A Day of Doing, a Moment of Receiving

-

Another full Saturday, but it started differently.
I went to Bio Medika lab in the morning for some health checks: urine test and a full abdominal ultrasound. Lately, I’ve been waking up with a dull pain in my lower right hip area. Not sharp, but enough to get my attention. The lab doctor casually mentioned it could be chronic appendicitis, the kind that comes and goes. The results wouldn’t be ready until late afternoon, so I had time to just wait and wonder.

But let me pause here to say: Bio Medika’s service was stellar.
From the security guard to the customer service staff, I felt like I was at a BCA branch or even onboard Singapore Airlines. Friendly, clear, fast, and warm. I didn’t expect to feel cared for in such a soft way in a clinical space. It felt like a gentle nudge from the universe: "You’re allowed to feel safe while being cared for."

Next, I reached out to my insurance agent, Claudia.
I just needed some direction: which hospital would be best, and what steps to take next. But Claudia went beyond. She sent not just hospital names but also specific doctors who could handle my case, complete with practice schedules. I felt supported. Like someone had my back without me needing to ask twice.

By 11 AM, I had to shift gears: parenting mode on.
We headed to Tendean to drop my daughter off at Tochaku Market, a cute bazaar full of girly trinkets: stickers, accessories, clothes, and tiny aesthetic things that bring joy. My daughter got herself some stickers, and I got her a dress that made her eyes light up. Food options were limited, so we walked to McDonald’s and tried their rendang series: spicy chicken rendang and burger rendang. 

The day continued at full speed.
At 3 PM, we dropped by at Bio Medika to pick up the lab result. I don't really understand how to read as it looks too medical for me, so I asked ChatGPT. Since it's Saturday, we have limited options of related doctors to consult. So we decided to hold it until Monday (and I booked for Monday evening). 

And the full speed continued.
30 minutes later, we picked up my youngest from the dorm and went as a family to the iCAN Education Fair. While registering, we bumped into Mba Lydia, who was there with her husband and kid too. A happy coincidence. The fair itself was quick. Not many booths, and honestly, most of the universities we’d already visited during our UK trip.

By 6 PM, we finally made it home.
I went straight to the kitchen to cook a quick dinner. Within 30 minutes, food was on the table: lettuce meatball soup, white cabbage with shrimp, yesterday’s leftover curry (made by my daughter), and simple tofu. The best kind of dinner: warm, fast, homemade. We sat around the table, chatting and laughing. The tiredness melted away with each bite and each smile.

And then, the evening brought something softer.
At 7:30 PM, I joined the opening circle of 21 Days of Receiving, a program led by Rahne. As I listened to her introduction, the softness in her tone, the gentleness of the workbook’s intention, something inside me softened too. Maybe because it had been such a full day of doing, running, solving, helping. That night, I didn’t need to do. I just needed to receive.

I’m learning that receiving isn’t something you earn; it’s something you allow.
And sometimes it takes a full day of output to remember: I am allowed to refill. I am allowed to pause. I am allowed to be supported, not just supportive.

So if you're reading this and feeling like you're always in motion (doing, giving, showing up), maybe today is your invitation to lean back just a little. Let the universe, or even just a stranger’s kindness, catch you for a moment.

You’ve done enough for today. Now breathe in. Let yourself receive.

Other stories worth noting

Grit Behind Glory

-
Image
Being the co-initiator of StartupLokal Community since April 2010, I’ve had the honor of witnessing the unpredictable rhythm of startup life up close. I’ve personally seen how startup founders dream, build, soar, crash, recover, and reinvent.  It’s never linear, it’s rarely easy. But it’s always inspiring. I didn’t just watch from the sidelines; I helped connect them, and I carry these founders’ journeys like pages of a living book. If conventional businesses age like humans, startups age like cats. What takes a traditional business 30 years to mature, a startup might live through in just five. For context: a one-year-old cat is roughly equivalent to a 15-year-old human. By the time a cat turns 10, it’s considered a senior, like a human in their 60s. Similarly, startups that make it to 10 years are practically legends. Many don’t even survive past year three. So when I see a startup hit a decade milestone, I know it’s nothing short of miraculous. That’s why I was grateful to join ...
Read more

Daftar Pertanyaan Sebelum Membeli Properti

-
Image
Saat ini aku dan suami memiliki beberapa properti yang tersebar di Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Jatinangor, dan sebentar lagi Bali (doakan lancar!). Aset properti yang kami miliki berupa gedung kost, rumah tinggal, dan unit apartemen. Ada yang dibeli secara tunai keras, nyicil developer, nyicil KPR bank. Beberapa properti kami gunakan sendiri, baik sebagai rumah tinggal atau tempat peristirahatan. Beberapa lagi kami sewakan dan dijadikan pendapatan pasif, seperti gedung kost dan unit apartemen. Kalau mau lihat apa aja yang bisa disewa, cek2 instagramnya @mnv.house ya :) Dari puluhan kali pengalaman transaksi jual beli properti, baik yang berhasil maupun yang gagal, kami mendapatkan banyak sekali pengalaman berharga (baca: mahal! huhu). Beberapa pengalaman itu aku bahas di instagram story, bisa dibaca di highlight instagramku  Why KPR? Di postingan ini aku khusus membahas tentang daftar pertanyaan yang sebaiknya ditanyakan kepada penjual / agen sebelum membeli properti. ...
Read more

The Joy of Missing Out

-
Image
I’ve been seriously considering deleting all social media apps from my phone. Lately, I feel like I’m consuming too many “snacks” (i.e. mindless scrolling through feeds) instead of enjoying “real food” like reading in‑depth articles or engaging in deep thinking. Social media has become a buffet of bite‑sized distractions that leave me feeling hungry for something more substantial. Back in 2000, when I first embraced the internet through mIRC chat rooms and blog posts, the online world felt like a safe haven. Only a few could afford to use it, mostly educated and curious people who valued thoughtful discussion. The barrier to entry was high, and that created a community of like‑minded individuals who were genuinely interested in ideas and exchange. Today, that barrier has collapsed. Everyone uses the internet, but rarely with conscience, and while smartphones are smarter than ever, genuine curiosity seems in short supply. The viral nature of social media is both mesmerizing and terrifyi...
Read more

Let’s Walk and Talk

-
Image
What started as a simple invite: “let’s go for a walk near my place”, turned into a small, happy gathering. Rhein jumped on board, said it’s one of the nicest parks around, and invited Vio, Jo, Steph, and Hendra.  So there we were, walking and chatting like it was the most natural way to start a Saturday. It wasn’t about steps or fitness goals, just a chance to be present together and talk about life while moving our feet.  We began from private botanic garden, and made our way to a public city park. The air wasn’t exactly fresh, but the company made it easy to ignore that. Somewhere in the middle, we stopped by a café owned by a fellow founder. Ordered drinks, sat around, and just talked. No agenda. No fancy brunch. Just coffee and beer, conversations, and the kind of back-and-forth that fills you up more than food ever could.  Our topics jumped everywhere: startup pains, parenting stories, school choices, house repairs, health hacks. Nothing was off limits, nothing was ...
Read more

What I Learned from Timothy Tiah - Founder of Nuffnang

-
Image
Last Sunday when I entered VIP room at JWEF , I was introduced to this guy with his mini version boy on his lap, and his pretty wife with white top and red skirt. We had chit chat and he told me he’d be in Jakarta this Tuesday, and I told him that we’d have 57th #Startuplokal Monthly Meetup on Tuesday night.  To be really honest, only a very few did I know about him until he shared his amazing story on JWEF stage a few minutes later, and get inspired that I took note and now share this with you all.  Timothy Tiah founded Nuffnang with Cheo Ming Shen at 2006 when he was 22 years old, with 150k RM startup capital, partly borrowed from his father. He simply founded it because there’s nobody built it before, while the demand was actually there. The site was launched in February 2007. Sales ≠ cashflow On earlier years, although Nuffnang sales highrocketed, the cashflow was poor. At one point he only has 5k left in bank, while there were invoices need to be paid out urgently. He came to Hon...
Read more