Taking Care of My Mental Wellbeing

I was wondering about life lately.
There is no particular reasons I have to be upset about.
28: Healthy life, lovely family, loyal friends, 3 properties of my own, double master degrees.
But everything could just vanish in a second.
Because life is full of unpredictable factors.
It could be flipped upside down anytime.
That is why I think it is important to focus on the present moment
To live your life for the moment, being mindful.
Instead of doing a never ending planning about future.

That is also the reason why these days I am trying to train myself to be emotionally strong.
I have been focusing on mental well being for the past weeks.
I exercise, practise yoga, meditate, pray, listen to good vibrant sounds (chanting and mantras).
Instead of searching for achievements and gratitude from other people, I am trying to find inner happiness.
To be loving myself and to spread the joy of happiness to other people.
It is important to have a meaningful life.
To make your life useful of others.
At the same time, I think it is also important to build a positive character and to be emotionally mature
So when life hits you, you could rebound quickly and learn from it.


Canberra, 10 April 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017 FROM SUMATRA, INDONESIA!

IT'S A WRAP! 2017 will be the number that we all need to write often in official documents for the next 365 days of so. This new year, I decided to celebrate it in my hometown in Sumatra with my family. Instead of staying at home, I went for the celebration in a rooftop restaurant with my sister and her fiance. The Sirroco restaurant & Bistro is located at the top of Hermes Medan Hotel. Since it is located in the city center, it has a spectacular view of Medan city with fireworks from all corners of the city during NYE. My sister and I even went to the stage to dance with the performance while my sister's fiance sang a few songs just before the countdown to entertain the quite boring audience 😜. 

Sirroco restaurant view on NYE 2017

Me, my sister and her fiance.

Sirocco Restaurant
Address : Hermes Palace Hotel 14th Floor Medan
Phone : 08192151666


After the celebration, we went to a cafe that has a very artistic decoration. The Kito Art Cafe has a very lovely decoration, good price and quite tasty foods. I was impressed! I ordered a Thai Tea and a Chilly Fried Noodle, a very typical Asian combination. The DJ was still playing the mix until 2.30 am in the morning although there was not so many crowd. Overall we had a good time and a great conversation!

These are photos taken in the Kito Cafe, look how beautiful the decoration!

Kito Art Cafe
Address : Jalan Wahid Hasyim No 31 Medan Babura
Phone : 061-80512135
Open : 11.00 am - 03.00 am (everyday)

On other note, I just revived my facebook page on traveling. I decided I will just publish everything about travel in that page instead of my personal facebook page. You will find photos, my journal, tips, inspiration, articles and some videos too. Like the page and stay in touch with me! Here is the link www.facebook.com/popshie

Stories of Popshie Facebook page

Last but not least, check this video I dedicate for my blog readers and my fellow travelers!

Lots of love,

Olivia

Christmas 2016 at Home in Sumatra

Christmas, home, family, classy. I have been home for almost three weeks now. By home I mean Sumatra, the place where I was born and where my family lives. Its been great here. I have been spending a lot of my time eating delicious Indonesian foods (the best part of it), reunion with old friends, playing around with my dogs, doing spa, saloon and skin care (because its so expensive in Australia to pamper myself) and working from distance. I decided to be home for my sista’s engagement and spend xmas with family as for the past two years I spent it somewhere in a far away land (Nepal and Colombia)

2016 has been good! I did not achieve much this year but I would say I am happier this year. One definitions of happiness is the ability to overcome storms in life. I managed to put together pieces of me from last year despairs. I also feel more content this year. A great part of it is my relationship with my good friend. I have been dating my good friend since May this year. I am a person who is driven by achievement. I always crave for the feeling of satisfaction every time I reach my goals. However, being with someone who is simple like him has transformed me into a better person. I become a more grateful person and less ambitious person. I also focus more on for what is in front of me instead of chasing the never-ending dreams. Although I still think a good balance of it is important: be ambitious and contentment. I am still working on it.

I also grew up as a person this year. I realise what matters for me more and what are not. I tried different things. It helps me to reshape my goals in life and understand myself better.  As a travel addict, I move to different places every time I could.  People said I am trying to avoid something. But it is not true. I just like to discover. However, after I returned from my globe-trotting trip early this year (where I traveled to five continents), I decided to slow down my path. And I did. It was a good decision as I could focus more on my long-term career goal and spending time with my love ones.

Coming up in the next post, more details on 2016 reflection.

Daniel and I in Hyams Beach, NSW, Australia November 2016

Lots of love,

Olivia