Nothing dramatic, nothing spectacular today. Just random little things strung together in a way that somehow made sense, at least to me.
The day started with brunch: three people, warteg food, reheated from Monday. (Yes, Monday. Don’t judge, it’s called being resourceful.) There’s something oddly comforting about eating humble food together, like it sets the tone that the rest of the day doesn’t have to try too hard.
After brunch, we headed to Vintage Vibes. The plan was practical: pick up a few things, maybe browse. Of course, I ended up finding something I didn’t know I wanted until I saw it. Isn’t that always how it works? The universe has a way of surprising us when we least expect it.
Now here’s the thing: I was way too comfortable in my pleated dress to change. You know that rare feeling when an outfit makes you feel at home in your own skin? That was me today. So instead of switching, I just threw on a ceruty babydoll outer in the same tone, slipped into my matching Skechers, and called it fashion. Comfort couture, let’s say.
On the way home, we passed by a gorengan stall. Fatal mistake. I thought I’d just grab one, maybe two snacks. Nope. Risol, bakwan, tahu, all too good. My taste buds rejoiced, while my health-conscious brain filed a complaint. And the worst part? This stall sits right along our route from church. Which means this could turn into a weekly ritual. Delicious, but deadly.
Back at the apartment, I was expecting the Cleansheet ranger. I waited so long I fell asleep, woke up, and the ranger still hadn’t arrived. In the end, it got rescheduled to another day with another ranger. Story of life: waiting for things we think will happen today, only to realize they belong to the other day.
Since the apartment wasn’t being scrubbed to hotel-level cleanliness after all, I tagged along with my husband to drop our daughter at campus. While waiting, we grabbed an early dinner at McDonald’s. Can we talk about how three chicken rice sets, three drinks, and two McFlurries only cost IDR 79,500? That’s cheaper than one fancy coffee in Jakarta.
Later at home, my daughter offered to do gel nails for me. Saving salon money while also bonding? Yes, please. I sat there with my hands under the little UV lamp, thinking: this is what happiness looks like. Not luxury, not perfection, but these tiny shared moments that feel stitched into your heart.
Evening rolled in, no Netflix tonight because my husband was buried in presentation slides. I could’ve scrolled aimlessly or complained about the lack of entertainment, but instead I decided to write this. Because that’s how I process my life: turning chaos into words, randomness into patterns.
And here’s the INFJ in me speaking: I can’t help but notice how a day that looked super slow and super random actually revealed a deeper truth. It’s the small, ordinary things: eating leftovers, stumbling on a gorengan stall, laughing at unexpected fast-food bargains, that hold real joy.
Psychologists call this savoring: the act of noticing and appreciating the small pleasures of life. Research even shows that people who savor daily experiences are happier and less stressed. It’s basically mindfulness in motion. But instead of meditating with incense, you’re just eating bakwan with delight.
So maybe that’s the secret: don’t wait for grand Broadway moments in life (though I literally posed in front of a giant “BROADWAY” sign today). Real joy is hidden in the side streets, in the detours, in the meals you didn’t plan and the plans that never happened.
If you’ve been waiting for life to finally feel big enough, maybe shift the lens. Notice the softness of your favorite dress. Celebrate the discount meal. Laugh at the rescheduled appointment. Let the gorengan taste like a guilty little miracle.
Now, find one tiny, random thing that makes you smile. Notice it, savor it, and tuck it into your memory like a keepsake. Who knows, it might turn into the story you’ll tell later, the one that reminds you life was never ordinary at all.
With joy,
Nuniek Tirta
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