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Lessons from an Unanswered Invitation

Hello guys.  How is it going? Its me,  Asep Haryono from Indonesia

I miss you all so much especially my fave bloggers like Mrs Ananka from Scotland , Mrs Irina from Russia, and Mrs Mary Kirkland from The United States of America. I really miss you all.  I really do
 
One month ago, around the end of March, I experienced a simple event that at first seemed ordinary, but later gave me a deep lesson. It was not about a big problem or a conflict. It was only about an invitation to gather at my house that did not receive a response as I expected.


As human beings, we have all been in a situation where we wait. We wait for news, for an answer, or for someone's presence. In this experience, I learned that waiting without certainty can be emotionally tiring, even if the situation looks small from the outside.

I have something to share with you in this article.

Please sit back and relax, my friends.


The Beginning: A Good Intention
At that time, I planned to hold a small gathering at my home. It was not a big celebration. I simply wanted to build friendship with my co-workers who work together with me every day. I invited about twelve friends from one team through our WhatsApp group.

I sent the invitation on Wednesday, March 25th, at 10 a.m. in the morning at my home. I clearly mentioned the date, time, and place, and I hoped they could come to have a friendly conversation while enjoying simple food.

This is my house located in Duta Bandara Complex neighborhood in West Kalimantan , Indonesia. One day I will make a short online tour for you guys up here.  Just like online tour to my house someday. I hope so and I know so.  Photo Asep Haryono

This is my house located in Duta Bandara Complex neighborhood in West Kalimantan , Indonesia. My house nears to Supadio International Airport, only 5-minute drive from my house. By the way, One day I will make a short online tour for you guys up here. Just like online tour to my house someday. I hope so and I know so. Photo Asep Haryono


Together with my family, we started to prepare everything. We cleaned the house, prepared meals, and set aside our time to welcome guests.

For me, inviting people to my home is not just a formality. There is a sense of responsibility as a host. There is a desire to give the best welcome, even in a simple way. There is also hope that the meeting can strengthen relationships and create a warm atmosphere.


The Waiting Day
The day finally arrived. Since the morning, we were ready. The table was prepared, the food was ready, and the house felt more lively. As a host, I felt excited to wait for the guests to come.

I prepared delicious food, including meatballs (bakso), tasty cakes, and non-alcoholic drinks. Most of my friends who were invited are Muslims, including myself. There is only one Christian, who was also very warmly welcomed to join.

But time kept moving.

Morning changed to afternoon. Afternoon changed to evening. Evening changed to night.

Until the end of the day, not one of them came. More than that, there was no message or news to tell me whether they would come or not.

At that moment, honestly, I felt disappointed. Not because they did not come, but because I was waiting without
certainty. The feeling of waiting was the hardest part. We had prepared time, energy, and attention, but we did not receive any information.

I believe many people have experienced a similar situation. It is not about how big the event is, but about the feeling of being respected or not respected.


Learning to Calm My Heart
After the event passed, I tried to calm myself and see the situation from a wider point of view. I asked myself: maybe they had other responsibilities? Maybe something unexpected happened that made them unable to come?

In real life, not everything goes according to plan. Everyone has family duties, work responsibilities, and personal matters that sometimes cannot be left behind. It is possible that they wanted to come, but the situation did not allow them to do so.

Thinking about these possibilities made my heart more peaceful. I learned not to judge too quickly. I learned that in social relationships, empathy is very important.



A Positive Development
A few days after that event, something changed. Some of them contacted me through messages. They apologized and explained the reasons for their absence. Some were out of town, some had family matters, and others faced sudden situations.

Later, on another occasion, they came to visit my house. The meeting was short, maybe only ten to fifteen minutes. We talked casually, laughed together, and enjoyed simple food.

The atmosphere, which was once uncomfortable, slowly became relaxed. There was no long discussion about the past. There was no anger or desire to blame anyone. There was only a wish to keep our relationship good.


At that moment, I realized that sometimes problems do not need complicated solutions. Simple presence, a smile, and good intention are often enough.


The Lesson I Learned
From that experience, I learned one important lesson that is very simple but often forgotten: giving information is a form of respect.

When someone invites us, it means they have given their time, energy, and sometimes money to welcome us. Therefore, if we cannot attend, we should inform them as soon as possible.

Giving information is not only about politeness, but also about empathy. By informing others, we help them manage their time and feelings. We show that we respect their effort.

On the other hand, as a host, I also learned to be more patient and understanding. Not every absence means a lack of care. Sometimes it is only a communication problem or an unexpected situation.


Turning Experience into a Reminder
Since that time, I have tried to apply this lesson in my daily life. Every time I receive an invitation and cannot attend, I try to send a message quickly. Even a short message can help maintain a good relationship.

This experience also made me more careful in responding to social situations. I do not easily feel offended. I try to see things with a calmer mind and a more open heart.

Because in the end, relationships between people are not only about coming or not coming, but about how we respect each other.



Personal Reflection
Now, when I remember that event, I no longer feel disappointed. Instead, I feel grateful because I received a valuable lesson.

I realize that in social life, small actions can have a big impact. A short message, simple information, or a small explanation can make a big difference in keeping good relationships.

This experience taught me to be more sensitive to other people's feelings. It taught me to be more patient when things do not go as expected. Most importantly, it taught me to continue learning to become a better person.

Because life is not about who is right or wrong, but about how we learn from every experience


How about you my friends?
Have you ever experienced a similar situation, waiting for someone who did not come without any message? Or maybe you once forgot to inform someone that you could not attend an invitation?

Let us learn together from this experience. Start from a simple habit: if you cannot come, give information. If you receive an invitation, respect the time and effort of the person who invited you.

If you have a similar story or lesson, feel free to share it in the comment section. Your story may inspire others. Because in the end, good relationships are built on mutual respect.    

A Message From Asep Haryono

 

"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well.  Please leave any comment down below.  Let me hear from you.  Greetings from Indonesia"

10 comments:

  1. It is wonderful that your friends eventually reached out and made the effort to visit, even if it was just for a few minutes. Those small moments of connection are what truly matter in the end. Your home in West Kalimantan looks lovely, and I am sure your "online tour" will be just as welcoming as your writing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Melody, for your kind and thoughtful words.
      Yes, those small moments of connection truly mean a lot to me. I am grateful that everything ended well and that we could meet again, even for a short time.

      I also appreciate your compliment about my home in West Kalimantan. One day, I really hope to share a simple online tour and welcome friends from around the world virtually.

      Thank you again for taking the time to read and leave such a meaningful comment.

      Delete
  2. Yes, I have waited for someone to come over after they said they would and then not show up and not send a message telling me they would not be coming. It's annoying after getting ready and preparing the house for guests. I think people need to let others know when they will be late or not show up at all. It's a form of respect to let someone know you can't make it. I'm glad you feel better about it now though.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you very much, Ma'am, for sharing your experience.
      Yes, I completely understand how you feel. It can be frustrating after preparing the house and getting ready for guests, only to have them not show up without any message.

      I truly agree with you that informing others when we are late or unable to come is a simple but important form of respect.
      I am grateful that, in the end, everything turned out well and I was able to learn a valuable lesson from the experience.

      Thank you again for your thoughtful comment.

      Delete
  3. Dear Asep Haryono! I've been in this situation several times. I was waiting for my aunt and uncle, having prepared food, but their children and grandchildren arrived, and no one came to see me.
    I think people find themselves in this situation quite often.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dear Irina,
      thank you very much for sharing your personal experience. I can truly understand how you felt in that situation. Preparing food and waiting for loved ones, only to have them not come, can be very disappointing. You know how I feel

      You are right l many people find themselves in similar situations. That is why communication and simple messages are so important in maintaining good relationships.

      Delete
  4. What a pity they didn't let you know upon your first invitation, it's always manner to reply if coming or not and if something happens on the day that one can't come it is always polite to tell the invitee. No it's never happened to me, always more people ended up coming :) I'm glad you moved on and don't hold a grudge, life is too short.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dear Margaret,
      thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful comment. Yes, I completely agree with you that it is good manners to reply to an invitation, whether we can attend or not.

      I am happy to hear that more people usually come to your gatherings — that must create a joyful atmosphere. And you are absolutely right, life is too short to hold a grudge. It is always better to move forward with understanding and goodwill.

      Thank you again for sharing your perspective.

      Delete
  5. You learned at great lesson Asep. I am so glad the people replied a few days later and explained why they couldn't come. In life, communication is the key isn't it.

    It sounds like you put on a good spread of food and drinks too.

    This actually happened to me last week! I was expecting a friend over and she texted at 4pm she would be over soon and never turned up. Still waiting to hear why though!

    Hope you are doing well Asep :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mrs. Ananka,

      I have promised you that I would write a short article about my current job, which sometimes drives me crazy. Lol. I will do it just for you, as I promised.

      I woke up at 3:18 a.m. early this morning. It's still dark outside. When I checked my blog on my laptop and found your comment there, I decided to reply as soon as I could.

      Thank you so much for your kind and friendly comment. Yes, communication is truly the key in many situations in life.

      I am glad that, in the end, my friends explained their reasons, and it helped clear the misunderstanding. It sounds like you had a similar experience recently — I hope your friend will reach out soon and give you an explanation.

      Thank you also for your kind words about the food and drinks. I simply prepared what I could, in a simple way, with a sincere heart.

      I am doing well, thank you, and I hope you are doing well too.
      Warm regards from Indonesia.

      Delete

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