Beyond Beautiful

We are living in the era of modernization, an era of freedom speech, overwhelmed by social media buzz, everyday campaign of gender-balance, a full public support for female empowerment and diversity, and war against gender stereotypes. The world has changed drastically, yet women today are still no less self-conscious about the way they look than they’ve always been. Why? Because we are confronted and exposed with the media of beauty blast – commercial TVs, social medias, you name it. We live in a looks-obsessed society. The more and longer skincare routines we put into effort, the more time we spend on the mirror every morning for makeup routine the better we’ll be.

Our insecurities aren’t a natural consequence of our appearance, and not integral part of who we are. All those inner voices judging the “beauty standard” are not really our inner voice. It’s the product of years of socialization from a very brutal culture.

Many of us still feel that how we fell about they way we look has become the deciding factor for how we feel about ourselves. For those days of – bad-hair-day – and days when we don’t feel that we look good, we automatically feel defeated, totally neglecting our other accomplishments. 

Your body does not define you.

Your makeup does not define you.

Your skin color does not define you.

Your clothes do not define you.

“Self esteem isn’t everything, it’s just that there’s nothing without it.”

“I’m intelligent, I’m feminist, and I know that society’s beauty ideal is B.S. So why do I still care so much about what I look like?.”

Beyond Beautiful – Rees, Anuschka

The Paradox of Faith

I believe there is nothing we can’t attain if we truly have faith in them, though I sometimes feel that “believe” is such a clear-cut word. At least, I know deep down inside I do feel and know that I truly believe in faith.

F.a.i.t.h

Some people might refer it as religion, as believes, as idealism, principle, or even fanaticism; or anything else which somehow perceived as “strong word”, like “power”. When I think of faith, somehow it is automatically connected to goals, targets; yet ironically those words felt “individual”. Half of my thoughts wander in how different they are, yet so similar. Most of the time I do feel that goals or target will most likely lead to misinterpretation to something we “have” to achieve. Whilst, oddly, this obligation on the word “have” is closely related to faith. Even if I want to change the world, I believe I can. I do.

Goals and targets are the preconditions of faith. Are they?

They’re part of my faith, my believes, my power, my self-control, my supremacy, my religion.

For long time, I’ve had my goals, at least I think I know I do have them; doesn’t matter how small, how big, how odd, how unrealistic it might come, how general and how boring it seems, or being interpreted as jokes. 
I have my faith. They’re the ones who kept me alive and alert. The question then, why there are still questions rounding in my head? Why should I feel worry? Anxious? Doubtful? Are these just fragmentation of thoughts? Imagination? Are they? 

They’re now seemed falling apart. Sinking back to the point of having faith beneath faith.

The Loss of a Nation

I remember when I was in elementary school, how we used to study and remembering all of our heroin, histories, Pancasila and Bhineka Tunggal Ika  as our National concept. It is sad now I even can’t remember most of it. I think this is because it somehow just vanishes within our era. Era of technology, a revolution of media, political chaotic.

I was very amazed when I read the history of gender colonialism in Dutch history. Kartini is one good example on how we should fight for our beliefs. Her writing clearly demonstrates liberated visions on gender equality, and women specifically, to have a better access towards education. Such vision was shown in one of her letter “We are not giving battle to men, but to old moss-grown addicts and conventions that are not worthy…”

Talking about education, former vice president Moh Hatta once stated that our challenge after 25years of independence is: How to adjust the education for children, youth, and the people, to meet the country's development needs?. Even when I saw demonstrations, it just felt wrong somehow. People began to question, what are they looking for exactly? Justice? Truth? Freedom of speech? The collateral damages are not worth the efforts. This is just my personal point of view.

We are losing our National identity. Students are talking about social networks; people are talking about money, politics, and position. Girls and young women are arguing about what is the next fashion trend going to be like. Men are worrying about their personal egoistic achievement. Yes, it is true the world is evolving. But we do still need our principles, right?  Otherwise we’ll get lost within our loss.

Maybe we forgot, or even we do not know, that We, ARE the future leaders.

It is our call, to re-shape, and find our lost nation.

Every one of Us is contributing. No exception.

As spelled out by Prof Emil Salim: “What is black is black; white is white; say it as it is..”