Meeting Myself

-

Today was one of those Saturdays that felt full in the best way. I joined the Alphasmart Training Session as a Player, hosted by BWI, from 9 AM to 2 PM. Ten trainers and coaches were specially invited as VIP participants, and lucky me, I was one of them. Some of the participants were blogger friends I’ve known since the early days of blogging more than a decade ago, while others I met for the very first time. Every single one radiated positive vibes and genuinely good energy.

The mission of the day was simple but huge: to meet the most important person in our lives: ourselves. Sounds a bit dramatic, right? But oh, it worked.

For two and a half hours, we laughed, we cried, and sometimes we did both at the same time. My big “aha” moment came during my very first card draw: wisdom. At first, I was drawn to the picture of a library (because books, duh), but what I got was a conversation with myself about the meaning of wisdom itself. How reading other people’s thoughts in their books helps me find my own wisdom through my own experiences. And how that wisdom is richer when it’s forged in hardship, more victorious when I’m deep in the valley rather than perched on the mountaintop.

Like the time I read Michelle Obama's book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. That book didn’t just speak to me; it spoke right to my heart. And it happened at the perfect time: smack in the middle of life’s curveballs. Just like that, I got my strength and courage back through every word written. After finishing it, I promised myself I would always keep and carry my own light, so neither I nor the people I love would have to crawl through the dark. That’s the kind of wisdom I’m talking about.

One of the most moving moments came at the closing of the session. Each participant gave a “gift card” to their partner. Not just physically handing it over, but also explaining why we chose that card for them. When my tandem partner received his and I explained why I chose that card, he actually cried. And not the polite “oh my eyes are sweating” kind of cry. This was the real deal; the kind that needs a pause to pull yourself back together. It was one of those moments that made me go, wow, this training is powerful stuff!

After all the deep soul work, it was time for the lighter things: lunch together, photos, videos, and a beautifully prepared box of personalized goodies, complete with my name printed on everything. An agenda, pen, bag, pouch, hourglass, and of course, the AlphaSmart cards to keep playing with. I felt so spoiled. Huge thanks to my dear friend Bunga Mega for inviting me and making sure everything ran like clockwork. Classic INFJ energy :D

The rest of the day stayed delightfully busy. I picked up my youngest and took her to our regular salon for a haircut. My husband and I waited in a coffee shop nearby, playing Uno. Fun, but also hilarious because we weren’t entirely sure of the rules. Every now and then we had to consult ChatGPT, and of course, debate whose interpretation was correct, LOL. 

When we got home, my eldest was unloading the dishwasher, which always makes me smile :) I dove into cooking dinner, once again saved by my trusty stash of Titipku frozen ready-to-cook meals. Tonight’s choice: ayam bumbu kuning, which turned out just as good as yesterday’s crispy fried chicken. And you know me: no deep frying here, just my beloved retro mini oven-slash-airfryer. Perfectly crispy, ridiculously tasty, and so good my kids literally licked the seasoning off. Add my go-to ready-to-eat salad, and boom, dinner’s done.

The evening plans didn’t go quite as intended. My daughter’s Schoters tutoring got canceled at the last minute (again), and no Netflix time because my husband was busy finishing his game challenge. So here I am, spending my Saturday night writing this post instead.

Maybe that’s the real win of today: I got to meet myself in the morning, laugh and cry in good company, play games with my husband, eat a dinner everyone loved, and end it all by doing something I love: writing.

When’s the last time you had a real conversation with yourself? Go ahead, draw your own “wisdom” card, whatever that means for you. You might be surprised at what you hear. 

Love,

Nuniek 

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

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

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

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