March: A Rollercoaster Month Filled with Blessings

Hello dear readers! How’s life treating you? Crushed it in the last quarter? Had some epic fun? Seriously, time’s flying by like a rocket, right? Or is it because Ramadhan came early? Let’s dive into what’s up for the (half of) holy month lately.

• So, March kicked off with me getting serious about a new financial plan to amp up my discipline and shop smarter. After some self-reflection, I realized I used to splurge on stuff I didn’t need (hello, my name is stockpile addict!) and cross-wallet too much. Time to hit that ‘nope’ button and put my effort in discipline. Do you have the same struggles as I am?
• Also, I finally got to washing not one, but two of my beds—cue the confetti! With two cats who think peeing on the bed is a legit hobby, I had to go the extra mile: banning them from the bedrooms and giving everything a deep clean. Shoutout to Hagia Cleaner for doing the dirty job! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 from #justinindyo. Oh, I also purchased a waterproof bedsheet, just in case I let my guard down (which happened twice!). If you face similar challenges with pets or babies, I highly recommend investing in one of my best finds this month.
• Pak Oyong and I welcomed Ramadhan at my parents’ sharing laughs, delicious meals, and breaking our fast together. My mom even brought up nostalgic memories of past Ramadans and fasting traditions, making me a total emotional wreck. Thanks, Mom! So when I was a kid, every Ramadan, my Dad would come to my bedroom on the second floor and carry me downstairs on his back to make sure I had sahoor. And if I remember correctly, there was a time when my dad brought the suhoor meal, fed me for a couple of minutes, and then let me continue sleeping.
• That’s history which, as expected, makes my Ramadhan this year feel special. I always have issues with an early wake-up and usually, Pak Oyong handles the sahoor duties. But now it’s all on me. I have to cook or reheat everything by myself. Sometimes, I can manage to cook a simple omelette with sautéed mushrooms. Other times, I just eat two or three dates and drink a bottle of water—with my eyes half-closed.
• This Ramadan, I’ve experienced many many melancholic days. One strategy I’ve adopted to maintain my sanity is withdrawing from large social gatherings. Chatting and being around too many people tends to exhaust me, often resulting in a drop in mood once I return home. I make a conscious effort to avoid extreme social mood swings due to the significant impact they have on feelings of loneliness. LDR was hard indeed 🫠
• Taking a three-week break from Instagram has been fantastic, particularly in terms of reducing unnecessary information overload. Instagram can serve as both a valuable and detrimental source of information, and sometimes we’re unsure if we even need it. Keeping it a little away has given me the freedom to choose what I want to see, read, and listen to.

• This month, I wrapped up a few series on Netflix: Doctor Slump, Avatar: The Legend of Korra (for the second time), and A Killer Paradox. Currently, I’m catching up on past episodes of Dinner Time Live with David Chang because I’m a huge fan of him! I’ve watched his series Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner countless times and the one with Kate McKinnon was my favorite ever. David Chang is a chef-friend we could ever wish for!
• For movies (all on Netflix, of course), I watched The Batman—Robert Pattinson truly nailed it as Batman!, Nanny Diaries, Romance in Style, Snow White and The Huntsman (I have a love-hate relationship with this one, watched it twice though), My Name is Loh Kiwon, Late Night (really enjoyed this one!), Black Adam, Gran Turismo, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Irish Wish. With a watchlist that long during Ramadan, my Mom would be incredibly disappointed 😌
• Anyway, a lot of my friends at the office have been suffering from annoying flu. Seriously, it’s like the plague in there! Is it just me, or does it sound like something straight out of a conspiracy theory? Singaporean Flu from a Taylor Swift concert? Cocoklogi?
• Unfortunately, half of the fur babies also have been battling a nasty flu lately. This rainy season has been rough on all of us—especially with those pesky leaks in the ceiling. But with lots of rest, good food, clean water, and daily supplements, we’re making progress. Who knew the same remedies worked for humans and pets alike?
• Speaking of furry friends, I just know Mario was obsessed with dates. He even chews the stems to clean his teeth—weird and cute at the same time haha. Mario, Monika, and the cat gang have been my saving grace during those lonely days at home. There’s nothing quite like their unconditional love.
• Over the recent long weekend, Pak Oyong and I opted for a staycation at the GAIA Hotel in Bandung. It turned out to be quite delightful as we indulged in our TOP travel activity: laze around HAHA. Given the hotel’s upscale ambience, we found staying in our room to be the better option. After sunset, we leave our car and hailed a Gojek to have dinner at Beauty in the Pot. Sat-night in Bandung was bustling with young people filling the streets for hangouts!
• On the very last day in March, I finally purchased something I’ve been wanting for years, something that required a miracle to afford (thank you THR and Tokopedia Ramadhan Sale): a robot vacuum. It was Dreame L10 Prime in white colour and we named her Mbak Sakinah. It’s been two days and I’m happyyy 😭 Let’s see if she can bring a peaceful feeling every time I wake up or return home.

‘Sakinah’ is an Arabic word mentioned in the Quran, Surah Ar-Rum: 21, meaning ‘Serene’ or ‘Peaceful’.

I felt like March was crawling at a snail’s pace, so slow that all the annoying things seemed to drag on endlessly. On ordinary days, I often overlook many good things happening, dismissing them as mere distractions because I feel lonely. But the distractions kept coming relentlessly, every day, every moment, non-stop, making it impossible for me to ignore them anymore and feel cherished by Him. So, what else I can complain about? I’m blessed. Alhamdulillah.