I'm an introvert
... despite some people's first impressions. I don't mind meeting new people or talking to strangers on the bus. Introversion doesn't always mean social shyness, I think there are still misconceptions about this. I'm still a human being who thrives better as a social species.
I enjoy solitude or having an 1-on-1 conversation. Sharing laughs with a group of my close friends would be the cherry on top. If I'm not careful, I could stay in my own room for weeks, only going out to buy food 😂
Pasta is great, but have you tried knowledge? Learning new ideas, concept, and perspectives through reading is my favorite part. I love the feeling I get when I delve deep into my interests; exploring, creating, asking questions, finding answers, connecting the dots.
Aside from writing, reading, and city-cycling, I also enjoy watching movies and listening to experts talking about their expertise (documentary, etc).
I adore slow-living 🐌
The first time I realized that I don't prefer living in a fast-paced surroundings was when I got stuck in traffic. For 15 minutes. On a motorcycle. In Yogyakarta.
"Itu bukan macet, Ren, itu namanya ngantre."
"That's not traffic, Ren, that's a queue line," said my friend Miko, wealthy of experience from the busy capital. Now that I had lived in #30 City with Worst Traffic Congestion—Jakarta, I couldn't agree more.
The temptation to leave the motorcycle just right there and walk home. The inexplainable urge to mute everything around me. We have on-call drivers, why can't we have a professional job where someone trades place with us during traffic? (Probably impossible because how do we get them there in the first place, but still, one can have a bit delusion).
I'll handle crowds and full-packed schedules only when it's necessary.
I'm a somewhat minimalist
Clutter is painful to watch. I'll squint my eyes with judgment if I see you don't clean your plates (I might not say anything, but my burning gaze would tell). Especially if people consciously choose the food themselves, not by any force.
Goodbye, Things is one of my favorite book. To quote Alice, one Goodread user: "It felt very cleansing, like taking a shower at the end of a long day." I try to be mindful and deliberate of the things I own.
Sharing some tips from the book:
If you lost it, would you buy it again? If you don't remember owning it, you probably don't need it.
Stop thinking that you would need it "someday". That someday might never come. If it does come irregularly, consider borrowing or renting.
I try to care deeply about little
Commit to a few people who are dear to me, doing things one by one, holding up priorities. I once tried to pursue them all, didn't end up pretty. Running away. Broken trusts. Broken promises. Broken relationships. False words. Superficial. Shallow results. Burning bridges. The guilt still haunts me sometimes. I don't want to spend my remaining years living insincere life.
More trivias:
I love to drink tea. It's an obsession.
I dislike spicy foods. This makes me a minority in a spice-loving (an understatement) country like Indonesia. I only feel the burns on my tongue; it extinguished any other taste of texture and seasonings, thus the act of eating becomes an unpleasant experience 😔
I want to learn lots of stuffs. Literature, languages, why we do what we do, and why the world works like it does.
I believe in mercy and non-violence, but this quote bothers me.
I deleted big 3 social media accounts in early 2021, it just became too much noise to manage. I still keep Pinterest (for the lols without being social) and LinkedIn (you know, to bait recruiters).
Movies I enjoy the most are often of ensemble cast, action, crime, comedy. Psychological thriller is okay too. No supernatural horror, its visual linger in my head and drives me paranoid.
My ultimate favorite is Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit trilogy is a nice addition. I watch them all once a year. The energy, dedication, skills, and enthusiasm the acting unit and production team put on were beyond, everyone gave their 300%. The behind-the-scene DVDs feels like another trilogy.
After years of vaguely describing my music preference, I've come to terms with: miserable lyrics, cheerful beats.
I'm a K-pop stan for Highlight (formerly B2ST), BtoB, and Super Junior. Casual listener for all 2nd generation.
Other musicians that I trust-listen blindly: Monkey Majik | Homemade Kazoku | Maiko Fujita | Kana Nishino | Unlimited tone | 安儿陈 (An Er Chen) | 西瓜JUN | CNBlue | 2BiC | B.A.P | MLTR | Epik High
