An art university student was topsy-turvy. He didn’t have any idea for his final project, which is going to determine his graduation. The canvas was still blank. Not yet touching any paints, but his brain has drained. He left the blank canvas fretfully on the floor and brought his cup of coffee upstairs. Sipping his cappuccino on the second floor of his house that looks like an art workshop, he was relaxing while trying to look for ideas.
He was leaning on fence with piles of opened paint cans on the top. Accidentally his hand nudged two cans of paint that stood next to each other. That couple of cans glided down and splashed all over a blank canvas.That art student shocked and looked down. Aha! Suddenly he saw a very amazing view down there. The spilled and splashed apparently made an awesome painting. He rushingly went down, did some here and there touch-ups, and wind the painting.
The next day, he submitted his ‘final project’ to his lecturer.
Gleamed his eyes in awe, the lecturer said “Wow, amazing! How could you paint this? Your strokes are spontaneous, expressive, and powerful.”
I didn’t know if that student would honestly admit that it wasn’t his real work but more of an extraordinarily divine work.
Frankfully, he couldn’t be charged as lying even if he told that it was his own work. Wasn’t that ‘masterpiece’ created because of his hands nudged?
Recently, his piece was bargained at relatively premium price due its high art value.
Actually, every one of us can experience an AHA Moment too that may result in amazing work in our life.
- Appreciate every “coincidence” in our life
Successful person always manage to find CHANCE in every PROBLEM. On the other hand, the unsuccessful person ignores PROBLEM that may lead to a possible CHANCE.
Logically, SUCCESS is achieved when READINESS meets CHANCE.
Eventhough it has been years, it feels like just yesterday when I came to see my superior at his office. He offered me a scholarship to continue my master degree. Actually, my best friend was also being offered the same. But, in the end it was only me who seized that golden chance. Why? Because at that time my best friend has not yet finished his bachelor degree’s final project.
When I completed my master degree with the highest GPA in class, the next CHANCE came up. I was being offered a doctorate degree from yet another person.
If i wasn’t up to that offer, maybe to date I wouldn’t be able to complete my first doctorate degree. If I didn’t complete my first doctorate degree, I might not be given another offer and completed my second doctorate degree. And if I don’t love to study, it would be impossible to receive an invitation to continue a Ph.D from the head of a famous campus in USA. And go on and so on. I believe, every small stones of success is a good stepping stone to continue to step up the next level.
- Enjoy me-time to ‘listen’, ‘see’, ‘taste’, and ‘feel’ many things in life that may be missed out when rushing up living.
Raging desire for success often times jail ourselves up to a seemingly neverending schedules. What would happen if we strive hard to solve a busy schedule? We may not only burnt out, but we may also burnt down.
“Mom, it’s time for our car to change oil,” said my elder son one time.
My former personal driver, automatically, would definitely bring our car to change the oil, without having to being reminded in advance.
However, what my son said is useful for the machine of our lives. When is it time for us to rest and change oil?
While having holiday with my family, I really enjoy my me-time. If I dont spend my time by reading -to recharge my battery- I would spend it by wandering around places.
When I translated the biography of Warren Buffet I get inspired to acknowledge that this billionaire spend 80% of his alert time by reading. While my son was still studying at Melbourne, I used to lay at his campus front lawn to read. I laid on the grass and sunbathed. It was winter. The warmth of the sun made me enjoy reading for long hours, even at outdoor.
- Find pearl in the depth of mistery lake
“Daddy, you always see the positive in person,” complained my daughter, Vera. I’m not blind -moreover self-blinded- toward others’ weaknesses. But, I choose to purposely only see their strengths instead. I even tweeted on my tweeter: “Everytime you see a caterpillar in someone, imagine how beautiful it will turn out to be when it becomes a butterfly.”
In our life, even during the tempest moment we can manage to find a reward. God uses every chance to process us. Is it not the purest of gold and the most beautiful diamond also going through ‘painful’ process? It reminds me of Thomas Alva Edison. When his laboratory in fire, he asked his son to call for his mom. “What for?” asked him curiously. “Your mom never see a burning building,” answered his dad at ease.
Meaning, in negative situation we should be able to find something positive. The positive invented helicopter, while the negative invented parachute. Have you ever heard that expression?
- Don’t exhaust your life
The word ‘ngoyo’ in Javanese meaning -in exaggerated way- ‘cost an arm and a leg just to live hand to mouth.’
Work is a must. Productivity is vital. However, what life means when we spend it just for working hard but never get the chance to enjoy it?
It is when we relax that sometimes fresh ideas can come and add to our productivity. To me, the word ‘recreation’ means ‘re’ plus ‘creation’. Meaning, we can recreate new things in the middle of our relax moments.
Everytime people question as how I can be so productively writing books or even articles in daring media, I answered, “Ideas run like a storm in my brain when I relax.”
An arrow must be released from the bowstring to be effective for reuse for another shoot. Guitar string needs some loosen up when it is not being used.
Wanna try?
Xavier Quentin Pranata, lecturer, writer and public speaker.
