#008 | Gratefulness Project: Letters

What I am grateful for?

I am grateful for the existence of letters. I think one of the most important of cultural products is languages. While they can be expressed verbally, the writing system is an outstanding achievement to express languages. It is just wonderful that everything can be depicted by stringing the letters into words so that the ideas and thoughts can be transferred widely without the need to have verbal conversation. Now, when I read Al-Qur’an, or papers, or massage on my mobile or anything, I am grateful for the series of those letters that produce meaningful expressions.

#007 | Gratefulness Project: Indonesia

What I am grateful for?

I am grateful for Indonesia.

A week ago, there ware International days in my campus. Indonesian students took participation in that event. We presented Indonesia: the culture, several expressions of the language, the cuisines. I think everybody loved it. And just last night in the campus sports hall, a guy in the reception greeted me with “selamat malam” when I was walking through the gate. He also gave a credit for my presentation. He said it was memorable. Wow! I could not be grateful more for being born in Indonesia and respected as an Indonesian.

#006 | Gratefulness Project: Problems

What I am grateful for?

I am grateful for having problems. Problems? Yes, problems! I realized it from some experiences I had these days. One of the problems was a misunderstanding between university’s financial office and my financial sponsor about my tuition fee. It took days to be settled, while other problems were awaiting to be resolved as well.

However, I then have a new insight. As problems come my systems work. My body, my thought, my emotion. I am aware that my tendency is being inert. I need a stimulant to move and it is a set of problems.

#005 | Gratefulness Project: Time

What I am grateful for?

I am grateful for time. Contemplating all that have been spent through these years, I am grateful while the same time ashamed. I am grateful that all the best chances have come, but I am also ashamed as I often waste them. I am grateful that during these periods I have been given a space to do small deeds that I hope would be beneficial, but I am also ashamed as I realized more wrongdoings I commit instead. Then, what should I keep? Gratefulness or shame? I think to choose gratefulness first then do better.

#004 | Gratefulness Project: Rain

What I am grateful for?

I am grateful for rain. Today, it was rain again here. Different from other people who ‘hate’ it, I love it. Some frowned as they thought it was strange to love rain. But I have my own reason. I started loving it when I was a child. It was the joy time when I could spend time for hours to play in the field or swimming in the river under the pouring rain even when I got a fever or cough. Now, every time it pours, I always recall the experience.

Rain completed my childhood.

#003 | Gratefulness Project: Opportunities in education

What I am grateful for? 

I am grateful for opportunities I have received in education. I consider myself as a lucky person as I have been well educated since my childhood. Honestly, I have no idea how can I study abroad. But, here I am. Once, little did I know about anything, but I have been learning and now in hunger to know many things. Perhaps, the opportunities also come to other people, but many are too afraid to embrace them. I was afraid. I am still afraid. However, embracing them means I am grateful for their coming, isn’t it?

#002 | Gratefulness Project: DTC on Developing Business Model

What I am grateful for? 

I am grateful for attending DTC workshop this afternoon. The session was about developing business model. During the class, I spent my time more in silent, but inside of my head thousand of ideas and possibilities popped up. It opened my eyes which were the most important components in developing a business.

One thing that I underlined from the session that benefits was the key in business instead of features (to run business). 

The benefits are not about the business owner, but about the customers. It is about values that one offers to his/her customers.

#001 | Gratefulness Project: The Idea

What I am grateful for? 

I am grateful for having this idea, producing a hundred writings in a hundred days with a hundred words in every post. If I count it correctly, the project will have been completed by Thursday, 15th of May 2014.

The idea itself popped up after I did my prayer. I dwelt, what kind of challenge I could do after the #30tulisan last January. I thought how to show my gratefulness to Allah, the Almighty for all His grace. Then, I thought why not writing about things that should be grateful for. 

Thus, here I start!