The Year That Was...

It's that time of the year again!! Another year is coming to a close and many of us are already looking forward to the year that is on the horizon. Most of us have already made our new year resolutions while some will stop and reflect on the time that flew by at break-neck speed. Amidst all the planning to bring in the new year with a bang there hopes, dreams, wishes....expertly woven in the celebrations with people ready to move forward and achieve bigger and better things for themselves. When I look back at the year that was 2011, I also had hopes, dreams and certain wishes that needed to be fulfilled; some by sheer hard work and some left to destiny and although destiny was not completely on my side, I have not let go of that hope, for those unfulfilled dreams have spilled over my new wish list.


As I glance over some of the websites that have devoted themselves to looking at the year past, I can't help but realize that there was a lot that has happened. From revolutions in Egypt that led a dictator to step down to relentless pursuit of Libyans to rid themselves of the terror of Ghadafi. From "Occupy" movements in Washington, New York and Oakland to end of the war in Iraq, this has certainly been the year that belonged to the common man and it is my belief that these types of movements will only strengthen in the years to come.


We also lost a lot in 2011. The first person that comes to mind is Steve Jobs. A man who revolutionized the world not by wars but by simply making the computer a fundamental part of our lives. His contribution to this century is immeasurable and only God knows how far Apple will go in the years ahead. His recent demise also opened our eyes to Steve Jobs, the man who could do anything in the world but was no match for a deadly disease. According to Amazon, Steve Job's biography was the best selling book of 2011 (just thought I'd share that :). Then, there was Osama Bin Laden, The Public Enemy #1. I still remember the breaking news that came on sometime after 10pm that sent shock waves and a sense of relief throughout the world. He was killed by some very skilled and very secret Navy Seals in Pakistan. Now being a Pakistani I was not happy about the location because it meant more negative propaganda by the media about the country and its people. I don't deny that the government of Pakistan is less then perfect but the actions and greed of a few politicians always reflects bad on that country's entire population. In the new year I certainly wish that Islam and Muslims who work very hard to live an ethical life be recognized and the West would finally stop persecuting all Muslims for the actions of a corrupt few.


So what are your new year resolutions? I know that like most women in the world my no.1 will always be to "lose weight", then there are other personal goals but what I wish for the world is tolerance, better understanding, open mindedness, less frivolity(please someone get rid of the Kardashians and Snookie), more charity, acceptance and World Peace!!!


Hopefully we'll achieve all of them in 2012 because beyond that we have nothing to look forward to, or do we?;)


R

Writing for real!!

I have been writing for fun for a very long time and have received quite a few compliments on some of my work but when I read my own work, I find lots of flaws, I compare myself to the authors I read. I marvel at their ability to use metaphors and similes and to make their characters come alive. It's always a challenge for me to describe physical attributes of a person or paint a picture of a room in great detail so I dicided to enroll myself in a creative writing class. I pitted myself against the Journalists and aspiring novelists of this world. Honestly it was a bit intimidating at first because I felt completely out of place. I sat in my corner when they talked about reading the classics like Anna Karenina, Moby Dick and brilliant works of Shakespeare. I was also impressed by their literary backgrounds and their ability to quote famous authors. Now, I also find myself to be an avid reader and have read works of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Jane Austen and Harper Lee but only as school assignments. Today I read what I like and what I like is not classics but contemporary works that are written in language we speak, about the world we live in; about family, love, life and society. After attending a few classes and completing a few assignments, I have realized that it's not about how much you have read but it's about what you have gotten out of it. Did reading change your life? It certainly changed mine becuase by reading I found my love for writing and after joining this particular class and reading my material out loud it has given me confidence that I can do this. I may not be as good as others yet but no one is saying that I am bad either! R

Mean Girls

Why do people spend so much time and energy in being mean to others. I think that being mean drains your energy becuse you surround yourself with negativity. Doesn't it take more effort to frown than to smile? My recent encounters with certain people have made me wonder, what is it that the other person does not like about me that makes them behave in such an unprofessional way? Maybe it's not about me at all. Maybe this person has her own demons she's dealing with and my entrance in her life is seen as an interruption and a hindrance. Never mind that all I have seen her do all day is gossiping and looking at pictures on Facebook and when I need something that is actually related to work, there is a sigh and the infamous eyeroll. What is the matter with you lady? Why are you being such a bitch? It's not like I am imposing on you. I was placed here by an agreement between your superior and mine and as I don't have any control over the situation, neither do you. So shouldn't we all just try to get along and make the best of the situation?

My opinion is that we should all act like grownups and most importantly professional. We don't have to like each other but a welcoming smile wouldn't hurt. I am not about to make you my Facebook friend or share my deepest darkest secrets with you. All I want is a little courtesy and acknowledgement that the things I need done should be done at the appropriate time.

Anyways,I was just wondering if people can be fundamentally mean where they are rude to everyone they meet or do they pick and choose their target? I think this type of behavior is petty and childish and does not have any room in the workplace.

There, I have let out my frustration and actually feel good about it, tomorrow I will work on facing the person in question and giving her a piece of my mind if the opportunity presents itself.

R

The Verdict!

Unbelievable!!

That was my reaction when I heard that Casey Anthony was found not guilty. I haven't followed this trial in depth but whatever I had seen disgusted me and made me wonder how a mother can go on partying when her child had been missing for 30 days!! Casey Anthony may not have killed her daughter but she certainly was covering something up and that is a crime in itself. She is an immature woman who saw her child as a gross inconvenience to her lifestyle. She is a daughter who would throw her family under the bus to save her own skin. She is a woman who would lie, cheat and betray people in order to get her way. I know that all this does not make her a murderer but how can a mother not know where her 2 year old daughter is every given moment let alone 30 days!!

I firmly believe that this case was not about justice but about her lawyer pulling all the stops in order to win. During the closing argument, the defense talked for 4 hours displaying a mound of charts and graphs and creating reasonable doubt in the jury's minds. That's what won them the case!! I also feel that the prosecutor's arrogance by laughing and thinking that he had this in the bag may have rubbed the jury the wrong way but ultimately the fate of Casey Anthony rested in the hands of 12 people who felt that a month of evidence and testimony did not prove anything.

During the morning news, I saw a journalist saying that since nowadays people watch shows like CSI where every case has a definitive ending based on DNA evidence, this jury did not think prosecution had a case without DNA. So now we have become so stupid that we have to look at TV shows to determine real life cases? Come on people! Life is not a TV show. There are real victims here who are being deprived of justice because we are so caught up on hype and sensationalism.

I am sad that the jury made the decision that they did but I also know that there is a bigger judge and jury that sees everything and doesn't need DNA evidence to give HIS verdict.

R

Gratitude

On the occasion of Thanksgiving I wanted to write about something that is relevant to people this time of year. Gratitude. I, like many others, forget to be thankful for the things that are in my life because it is so easy to overlook the blessings when you are busy complaining about the shortfalls. My mom always tells me that "when feeling down, always look at people below you, at people who aren't as fortunate as you because by seeing their suffering, your problems will look pretty minuscule." Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

Long time ago I heard a story where a man goes to heaven and sees three stations. At the first station, there are several angels who are busy opening letters and sorting them. The man looks confused and asks an angel as to what's going on? The angel replies that this is the receiving department. Here, prayers and requests are received from man and presented to God. The man moves on to the next station. Here, the angels are equally busy packing envelopes and boxes. The man asks the angel to explain. Here is the shipping department, the angel explains, all the blessing and wishes that God has granted are shipped from here. The man moves on to the final station where he only sees one angel who is yawning. The man asks the angel what department is this? The angel says that this is the acknowledgment department. He says that human beings are very quick to ask for things and when God grants their wishes, they forget to say thanks so that's why this department is always slow.

Why do you think it is so hard to say a prayer in gratitude? Maybe because we take things for granted or maybe we think that it is our right and we deserve the things we have, but without God's benevolence, nothing is possible. He gives us this life to enjoy and He can easily take it away from us just like that. So I am making it my mission to say thanks everyday, not just on special occasions because the Sun comes out everyday, the air we breathe is a constant and He is the mastermind behind it. When he doesn't forget us for even a single moment, isn't it our duty to say thanks? Next time look around you and count your blessings because their abundance will outweigh shortfalls any day.

R

Mind Games

A few years ago a friend of mine introduced me to "The Secret", a groundbreaking concept that popularized "the law of attraction", which basically said that if you focus on something enough the Universe will make every effort to get it to you. I remember watching this DVD with some skepticism but there were some points that even convinced me to take charge of my own destiny. I instantly came home and relayed this message to my husband and told him that we should make a vision board and put all the things that we desire on it. This way it's out there in the Universe and the law of attraction will bring them to us. He listened to me and amused me while I went through the internet and magazines to search for picture of the things I would like to have. Even though people in the video put some outlandish things on their vision board, I took the practical approach and only asked for things that seemed reasonable. Over the years we have achieved a few things that are on that board but some still remain out of reach. Today every time I look at that board, I question myself whether my desires have come true because of it or were they part of a master plan that was already in place by the Almighty? Do we really have the power to change our destiny? Can we really get each and everything that we desire? If the answer to all these questions is yes then why do we believe in God? Why not just pickup a pen and paper and jot down all our desires and wish them upon us? Why not wish all the bad things out of this world? Does man really have that power? I have subscription to South Asian TV channels and every other commercial is about a numerologist, an astrologer or a clairvoyant who promise to vanish all your problems and guarantee that you will have peace and wealth in just seven days. Is this even possible? Are there people among us who possess the power to eliminate all our problems and make us rich and happy? Is there a mathematical equation that can eradicate all ailments? If so then why is it that only a handful among us are able to do this and not all? Wow! so many questions right? But didn't all of us at one time or another sought answers via reading our horoscope, showing our palm to a psychic or calling a clairvoyant to predict our future? I know that I read my horoscope all the time and will also admit to visiting a psychic once. Does that make me an evil person? No I don't think so because desperate times call for desperate measures. When we are at a low point in life and feel that our prayers are not being answered, we do get swayed by promises made by these self-proclaimed Gurus who promise instant gratification. I am at a point in my life where I am thankful to God for everything that he has blessed me with but I can certainly see someone who is going through a tough time in life sitting in front of his or her TV when a commercial comes on that promises to make all your problems disappear, you will most likely pickup the phone and call and shell out a hefty fee in hopes of getting some answers. It is the vulnerable that these people prey on. There is a whole community out there of people who promise you the world and people of all background and educational levels are falling for it because who doesn't want Utopia, but does Utopia really exist? Are human beings ever satisfied with what we have or do we always want more?

Recently I saw on TV that one of the self help gurus featured on "The Secret", James Arthur Ray, has been arrested for three counts of manslaughter because three people died at one of his retreats in Arizona. This man who made millions of dollars making public appearances and selling books went too far when his followers were led into a sweat lodge to clean their mind and body, to free themselves of all the negatives and essentially have a rebirth. Three people died of extreme heat and dehydration and many were injured. Ray was arrested and is now awaiting his day in court. So my question is: if this man can teach others to attract positives in their lives and make themselves happy, then how come he is facing criminal charges and public scrutiny and is unable to make them go away? Touche.

R

Random Thoughts

I recently attended an event where I saw many middle aged women dressed like teenagers and I felt completely disgusted. It's one thing to want to look young but why do women feel the need to borrow clothes from their two-sizes too small daughters? In this day and age growing old gracefully is not an option for people that's why the anti-aging cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar business around the world. In every country women and some men are trying their hardest to reverse the aging process and they are willing to go through any length to make it happen but dressing in tights and tank tops that accentuate their muffin tops instead of hiding it is just tasteless. People think that the more skin you show, the sexier you look but that's not always true. A woman dressed in a great fitting jean and an embroidered blouse can look better than a woman who is all for skin show. I know many teenage girls who complain that their mothers want to look like their sister when in reality they want their mother to look like their mother and not some hoochie! I understand the need to look young and sexy but dressing like a hooker will only attract the wrong kind of attention.

Another issue that is burning me up is the Gulf oil spill. It makes me sick to see all that oil leaking and threatening the lives of so many innocent people and animals. It broke my heart to see sea gulls and other creatures weighed down by the sticky oil, and what about the fishermen who lost their livelihoods because of some very greedy executives at BP? I was happy to hear that the government is initiating a criminal investigation against BP and I think that they should throw these executives in jail to show the rest of the world that there are consequences for playing with other people's lives.

Well I think that's it for burning issues for now but I will be back with some more later.

R