Quote of the Day

Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die, they weep over you and if you are alive, they crave for your company.

Morning Madness

I think that in order for a person to want a new resolution for 2012, they have to start on it as early as now to make it work next year.

Imagine this:

You wish to want to start meditating more (in our words that would be "praying" more, or both, whatever your preference to peace is) and you want to start as early as 1 January 2012. Then come the first day of new year, you still haven't got that motivation because you have not kicked start that habit. Then you say, "OK, it's just the first day of 2012, I shouldn't rush," but remember when you said, "My new year's resolution is to meditate more!"? Isn't January 2012 the new year already? Who you trying to kid?

So my take on this is that in order for a person to want to start "anew" he or she has to start before the intended day or time of starting. Do you get me at all? Get the habit in slowly so that come time for when you decide to really start, you would have already gotten used to doing in and you'll be like, a pro. Now isn't that something we all want to be?

I have ended two paragraphs with questions. If you know the answers to both then your new year's resolution ought to start now.

Life's sours may well be the sweetest treat

When life gives you lemons, you don't stop at just making lemonade.

You can make lemon sherbet, bake lemon cakes, cook a delicious pasta sauce with the zest and bake cheese cake with the rind (although they are the same thing but look at the many things you can do with just one citrus fruit!) So with that in mind, I can never be convinced when you come to me and say, "This is just my luck. I'll have to make do with it." Sure, maybe in some circumstances, where other contingencies aren't possible to execute, you may well say that it's the end and there's no light anywhere near the tunnel. Nothingness. It's the thing that many people have sought to succumb to because they are just too damn scared to step out of the bubble of comfort and do something incredible with their predicament.

But believe it or not, you are capable of doing so many incredible things in this world and you can do it by yourself. Of course along the way you may meet with people who are at your same wavelength and those who understand where you're going and what you're in for, but surely without YOU being the starting point to get to the end, nothing short of WOW will ever happen right? You will also meet with people who discourage you and pull you down, give you a little bit of lack of self confidence but you have to see it as something that gives you the kicks to start anew and prove to yourself, especially, that this world really is your oyster and that you can do just anything that you put your heart into.

Tell me, how many people have you known who has seen failure but rise up to become the most sought after people be it at home, at work and in life? We are so used to being told what to do and what not to do that sometimes we become so scared of failure and/or be seen as somebody who has failed. Heck, I am even scared of that but believe you me, every single time I let my guards down and put my chin up, shed my tears and brush myself off of the stains from my fall, the second time I try I always do it better (although sometimes still not up to par but I get to see it for myself that I am indeed the boss of myself if I try hard enough). You are in control of your own self.

For the two weeks of my break, I have had the chance to be in two contrasting countries. I get to see the many differences these two countries pose and one of them is supposedly the most aspiring in terms of religion and politics while the other will often be called cancerous and corruptive. But what I saw while being there was that the people who live in the latter are far better behaved in terms of ethics and are more respectable to those around them. The latter contains far better successful people, better organised infrastructure and is more under control. But the latter is given the freedom to think and act on their ideas freely while the former is contrived inside what is being thought as "the best for you and your being."

Point here being if you let yourself free from any controlling medium, other than to give you advice and discuss the future with you, you will always rise up above others and be happy doing the things that you enjoy the most. It doesn't matter how many times you stumble and fall, as long as your heart is in it, you will always win it.

With that, I would like to send a huge congratulations to my companion, my best friend and my partner, for successfully completing his degree with distinction (11 distictions and high distinctions on that transcript makes you alien for the amount of play you balance with work but you're wonderful as you are so I ain't suprised). You are the very example of free-spirit and no one can do it better than you. You are an inspiration to many and I know you will keep steering us in the direction of enlightenment and success. I pray that life will make you prosper. May Allah bless you with an abundance of rizq and may all your dreams come true. Amin. You never let things get in the way of you getting towards the things that you want and with that kind of perseverance, you have revealed your true potential and you are one to look up to.

Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah for making our paths cross :)

Good read for Everyone

11 Things to Know at 25(ish)

My favourite point from the article:

11. Don’t Get Stuck

This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find God and themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. They mean to find a church, they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.

Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.

Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? What have I learned about God this year? What parts of my childhood faith am I leaving behind, and what parts am I choosing to keep? Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”

Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe God is good and life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned.
Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.

Shauna Niequest is the author of Bittersweet (Zondervan). This article originally appeared in the May/June issue of RELEVANT. You can read more articles like this by subscribing—click here for more information.

A Reminder For All of Us

Jangan berlebih-lebihan dalam perdebatan. Jangan berkelakuan fajir dalam pertengkaran. Ketika jawapan dianggap alasan, penjelasan dianggap menegak benang yang basah, diamlah, biar pun diam dianggap kalah.

“Empat karakter, barangsiapa memilikinya maka dia itu adalah seorang munafiq yang tulen. Barangsiapa yang memiliki salah satu daripada karakter itu, maka dia berada di atas salah satu cabang nifaq sehingga dia benar-benar meninggalkannya: Apabila bercakap dia berdusta, apabila berjanji dia mungkiri, apabila berpakat dia khianat, apabila bertengkar, dia melampau” [Hadith riwayat al-Bukhari (3007) dan Muslim (58) dengan lafaz Muslim]

Dalam menyemai Islam, jangan nifaq yang subur tumbuh.

Most of us, when we "think that we are right" and we "don't want to be seen as weak, stupid and unable to think big," tend to debate in a very manipulative way or any way possible just to rise up above others. When people don't say anything, we think we've won. But we don't know we might already have crossed the line to being ignorant. How many times have you won a debate, and how many times during those debates you've actually won as a person with pride or with shame because you're just being too ridiculous? This is a reminder for all of us. Sometimes we cross the line with people. We don't need to prove that we're smart. We just need to let other people see it for themselves when we've let our guards down. Think about it.

BBRRrrriiiiiinnnggggg!!!

I have just finished making these cute little mobile phone pouches tonight. They are so much fun to make! For a start, I am really bad in measuring for precision but these ones are cut almost to perfection so yeayy!! The good thing is, they can easily double as anything at all - for your emergency stash, for your pens, to put your reading glasses in, etc. Nothing to lose, so much to gain ;)

Anyway, they are selling for $8 per piece. If you're interested to get them do contact me and we'll arrange payment, pick-up, delivery, etc. These pouches, as far as "testing" has gone, can fit iphones (given that you haven't used any bumpers or casing) and Nokia E6. So I'm pretty sure it can fit any mobile phones :) **If you're not sure we can still meet up and give them a try.

I know they are not many to start with but I suppose they're still a good start. The problem that I'm mainly facing is that I don't know where to get materials to make things with sometimes. But then again it's a matter of exploring. I'm really lucky to be able to find these patterns but they surely are limited (mainly in size and quantity). AND I have these really really funky 90s-ish patterns that I don't know what to turn into. I'll give you a sneak peek soon ;p

Also, I have MORE Still Couleurs Bracelets for sale (and the two left from last batch). Yeay! The colours are more neutral now but I'm pretty sure any fashionista out there can colour block the heck out of them! These are still $2 per piece so yes, if you're interested, do let me know in the comment below or in my facebook inbox :)

Light blue and brown batik-ish patterns $2 each

Really blue vintage $2 each
Green Polka $2 each
And I have two yellow bracelets left (first two ones from the previous Couleurs post). I should say many many thanks to those who purchased my first Still Couleurs. I hope they're as enjoyable to accessorise as anything else in your jewelry boxes ;) Can't thank you all enough for your support.

Xx

Quote of the Day

Islamic Thoughts (@IslamicThinking) 12/2/11 5:01 PM Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. #islam #think

Nisa Halim