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The rolling blackouts have struck again. Far from what I anticipated, the absence of electricity is hitting me harder than I’d like to admit. How does one even survive this unbearable heat? There are no fans spinning, and honestly, even the wind seems reluctant to blow through the city of Banjarmasin right now. What can I do? I despise wasting time. So, instead of wallowing in the discomfort,…

As I sat in the dim glow of my room, waiting patiently for the electricity to come back on, I found myself in unexpected company. It was Sunday, June 28, 2026. BTS had just wrapped up their second day of concerts in Madrid, and Jeon Jungkook decided to go live on Weverse. For over four hours, I worked by the light of my screen, accompanied by an idol who had completely shed his heavily curated…

As I sit here, holding a copy of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, I find myself wrestling with a very modern kind of heartbreak: the crushing frustration of failing to secure tickets for the BTS concert in Jakarta. It is a funny contrast. In my hands, I hold the private diary of a Roman Emperor—a collection of thoughts compiled centuries ago, freely distributed to the world (which makes me wonder,…

When the opportunity arose for a collaborative online discussion with Ruanita, my initial instinct was to route it through the established, predictable channels. I genuinely believed the campus career planning department would be the most suitable fit to handle an event of this scale and importance. In my mind, assigning it to the students of the Student Executive Board (BEM) was strictly a “Plan…

The ping of a notification is a quiet sound, yet it has the power to shatter an entire morning. It arrived on my day off—a weekend invitation disguised as a meeting request, asking me to sacrifice my rest for a few more hours of unpaid labor. The moment my eyes scanned the preview, a familiar wave of regret washed over me. Why did I open it? Why did I let work invade my sanctuary, especially…

Navigating the public healthcare system can often feel like bracing for a storm, but sometimes, the experience completely catches you off guard in the best way possible. On Saturday, April 11, 2026, I had the opportunity to accompany my aunt to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist at one of the busiest private hospitals in Banjarmasin. Our journey began simply enough at our local primary…

There is a specific kind of magic in the first day back at work. After a long and restorative break, most of us return with a quiet reservoir of fresh energy, ready to tackle new challenges and reclaim our productivity. We arrive with our batteries charged, hoping for a start that matches our renewed spirit. However, reality sometimes has a different greeting in store. On my first day back, the…

Just recently, I found myself pausing over a familiar passage of scripture that struck a surprisingly deep chord: “…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.” These words are a profound reminder of the weight our influence carries. In my daily life as a nurse and a lecturer, this isn’t just a spiritual…

Living and working in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, presents unique and profound dynamics in healthcare. The Banjar community holds deeply rooted traditional beliefs regarding health and illness. In our region, modern medical treatments often need to walk hand-in-hand with local and spiritual approaches. Despite the lingering stigma surrounding mental health, it is inspiring to see families lean…

“When you work, put your whole heart into starting and finishing it. If you’ve signed a contract, match your effort to what is written there.” A colleague recently shared this piece of wisdom with me. On the surface, it sounds like standard professional advice. Yet, amidst the relentless waves of pressure at work lately, I find myself quietly agonizing: How much longer can I endure this? Why is…

Have you ever found yourself walking down a path you knew in your heart was wrong, only to feel paralyzed by the fear of turning back? There is a profound, yet often misunderstood, promise woven through human history: he who turns back from the wrong path will find mercy, not condemnation. To truly understand this comforting truth, we must first look closely at what “righteousness” actually…

“…then God relented concerning the disaster that He had planned to bring upon them; and He did not do it.” There is something profoundly striking about this ancient verse from the story of Jonah. It presents us with an image of God that feels unexpectedly intimate, perhaps even fragile. We see a deity depicted in remarkably human terms—capable of feeling the heat of anger, devising plans for…

“I am telling you this because it is my duty to do so…” The words hung heavy in the air, echoing across the sterile room as the HR director read from a stack of performance evaluations. Nadia sat across the desk, listening intently, absorbing every syllable. She already knew the scarlet thread that would connect all the feedback: her words. According to her peers, the things she said were…

“If you don’t join the outing, you have to pay 400,000 IDR!” The words sliced through the air. I overheard my boss saying them on the phone today, his voice directed at one of my closest colleagues. I wish I could say I was shocked. But honestly? I didn’t even blink. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this specific brand of leadership. I’ve seen it happen before—colleagues summoned to the…

I am a psychiatric nurse. My days are dedicated to the fragile architecture of the human mind, helping others find their footing when the ground beneath them feels like it is crumbling. Yet, there is a profound irony that sits heavy in my chest. Right here, within the very walls where I work, I watch my own colleagues, more than two of them now, struggling to keep their heads above water. They…

Monday carries a heavy burden, doesn’t it? Somehow, it has become the designated villain of the week, the one day we collectively try to avoid. But if we are being honest, Monday hasn’t done anything wrong. It simply stands in an unfortunate position, the bridge between the freedom of the weekend and the reality of the grind. We blame Monday for the heavy feeling in our chests, treating it like…

There’s a feeling I’m desperate to erase. It’s not just in my head; it’s a heavy, persistent static that clouds my mind and sinks into my chest. It’s a deep, uncomfortable wrongness. I know exactly what it is. It’s the sting of boundaries that have been crossed, trampled, and ignored by people who are completely, blissfully unaware of the world I am trying to hold together. The first clear…