cornellasjournal

[cornellasjournal]

We will indeed die and leave everything we have in this world. But what we do, our deeds, will follow us until we die and determine the shape of our next life.

Let's keep ourselves busy doing good things.

[cornellasjournal]

[cornellasjournal]

There’s this quote that stuck to me ever since I read it, “be the kind of soul that others wish they could meet you a thousand times”.

الترجمة الصحيحة: ‏كن الروح التي يتمنى الآخرون مقابلتها ألف مرة.

To be the best of who you are, your heart and soul, for everyone that crosses your path. Be simplistic and powerful with your words, be meaningful in your actions, have purity in every intention you make. With Allah ‎in my heart, I want to make sure others see that first before they meet with me and that in itself is empowering in the most humble way.

I don’t want to leave a mark in this world. Allah already has.

[cornellasjournal]

Waktu memang tidak bisa diulang. Jadi daripada fokus ke waktu yang telah hilang, mari fokus ke waktu yang masih tersisa, di depan.

Mari coba sekali lagi. 🌹

[cornellasjournal]

How foolish we are to delay prayer, neglect reading the Quran, waste our time engaged in sin, and then sit and complain that life feels miserable. If we truly make Allah our number one priority, life will fall into place with ease. But when we prioritize instant gratification and temporary pleasure, life is guaranteed to feel meaningless.

[cornellasjournal]

Golden advice from Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله)

Do not carry the worries of this life because this is for Allāh and do not carry the worries of sustenance because it is from Allāh and do not carry anxiety for the future because it is in the Hands of Allāh.

Carry only one thing; how to please Allāh, because if you please Him, He pleases you, fulfils you & enriches you.

[cornellasjournal]

Why do we love beautiful things?

Do you ever wonder, why do we pursue efforts to beautify ourselves? Especially our appearance. We also care to beautify our surroundings. We paint the walls of our house with elegant colors. Put some flowers. Maybe add beautiful painting in our room too. These things are not our primary needs, we just love to look at them.

Beauty adds no tangible benefits to things, but it brings some emotions, makes us feel something. It especially bring calm and joy for me whenever I see or hear something--that in my opinion--beautiful. Like what Roger Scruton wrote in his book, Beauty:

"Beauty is the ultimate value--something that we pursue for its own sake, and for the pursuit of which no further reason need be given."

You probably have been in some situation where you hurried to the beach or to the top of a hill just to see the sunset. Because you find it beautiful. That's it. No other explanation needed.

When you read the word "beauty", what first comes to your mind? For me it's a lake on a top of a mountain with a bunch of wild flowers on the edge.

Another "beauty" that I like to immerse myself in is beautiful words. Beautiful words have a special place in my heart. Whether it's written or expressed verbally, it's always amazed me how some words can move even the hardened hearts, stir up emotions, and make us-human- do something after read or hear it. Hear it. Sometimes, we heard some celebrities got complimented, "you have a beautiful voice", "you have a calming voice", "I'll never shut up if I have a voice like you". They were not singing at the time, they just talk. They talk, and their voice is a pleasant to the ears. But do you notice, when someone got complimented like that, it's not only because of their voice and the way they're saying it (tone, intonation, etc); it also because of the words they choose. They don't use harsh or obscene words. They choose their words deliberately. And that make their overall speech, pleasing to listen to. This is remind me of a quotes by Rumi:

"Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder."

Some research says, just seeing photos of a beautiful landscape can release feel-good hormones in our brain. Aesthetically pleasing environment can improve our well-being. So I think it's good to be more mindful of the important role that beauty plays in our lives. And actively display beauty, in how we carry ourselves; in how we act and speak. Because, hey, it brings no harm and only make our journey here on earth feel more pleasant, isn't it?

[cornellasjournal]

Books Review: Live in 5 Senses.

4/5. It was a joyful read. Saya meminjam buku ini di perpustakaan Jakarta-Cikini. Buku yang cocok untuk bacaan ringan. Bukan yang secara dalam membahas mengenai kelima indra manusia, lebih menceritakan mengenai perjalanan penulis to get her new mindfulness dengan memaksimalkan 5 senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Meskipun sebenarnya ide dari penulisan buku ini sudah banyak kita ketahui sebelumnya, yaitu seputar "dengan fokus menyibukkan diri pada dunia nyata, akan mencegah kita overthink~menghabiskan banyak waktu dalam pikiran". Seperti sebuah quotes, "busy hands, quite mind." Tapi untuk saya yang seringkali melamun dan overthinking akhir-akhir ini, buku ini menjadi bacaan yang bagus untuk mengingatkan indahnya benar-benar menjalani kehidupan di dunia nyata, dengan maksimal menggunakan indra-indra yang sudah diberikan Tuhan kepada saya. So yes, it definitely was a joyful read.

[cornellasjournal]

Things to do in pursuit of happiness

• Wake up for Tahajjud prayers at least once a week. • Fast on Mondays and Thursdays. And the white days every month. • Spread salaam to those whom you know and those who you don’t know. The full salaam. • Send peace and blessings upon the prophet Muhammad, everyday. Salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wassalam. • Read the morning and evening and sleep adhkaar every day without fail. • Read at least one page of the Qur-aan with the translation a day. Gradually increase. • Dedicate at least 20 minutes a day to read from tafseer Ibn Kathir. Take notes. • Aim to memorise the Qur-aan. Make the intention and set realistic goals. • Have the Qur-aan or a beneficial tape playing anytime you can. When you’re getting ready in the morning… Brushing your teeth, washing your face, eating your breakfast, driving, cooking… Etc. • At least 15 mins a day to listen and FOCUS on an Islamic reminder/audio. Or read out of an Islamic book. Take notes. • Lower your gaze. • Don’t talk to opposite gender without reason. • Try to pray as soon as the time has been called. • Pray the sunnah prayers. • Do the adkhaar after each prayer. Astaghfirullaah. Alhamdulillaah. SubhaanAllaah. Allaahu akbar. Ayaatul kursi. Du'aa. • Kiss your parents. Hug your parents. Smile at your parents. Serve your parents. Be kind, be kind, be kind. • Give small gifts. • Smile to people and say hello. • Tell people you love them. • Keep in regular touch with your relatives, even if its through a text. • Give bottles of water to strangers on a hot day. • Give glasses of water to those close to you on a hot day. And a normal day. • Hold the door open for people. • Offer the seat you have to someone. • Make genuine du'aa for those you think of, those who ask you to, and those who you you say you will to. • Think of your brothers and sisters around the world, the situations they’re in and pray for them. • Attend the masjid regularly for prayer and talks. Think of the angels surrounding you and supplicating for you. • Treat people according to your manners and values, not theirs. • Eat your greens. Exercise. Brush your teeth. Brush your hair. Shower. Exfoliate. Moisturise your skin. Wear clean clothes. • Know you can’t please everyone. And forgive the mean ones. • Do it all for His sake. • Beg for jannatul firdous. Beg for jannatul firdous. Beg for jannatul firdous.

You will fall again and again. It’s in your nature. Just don’t stop getting up. Keep struggling and striving till you get there. Because eventually, by His will, you will.