All of you matter to me

Yesterday, I went with some old friends to a café near our college. First published article, first trip…and definitely fiends of the first year journalism are the best. I had SO much fun. And I really love all of them. Five years ago, I was, definitely, different. They were too. I still cannot figure out how we can change and keep being friends. Back home, I had enough time to think about that meeting and meetings with people in general. People, people, people are everywhere, can make you feel the queen of the world or just another miserable on earth. "Hell is other people" Jean-Paul Sartre said. Regardless of what Sartre wanted to say, I believe people are hell because they teach us about ourselves.

I wonder how meeting people, talking to people, hearing people’s viewpoints can tell you a lot about yourself. Every human being you meet is able to teach you a lot about yourself and who you, really, are. Every human being you meet can reveal a part of your character that sometimes you were not aware it even exists. Every human being challenges you and can push you beyond your limits. People tell you who you are, repeat complements till you believe them, shape, on one way or the other, your self-image; how much beautiful, intelligent successful you are.

People ask questions:

Did you get a job? Did you get married? Do you have children?

You wonder, are you here to get their things done, or to do your business?

We all want to be accepted, desired, liked and even envied. We want to be noticed on the crowd and to be noticed the crowd has, first, to exist. We need people to feel loved, to know how much they love us, how much we matter in the world, and how much tears would fall if we were gone.

Still, people are so beautiful. No matter happens, no matter they say, we cannot live without them. People show you other ways to see the world. What could matter for you may not matter for them. They uncover the eternal truth: reality does not exist and perfection cannot be handled on earth.

The most beautiful thing about people is when they remind of what you truly are, when they believe in you and perceive you as an ideal person. It is a lot of pressure, I know, but it is beautiful. When you interact directly with people, your immune system boosts, you energy gets uplifted. When you hug people, energy flows from your heart to them and vice versa.

This post is for all people on this planet. Every single one of you is already making a difference, a huge difference. Without you, we won’t be who we are and earth will lose balance. This post is to all people that, directly, matter in my life; to my family (no word can describe you), to my closest friends (millions of thank you), to people who taught me, who loved or hated me, to all those that challenged me, to all who let me know myself better. To people, my heart joins, daily, the living symphony that we are, harmoniously, playing together. We are ONE.

My Daily Happiness Commitment : Until Your Wildest Dreams Come True

Have you ever heard about people who travelled the whole world looking for their true calling? People who had to spend nights outside watching the stars in the middle of terrifying jungles; people who fought monsters, escaped captivation and came back alive from death, people who saw their families and beloved ones tortured, raped or assassinated in front of them, people who carry weapons as their little kids because it is not a safe world out there? Those people, you wonder, can tell you about the real meaning of life; those people know exactly who they are; they have 'experiences'; they know the answer. Have you ever heard about people who retreat and spend hours and hours contemplating without even thinking about the word bored? People who have discovered that ‘scary’ inner world and live peacefully with it; people who ‘possess’ wisdom, people who understand life; people who have something to talk about.

What about you? Sitting on your chair; doing the same things everyday; no adventures; no big achievements. Ok wait a minute! I don't agree with all this madness. You don't have to fight a dragon to discover the sense of achievement. Who can give me an example of a dragon, a monster more dangerous and terrifying than Fear? You don't have to go to India; to meditate the whole day in order to uncover your true calling. You know it right here right now; whether you like what to do or you don't; you have the answer. You don't have to meet native people to understand love and compassion; you can see love and compassion right now on her or his eyes.

The bottom line is that the most important moment in your life is NOW. It may not seem that special because you are not in Hawaii drinking a refreshing cocktail and watching the ocean. But believe me, there is a huge ocean inside you. If only you choose to see and not to escape or hide from it all the time.

I dream of skydiving, I love it I know I am not that brave but flying is SUPER. I love diving too; the mystery of oceans appeals me; I want to see all that colours and creatures, closely. I love to jump from Australian mountains; to attend the Brazilian carnival; to visit India and spend a month there learning secret lessons about life. I want to walk on the Great Chinese Wall; I want to visit the moon; I want to make 'Tour d'Europe' on my feet or train; I want to have a dinner in the White House; to attend “le cirque de soleil”; to eat a real Italian pizza (still addicted to pizza and my home-made pizza is becoming more delicious every time; a great cooker is going to impress the world :) I want to spend a night watching the stars in front of a beautiful lake.... But until I make all or some of them come true, am I wasting my life? is what am doing not enough? Are people who did all of this understanding life more than me?

I had a conversation once with one of my friends, a journalist by the way. I know I have sometimes strange ideas that people cannot cope with. He was telling me: "I don't believe people who tell you how to live or what to do unless they had ‘huge experiences’"( maybe one of what I mentioned in the beginning). He said: “how can soemone leaving in a conformable neighbourhood write and tell me how to live?” I said: “you don't travel the world or try everything to discover true answers.” I am always convinced that everything is within, going from mini cooper (I love to drive a red one because I have never seen a rosy one :) or the ideal partner. Everything you want is inside you; all answers are inside you. He said: “you are young and you don't know anything about life.” I wondered, you have no idea :) I answered: “sometimes little experiences can teach you huge lessons and huge experiences can leave you with nothing.” I am convinced it is not about what you do or what you have is about YOU; what you are.

Lao Tzu (Oh that man really understands me; if he is still alive I would propose for him:) reiterated my thought (I Know he lived in the 4th century BC, so he is not reiterating my thought but Einstein said present past and future happen at the same time:). So Lao Tzu said:

“Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window; One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes; The less one knows.”

Until your wildest dreams come true - and believe me they will do - keep dreaming but keep living the moment, you have yourself now and you will come back to yourself always. You will spend a month meditating in India; you will skydive (May Allah be with us:) you will realize everything you want but you will always come back to yourself; you will always have nothing but you. What you have done, you do or what you will do cannot tell anything about you. And half of people are miserable so they will always underestimate you, but you have billions of cells just in your brain and you have a reason to be a human being don't throw it away. Until your biggest dreams come true be happy, grateful and hopeful; love and give as much as you can because you receive as much as you give.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn

from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you

by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while

I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails

into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself

taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world,

your return." Mary Jean Iron

As Happy as I deserve to be!

Deep in my heart, I keep the same secret goal. I want nothing out from life but to be happy. That is why; my way to perceive things is different. My way to deal with 'ordinary' things is different. I don’t question much what benefits or advantages something has to bring me, I merely care of what I feel.

Am I happy? That is a question, I repeat everyday so life does not succeed to destruct me; so what people call duties or priorities do not turn me down or turn me into a robot. A robot, who definitely accomplishes all tasks needed and even before deadlines, but a robot with no feelings or life. When the answer to that question is no, I feel, terribly, not me. I hate that feeling and honestly I try to escape from it, to hide somewhere because I cannot face moments where I am not happy. Happiness is my purpose in life, is my job, my partner, the other me. I don't want to just be one of millions who do not even realize that they have something that beats within; that they carry life in their chests. Happy is how I want to be today yesterday and certainly tomorrow.

I don't want to get a job and that is it; get married and that is it; have children and that is it; do my social duties perfectly and that is it; finally die and that is it. I want to die happily; and I guess if I want to die happy, I have to live happy first. I want to have a job that really makes me happy and doesn’t poison my time; I want love to be in everything around me; I want to see it everywhere I go and I want to breathe it instead of air; I want to do things with my heart telling me go on; I simply want to live a life where the only thing I am asked to do is to be who I am.

A lot of things that I am doing daily this period make me feel happy. Regardless of what people may think or how they judge what I do; I can say strongly that I am happy. Not only because a lot of things are exactly how I would love them to be, but also because I feel that fun makes a new composing of my blood. I definitely hate to nag about things that are not going right or time that seems to do nothing more than passing, relatively, fast. I love to appreciate the moment and love and accept me just how I am now; since I am perfectly how I need to be on this exact moment of my life.

I admit that I am less happy than before and I am missing a lot of beautiful feelings I used to keep inside. But I guess we evolve; we cannot remain the same forever. As we grow things change; I will try to make sure that the real essence of who I am remains untouched and at the same time make sure that on my pursuit of happiness; I keep in mind that I am already happy and I keep in mind that nothing in this world can bring me sorrow or happiness unless I permit that. Only me, decides how I feel and how my life is going to be; for that reason I will make sure that I live as happy as I deserve to be.

حيرة المعلومات المعاصرة

اعتبر عدد كبير من المنظرين أنّ اختراع آلة الطباعة نقلة نوعية في مجال إعادة إنتاج المعلومات وتخزينها وأنّها قد مثّلت فرصة لنشر المعرفة بين أكبر عدد من الناس. فبفضل الطّباعة ظهرت الصحف وأصبح الناس أكثر قدرة على الوصول إلى المعلومة من ذي قبل. لكنّ هذه الثّورة التي أحدثتها الطّباعة ليست إلا لحظة تاريخيّة تجاوزتها التكنولوجيات الحديثة. فعالم اليوم يشهد انفجارا معلوماتيا لا مثيل له بفضل تكنولوجيات تمكن من ضغط المعلومات وتخزينها. كما أن هذه التكنولوجيات نفسها قد سهلت إنتاج المعلومات إلى حد أن عددا كبيرا من الخبراء توقعوا أن تتجاوز

البقية

Clarity Brought to me By Reiki

Clarity is more than a beautiful sensation. It is similar to a fresh air entering your body effortlessly. It feels pure and peaceful. It feels like all energy of the world enabling you to see everything differently. Clarity is safe, open and is above all PEACE. A clear vision and a clear mind were what I felt when I opened my eyes after my healing session. Today is the first time I get a free healing session from a Reiki master, a friend of mine. Stressed, this how I am feeling, lately. And he somehow felt it and offered the session. I did interview him before about Reiki. A healing therapy that I have often read about and even tried some exercises. However, to receive the energy is totally different than reading about it.

Thoughts and words have energy that is so true. However, the universal energy is something else. My morning yoga ritual includes a simple exercise that allows energy entering your body thru your stomach and also allows energy to get out. This is I guess, is differently from Reiki. The Reiki experience took 10 minutes and it was very ‘practical’ because you have to do nothing but to close your eyes and relax. When I opened my eyes, besides the clarity I felt, I was so relaxed and felt so active. (I drove my mom crazy by the way; I really wanted to jump on the table, it did not seem to me high after the session; I also started to dance and turn around. Obviously, mom said that I don't have to do this session again _kidding; she doesn't want me to become crazier than I already am) J

Actually, this session is not, technically, my first Reiki experience because I tried before the free distance healing pictures provided by my friend too. The experience of the picture did not bring clarity into my soul. After staying in front of it, I felt good and relaxed. I felt also relieved.

The whole idea of Reiki is very simple and you can read about it on the interview I conducted with Alaa where you will find also links to his website and to the free healing photos. Some people don't really believe in alternative medicine, while me I do. I think that Reiki, tao te ching, zen and all other therapies or life styles are ignored by the majority for a simple reason: business. For same reason happened the scandal of H1N1. Human health is a big ‘industry’ and anything that generates further income is welcomed, anything else is marginalized.

I loved the Reiki session. And I would love to do it again. Alaa said when I interviewed him that I am not active enough because I have misbalanced energy on one of my Chakras. I become very active lately, so I hope the energy is balanced and I guess today's session helped me to see clearly and be relaxed and active. Therefore, thank you Alaa!

There is nothing worth worrying about!

I was watching some movie, when it hit me. An idea, it is a very phenomenal idea. Don’t waste your present moment worrying about what could change or what could happen tomorrow. That is really worthless. I really love the expression “tomorrow will take care of itself”. That positive thought came at the right time. I am worrying about many things now; and I have just figured out all of them concern about my future. The source of worry is particularly stemming from people who are continuously telling me what to do. I admit that put a lot of pressure on me. Words like experience, career, job, money, business, choices… are actually messing with my soul. I feel exhausted and overwhelmed. However, I believe that everything happens for a reason; maybe I felt that way to write this article or to alter my perspective and to get back my focus on the great things I have in life.

I have really realized so many ‘wishes’, when I have first dreamt of them they seemed impossible but look at me now I have them all. Therefore, I promise myself to remind me of what I have come across and how far I walked on my path. Gratitude is an endless source of happiness, I believe. And as I meditate everyday; gratitude too has to be a daily activity. I just know; it will ensure my positivity and wellbeing. If I just write down (and I did before) or count all the beautiful things in my life, I don’t think that numbers will be enough. I have a lot of things to be grateful for and I know all of people on earth do too.

I am certainly convinced that to worry about something is a waste of energy. Worrying won’t do anything but creates more things to worry about (just using the law of attraction hereJ). However, in addition to my belief that worry is just a waste of energy and time; I believe that it is, meanwhile, a waste of ‘the current life’ of ‘the present’. When you worry about something whatever could be; you automatically drop the present moment. It can be a very joyful moment, but you don’t notice because you are worrying about something that won’t happen (90% of things you are fearful of don’t happen). A worry is a thought and a state of mind that creates limitations and forces you to expect worse. Then, you won’t have time to dream of possibilities, and the worry will grow gradually.

There are things meant to happen. Maybe you cannot help it with them, maybe they seem sad or unfair but sometimes things have just to happen. You can definitely question them and take moments to complain. But you have to admit that you are a better person thanks to them. At the same time, if anything seems to be upsetting you today, it did not end yet. Every end is for your interest. Worrying about things that could happen or things that won’t happen is the best first step toward a successful depression. Simply, worrying includes negative expectations and a negative perception of who you are. Worrying equals the lack of self-confidence and the lack of safety in your life. Usually, we do things to feel safe and protected. We need money and relationships to feel safe and protected. That is ok. Sometimes, we only have to accept our nature the way it is. But if we think that money will make as safe, I can tolerate that. Still, money cannot buy happiness, friends cannot ensure happiness, beauty, career, even health cannot make you happy, and sometimes a peaceful mind too won’t make it till you are aware of it.

Some movements and thoughts are based on awakening, enlightenment and awareness. All of these approaches aim at helping individuals take control over their mind. So instead of you being guided but worrying thoughts, you guide the thoughts to be what you want them to be. Well, sure it is not easy to get there and many people could regret it. Sometimes, when the subconscious mind takes the lead it makes me rest. However, the subconscious takes the lead and follows a programming that might be good or bad; beneficial or harmful. That is why, when you come awake and full conscious, you can choose your thoughts and get red of any negative ones easily.

To make a story short, maybe you have tools to get red of worry and maybe you have not. Still, whenever you worry about anything, remember nothing is worth worrying about. Tomorrow will certainly take care of itself. There still are a sun to lighten your path and an air to clarify you vision and a beating heart reminding you that you are alive. There will be someone dedicated to love you and someone dedicated to hurt you. Life will be always life, and you will be always you.

Doing the wrong things can be fun too!

I always say that life doesn’t come with a manual. Right and wrong, good and bad do not make sense but socially. I believe that society is a meaningless invention. However, outside society 'being' has another meaning and technically society is not an invention. I will try to accept society the way it is; even though society doesn’t accept me the way I am and tries to define me the ‘ways’ that I have to be. Regardless of what society decides to be right or wrong, we all have our references and judge things according to them. That is fine (sure keep question your references). But like it or not, we need to belong. We need to have a strategy, a plan or whatever could be called. We need past, priorities, judgments; all of them help ‘life make sense’J

Nevertheless, most people usually do things that they judge ‘wrong’. In other words, they betray their references. People cheat on their diets, skip the daily workout, think when they are supposed to meditate, watch TV instead of doing homework… Does it look like misery? I bet everyone reading this sentence, will definitely perceive himself as a sinner and 'miserable human being' doing the wrong, bad, harmful, unacceptable things mentioned above. But dear 'miserable human being', making those mistakes is FINE. The earth won’t stop moving and your heart is still beating. Imperfect action is better than no action. We all learn from our mistakes. Thanks to failures and mistakes, I am who I am now, and you are who you are now (very lucky to visit my blog and read this articleJ)

I couldn’t stand for 2 seconds when I started meditating. But thanks to my mistakes, thanks to thinking first times, I am meditating now on a daily basis, and I am aware of the gift of a peaceful mind. I have seen Oprah today and the episode was about ‘Eat Pray Love’ a movie based on a true story (that I am crazily trying to watch, and before I watch it, it already is my best movieJ). I liked the scene when she was trying to meditate for 2 minutes and she couldn’t stop thinking. It happened to all of us first times. To make mistakes and grow gradually are definitely normal and I think they are fun.

Fun is what we are seeking. Yet, we ruin the joy of learning, of growing by blaming and complaining.

Here it is the inspiration of this article:

Location: a restaurant.

'Actors': a friend of mine and Arwa (I)

Purpose: drinking coffee, eating chocolate cakes.

My friend was doing two contradictory things; eating the chocolate cake and saying : “ oh look at me am eating sweets! oh I will gain weight! oh I put kilos in my body! Oh I have to stop eating sweets. “

My mind : “Arwa could we run away, this is insane!”

Well, I couldn’t understand how she consciously ordered the cake and how she was consciously cutting pieces and eating and how she was consciously blaming herself and deciding what could happen to that cake :turn into kilos. She had the choice to order something else, to only drink the coffee, to buy some vegetables. But, she did not. What I couldn’t be able to understand is the contradiction between choosing to do something and blaming yourself for doing it. For me I valuate responsibility. I am responsible for my choices; if I choose not to eat the cake to keep fit; I will enjoy my choice. I won’t blame and say oh I want to eat that and this and vise versa. By the way, I did extremely enjoy my cake. Really chocolate could make women happyJ George Bernard Shaw was right when he said “There is no love sincerer than the love of food”. Don’t want to complete the quote for a reasonJ

When people buy things and start complaining about the money they spent, I just wonder why they spent it first place. Why they eat unhealthy food, why they keep dating the wrong guy or girl and at the same time they complain, I just don’t get it. I believe that if I CHOOSE to keep doing something even if it is hurtful and not healthy, it is better for me to enjoy it. After all, calculations ruin the magic of life. And I am doing the wrong thing anyway, so doing it with a smile and a content heart is really better for myself.

I said imperfect action is better than no action. I don’t mean that we have to do mistakes in purpose or hurt oneslef. I mean that imperfection is perfection. Let’s discuss the example of food. An unhealthy meal once a week shocks your metabolism and lets you lose more weight. Another example, when you are working out, you build muscles you keep building muscles when you are resting. Therefore, the wrong things are not actually wrong. They are just assumptions, that we have learnt somewhere. People thought that earth is the center of the universe, believed in thinking big, and also advised to think small, people eat vegetables and live 100years in Asia and eat meat and live 100 years in Italy…what are the right things and what are the wrong things? It depends. I am 'Einsteinan', I admit it, everything is relative and nothing is true. You don’t know it, till you try it. And when you try it, you will make mistakes. And when you make mistakes, remember mistakes are fun.

We all know the famous story of Thomas Edison. If Edison kept saying every time he ‘failed’, I am dreaming, I cannot make this happen, I am losing my time, we won’t have this light bulb; without which, I wouldn’t be able to write this article at night. So try to make mistakes as much as you can.

“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!” Alfred Adler

PS: Mistakes are fun!