My word for this year is HUMILITY.

The quality of not thinking that you are better than other people; the quality of being humble.

For my whole life I was taught on how to be independent, do many things myself first, before I ask for others' help.
Eventually, I can do most things alone.
And I'm hell proud of it.

But new year, new challenge.

I challenge my self to step down my pride.

Be humble.

To accept new lessons.
When I think I know something, I have to read more, meet more people, go out there until I find out that's no, I don't know about it that well.
To understand more.
No body has the same life, hence we will find different people see things quite differently. It's okay.
To ask for forgiveness.
I have a high pride on not doing any mistakes, but even though we think we didn't, we did anyway. So for whatever reasons, do ask for forgiveness.
To forgive.
People make mistakes. Make them know. Talk about it. Forgive each other. Move on.
To accept love.
Love is a scary thing alright, but from the right person, it wouldn't be. It shouldn't be.
To make new connection.
Say hello first. Smile to strangers. Have fun without thinking too much about where this friendship would go.
To grow.

Eventually.

Three days ago
The last day we met
I don't know for how long

You said

"You will be fine," as you pointed at me
I shook my head
Try really hard to not cry

They took our photos
After one pose, you turned your head to me
"I will miss you," you told me
I smiled, and laughed dryly
"You know I will miss you more, right?"
And you laughed too

Before I left
We hugged for the first,
And last time
You touched my face
"Don't worry, you will be fine,"

Is that a promise?

Because I don't know if I will be.

If I can be.

Yesterday, before your flight took off
You texted me
"I'm really going to miss you.
Be good and see you soon I hope"

I hope so too.

D-30 

Life is not fair, but God is always kind 

You may not always get what you want 
Heck, you're lucky if you get it for half of the time 

There will be times 
When you work harder than the person next to you 
But he will get it instead of you 

Some people may be lucky 
Born pretty 
From a well-educated
Or a wealthy family
They can pursue education, as high as they want to
And they can go everywhere

While you have to save for one year to buy shoes
That finally goes into sale

So who says life is fair?

If you spend your whole life seeking for it
You will spend your whole life being miserable
Because you will not find it, honey

Let it loose
You will be alright

Because life might not be fair for all of us
But remember that
God is always kind

Wow it's been two years since the first briefcase post and 11 months since the last. Oops!
I think I gotta start writing monthly briefcases again since I'm also starting to do journal again. Yay!

Naturally, we tend to compare our lives with others'.
Sometimes, the excuse was so we can do and be better.
She is studying for five hours a day so she can be the best student in class. So I should study for five hours too.
He is going to gym three times a week and he's lost 10 kg in three months. I should be doing that so I can lose 10 kg too.
And many cases of "I should be doing the same thing with others so I can have the same result as them, or even better".
Can I ask you...

What if you don't?

What if you've studied for six hours a day but you're still at 10th rank in class?
What if you've gone to gym four times a week but you only have lost 5 kg in three months so far?
Do you consider yourself as failure?

Most probably you would.

Only recently I think we shouldn't compare ourselves with others for whatever reasons.
Some people are poorer than the others not because they're less smarter or work less harder.
Some people are last in class not because they didn't pay attention.
Some people don't want to get married not because they don't obey their God :)

Life isn't mathematics.
You can't copy someone else's work and expect the same score.
Because in mathematics, there's only one answer right.
But even in mathematics, there are many ways to get into one right answer.

Some people are rich because they're born rich, or they won a lottery (being rich is winning a life lottery as well!), or they work so much harder than the others, or they're incredibly lucky, or many other reasons.
Some people are the best students because they study hard, or because they're genetically a fast learner, or because they've found the best way to study effectively, or some other reasons.
Etc. Etc.

Us too, can be good in our ways.
Stop comparing ourselves with others.
The only person we should compare ourselves with is us in the past.
And, my friend, it's already pretty damn hard.

Dear Chita,

27 is you are.

Always remember the days when you were five.
When life was easier, all you had to do was asking someone bigger than you to reach the higher shelves, to clean up things after you.
But now that you are that bigger person, please don't forget to keep curious, stay happy, be a little wonder, keep reading fairytales, and don't let that little child sparks inside you died.
There are days that seem harder, paths that seem longer, time that tick slower, and even things that seem impossible.
That is okay, as long as you keep going.
No matter how slow, no matter how hard it is.
Keep going and don't take a step back.

Always remember that there were days when you wished for things you have today.
Please be grateful and never take things for granted.
Take care of other people as you learn lately that respect is not earned but given.
Everyone is entitled of receiving respect, until they prove themselves they're not.
Be nice to everyone but careful to pick your inner circle.
Don't hesitate to cut off toxic people out of your life.
Those people that won't make you happy don't deserve permanent seats.
Show them the exit door as they come through the entrance to make sure they don't get lost too long in your life.

Always remember that your best is never enough.
Keep challenging yourself. Learn a lot.
As the world is evolving rapidly, so you should be.
Everyone has stories. Listen to them.
Make mistakes. But don't repeat them.
Have faith. Always.
Because God has always been faithful to you after all these times.
It's never too late to come closer to Him.
Afterall, He is the only one you have.

Thank you for surviving, living, and learning the past one year.
Let's keep doing that. And also, start giving.

Love,
Yourself