as you go through your day.
* Kindness.
Practice random acts of kindness and compassion. Do it anonymously. Help those in need. Volunteer. Make someone smile.
* Love.
Make an intimate connection with your loved ones. Develop your friendships. Spend time with them, converse, understand them, make them happy.
* Health.
Exercise and eat healthy — it sounds trite, but it can bring great happiness to your life.
* Meaning.
It’s often useful to find meaning, either through a church or spiritual way, or through those we love in life or through the things we’re passionate about. Give yourself a purpose.
* Flow.
Eliminate distractions, and really pour yourself into whatever you’re doing. If it’s writing an article, like this one, really put yourself into it, until you forget the outside world.
* Know yourself.
Become attuned to what brings you happiness. Study yourself. Learn about what you love, and about your ability to love. Increase your capacity for compassion.
What brings you happiness? How do you feel about materialism, and is it worth trying to escape it? Let us know in the comments. Read More..
by George Burns
Money can’t buy you love. It can’t buy you happiness either.
Today’s materialistic world often urges us to buy the coolest gadgets, the trendiest clothes, bigger and better things, but research shows that possessions and purchases don’t buy us happiness. According to an article on CNN:
By and large, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once you pass an income of $50,000, more money doesn’t buy much more happiness, [according to a happiness studies].
So while we are being pushed towards materialism, it’s for monetary gain by corporations, not for our own happiness. Unfortunately, it’s hard to escape the trap of materialism, and find happiness in other ways than buying stuff online or finding joy in the mall.
But it’s possible. Here’s a guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Escaping Materialism
All around us, there are messages telling us to buy stuff. On the Internet (blogs included), we see continuous advertising trying to get us to purchase a product or service. It’s the main reason for television, and movies are continually made with products placed throughout, so that we aren’t always sure what is advertising and what was put in there by the director.
Flip on the radio or open up a newspaper or magazine, and you’re bombarded my more advertising. Go to a shopping center/mall, and the urge to buy comes from every direction.
This message to continually buy, buy, buy … and that it will somehow make us happpier … is drilled into our heads from the days of Happy Meals and cartoons until the day we die. It’s inescapable.
Well, almost. You could go and live in a cabin in the woods (and that actually sounds nice), or you could still live in our modern society, but find ways to escape materialism.
Here are some suggestions:
* Limit television.
Do you really enjoy watching TV for hours? Think about which shows you really, really love, and only watch during that time. When the commercials come on, go do something else. Or use Tivo to watch TV. You can even give up cable TV entirely, if you’re brave — I have, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
* Eschew the news.
Journalists will never tell you this, but if they’re completely honest, they’ll confess that the most important part of any news company, from TV or radio news to Internet or print new, is the advertising division. It’s the division that pays the paychecks of the rest of the company. The news is important in driving traffic to the advertising. So when you’re watching or reading news, you’re really being sucked in to advertising. Try this instead: boycott the news for a week. I’ve done it for about two years, and it hasn’t hurt me a bit. In fact, it’s helped me a lot.
* Limit Internet reading.
I’m not saying you should cancel your cable Internet subscription or anything. I love reading blogs. But find just those that you truly love reading, that give you the most value, and limit your reading to those. And just do it once a day, for 30 minutes or so. If you can do that, you’ve gone a long way towards tearing yourself away from advertising.
* Give up magazines for books.
Magazines are also designed with advertising in mind. And they rarely give you much value. Try reading an ad-free book instead. It’s a much better use of your time.
* Don’t go to the mall or Walmart.
The only purpose of these places is for you to spend money. If you just want a place to spend your Saturday afternoon, find a place where you don’t need to spend money to have fun — a park or a beach, for example. If you need to buy something, go to a single store (not the mall) and go in and get what you need. Don’t browse and walk around looking at stuff. You’ll get sucked in.
* Monitor your urges.
When you’re online, or watching TV, or at a store, keep track of the number of times you want to buy something. Keep a little notebook or index card, and just put tally marks. Once you become more aware of your urges to buy things, you can start to control them. If you could control them, limiting your consumption of media (see above tips) isn’t really necessary — although I would argue that it still gives you a better quality of life.
* Use a 30-day list.
If you still really want to buy something, put it on a list, and write down the date you added the item to the list. Now tell yourself you cannot buy that item for 30 days. It might be difficult, but you can do it. When the 30 days have passed, if you still want it, then buy it. But you can’t buy anything (besides essentials like groceries) without putting it on the list for 30 days first. Many times, our urges to buy something will pass during this waiting period.
* Declutter.
I find it pretty amazing to see all the crap I buy over a period of years, when I go through my closets and other possessions and start getting rid of stuff I don’t use or want anymore. It’s a gratifying process, and at the same time, it makes me realize how useless all our consumer shopping is. I don’t need any of the stuff! When you do this, you may be less likely to buy more stuff. Especially if you enjoy the decluttered look of your house as much as I do.
* Find other forms of entertainment.
There are other things to do besides watch TV or movies or read magazines or newspapers or the Internet. Try playing sports or exercising, or playing board games or creating art or writing or reading a book. Try doing fun things with your kids or visiting relatives and other loved ones. Try volunteering with a charity. I’m sure you could come up with 100 free or cheap things to do.
* Buy used.
When you get the urge to buy something, and you’re convinced that it’s needed, try finding it used instead of new. Look in thrift shops or garage sales or flea markets or similar places.
A True Path to Happiness
So, if you’re able to escape materialism, how can you find true happiness? There are many ways, and each of us is different, but here are some things I suggest trying:
* Grateful list.
Make a list of things about which you’re grateful in your life. Give thanks for them daily.
* Think positive.
Try eliminating negative thinking from your life, and thinking positive instead.
* Small pleasures.
Make a list of small things that give you great pleasure. Sprinkle them throughout your day. Notice other small pleasures as you go through your day.
* Kindness.
Practice random acts of kindness and compassion. Do it anonymously. Help those in need. Volunteer. Make someone smile.
* Love.
Make an intimate connection with your loved ones. Develop your friendships. Spend time with them, converse, understand them, make them happy.
* Health.
Exercise and eat healthy — it sounds trite, but it can bring great happiness to your life.
* Meaning.
It’s often useful to find meaning, either through a church or spiritual way, or through those we love in life or through the things we’re passionate about. Give yourself a purpose.
* Flow.
Eliminate distractions, and really pour yourself into whatever you’re doing. If it’s writing an article, like this one, really put yourself into it, until you forget the outside world.
* Know yourself.
Become attuned to what brings you happiness. Study yourself. Learn about what you love, and about your ability to love. Increase your capacity for compassion.
What brings you happiness? How do you feel about materialism, and is it worth trying to escape it? Let us know in the comments. Read More..
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
