The Art of Noticing

Syarif has always been drawn to the details.

Through photography, he watches for moments, movement, light, and the small things that can easily pass unnoticed. More recently, he has found another medium in content creation and perfumery—two seemingly different worlds that, to him, share something essential: both invite curiosity, exploration, and a closer way of seeing.

But beyond photography, fragrance, or the things he creates, there is something else Syarif hopes people notice: the way he sees the world.

A sense of connection. The feeling that things are not as separate as they first appear.

Perhaps that is his own kind of artistry—not necessarily painting or music, but noticing how one thing connects to another, and finding meaning in between.

 

When Curiosity Becomes Creation

Syarif feels most like himself when he is creating something that feels interesting and full of possibility. It might be behind a camera, developing an idea for content, or exploring the world of fragrance. There is a certain looseness that comes from making something and watching it take shape.

Swimming offers another kind of freedom. Away from electronics, away from the constant stream of information, he finds himself moving without needing to produce anything at all.

Perhaps there is a balance in that: creating when there is something to express, and simply moving when there isn't.

Syarif and his camera

A Scent That Remembers Home

For Syarif, home is less about a physical place and more about a feeling.

The memory comes through his mother's perfumes from the 90s: floral, woody, amber fragrances that accompanied childhood trips, especially journeys to Puncak.

He remembers those moments not simply because of the destination, but because of what surrounded them: being young, travelling with his mother, and experiencing the uncomplicated comfort of being together.

It is interesting how scent can preserve something that photographs cannot quite capture.

A photograph may show us where we were.

A fragrance can remind us how it felt to be there.

Syarif holding Bentala Sacred Summit

 

Looking Back Without Looking Down

When life feels overwhelming, Syarif turns to something simple: writing.

He journals about what he has achieved, the good things he has done, and the generosity he has witnessed in his family and relatives. The practice shifts his attention away from everything that feels wrong and reminds him that life is rarely made up of only its difficult parts.

It is a way of changing perspective.

Not pretending that the bad things do not exist, but remembering that they are not the whole story. Sometimes, grounding ourselves begins with remembering what is already good.

 

Staying Rooted in a Noisy World

In a world that constantly asks us to look outward, Syarif has found different ways to return inward.

Self-help books. Podcasts that challenge his perspective. Prayer. Even something as simple as planting a snake plant or growing sirih gading in a repurposed coffee cup.

There is something quietly grounding about these rituals. They remind him that growth does not always have to be dramatic. Sometimes it looks like learning one new perspective. Sometimes it means taking care of something small and watching it slowly grow.

For Syarif, staying connected to himself is less about escaping the world and more about choosing what deserves his attention.

 

A Morning, A Breath, A Little Gratitude

His safe space does not necessarily have four walls. It can be anywhere he can take a morning walk, move his body, breathe, and begin the day with a little intention.

Positive affirmations and gratitude have become small anchors for him—ways to remind himself that, whatever the circumstances, there are still things worth appreciating.

They help him gather the different parts of himself before the day begins.

And perhaps that is what a safe space can sometimes be: not somewhere that guarantees everything will be okay, but something within us that says, you can meet whatever comes next.

 

Making Peace with the Cringe

One of the things inspiring Syarif lately is something surprisingly uncomfortable: his own past.

The mistakes. The awkward moments. The things he wishes he had handled differently. The moments he once replayed in his head, wondering how he could have appeared better in someone else's eyes.

Over time, however, he began to see those moments differently. Perhaps they were never meant to be erased. They became a kind of personal guidebook. Many of those mistakes came from seeking validation: from comparing his choices and progress with people whose backgrounds and journeys were completely different from his own.

Now, Syarif is learning that accepting a mistake does not necessarily mean correcting it. Some mistakes simply need to be understood. Some need to be forgiven. And some can simply be carried forward as part of the person we become.

For anyone who feels embarrassed, behind, or judged for taking a different path, his advice is simple: step away from people who only point fingers. Get busy growing. Enjoy your own process.

Even the cringe moments can become part of the story.

Some of Syarif nostalgic moments

 

The People Who Walked Before

Syarif finds inspiration in people who have built meaningful lives through difficult journeys.

Among them are scholars such as Imam Syafi'i, whose stories remind him that wisdom and influence are often shaped through perseverance, discipline, and hardship.

Perhaps what draws him to these figures is not simply what they achieved, but what they had to endure before becoming who they were. There is something reassuring in remembering that meaningful journeys are rarely effortless.

Syarif's inspiration from people who walked before him pursuing a meaningful life

 

The Beauty Outside the Screen

For Syarif, one of the simplest forms of beauty is also one of the easiest to miss.

Put the phone down. Look at the sky. Notice a plant growing beside a pedestrian path. Take a slow breath.

Look closely enough, and the ordinary begins to reveal its details.

For someone who spends much of his life observing through a lens, perhaps this is another kind of photography—one without a camera, where the only requirement is to be present enough to notice.

The world is full of details. Sometimes, we simply need to look up.

Nature and sky photo captured by Syarif at Megamendung

Current Chapter: Staying the Course

Syarif describes his current journey less as a search for something new and more as a commitment to what he already knows he loves.

He has found a sense of direction. Now comes the less glamorous part: consistency, patience, and being open to the small opportunities that connect the chapters of his life.

There is no need to rush every step. He believes in working hard, but also in knowing when to pause. In staying optimistic, while allowing himself to recharge.

Perhaps the journey at this point is not about discovering where he is going. It is about staying present long enough to see where all the paths he has taken might lead.

The most meaningful connections are not always obvious at first, just like the things he loves: photography, fragrance, and stories.

Sometimes, you have to keep noticing.

Along the Way is a conversation series by Bentala that celebrates every person we cross paths with on this journey of life. Through honest and meaningful dialogues, we explore the memories, values, and quiet moments that subtly shape who we are today. Because inspiration doesn't always come from extraordinary lives. Sometimes, it comes from people simply learning to live more truthfully, one step at a time.