Reality: You Sure you can Face it?

All the wise words you hear on news, T.V shows or movies are just words yet they have enormous unconscious impact. You can be blindly optimistic if you think it helps you through hell, but let’s be real for a day. The old Bollywood cliche of unconditional true love, of tradition, ethics, culture, and the list goes on… If you look close Bollywood influence is weaved so deep into our skin that it’s unavoidable to perceive life otherwise.

These philosophies were not built in a day, but went through a long tiring construction process over time. Unfortunately when they hit reality these beliefs end up as nothing more than shattered tiny piece of glass. The glass we deemed the world through with all this time, never actually existed.

You talk about being real, relying on overworked phrases that love can’t be bought, or it lies in the heart. Life will keep on proving you wrong until you get it right. Yes the material is everything, yes the looks does matter, and yes the demon wins here.

Think the complete opposite of all you hear today, and you get it right. Free yourself from the fake beliefs as they are just way too heavy to walk ahead with. Whatever you were told about yourself, emotions, life, and heart is a fool’s trap. On the other hand you can trip over the same rock over and over again if you think it’s still fun.

You were NOT designed to fail. You were to rise above, to let go, to grow, to win, and to conquer. You were given intelligence not to lose yourself in to the tricks of the society that mislead you from the purpose of your existence.

The thirst for knowledge is legit and innate it would NOT be quenched through the works of art of the amazing society. It is the search for the limitless, timeless, as its own self. No wise words can make you hit the right road. Pay attention on your basic instinct as the soul is part of something greater. Sadly it gets buried under the temporary desires and over expectations in haste.

If the fighter gives up the struggle then they lose their own identity. Funny how you don’t even care to put up a fight to save yourself or the people who matter. What if the so called society made signs of affection, life, values, were not worth the price you pay?! What if your life’s purpose was greater than the Big Car, Big House or the Big NAME? Would you want to die with the thirst so great that your soul itself HATES you when it’s torn out of your body?

DEPRESSION: A Funny Ride

Google says Depression means a long and severe recession in an economy or market. Oops that’s not the definition we were looking for… Depression is a severe typically prolonged, feelings of despondency and dejection.

Now here is my definition of it, depression means you are HUMAN, that’s all.

First Aid comes from YOU!

It transforms fast, changing color, shape, size, pace, duration but Depression stays with you like a big fat greedy blood sucking leech. You learn to get along with the anxiety so well that you start to like it. Then you don’t want to get out of it as you become friends with your demons. The hardest part is: people in depression don’t want to be saved! Acknowledge that you can only be saved when you are ready to accept the change.

So no matter how hard your loved ones try to help, initially you would have to decide whose side are you on.

Don’t Panic

Most people think depression would eventually kill them, to be honest people who are depressed won’t get anything RIGHT, and that includes planning a suicide. Trust me you only end up discovering pretty dumb ways to die. I would swallow a bubblegum and hope it would stick inside my stomach entirely paralyzing all my body organs to function effectively. Thus would lead to a peaceful sudden death without a proof. I tried that in school a day before my Physics Exam.

 Avoid Pills

Never depend on antidepressants even if someone recommends them to you. Throw it back in their face and tell them you’d grow out of it on your own. Antidepressants only stop the messed up suicidal thoughts and sorrow by numbing your heart. As a result your heart won’t be able to get out of this trauma if you won’t let it fight through.

External Help

Depression only is a phase of life where you find yourself surrounded by negativity. The answer is right there if you read between the lines. The answer is POSITIVITY. I know it’s hard to stay positive when the whole world is against you including you yourself. It is simply the disconnection with your Soul and all the panic caused by the staunch urge for re-connection.

Therefore stay with people who are positive, who make you happy. Indulge yourself into fun filled constructive activities that keep you on your toes with enthusiasm. Dig you way back to the light that resides inside of you.

I hope you find your own hilarious dumb ways to die and have a fun filled crazy ride out of the depression. Let me know your side of the story and how you enjoy creativity along the way. However in the time of crisis, don’t try the ridiculous Bubblegum Suicide. IT DOESN'T WORK!

GAZA: Not Blind, Dumb or Deaf, just Heartless

How little are your concerns, how shallow are your inspiration, how small are your dreams, and how empty is your heart… After all that you go ahead, glow with pride and call yourself a MUSLIM??

Muslim world is on FIRE! Meh I gotta go upload my Eid day selfies. Do you ever stop to look at us, the young generation and wonder where is the soul, the heart, the pain, the fury, the glory, the victory, the dream? Are we asleep or are we dead already?

How do you sleep at night when a MUSLIM’s blood has become cheaper than a piece of bread? Nah I see how much you feel their pain, since I saw that Facebook wall post of a Muslim brother holding a slaughter body of his 10 year old son. And underneath it you comment “I protest”.

Facebook statuses, posts, tweets, or maybe a little more like a long confused debate in a popular T.V show that never has a solution. And you think your job is done. To be honest the saddest part is we don’t we talk about it; we have our own blame games to play.

They don’t need a nation of fools, who burn their own towns, streets, transports, and shops in the times of chaos. Muslim world needs “Men of Action” men who don’t just win debates, but men who can make strategic plans and win against the tyranny. We need an active army of brilliant creative minds, men and women both, including each and every talent and skill they are gifted.

Some of my friends say you can just hate the tyrant and still reach the least level of Iman! ‘Waohoo!!’ you are safe.

Can you tell me why least when the LORD made you capable of moving mountains? Why least when you had all the power it takes? Why least when you can unite and bring it down with your max? The answer is crystal clear yet hard to swallow as it hurts like a millions pieces of a broken glass going down your throat.

My point is simple folks if we don’t care about our brothers and sisters today, they won’t give a damn about us in the time of need. We humans are created interdependent so the time is not far when you’d see what goes around comes around.

I hope to have awakened the good in you so that you invest all your energy in the good cause in the best ways possible or you can go back to the life of a dead person…

“YA ALLAH save our Brothers and Sisters in Gaza” AMEEN

Life: You want a Love Marriage or a happy life?

We were in I.T class room, my white bearded, highly respectable teacher just came in and greeted us. This teacher seldom laughed, he was very serious, wise and super religious. That day he startled us by a very strange question which had nothing to do with computers. He asked, “What is that one thing our generation’s marriages had which you don’t find today?”

‘Blink, blink’ no one answered. He said with a Mona Lisa smile, “Commitment, these days we have love marriages but no commitments.” 

Although it was enough surprise to hear a relationship advice coming from an I.T teacher on the other hand he was right. The older No-Love marriages lasted a lifetime. Today when love is in the air, how many love marriages have you seen having their happily ever after? I have seen NONE. As they say life is no fairy tale. When the bachelor carefree life leaves, so does their love.

Love is not enough to live a happy life, and by that I don’t mean money is… No, Money comes and goes never worry about it. The second vital thing a married couple needs after love is PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY. Funny how we thought Mathematics problems were a headache.

Step one: the Problem

Relationship problems require more patience and a lot of other skills. First is the Analytical skill, the skill to identify the problem. I have seen couples fight over a problems they never have figured out. Sad part is mostly they both don’t want to find out the problem in the first place. Remember to solve any chaos in life you’d first have to identify the problem and lay it on the table for all to see.

Step Two: Communicate

After you have found the problem openly talk about it to your partner. Show them that you care enough to ask their opinion and are ready to make some efforts. Once you have confirmed the problem be polite and use your communication skills. This is a critical stage hence always be honest, say what you need to say. Truth is not bitter if said in the right way, RIGHT TONE and on the right time.

Step Three: Solution

Last step is finding the solution. Creative people never fall short for solutions in life no matter what situation they are in. If you both are creative you’d find a wonderful way out of the problem in no time.

On the contrary when only one of you creatively leads the relationship then a little more patience is advised. If you can’t help solve the problem then at least help your significant other by not giving up and having faith in them. Most importantly don’t advertise your problems. Why would you want to burden your partner when they are already going thought hell to make you happy?

Scarier than that if you are that creative person who is making all the efforts to save the marriage. Then hang on buddy, there is always a solution. Giving up may seem the easier option but easier is not always the right option. I wish you both a Disney like happily ever after... =)

EID Day: Lets make a delicious Disaster!

How many of you agree that the best thing about Eid day is the DESSERTS! The only thing I love about cooking is desserts. I perceive Desserts as simply spreading smiles, love and happiness right from the kitchen into the hearts. The only problem is my family doesn’t view my desserts as happiness. Most likely they view it as a waste of resources.

A dessert without chocolates is a bore so all of my DISASTERS include lots of chocolates. Did you see what I did there? Now let me enlighten you. 

Once I made this perfect ultimate valentine chocolate dessert, called “Chocolate Mocha Pot de Crème.” It was simply a chocolate pudding in cups with a name that I couldn't even pronounce. It took me only 15 minutes to cook it then I left it in the fridge over the night.

Next day enthusiastically I asked my family to taste this awesome chocolate pudding expecting lots of praises. The first thing they asked was what it is called. I thought for a moment then said hesitantly “Chocolate Crème La Something.” They gave me a confused suspicious look. Yet they had no escape but to taste it reluctantly as I was jumping up and down busting with excitement. The next thing my family said was: “Wow nice, it’s good chocolate syrup so where is the dessert?”

It’s hard to be a good cook when you are so creative and artistic that none of your desserts resembles the original recipe in any way. After a long list of dessert disasters I have come to this conclusion that desserts just don’t get along with my freestyle cooking. They are more traditional and allow no space for my innovative ideas.

Let’s see if I succeed in making the vanilla dessert or disaster tonight for the Eid day while my family tries their best to keep me out of the kitchen. Now I want you to share what you love about Eid day and let me know what desserts are you having this Eid. May this Eid bring us lots of lovely desserts, Eidi, joy and happiness…!

EID MUBARAK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Repentance: To Illuminate You

I have found three main categories of new generations of the Muslims around me. One who is lost in western culture and the luxuries of this world, the other extreme are the ones who follow Islam because they are forced to. Then there is this third category, these are the young brilliant students torn in between the other two extremes.

This third generation has the most knowledge of Islam; they have spiritual insight, thirst for knowledge and thus understand what Islam really is. The only problem is they are confused, they watch the tyrants enjoy life and the innocent suffer. They see their friends skip Salat, lost in the world of pleasure and get away with it. They think they are the only one against the world of evil so they almost give up on the hope to make a difference. What they forget is Islam is the hope, the brightest lamp, the positivity itself; it is the light that ignites the hearts and eliminates darkness.

The thing that amazes me most is the youngsters who are farthest from their Rub become the closest to Him. This is cause they were the most desperate to run away from the darkness to the light. They have witness what it is like to live in the shadows of depressions. They once longed for freedom; and now they have realized you can only free yourself from salivary of all creations of this world when you become a slave to its CREATOR.

Whenever you will leave the route ALLAH has decided for you, you would only end up suffering. At first you will feel you are so close to your destiny that you can almost grab it. It seems so near making you explode with pride that you did it on your own. Unfortunately when you extend your hand, and reach it, everything falls apart. All efforts go in vein all that looked too real too close was never there, never yours.

Then you find yourself on the ground, exhausted, tired, helpless and lost so then you repent. It’s just a beautiful reminder for the AR-RAHMAN that we are HIS slave and no matter how miles we walk away it is HIS Territory and HIS Will.  May He the MOST LOVING forgive us and guide us to the right paths and destinies in this month of RAMADAN KAREEM. Ameen

Nutrition: WHAT, WHEN & HOW MUCH IS HEALTHY?

We live in the century of geniuses, smart brilliant people who can make you pay for tomato ketchup that does not contain any tomato in it, but the package has an awesome image. Likewise Potato chips that are not made from potato still tastes a lot like potatoes. We live in the time when EATING RIGHT is a myth, what to think of the right time or the right quantity.

Why EAT right isn't the exercise enough? Even if you do tough workouts combined with bad diet, you are only running in circles. I would share my own experience of how eating right helped me lose weight plus at the end of this article I’d share my little secret of what really helped me stay motivated on this quest.

EAT RIGHT:

Now I would NOT tell you to go on a crazy “Curbs Only” diet, I believe healthy food can taste good too, real food that can be added in a beautiful lifestyle.

Whatever you buy in packages or tin cans is merely a copy of REAL food. It’s a bad trade, as the trash you buy in beautiful packages has no health benefits. Artificial is easy to avoid but the sad part is today natural is not safe either. The natural fruits, vegetables or dairy products are injected with chemicals, to increase their production. The harm is, these chemicals used can lead to diseases relating to hormonal disorders. Hence the solution is eliminating fake food and adding the right natural food in the house. It’s easy to spot chemically ripped fruits and vegetables, as they lack the nature’s gift of sweet TASTE!

RIGHT TIME:

The mistake we all make here is skipping the breakfast, NEVER skip breakfast! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as nutritionist says. Not only that, but also reduce the size of the meals as the sun goes down. Trust me it gives you remarkable health results.

RAMADAN: From the above information it’s easy to understand that what you eat in Aftar(after sunset) should be less than the Sehri(before sunrise). Funny, how we always do the opposite of it and then wonder why we gain more weight in this month.

RIGHT QUANTITY:

Over eating can lead to some grave health problems and diseases but this topic is never stressed enough. Eating in moderation helps you stay focused on your crucial goals in life. It also prevents anger, laziness and stress. Small meals have benefits for the heart and the spirituality so it’s a pretty BIG deal.

MY SECRET FOR HEALTHLY LIFESTLYE:

On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying: "No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath." (Hadith No. 47, Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’I, Ibn Majah – Hadith sahih.)

Ibn Masaweh, a Muslim doctor, said after reading this hadith: "If the people only used these words, they would avoid all diseases and maladies and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle."

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "The believer eats with one stomach while the kafir eats with seven stomachs." (Muslim and Bukhari)

Al-Hassan Al-Basri said: "O, son of Adam, eat with one third of your stomach and drink with one third and leave one third of your stomach to breathe so that you may think."

So this was my SECRET motivation for healthy eating, I hope it benefits you too. Let this month be more about prayers and repentance and LESS about food. I wish you all a blessed Ramadan filled with great joy, health, peace and prosperity. 

RAMADAN KAREEM MUBARAK!