A reflection on New Year 2009

Last Night, I enjoyed the changing night from 2008 to 2009 with my partner. We stayed at home, sat down in the terrace, watched the sky full of firework, talked to the neighbours who comes to the street, enjoyed Jagung rebus given by our neighbour living in the next door. Our children are sleeping, they didn't want to watch firework although we've tried to woke them up; The little one doesn't really like loud sound while the big one was so sleepy. So it was time for us.

Our neighbour said that the streets are so crowded, full of people going somewhere to enjoy the new year eve. Are they happy? We then talked about what other people doing in Ancol, in hotels, in big malls, and our conversation went to the meaning of happiness. In bahasa Indonesia we know words 'senang' and 'bahagia'. May be people senang to have parties in these crowded places, but I am always wondering are they really happy? I myself won't feel happy to have parties in a very crowded places, driving through heavy traffic jams, and far away from my family.

We reflected on ourself, we enjoyed new year night from home, peaceful, friendly environment, far away from loud sounds where we can't talk properly. We didn't spend a cent to go the expensive venues in the hotel, malls or places like Ancol. What we spend together is a time. We spend time together, and we feel so happy. so, we don't really need money to get our happiness. As always great people say, happiness is very close to us, it is just a matter whether we can see it or not.

We talked a lot about the changing year, what we have done in the passed year and what we will do in this coming year. There are many unexpected things in our life in the year 2008. We are so grateful to god who always loves our family, gives us courage and strength to pass difficult times, litsents to our prays for happiness, and for peaceful heart that will bring us peaceful lifes. We are so grateful for our children who grow up so quickly, give us smile when we come home after work, who make our life so colourful, who make us smile of their 'unexpected' behaviours.

But we also ask ourself whether we will be able to achieve what we plan for the 2009, as there are so many big dreams. Will be harvard the next destination? Or come back to the original plan for melbourne? It will need a real hard work to achieve this, as only four of hundreds will be accepted for harvard's program I am interested in. Will al of this hard work will be worthy for our future. Will this coming year become a bigger milestone in our lifes after melbourne lifes to implement our dream, for doing more for the humanity, for people in need in Indonesia, as well as for our family?

Our final reflection was we need to reflect more, whether when we decide of available choices, they will be the most worthy-to-keep thinks in our life. We are going to flow like water in the river, Go with the flow, but of course need to be careful of the rocks that may hit our journeys. For sure we get strength and courage to move forward for better things in the 2009.