Better Late than Never?

An interesting twit from It'sThingsinLife this morning had made me reluctantly smile:  Better late than never, but never late is better
So true. I hate being late. Some people hate me for this issue. From their look I can tell they don't like to be told off whenever they are late..

When I absorp the line, it really can reflect in many aspects in life. You may loose your love one if you keep 'coming late' or 'doing it late' :D
I am Struggling in fighting the stereotype that indonesians are always late; love to be late. At least to prove my self that I don't fall into that category.

This time, I think I limit the issue for things at work.
I consider my industry expect people to be on time.
Being in this hospitality industry, we are in a cycle where our chain links to other. It is crucial to ensure we are on time for work. Once someone fail to keep this time discipline, he or she cause damage to their colleagues, their team.
Can you imagine being  late,  while your front desk colleague expecting your presence handling guest queuing in long line?
Or commis assign on mis en place coming late, his team mate dying seeing guest coming in and service people start placing the order?
I think, that is rather mean, and you really pay no respect your team.
Well, for myself, arriving late at work makes me cranky. Ruins my morning mood. I'd appreciate if my team appreciate tardiness.
unfortunately if we spare mercy for lateness, they will grow happily to become habit. Scaarryyyy.
I wonder, whether this habit derives from bad time management or it is just it.
Accepting lateness once in a while with traffic as reason, will work only once in a blue moon.
You do it several time, meaning you are no good in planning your life.
Leave early for work, get up early to get ready.

Ring a bell what people say?
-You can't make the same mistake twice. The second time you make it, it's no longer a mistake. It's a choice.
Coming late first time is a lesson. Should learn to avoid making same mistake. Coming late second, third, four time, it is no longer mistake to learn from. It is bad habit we need to kill.

For somethings in life, late is better than never. But indeed, never late is, better.

Get Up!

Have you ever felt that you know almost anything?  but then suddenly a line of challenging question on your expertise turn your world upside down.
Good thing if we respond to the situation with right attitude. The attitude to take complaint as feedback and way to improve.

This is the most dangerous part when we stay in one place without effort on upgrading ourself. Never being exposed to outside world (not browse information, not being updated on trends, not benchmarking) we would think that what we have done is the greatest. Simply think with several years of experience and learning by doing, we know it all.

Once we stepped out of the box, we were stabbed with the fact that we are so much left behind.
Moreless the same issue, for those moving from one to another place within reasonably short period of time with the 'I know enough let's move to another' attitude.
(Will lead us to another arguments, in defining short and long period of time)

Keeping ourself updated with the trend of the industry is very important. Benchmarking with competitors will provide information where we stand. Good old procedures and approach may become obselete, as generation shifted into total new character and behaviour.
Human is like system. We don't upgrade we become obselete.
The hardest fact to accept is that changes may occur without we are knowing it.
They say: Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

the uncomfort comfort zone

At first, hearing the phrase ‘comfort zone’ that lately often used, I was wondering why people making such a big deal out of it. Also a bit confused and disturbed because they kind of label it in a negative way.

Then, apparently the phrase ‘comfort zone’ is addressed to those stay in one workplace for certain period of time. So they say. With somehow outlining that these people in comfort zone are no longer have the drive to succeed. People leave, reasoning that they have to avoid comfort zone. Sounds like the comfort zone kills their creativity. Poor ‘comfort zone’. The human has mistakenly abused them.

What is wrong for being comfort? Is it a sin to be feeling comfort?

I thought feel comfort should actually boost you to do much better. When I happen to have comfortable shoes, it drives me to perform better at work. Very comfort that I was not aware I have walked twice as much.  Comfortable chair, making me resting properly to at the end do things better as I have appropriate tool to rest. When I meet someone and able to establish comfortable discussion, we are able to progress for better outcome. So when people making it sounds bad, isn’t it kind of contradictory?  Comfort should mean soothing, why feel disturbed when we are in comfort zone?

Hmmm. It tickles me. Being years in my workplace can not exactly be categorized as ‘comfort’. Sometimes it even feels like sitting in a hot seat. A True uncomforting comfort zone. But indeed, being there for quite some time provides adequate information upon decision making. I kind of know how to utilize the situation. The comfort is there helping me achieving more.

I prefer to put positive values on ‘comfort zone’. Others can do differently. After all, differences are great. We don’t have to agree on everything, right? That’s my story on comfort zone. What Is yours? :D

aim high

Being in the area, a hospitality industry, which has an access to observe people, I have opportunities to choose which way I wish to become.
Everyday comes with new things, new challenges, new thoughts, new insights, new ideas.

Working as member of big team, I am lucky to have first row seeing how people react on challenges. Some react reluctantly, some come with terms condition 'I will if.....', some pleasantly take it as opportunity to learn, some are thrilled to be able to prove..... Some take it with thought that they being punished. Some think it is big dream, impossible to reach.

In many cases, big dreams stay as dream, because they think so. So it is true, you become what you think.
In this industry, often I meet people on highest ladder, started their way up from lowest level of organization. *keep in mind, lowest level is structure aspect, their role is as significant as others*
Those are people never say ' I am just a .....' Instead, they go ' I am somebody, making contribution as important as other';  bus persons, bell men, housekeeping attendants, dishwashing attendants, those with pride doing their part no matter in what position they are.
they are those climb up the ladders with big dreams and open mind.
- -Don't let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big. -ITiL tweet

When I look closer, they are those who always aim high, starting from scratch, taking their new assignments as every doors of opportunities, equipping themselves with willingness to learn.
Those are persistent.
Those who take challenged as lesson.
Those who do not let small minds limit them.

This industry makes it possible for those willing to make their way up. Of course, only with highest effort.
So, I wish to become those to succeed.
Remember, When you think you can't go on, force yourself to keep going.
Success is based on persistence, not luck.

bunda is not a superwoman

Mendorong pagar hitam yg sudah sedikit berkarat, memarkir Neng Ceni sambil menghirup wangi melati belanda di teras kecil rumah kami, satu hari terlewati. Lagi. Alhamdulillah.

Hari yang lain, tantangan yang lain.
dilema yang berulang, kesenangan kecil yang berulang, rusuh hati yg berulang.
Kadang mencoba mengelabui hati, dengan berkali kali meneriakan baris yang sama: 'I am fine'

Semua cuma punya 24 jam dalam sehari. Cuma diberi 7 hari dalam satu pekan.
Dan bunda yg satu ini pastinya bukan superwoman.

I've been there with hidden tears, dengan kata yg hanya terujar dalam benak.
Been there with sore n twisted muscles, terkabuti seringai lebar.
Been there, dengan kepanikan sana sini, ketika gunung tugas tempat kerja tak berdamai dengan waktu yg tersisa.
Been there, meluangkan sejenak mendengar keluh kesah, dan kadang berharap mereka bisa melakukan hal yg sama untuk saya.
Been there, terseok di sela langkah, memaksa untuk tidak limbung.
Been there, saat tidak lagi tau harus bagaimana dan berakhir dengan penat benak dini hari, terjaga.

Feels like quiting, from other expectation.
From unsaid derived consequences out of social label. Demands seems to be getting higher everytime. Feels like taking a break.

Tapi jarum waktu tidak berhenti untuk menunggu. Miserable n troubled heart just must flows with time.
berharap, ada yg punya rasa yg sama, berharap, bertemu mereka yg mau melambatkan langkah untuk bersisian.

Afterall, pasti, there’s always something good to see, even in a bad thing. Learn to be thankful. #slt

afterall, Bunda bukan superwoman. She has her breakdowns every now and then. It's when cup of coffee needed :D absorping time, me time, in a pleasantly silent moment.

cantik

'Hot' will never be a substitute for 'beautiful'.

Setengah berlari diatas sepatu tinggi yg menggigit kaki, bergegas meloncat menerabas pintu lift yg perlahan menutup.

Sembari mengatur nafas, saya menebar senyum pada 3 bapak2 dalam Lift pengap kantor pemerintahan itu. Oow, ternyata masih ada penghuni lain di sudut lift - kali ini sy menyeringai lebar, kepada dua gadis kecil lusuh bermata besar, yg mendekap erat kotak semirnya ke dada.

'Tante (gubrakkk), tante giginya pake kawat ya, dua-duanya atas bawah?'
- - nyengir lagi, kali ini berusaha menutupi si kawat- - 'biar cantik ya tante?'

Pertanyaan kedua mencubit sisi hati.
'Nggaaaak, ini biar kalo ngunyah makanan, jadi lebih enak'

Insiden kecil itu bertumbuh besar mengusik benak dan rasa.
Cantik. Yang tak pernah terdefinisi pas, atau tertranslasi sesuai, untuk saya.

Definisi umum cantik selama ini, setelah nyontek kamus bahasa indonesia; membuat sy merasa paling tidak cantik diantara tiga adikku. Satu adik cantik berhidung bangir ditambah otak encernya yg membuat jadi cantik berganda, adik lain yg tinggi semampai dengan kulit langsat dengan senyum ala dian sastro, dan si cantik ketiga yg berkulit putih dengan raut bulan purnama.

Definisi cantik versi banyak orang, pastinya bukan milik saya. Cantik yg ini, mungkin kalau diinggris -kan, masuk artian dari 'hot' atau 'pretty' kali ya?
Karena kalau sedang hang out bareng kaum hawa lainnya dalam edisi 'ladies night out' hampir tidak ada yg melempar pandangan ekstra untuk saya - - yg berarti, tidak cukup 'hot' hahaha

I can laugh about it now, indeed.
Saya berhenti menggunakan definisi cantik versi kamus, 'ages ago'. I have defined 'cantik' for my convenient :D

Definisi yg membuat saya lebih menghargai apa yg saya memiliki, dan merasa nyaman dengan apa yg saya lakukan. Kalau boleh memilih antara 'hot' dan 'beautiful', rasanya mentranslasi 'beautiful' menjadi Cantik versi diri sendiri, terasa lebih adem.

See, I can beautifully loving me the way I am, and my bracket is indeed aiming to be able to digest beautiful food, better :)