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A Quiet Lesson on Assumptions and Respect

One of the quiet mistakes we make as adults and as leaders is assuming “they already knew”—when in truth, we never took the time to understand what really happened. Assumptions are easy; understanding takes effort. And when assumptions are spoken out loud without context, they can turn into unfair judgments. Today reminded me that knowing part of a story does not mean knowing the whole story. Arriving at a moment and concluding someone was “late” without knowing the work that started hours before, the responsibilities carried, or the waiting that already happened, is not leadership—it’s haste. It overlooks reality and dismisses effort. Respect is not automatic just because someone holds a title. Respect is earned through communication, awareness, and manners. Especially when we stand at the same level. Especially when we are all managers. Leadership does not mean correcting others publicly, interrupting a process without permission, or projecting annoyance instead of curiosity. Lea...
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When Strength Gets Tired

Sometimes in life, there’s this woman who keeps the whole damn world together without letting it fall apart. She wakes up every morning with a grateful heart — grateful for her full family who still sits together planning Christmas, grateful for her little fluffy daughter Fender waiting for her at home, grateful for the villa that gives her passive income, grateful for every training session, every student, every restaurant she teaches, every bit of work she’s earned with her own hands. She’s grateful… but she’s also tired as hell. And people don’t see that, huh? They don’t see the moments she stands there in her quiet house, just wanting a second to breathe. They don’t see her answering messages from guests, figuring out bills, organizing schedules, thinking about gifts for Christmas, planning birthdays, and still worrying about the people she cares about. She’s strong. Too damn strong, sometimes. Strong enough that everyone thinks she’s fine — even when she’s running on emp...
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🌞 Since When Do You Need A Tan to Get a Bule?

Let’s talk about one of those random, “did-they-really-just-say-that?” moments. Because sometimes, people just open their mouths and remind you why sarcasm was invented. So, picture this: a few weeks ago, someone looked at me and said, “Eh, Mis Elista sekarang kok agak gelap ya? Menghitamkan diri ya?” I blinked. Twice. Because, honestly, what kind of question is that? As if “menghitamkan diri” is a hobby on my weekend to-do list, right next to “buy groceries” and “manifest world peace.” I told him it’s probably because I’ve been swimming again. You know, that healthy thing humans do in the water? I swim at noon sometimes, under the full power of Bali’s sun. It’s not a crime, it’s a workout. But he didn’t stop there. He added with full confidence, “Yeah, because there’s this girl too, she’s darkening her skin to get a bule.” Ah yes, of course. The sacred secret to international romance: SPF zero and a two-hour sunbath. Because apparently, melanin is the new matchmaking app. Seriously, s...
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Teman Cerita Elista

Banyak yang berpikir, seseorang keluar dari pekerjaan karena masalah gaji.  Padahal seringkali.... bukan uangnya yang kurang, tapi jiwanya yang lelah.  📌 Lelah berjuang di tempat yang tidak lagi memberi ruang untuk tumbuh.  📌 Lelah bekerja di lingkungan yang lebih sering menghakimi daripada menghargai.  📌 Lelah mempertahankan ketenangan pikiran di tengah suara-suara yang terus menjatuhkan.  Sebagai seorang self-leader, kita perlu sadar:  Ketenangan pikiran adalah aset produktivitas paling mahal.  Tidak ada jabatan, bonus, atau penghargaan yang bisa menggantikannya.  "People don't leave bad jobs, they leave bad leaders." — Simon Sinek Kalimat ini terasa banget ya?  Karena manusia bekerja bukan hanya untuk hidup, tapi untuk bermakna.  Dan ketika tempat kerja membuat seseorang kehilangan dirinya sendiri, resign bukan pelarian, tapi penyelamatan.  Sebelum kamu menilai orang yang memilih pergi, coba tanya:  "Apakah aku sudah cuku...
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10 Lessons I Want to Teach — to Myself, and Maybe One Day to My Son

I came across this reel called 10 Rules for My Son, and it touched me deeply. Even though I don’t have children yet, every word felt like a mirror — lessons I want to practice for myself, and if I ever raise a son one day, these are exactly the values I would love for him to grow up with. Two ears, one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak. Understanding will take you further than noise. A reminder that real connection begins with listening. Kindness is strength. How you treat people matters more than anything you own. True strength is soft when it needs to be. The kind of strength the world is desperate for. Saying sorry shows wisdom, not weakness. It takes courage to put pride aside and make peace first. Humility is more powerful than ego. Your emotions are signals, not shackles. A strong person listens to what they feel, but doesn’t let feelings control the path. Feelings are meant to guide, not to chain us. Someone else’s suffering is never your spotlight. Strength sho...
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In the Valley, I Found His Light ♥

There are moments in life when you just want to give up. When everything feels too heavy, too much, and every single day feels like you’re carrying a mountain on your back. I remember once, a Balinese priest told me something I’ll never forget. He said that around the age of 35, I would face one of the hardest breakdowns in my life. That the days would feel heavy, the situations would feel impossible. But he reminded me: no matter how hard it gets, you will survive. You will do your very best. You will get through it. And lately, I feel that prophecy touching my days. I’ve been seeing and meeting too many people without emotional intelligence, without empathy, without humanity. People who don’t even understand how to humanize the human. People who hide behind labels—influencers, entrepreneurs, coaches, the rich, the educated—but when it comes to the way they treat others, it’s full of emptiness. It’s fake. It’s cruel. Sometimes it feels like they forget where they came from. Th...
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Blessings in the Smallest Moments

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Sometimes, blessings don’t show up as promotions, lottery wins, or dream vacations. Sometimes, they slip quietly into your life in the smallest, most unexpected ways. The other night, after work, I was hosting some Spanish friends at the restaurant in Uluwatu where I work. It was their last night in Bali, and they wanted to spend it at the place where I work. Everyone was happy, the food was amazing, and we had a good laugh together. On my way back to their table after checking in with the security team—asking how they were doing and if they got the team-building meals yesterday—I noticed a senior couple sitting near them. Something nudged me to stop and check on them. I asked how their night was going, how they liked the dinner, and if they needed anything. They told me they were just waiting for their taxi. That simple check-in turned into a conversation, and I asked if I could sit with them. They said yes with the warmest smiles. Meet Mr. Marc and Mrs. Lisa from Australia. They were...
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