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I recently explored the Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream. Here is my review:
Upon my first interaction with this cream, I was pleasantly surprised by its lightness. Unlike many moisturisers that leave a heavy or greasy finish, this one strikes a delightful balance, providing a non-glowy, matte texture. It is exceptionally comfortable for sensitive skin, thanks to its fragrance-free formulation.
Whilst it might not be sufficiently hydrating for those with dehydrated skin, adding a facial oil could amplify its moisturising effects. It is particularly well-suited for those with oily to normal skin types. For the very oily skin, it could be an excellent night-time regimen. This cream excels in repairing the skin barrier and is a safe bet for sensitive skin types. The only downside is its packaging, which feels cheaper, but this is understandable given its non-luxury branding and the relatively affordable price, especially when on sale.
Source: Pyunkang Yul US Website The cream is housed in a transparent jar with a dark green lid. Initially, I mistook the packaging for glass, but it is a lighter, travel-friendly material that’s less prone to breaking. It includes a divider between the product and the lid to prevent messiness, though it lacks a spatula. Its texture reminds me of the Commonlabs Light Cream – creamy yet not overly rich or light, with a barely noticeable mint-like scent. When applied, it gives a moist feeling that can feel too warm during the day, so I use it sparingly in the mornings to avoid greasiness. However, it is incredibly soothing in more excellent conditions or air-conditioned environments. The cream has been a saviour during skin flare-ups, offering a calming effect and ample hydration for my combination skin. It is priced at Rp 130,000 for 50ml and affordable for its 50g content.
Buy here for Indonesian readers: Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream.
The Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream is a harmonious blend of lightweight hydration and soothing care, perfect for those seeking to maintain a balanced and serene skin regime.
Disclaimer:
Please note that the Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream review is based entirely on my personal experience and thoughts. I am not paid to use or endorse this product. However, if you purchase the product through the links I have provided, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost.
It is important to remember that I am not a medical professional or skincare expert. The information shared in my review is for general purposes only and should be used at your own risk. Always consult with a healthcare provider if you have specific concerns or conditions related to your skin. I am not liable for any outcomes from using this product. For more detailed information, please visit the Disclaimer page on my blog.
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In our bustling world, it’s as if we’re standing in the midst of a grand orchestra, every instrument clamouring for our attention. Blaring horns of technology, percussions of daily duties, and the constant strings of social obligations—all contribute to a symphony of overwhelming noise. Amidst this orchestra, the gentle, serene notes of life’s understated joys are often overshadowed. It’s these notes that form the delicate whispers of existence—the soft rustle of autumn leaves underfoot, the fleeting warmth of the early morning sun on our cheeks, or the profound contentment in taking a solitary walk on a quiet evening. These were moments that, not too long ago, would stop us in our tracks, making our hearts swell with gratitude and wonder.
As we navigate this epoch of incessant stimuli, these once-treasured instants seem to recede into the background. The thrill of the first raindrop on parched earth, the laughter shared over a simple cup of tea, or even the comfort found in an old, familiar song; these unadorned joys are now in peril of becoming mere footnotes in our life’s grand narrative. It’s as if we’ve been fitted with a lens that prioritises the loud, the brash, and the urgent, making the softer, gentler moments blur into insignificance.
Our current epoch, with its relentless torrent of sensory input, holds a cruel irony. While it promises heightened experiences, unparalleled connectivity, and a broader view of the world, it seems to concurrently numb our innate ability to resonate with authentic, sincere joy. We’re at risk of becoming wanderers in our own lives, skimming the surface, but rarely diving deep to touch the bedrock of genuine happiness.
But all hope is not lost. For every lens that distorts, there’s another that clarifies. As we journey forward, it’s imperative to pause, recalibrate, and relearn the art of finding wonder in the whisper.
AdvertisementsModern Overstimulation
To say that we live in a hyper-connected era is an understatement. Every waking moment, our senses are bombarded. Social media platforms, with their seductive ping and dazzling notifications, continually tug at our sleeves, each vying for a slice of our attention. Our inbox floods with emails. We’re alerted about the slightest drizzle on the other side of the world even before we’ve checked our local weather. At our fingertips, we have a vivid palette of images, emotions, and ideas, accessible with a mere swipe or tap. While this digital world offers the thrill of constant novelty, it simultaneously robs us of the pleasure of the familiar. As Alain de Botton so aptly put it in “The Art of Travel,” our relentless chase for the next big thing often makes us blind to the beauty that lies just beside us.
And it’s not merely about being updated or staying in the loop. It’s about the sheer volume and velocity of the information that is hurled at us. This relentless deluge of stimulation isn’t benign; it exacts a hefty toll. The more we’re immersed in this digital cacophony, the more our ability to appreciate life’s quieter, simpler moments gets diminished. It’s akin to trying to discern a soft lullaby in the middle of a rock concert. Amid the incessant din of notifications, pop-ups, and updates, the soothing melodies of genuine, heartfelt experiences struggle to reach our ears.
Yet, to put all the blame on technology would be a simplistic view. Our modern-day predicaments go beyond the glare of screens or the buzz of notifications. It’s the very ethos of our times, the pervasive belief that we must ‘have it all’ and have it now. This doesn’t just refer to material possessions, but to experiences, accolades, and validations. We’re told to aspire for success, popularity, and affluence, and, paradoxically, to make it all seem effortless. As we sprint in this endless marathon, where the finish line keeps receding, the essence of a fulfilled life eludes us. Bertrand Russell, in his profound work “The Conquest of Happiness,” painted a vivid picture of the modern human’s predicament. Our frenzied dash, laden with anxieties, often eclipses moments of serenity, eclipses the very essence of what it means to be content.
In sum, our age is one of sensory overload, where the radiant glow of life’s simple pleasures gets overshadowed by the blinding lights of modern demands. The question remains: How can we adjust our focus to once again see and appreciate the nuances of life?
AdvertisementsRe-sensitising Ourselves
So, how do we tune our ears to listen to life’s soft-spoken marvels again? How do we recalibrate our senses to feel rather than merely exist truly?
Embrace Digital Detox
It might sound cliché, but reducing screen time can significantly improve our mental well-being. Pico Iyer’s “The Art of Stillness” advocates for the power of silence and solitude in an age of constant movement. Try to allocate specific hours of the day when you are device-free. Read a physical book, tend a garden, or sit and introspect.
Savour The Slow
In a world that celebrates speed, dare to slow down. Whether opting to walk instead of drive, preparing a homemade meal from scratch, or just watching the sunset, slowing down allows us to immerse ourselves in the moment. It is the sentiment captured by Carl Honoré in “In Praise of Slow,” where he champions the Slow Movement, encouraging us to reconnect with life’s rhythms.
Foster Mindfulness
Practising mindfulness, whether through meditation, yoga, or just focused breathing, can rekindle our awareness of the present. “Wherever You Go, There You Are” by Jon Kabat-Zinn offers a profound insight into the art of mindfulness. It is not about escaping your life but diving deep into the present, experiencing every nuance.
Cultivate Gratitude
Reminding ourselves of our blessings can rewire our minds to seek joy in the mundane. Keep a gratitude journal. Every night, jot down three things you are thankful for. They do not have to be monumental. Over time, you will find that it is the little things that indeed matter.
Reconnect with Nature
Nature, in all its unadulterated glory, can be the most potent remedy to our desensitisation. As John Fowles observed in “The Tree,” there is a raw, unscripted beauty in nature that has the power to touch our souls deeply. Spend time outdoors. Listen to the whispers of the trees, and the songs of the birds, and let nature reawaken your senses.
Conclusion
The crescendo of modern life need not overshadow the gentle lullabies that life sings to us daily. By taking deliberate steps to re-sensitise ourselves, we can once again revel in the beauty of subtler pleasures. In the words of the great William Wordsworth, “With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.” The world has its symphony. All we need to do is fine-tune our instruments and listen.
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If you are in Indonesia, buy the printed book here: Periplus.
Introduction
When one hears rumbles in the grapevine about a novel way to organise one’s thoughts and information, curiosity is naturally piqued. That’s exactly how I found myself diving headfirst into “Building a Second Brain” by Tiago Forte. What’s all the fuss about, I pondered?
My overall impression? It’s a bit like Marmite: you either love it, or you don’t. For me, it sits somewhere in the middle, much like a teetering seesaw.
Reading “Building a Second Brain” was akin to taking a walk on a typical summer’s day. One moment it’s pouring, and you’re drenched, absorbing every droplet of knowledge; the next, you’re left scratching your head, pondering under a cloud of confusion. “Your mind is not a storage device,” Forte quips. A simple statement, yet it left me both nodding in agreement and raising an eyebrow in scepticism.
There were times when Forte’s ideas resonated, hitting the nail right on the head, evoking a heartfelt “spot on!” Yet, at other junctures, it felt as though I was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, wrestling with the content and struggling to see eye-to-eye with the author.
In the throes of my reading, emotions flitted from intrigue to doubt, akin to a roller coaster at the local fairground. The ups were exhilarating, but the downs? A tad nauseating.
Review
At the heart of Tiago Forte’s “Building a Second Brain” lies a concept both fresh and confounding: the idea that our mind, as sprightly as it may be, isn’t the optimal storage device for our expansive digital era. Instead, Forte suggests, we should craft an external, more efficient “Second Brain” to capture, curate, and capitalise on the torrents of information we confront daily. A tall order, isn’t it?
One of the book’s overarching themes is the idea of “offloading” – rather like shedding one’s winter coat at the first hint of spring sunshine. Forte posits that by transferring our cognitive burdens elsewhere, we free up mental space, allowing our innate creativity to flourish. While an enticing proposition, I couldn’t help but think, is this a bridge too far?
Another striking theme was the “PARA method” – an acronym for Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It’s Forte’s roadmap for organising this “Second Brain” of ours. On the face of it, the methodology appears sound, but delving deeper, I sometimes felt like I was navigating through pea soup fog in the heart of London; while there were clear paths, the journey occasionally seemed muddled.
Reading the book, I experienced a tango of emotions. There were moments I thought Forte was onto a winner, hitting the bullseye with his insights. At other times, I felt as though I was being taken down a garden path, only to find there wasn’t much of a garden at the end. My personal takeaway? While “Building a Second Brain” opened the door to a new perspective on information management, it left me sitting on the fence, pondering its practical application in the hustle and bustle of Blighty’s daily life.
Top 10 Quotes of the Book
- “Your mind is not a storage device.”
- This quote had me reflecting on many a time I’ve found myself up the creek without a paddle, trying to remember something important. Is our brain truly not built for modern information storage?
- “Knowledge work is not about the inputs; it’s about the outputs.”
- An interesting sentiment, making me wonder if we often miss the wood for the trees, focussing too much on information intake rather than its fruitful application.
- “The best way to improve your storage is to improve your retrieval.”
- This nugget of wisdom had me musing; perhaps we’ve been barking up the wrong tree all this time, prioritising hoarding over accessing.
- “In an age of information abundance, the only true scarcity is attention.”
- An undeniable truth. With the digital world buzzing like a fridge, where do we hang our hats and focus?
- “The brain is for having ideas, not holding them.”
- While reading this, I felt a penny drop. It was a eureka moment, shining light on the perennial struggle between creativity and memory.
- “Information is no longer a scarce resource – attention is.”
- Echoing earlier sentiments, this quote underscored the daily tussle for our mind’s real estate. With so many voices vying for attention, where do we draw the line?
- “Building a Second Brain is about making your thinking legible.”
- A quote that gave me food for thought. Is our thinking often as tangled as a plate of spaghetti, requiring some structure?
- “Your external brain should be the most interesting place in the world to you.”
- This was a cracker! It put into perspective the value of curating one’s knowledge and space.
- “The future belongs to those who can focus.”
- A stark reminder that amidst the hullabaloo of our digital age, perhaps the old adage still stands true: slow and steady wins the race.
- “To make knowledge actionable, you have to ‘trim’ it.”
- Reading this, I thought of how we Brits love a well-pruned hedge. Maybe our knowledge requires similar gardening?
Throughout “Building a Second Brain,” I felt much like I was on a seesaw in the local park – at times soaring with understanding, and at others, grounded in contemplation. These quotes, peppered with insight and intrigue, encapsulated the rollercoaster of my reading journey, sometimes taking the biscuit, and at other times, leaving me with more questions than answers.
How the Book Changed My Perspective
“Building a Second Brain” wasn’t just a casual jaunt through the park, but more of a windy trek through the moors of productivity and information management. While not every step resonated with my usual stride, it certainly jolted me out of my comfort zone, offering a different vantage point to peer from.
For instance, Forte’s proclamation, “Your mind is not a storage device,” had me sitting up in my armchair like a meerkat on the lookout. I’d been prancing about, proud as punch with my mental juggling skills, only to realise I might’ve been carrying my eggs in one basket, setting myself up for a potential scramble. The idea of offloading, of delegating the burdensome task of remembering to an external system, was nothing short of a revelation.
The book stirred a pot of contemplation regarding my approach to information management. Have I been spending more time being a busy bee, buzzing from one bit of info to the next, rather than effectively processing and storing what truly matters? The “PARA method” highlighted this, suggesting a more regimented, albeit somewhat convoluted, approach. But then again, as the saying goes, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
Emotionally, “Building a Second Brain” swung my pendulum from intrigue to bewilderment and back. There were moments I felt as if I’d found the golden ticket, and at other times, like I was chasing rainbows. Post-reading, I’ve found myself itching to declutter my digital world, sifting through the wheat and the chaff, and striving to hone a system that echoes the book’s ethos yet tailors to my personal rhythm.
Immediate changes on the horizon? Well, I’ve already taken a butcher’s at my existing digital filing system, earmarking it for a hefty spring clean. Additionally, I’ve started toying with the idea of creating a dedicated “knowledge hub”, a nod to Forte’s external brain, albeit with a twist – more of a digital “cuppa” to dip my informational biscuits into.
Recommendation and Conclusion
Venturing into “Building a Second Brain” was akin to setting off on one of those unpredictable seaside holidays. Sometimes the sun peeked out, warming my intrigue, and at other times, a sudden downpour of confusion had me reaching for a metaphorical brolly.
Would I be waving this book’s banner high on the village green, urging every Tom, Dick, and Harry to give it a gander? Truth be told, it’s not a straightforward “yes” or “no”. Much like the age-old debate over how to properly brew a cuppa, some might find this read right up their alley, while others could deem it a bit too strong for their taste.
To quote Forte, “Your mind is not a storage device.” This sentiment resonated, presenting a challenging yet captivating notion. However, the book’s execution sometimes felt like trying to spot the ball in a game of cricket during a thick London fog. Clear in premise, yet elusive in detail.
My lasting impression? “Building a Second Brain” is a thought-provoking endeavour into the realm of productivity and information management. While it doesn’t always hit the mark like a darts champ at the local pub, it undeniably offers a fresh perspective.
For those with a penchant for the avant-garde and a thirst for unconventional wisdom, it’s worth a punt. But if you’re seeking a linear, step-by-step guide, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle. As for me, I’ve come away with a mixed bag of insights, some destined to mould my methods, others to be taken with a pinch of salt.
To conclude, like a classic British pie, it’s a mix of meaty content with occasional flaky bits. Whether it’s to your taste, well, that’s for you to decide.
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Introduction
The iconic chandeliers of the Savoy-Homann Hotel in Bandung glittered, casting a soft, golden glow over a room filled with intellectual giants. Voices, rich with wisdom and experience, mingled as professors engaged in thoughtful discussions. Amongst them are renowned scholars like Prof Luis Eslava, Prof Anne Orford, and Prof Dire Tladi, each contributing to the collective knowledge of the room. The echoes of a history long past resonated in those walls, each thread intricately woven with the legacy of the Asia-Africa Conference.
I found myself amidst this gathering, a blend of anticipation and awe stirring within me. The two plenary sessions that day would form the nucleus of an enlightening experience: “Revisiting the Bandung Spirit and Outlook of International Law from Asian Perspective” and “(Re)Configuring New Multilateralism through the Asian-African Perspective.” The richness of the subjects and the diversity of the panels reflected a tapestry of ideas and insights. To think that I was to be part of this incredible journey!
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After 10 days of being a wife, I finally received and watched the cinematic video of the wedding day, and I was stunned. I cried and was grateful knowing I am married to my best friend.
Like what Dr Amir Levine quoted in his book, “Happiness only real when shared,” here are the videos:
I am still crying a river typing this. As my 2023 resolution is to blog and write more (in general), I will keep you updated on my marriage life.
Adios!
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Check what I am currently reading, and my books list through Nanna Iskandar’s Goodreads [click here].
I have always been a big fan of classic literature. After several times trying to pick which books would best suit me to read in 2023, I chose Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë to start the year. Here is my honest review:
I read this book once in Junior High School, and as an adolescent girl then, I could not comprehend the idea that this book does not convey a love story. I rephrase — it might, but it has the depth that unravels not only a love story but feminism and Eyre’s strength as a woman. I had to give a three-star rating rather than a five after a more thorough consideration: of writing styles and Eyre’s abusive relationship with Mr Rochester.
This book has endless pages, and it felt daunting to flip page by page because of the descriptive style Brontë had writing this book. Although it did feel pleasant to imagine and had all the visuals running through my mind (because the detailed description helped a lot), it began super slow yet did not make me curious about what was going to come next. Even more disappointing for me knowing that most characters in Eyre’s childhood life did not appear and had no significant impact by the end of the story. In my humble and honest opinion, they were genuinely redundant. It lacks cohesiveness.
There are several problems I found icky in the book, too (nonetheless, I am trying not to spoil any story), such as Jane’s mad and toxic relationship with Mr Rochester, racism that lies within the whole book, and Eyre’s obnoxious character (as how she talked about the physical appearance of the two characters).
However, despite the tedious story and style, the three stars came from the feminist narrative of Eyre, which she went through beyond marriage (whilst, at that time, it was the only prospect girls her age could have) and did have dreams. She also did not let Rochester ‘own’ her (a deeper analysis of this argument can be found online). Incredibly in love with how Brontë criticised Christianity (through Lowood), as how people could easily use money and power and sell religion to people for more gain in those two commodities.
To conclude, I would recommend adults to read Brontë yet will not let youngsters read it without any discussion beforehand or throughout.
Buy Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë here [Indonesia] [worldwide].
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July, 2021
Graduation DayNever have I ever imagined that this is the way I will be graduating from law school: Graduated as the Best Graduate/Valedictorian and attended the ceremony that was being held online.
A time in 2018
Debate and Research Community [more like a family to me].There is an actual term to define this flux of emotions when you just love and despise something at the same time: Emotional Ambivalence – the perfect term to define how I feel towards this past 3.5 years in law school. Not going to sugarcoat anything in this post, it has never been easy to win law school’s heart (if it has any). I may look strong as titanium on the facade, or maybe some of you thought that I was made for this, I am gifted, bulletproof, but for sure I am not. Not a little time I encountered mental breakdowns and had to drown my face into the pillow to scream and cry and had no other choice but to fake a smile the next day, acted like everything is okay. Too many bittersweet memories and ridiculous trinkets that sure I will catch myself smiling reminiscing it later in the future.
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