Life’s Journey: walking together as a global community towards an equal and sustainable future
After a long and fruitful conversation with various people this weekend, I have decided to share some thoughts on my personal and professional life in planning a healthy, fulfilling life in financial and spiritual sense. I am a professional concert pianist – educator – clinician, currently working in the arts management world as Chamber Music America’s Membership Manager. Therefore I deal with both artistic and financial / practical aspects in my professional life. Great spectacular successes, “15-minute stardom” are good, but long-term backbone planning in life is more important.
Two major things to balance in life: the DREAM to be better and successful as a __ (anything you want), versus REALITIES of dealing with the scarcity of resources we have within our reach to achieve that dream: financial – time – energy. Life is never guaranteed, stable, and precise because it is dynamic and organic. The only certain things in life are “change” itself and one’s ability to keep adapting to change. Four things I would like to share and suggest to fellow Diasporans:
Have a long-term goal / vision that will map your own career: realize your passion and find ways to get a career, or a vocation that will make you enjoy doing it. Find ways to diversify your streams of income and activities that are in line with this passion.
INVEST and RESPECT the following things: invest in people – your community – in friendships because they will worth more than materialistic things in the long term, invest and respect your own time, and most of all invest in continuing your own education throughout your life.
Always try to save money as much as you can every month, and keep a good credit rating: financial stability and freedom means peace of mind, ability to help others and to be a lot more flexible with your life in times of hardships. It also develops good discipline habits.
Keep giving back: donating your time, (and money – if possible), and expertise: volunteer and mentor someone with kindness, give money and leftover food to the poor, street musicians, and orphan child. Their gratefulness and prayers will be returned a thousand-fold back as good karma.
I hope to learn and exchange ideas with all of you on this. We have to consider ourselves lucky that we have a roof, food to eat, and a peaceful daily lives that sometimes we take for granted (if we own $2,000 in savings, we are already considered rich in the global sense, because 80% of the world are still struggling to make-ends-meet, let alone to save some). Please stay in touch. Thank you for the opportunity to share my passions and thoughts with all of you.
------
* Pianist Aryo Wicaksono has performed as soloist, recitalist, educator / clinician, and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia, Russia, and United Arab Emirates. He is a Board member for Indonesian Diaspora Network Tristate Group and Art of Giving Back. He currently serves as the Membership Manager for Chamber Music America and lives in Manhattan, New York City – www.aryo-wicaksono.com. Email: awicaksono7760@msn.com.
