Tat Tvam Asi

Selong Belanak Beach, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

I really can not believe that I haven't written anything since January. Well, there are some drafts I left undone and which I haven't touched again since the last time I wrote them. What gets in the way? Life does. Got caught up taking care of documents before I ended my job at underdeveloped area in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Got to move back to my hometown for a while before moving again to Indonesia's dazzling capital city, Jakarta. And not to mention, as always, a little twist here in there. I got so caught up I forget to reflect. 

Writing has always been a medium of reflection for me. Writing my thoughts magically can make my scattered thoughts lining in a nice order thus I can consider matters in a deeper way. Today, for the very first time after what felt like forever, I feel inspired again. Done with cooking my meal for sahoor, done replying chats I should have replied weeks ago, done tidying my room, done learning things I'm supposed to learn, and about to meet one I love this end of day, I feel calm yet alive. And I feel like I want to write. 

My workplace, Primary Health Care in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara 

(Operating under the emergency tent after the 7 SR earthquake)

Last February was my last month working as a dentist in a primary health care in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara in an underdeveloped and post earthquake area. I chose to serve in an underdeveloped area because I want to know what it's like for the rest of society live outside of the sparkling metropolitan cities, I want to know what they need and their health condition and I want to serve them [will write about it in a separate post about PTT (health workers work in underdeveloped area)], but primarily it is because I got sick of life in the city full of materialism. 

I too, used to dream of continuing my education abroad on the top 10 world universities under the reason of learning what is best for my country. While actually there is a part of me that only want to study abroad for the sake of enjoying a cup of hot coffee in one corner of public park in the developed country. There, then, I realised how can I contribute to my country if I didn't even know how the majority live in our country, struggling even to get proper electricity? 

So, to North Lombok off I go. Better than my expectation, there, I did not only realise how beautiful Indonesia is, given the heavenly landscapes of hills and beaches of Lombok, but I also get to experience humanity in a closer and deeper way. Before the 7 SR earthquake in North Lombok, even if the infrastructure of the area is already developed (paved road, proper irrigation, easy access to clean water), its human resources' quality is far behind what we have in Java, Indonesia's most populated island. 

To be able to speak with elementary students during my dental health education programs, asked them about their dream, and share with them some inspiring stories, to be able to serve society from the middle low class in the primary health care, I feel like this is how we actually should have lived, by giving and treat others in a best way possible, for what we give is what we get. I feel like the more we share and give back to society, the more happiness we will get. 

My home away from home

Leaving Lombok 

Also in Lombok, I met my new families; Ibu Nengah's family who own the place I lived for my 13 months stay and my fellow doctors from different cities who work there. From Ibu I also learn a lot, about kindness, families, love, and humanity.

So when I have to move back to the city, at first I feel like I get uninspired. In Lombok I am able to enjoy the slow living, a balance work/life all because of the easy access to fresh air, open spaces, and beautiful hills and beaches unlike here in Jakarta, I worked in underdeveloped area and is easy to share my knowledge and using my expertise to help others. Tat tvam asi; I am you and you are me. In Lombok, I live so close to this belief, far from materialism. And it makes me happy. 

Survived my first day at Jakarta, commuting with public transportation

With some twist also get in the way, I forget to reflect and to be grateful. Thanks god, this month is Ramadan, a month full of reflection and duties to move us closer to God. Asking the staff of my rented room about whether or not she has food for iftar, giving food for them, although not much, actually is also a simple act of applying Tat tvam asi in each and everyday. Isn't happiness is within ourselves? No matter how hard things get and no matter where we at, when we always create positive mindfullness and giving our best attention and treat others the way we want to be treated, wouldn't life will treat us the same way too?