In the middle of the year, it was hard for me to continue my reading because I didn't have any books left  (just my excuse :p) and I couldn't afford to buy a new one (excuse. again).  However, my will was so big to finish what I've started. Thank God, There was my friend whom I can borrow their books and iPusnas digital library app from the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia. On iPusnas, we can read a lot of ebooks for free! the minus is some of the books are limited or not available, so you have to wait until someone finished their reading. Overall, iPusnas was great and worth downloading. 

Here are the book lists that I read in 2021;

I love reading self-improvement books, one of them is Happiness Inside from Gobind Vashdev who called himself a heartworker. This book really makes us think from different perspectives which finally keeps us thinking positively. A positive mind leads to a happy life. There is one chapter from this book called "No complain day" that tells about a grandfather and his wife who laugh and are okay even though they had a bit of bad luck. The key to this attitude is to forgive and not to think about it too much and surely not complain. For me, it was a big deal because I like to complain about anything a lot. But, by reading this it really opens my mind to think more wisely and forgive if something bad happens to you because it might be good for you. 

A simple life is a collection of thoughts from Desi Anwar. She wrote about topics in daily life like hobbies, happiness and etc. But, behind it all, those little things, there are something precious to learn, to appreciate, and to be grateful about our life. So, if your life is full of demands, live with high expectations which make you overthinking, anxieties, fears, and other bad feelings, you should read this book to ease your mind.

At the beginning of 2021, I set resolutions, one of them to challenge myself to read books more at least one book a month. I know for some people read a book per month just a piece of cake but for me who-is- super lazy-motivation-where? like me is a big deal. So, to prove that I read, I'd like to share what I've read this year. 

Based on a true story, it tells about the journey of the author who has issues with her mental health and how she handled it to stay alive. It's such a unique book and easy to read because it's like reading a chat between the author and the psychiatrist. I have a relative who has mental health issues, by reading this book I learned a lot about these issues and how important it is. Especially to understand and respect more about them that people with depression is no joke. I highly recommend this book for people who have the same problem as the author, learn about psychology things, or people who are fed up with this life just like me. 

One day, Koyama Nobuo woke up and he realized that he was in someone's body that he didn't even know. With his "new body", he must find out who killed him and confident, one of them was his classmates. It was such an interesting book because it got me like huhh??? Wait??? Hahhh what the fu*k every past chapter and made me suspect all characters. And sure enough, the end was membagongkan a.k.a super plot twist. Worth wasting your time. 

Filosofi Teras or also called Stoicism is a philosophy about a guide to a good life. The book by Henry Manampiring tells about him who was depressed and ended up finding a book about Stoicism. He explained his condition before and after implemented Stoicism and how better he is now. One thing I love about this philosophy, it taught me that happiness comes from the things we can control which are our opinion, perception, and our consideration. And worrying about something you can't control such as people's opinion, the weather, people's action, and other things are just a waste of time. The more I read about it the more it helps me to reduce my negative emotions. I'm still learning, but if something happens and that's not come under my control, It no longer bothers me that much. Better save your energy-wise peps!. 

Jill B.Taylor a Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. This book tells the story of her struggle when she was having a stroke and finally fully recover after eight years. I'm amazed by her curiosity about her own brain that made her did not give up and how she and the people around her appreciate her progress even just a small thing. I learned that our brain is marvelous, as long as we keep trying ;). 

So, this is my old book, I bought this when I was in high school and yep I just finished it now :). A novel by the best author John Green, Paper Town a story concerning Quentin and Margo who taking him on an exciting all-night adventure that Q would not ever do it. However, the next morning  Margo disappeared and left clues for Quentin. Dear Margo, I'd like to join your game!! 

Kecewa dan sedih itu sudah pasti, tapi betapa egoisnya diri ini kalau hanya memikirkan diri sendiri, tidak melihat dunia luar yang banyak lebih susah, kena PHK, bangkrut, kehilangan keluarganya dan lain sebagainya. Ternyata, kita semua susah, kita sama-sama berjuang melewati ini semua. 

Aku teringat sebuah pesan bahwa setiap ujian pasti ada hikmahnya, pasti ada hal yang bisa kita petik dari sebuah kejadian yang buat kita jadi pribadi yang lebih baik lagi. Setelah aku merenungkan itu semua, ternyata pandemi ini juga memberikan dampak positif buat aku dan aku harap kamu juga yang mungkin kalau tidak ada pandemi aku tidak akan seperti ini. Jadi, inilah beberapa hal yang aku dapatkan di tahun pandemi ini:

Sekarang aku percaya kalau dari rasa bosan bisa menghasilkan hal yang diluar dugaan, berkat #dirumahaja media sosial jadi lebih aktif dan mereka share hal-hal seru yang mereka lakukan yang bisa kita ikutin seperti memasak, mengedit, belajar bahasa baru dan hal lainnya. Di tahun ini, aku sedikit belajar tentang memasak, aku mulai kembali mengaktifkan blog ini dan membuatnya jadi lebih bagus, belajar tentang keuangan di Skill Academy secara gratis berkat pandemi dan aku membuka bisnis makanan yang sebelumnya tak pernah terpikirkan oleh ku kalau aku bisa melakukan hal ini.

Sejalan dengan banyaknya orang aktif di media sosial, tahun ini benar- benar buat satu Indonesia jadi lebih kreatif. Banyak trend-trend di Indonesia yang aku ikutin seperti bikin dalgona coffee, virtual photoshoot, dan brush challenge. Ada juga yang make over kamarnya, bikin kerajinan yang bisa buat cuan, bikin video-video lucu dan masih banyak lagi hal-hal keren lainnya yang pasti kita rasain and be like "woww aku ternyata sangat kreatif"

Karena sering #dirumahaja dan kerjaan juga WFH, aku lebih banyak waktu buat diri sendiri, lebih mengenal karakter ku, deep talk dengan diri sendiri, manjain diri sendiri dengan spa dirumah, nonton, dengar lagu dll dengan damai tanpa ada kerjaan yang berarti. Dan itu rasanya eenaakk banget yang mungkin aja kalau tidak ada pandemi kita susah buat punya waktu tuk diri sendiri.

Walaupun 2020 merupakan tahun yang banyak "sedihnya", tapi kalau kita bisa melihat sisi postifnya ternyata 2020 tidak seburuk itu, banyak pembelajaran dan hal seru yang kita lewatin, bagaimana kreatifnya orang Indonesia, saling menolongnya di dalam kesusahan, menjadikan kita lebih dekat dengan orang-orang yang kita kenal walau sebagian hanya virtual dan hal lainnya. Tahun 2020 yang sangat spesial dan yang tidak mungkin terulang lagi vibes nya. Tahun yang memberi arti kepada kita semua tentang sebuah kesabaran, ikhlas dan penerimaan. Thank you 2020 for your great lessons and goodbye, you'll always be remembered.