27 So Far: The Wind Is Finally on My Side

I initially thought twenty-seven was going to be an ordinary year. But looking back now, it turned out to be one of the most memorable chapters of my life.

So much has happened. From getting promoted at work, moving to a new team, to simple things I had never experienced before: being celebrated by my teammates outside my own family.

Of course, there were winding paths too, especially around love and feelings. Beautiful stories entered my life, some didn’t last, and I am still digesting what all of those moments meant.

Summing it up, 27 feels like that moment when the puzzle pieces of my life are slowly finding their place. Not always according to the plan I drew up on paper, but perhaps according to the best script designed by the Almighty.

Things covered in this post:

• 🥳 Turning 27
• 🍜 Celebrating my birthday solo at Mie Tarik Sultan
• 📚 Strolling through Excess Book Store & QPocket wish wall at Pasar Seni
• 🕌 Contemplation and prayer at Masjid Al-Sultan Abdullah near Stadium Merdeka
• 🎂 Birthday surprise from my office team
• 🎮 Getting promoted in June to Acting Game Master
• 💬 Getting used to daily English communication with a diverse team
• ❤️ She came back (I think?)
• ✍️ Continuing to write and document life’s journey
• 🧒 Greeting the little boy inside me so he never disappears

Career: “Ternyata aku bisa ya”

Honestly, 27 became a major milestone in my career. I am still holding on in Malaysia, but this year I was entrusted with a new role as Acting Game Master.

Remembering my younger self who loved nothing more than playing games, it feels surreal to now work in the gaming industry. Not just playing, but managing systems, human dynamics, and situations around the game itself. It feels a bit funny, but I am deeply grateful.

The promotion process was far from easy—so many things pushed me way out of my comfort zone. But reaching this point, the most valuable thing I gained wasn’t just the title. It was that quiet whisper inside:

“Ternyata aku bisa ya.” (Turns out I can do it after all.)

Initially, I was very stiff and shocked, especially having to communicate in English every single day with people from diverse backgrounds. Unused to it, yes, it felt so strange looking back. At this point, I want to give a special shoutout to Natalia Bukamo, my former Team Lead in my previous position. Her support, feedback, and encouragement played a huge role in helping me get here.

Next target: Finland

What’s next after this? Finland.

I really want to grow into an Account Recovery Expert, and my biggest dream is to get an opportunity to work directly with the HQ team in Helsinki. It might sound far-fetched or overly ambitious, but that’s exactly what keeps me fired up. Well, dreaming is free, right? There’s an HR-V to chase, goals to bring to life, and good intentions to accelerate, haha.

Just a little intermezzo: I originally planned to go to Japan, but God’s path led me to Malaysia instead, haha.

At 25, I was so sure Japan was next. I had paid for the LPK agency, prepared everything, and my mindset was completely locked on it.

But as the saying goes, man plans, but God has other plans. Destiny brought me to Malaysia instead.

Reflecting on it now, it wasn’t a wrong decision at all. I earn far better than I ever imagined at this age, learned to live independently, hone my English every day, and build a career that was never even in the rough draft of my younger years.

Sometimes the thing we assume to be a detour turns out to be the main road we were meant to travel all along.

Hi, little Fajar!

People might see me growing more mature or serious. But honestly, inside, I still feel very much like that little boy from before.

I still love cute things, enjoy playing games, love reading, writing blog posts like this, or occasionally giving in to impulse buys on online shopping apps just because they look cute and bring joy.

Back in my Ragnarok days, I could sit for hours purely for unfiltered fun. Willing to spend my pocket money on cash items just to make my character look cool. Zero thought about productivity, career benefit, or five-year plans. Just pure happiness.

And I don’t want to lose that side of me. I want to be an adult who works hard, saves money, builds a career, but can still relax at night reading manhwa. Someone who can still play games, get excited over silly little things, and refuse to become a boring adult just because the number on his age went up.

The life I used to imagine

Looking back, my mental picture of life used to be completely different:

• Age 17: My vision was simple: become an IT teacher, get married around 25, live a quiet and comfortable life.
• Age 20: While studying Business Management, I thought of becoming a management lecturer or entrepreneur.
• Age 25: Got a job offer to Malaysia—“HEH? HOH?”

Now at 27, my position is nowhere near what I dreamed of at 17.

But I don’t feel lost. I am simply navigating a new route that was never on my map before—with a compass that might be a little broken, but still keeps me moving forward. And that is completely okay.

The dream of teaching hasn’t died either. Who knows, maybe one day I will still open a small computer class at home. Dreams don’t die; they just shift shape.

A birthday full of surprises from unexpected directions

A sweet surprise from the office team

Honestly, this part became one of my favorite moments of turning 27.

I’ve always been the type of person who feels more comfortable celebrating others. Seeing someone else happy has always been enough for me. So when my new teammates gave me a birthday surprise, I was completely confused and went blank. Having never been celebrated before, I didn’t even know what expression was supposed to come out. And well, what happened? Yep, I cried, haha.

Initially, I had no clue there would be a surprise at the office. The schedule for that day was just a normal global calibration meeting. I even asked them after the surprise happened:

“I thought today is global calibration meeting.”

They just smiled and answered:

“It is.”

Technically they were right—it was a meeting—but hidden inside was a special moment they had prepared to celebrate my birthday.

I felt so happy, moved, and slightly overwhelmed. For the first time outside my family, I experienced what it felt like to be remembered and genuinely celebrated by a group of people at work.

In that moment, tears welled up because I realized: I actually have a place and am accepted here.

Dating myself: Eating Mie Tarik Sultan

Before that office celebration, on my actual birthday, I took myself out for a walk and had a meal at Mie Tarik Sultan.

Just me, completely alone. I wanted to eat good food without caring about appearances. Order an extra portion? Sure. Take food photos? Go ahead. Eat slowly while daydreaming? Nobody stopping me. Sit there all day? No problem at all.

As an extrovert, eating alone on your birthday has a tiny touch of loneliness. My mind drifted back to my family at home.

Yet behind that, it was a warm solo date. I learned that this is a quiet, peaceful way to thank myself and dedicate time to my own soul.

Stopping by Excess Book Store & QPocket Wish Wall

After finishing my noodles, I walked around the Pasar Seni area. I stopped by Excess Book Store in Pasar Seni. It felt so right to celebrate the day by immersing myself among rows of books in a calm atmosphere.

Not far from there, I also stopped by the QPocket wish wall. Seeing so many wish notes left by people, and writing down my own little prayers and dreams for my 27th year, felt really special.

Reflection and Prayer at Masjid Al-Sultan Abdullah

Toward the late afternoon to close out this small celebration trip, I walked over to Masjid Al-Sultan Abdullah in the Merdeka 118 precinct / Jalan Stadium, close to Pasar Seni and Stadium Merdeka.

In this serene and cool mosque, I took ablution, prayed, and sat for a moment of quiet contemplation. Talking to the Author of my life’s script, reflecting on the winding paths I’ve traveled, and offering prayers of gratitude for still being blessed with breath and steps in my 27th year.

Relationship? Hehehehe

This is the part of 27 that is honestly the hardest to process.

Someone who was once absent from my life suddenly came back. Well, you could say I am someone who finds it very hard to move on, haha. Especially with someone I liked first, captivated by the beauty in her eyes, the sweetness of her dimples, the way she laughs, and her sharp mind. A 10/10 in my book, haha. For almost a year we lost contact, then out of nowhere she returned to say hello. For a while, everything felt so bright again. We talked, grew close, imagined possibilities, and I let my heart hold onto hope once more.

Well, I can’t share too much about this, but perhaps there’s one thing I can leave with you:

“Since knowing her, the journey is no longer just about searching, but learning to make myself worthy.”

Ah, who knows what the future holds. Oh God, I trust You, Ya Muqallibal Qulub. Ini Abadi.

Mom - Siblings - Family

Above everything else, family remains my fortress and safest place to return to: my Mom, my siblings, and my late Dad who passed away in 2023.

Despite the distance, we always make time to celebrate birthdays together. Even if it’s just through a screen, it’s more than enough to make me happy and grateful. Knowing that I still have a place to call home and people who care means everything.

Sometimes when daydreaming alone, I wonder what it would be like if Dad were still here to see how far his eldest son has come. If I could talk to him for just a moment at 27, I’d just want to say:

“Pak, your firstborn is pretty tough, right? Please keep guiding and helping me from above, Pak.”

Not perfect, not someone hugely famous or wealthy, but surviving and taking responsibility. And I think that is more than enough.

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27 Reflection Notes

• 1 warm and solid new team
• 1 vehicle target and good intention worth striving for
• 1 major goal heading toward Finland
• ∞ gratitude for every breath and opportunity

Simple things I appreciate deeper at 27:

1. Turns out I am capable of overcoming things I used to fear.
2. Money is super important, but peace of mind is far more expensive.
3. Rezeki often arrives through doors we never expected.
4. A detour doesn’t mean you are lost; it might just be saving you from a wreck on the main highway.
5. Living independently tempers your mind to be stronger.
6. Growing up doesn’t mean becoming rigid and boring.
7. The dream to teach and share knowledge will always be there.
8. Curiosity is what keeps us feeling truly alive.
9. Writing is the best way to untangle messy thoughts and make memories stick.
10. Enjoying solo time is a comforting skill.
11. Being remembered and prayed for by others is an immense blessing.
12. Making peace with destiny makes your steps much lighter.
13. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers to the future yet.
14. Keep the little child inside alive so it isn’t extinguished by the harshness of the world.

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Stepping into the next chapter

Twenty-seven is far from perfect, but I am deeply grateful for this year.

So many unexpected blessings: a new role at work, a supportive team, living abroad, and unforgettable birthday moments. I’ve also come to realize that so many things in this world are completely beyond my control. And that’s okay—our job is simply to do our best and surrender the rest.

So here I am. Still reading, still writing, still playing games, still curious about new things, still holding onto the dream of Finland, and still navigating life with a compass I keep tempering every day.

Not sure where the waves will take me next. But one thing’s for sure: I am ready to step forward again.

Bismillah, less goooo, who knows where life will take you, is it??

• Ini Abadi, Perunggu