★★★★★

This book has been sitting on my Kindle for a month or two. Until one Saturday noon, waiting for my turn on one hospital in East Jakarta. I remember it was a great day. Feeling hopefully anxious for my doctor's appointment, I put on my headset and start to read. The first chapter called: Joy. A few paragraphs into it and I found myself touched. Coincidentally, or what Oprah would like to say, Marvellously, my Spotify play this one song called "(Getting Some Fun) Out of Life" by Madeliene Peyroux. The lyrics seemed to agree to sit hand in hand with the chapter I read.

"..Maybe we do the right things

Maybe we do the wrong

Spending each day

Wending our way along.."

It is clear to everyone that Oprah is someone who loves her life. I resonate so much with her. At times, i felt like reading wisdom from future self. You can see it from the title of this book: What I Know For Sure. This sentence is powerful as she repeated it many times in order to make points. A statement of the beliefs she had. This resonates because anyone who knows me knows that I always like what I like fiercely and with so much certainty. It feels good to have a figure with the tendency as I do.   

There's this one sentence that states this fact very loudly,

"When the universe compels me toward the best path to take, it never leaves me with "Maybe," "Should I?" or even "Perhaps". I always know for sure when it's telling me to proceed--because everything inside me rises up to reverberate "Yes!"

This book has uplifted me through my changes and give me the insight I wish my fellow friends would know too. 

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So, for Zahra Rizkia Andini, on this year's birthday, this is my gift for you

I know this is not what you expected, but I also know deep down you are not at all surprised to get a book for your birthday from me. 

It is known for us, woman that aging is a curse. But quoting from Oprah, 

“It makes you sick to think that you’ve marked another year, that every worry, every strife, every challenge, every delight, every breath every day was leading to this moment, and now you made it and you’re celebrating it—with one little candle—and denying it at the same time?”

One of these lies that we believe and practice and reinforce is that getting older means getting uglier. We then judge ourselves and others, trying to hold on to the way we were. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up."

I wish that in this age, your splendid soul will get even more blossom as it supposed to be. I wish these words from this amazing amazing woman, would also give you wisdom in life, as it did for me. When I read it Ra, there were some lines that automatically reminded me of you. I might actually be your personal self-love assistance by now, lol and you might even get tired of it. But the journey of self-love is never-ending, and we will always keep on learning. Especially because we are women.  I hope you know, I did what I did because I love you and I only wish the sun inside you will only shine brighter with your nurture power to yourself and to others. What I know for sure is that every woman, especially you, deserve everything the world could offer, so never belittle yourself. 

Happy birthday, Enjoy your read. 

with love, AI