Monday, October 31, 2011

Who Says

If you haven't heard Who Says by Selena Gomez, you should. Ever since MTV started the adds for the EMA's and this song has been echoing in my brain. That girl is seriously talented and the music video is beautifully directed.

Watch the video, I'm sure you'll love it:


I also found this really nice website where the owner published the pictures from the video:

True Beauty Lies Beneath the Surface

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

Pictures from Disorted Frames

Have a nice day,

T.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Hide and Seek Memories

I grew up in a special neighborhood, It was sort of a compound for the employees of a government company  where my dad worked. The number of kids there was ridiculous I can not even remember how many best friends I had back then not to mention the ones I had in school. so with all the tiny brains around my tiny brain we had some seriously waked-up ideas and beliefs. Our normal day would start around 9:00am after breakfast we would all go out, morning are usually dedicated to barbie dolls, board games or indoor activities, then comes lunch, TV and once it's afternoon everybody's out, we played and played and played until midnight sometimes, I remember being dragged home crying at times.

Back then I had some crazy beliefs  and I was thinking about those things the other day and I cracked myself up laughing, I was certain that back in the 60's life was in black and white and I remember seeing one of dad's college pictures in color for the first time and freaking out about it, I thought it was magic! I also believed that everyone, everywhere spoke Arabic, Iraqi to be more accurate and that other languages were simply TV dialect. I thought that compound we lived in was pretty much home and anything outside its walls was abroad. When "Truman Show" came out, for months I thought I was in a show like that and was looking for hidden cameras everywhere. I thought songs were broadcasted live and was always amazed by how they managed to do every single move look exactly the same every time. I believed if I looked at something long enough I could move it with the power of thought!

We had so many games and so many things to do that I don't remember ever being bored. Every summer we would have a sensation, a game or a thing that we would usually invent and get completely addicted to for at least two months and man did we enjoy ourselves, no worries, no problems just pure fun. Life is so much easier when you're only worry is how fast will you be able to run during tomorrow's baseball game, isn't it?
Now you should know that I've always had a thing against those stuck in a period of their lives when they were happy and always wanted to go back there or try their best to stay there, I've always thought that it's human nature to evolve and by doing that you would be messing with the universe. So I'm not one of those people I just think I had the most outrageously crazy beautiful childhood any girl could ever ask for and sometimes only very few times I wonder what it would be like if I could go back in time for one last bicycle race, to feel the freezing cold February air on my face while insisting on wearing summer clothes because hey it's spring! you know, just to have that care-free feeling for one second, to step away from adulthood and all the huss and fuss we're surrounded by everyday. We all long for childhood sometimes, When I look back at my life and look at how things turned out I really wish that if someday Ali and I have a baby, he or she would have a childhood just as good as mine, to be able o appreciate everything in life, be thankful for what ever it brings them and most importantly realize that they should embrace life even if their life did not turn out to be as planed to know that God has bigger and much better ones for everyone.


Have a wonderful day,

T.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Grateful!

I don't have much to say, I just wanted to share my happiness with the rest of the world. This week has started wonderfully so I'm counting my blessings and thanking Allah for everything. Life can be so unexpectedly good sometimes :)






You are never as stuck as you think! Thanks Gala Darling



Peace,
T.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

How About Being Positive for a Change?

It's human nature that when you're having a good day life surprisingly and unexpectedly becomes so beautiful, all the birds start to sing and you can finally smell the flowers and enjoy the beautiful warm sun light and the weather has never been better, well I'm having one of those gorgeous days and Ali and I have decided to start looking at life from a different prospective a positive one, the truth is we haven't really decided we just agreed that it's better to look at things more positively. I'm a huge believer of what goes around comes around some call it Karma, good things happen to good people and love comes to those who wait and the whole shebang. I'm your classic cliche life-is-good-we-just-don't-know-that kind of person, but I this attitude has got me to where I am right now and I'm proud of what I have accomplished, though very little, yet I'm proud.
So in the spirit of positivity I wanted to share Gandhi's 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World , it's really inspiring:


1. Change yourself: I'm perfect I don't need to follow this one! I'm just kidding, we don't really need to go far to hear people complain "if only I had .... " Gandhi tells us to be the change we wish to see in the world and it really is that simple.

 2. You are in control: I will be telling myself this everyday and so should you. the reason why we never go through with things and take risks is  our selves and limits that we create, break the limits and tell yourself that if you think you should do something then no one has the right to tell you otherwise, you have enough talent or courage or faith or money or strength or whatever. If you don't believe me then look up Helen Keller, or click here  and you will believe that we all have what it takes.

3. Forgive and let go: it is more important to forgive yourself wrong doings than others', if you have harmed yourself in one way or another forgive yourself and move on, life is too short to hold grudges. Gandhi says that forgiveness is choosing to love. When you choose love, you heal your own heart.

 4. Take care of this moment: most people and I admit, not very proudly, that am one of them, spend most of our days planning for next year or creating a ten year plan and we sometimes forget to live today! I luckily have a husband who constantly reminds of right now. Living in the past causes depression. Living in the future causes anxiety so you might as well save yourself the anti depressants!

5. Without action you aren't going anywhere: it's simple stop dreaming and take action do what it takes to make those dreams come true.

6. Everyone is Human: and humans make mistakes, we all make mistakes, how come we forgive ourselves so easily and blame it on lack of sleep or stress and when someone else does it we call it stupidity? Not that I'm proud of it, but I do this sometime, but it's changing.


7. See the good in people and help them: It's been said that there's endless beauty in the human soul and I believe that the more you give the more you receive and you will see that beauty in others' souls.
8. Persist: Whatever it is that you want in life, it takes work. Anything in life that is worth something takes lots and lots of work. Persist and try again and again and again until you reach your goal. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better".

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be true to yourself: You should always do what you think is right not what you are expected to do and it is better to be hated for who you are than loved for being someone else. after all the only thing that matters is how you feel about yourself and the things you do not what people think.
10. Continue to grow and evolve: Life doesn't always turn out the way you planned it, most times it's a million times better. Keep an open mind and embrace the change and think about the endless opportunities." Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never stop evolving."

Have a wonderful weekend.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

10 Ways to Create Your Own Good Luck

I have always believed in William Jennings Bryan saying "Destiny is not a matter of chance; but a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, It is a thing to be achieved" and I've alwyas tried my best to implement this in my life, this morning, while doing my routine articles scoutering, I read a featured article on Yahoo which led me to another article which again led me to another one and I ended up reading blogs on a website called Mark and Angel Hack Life and there was this article that I instantly loved called 10 Ways to Create Your Own Good Luck, after reading it I felt so inspired and thankful for the life I have that I felt I had to share this with the rest of the world. I have and amazing family a wonderful spouse and great friends, I hate my job, but I do get paid at the end of each month, I welcomed the flu season with wide opened arms, but hey at least it's nothing serious, I have a wonderful house and I get to wake up every morning to smiling faces and that is worth everything. I consider my self a very lucky person and for that I'm eternally thankful.

I think everyone should read this, I'm sure you'll get so much out of it. So here it is 10 Ways to Create your Own Good Luck:

Constantly try new things.

There’s a saying that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  If you want to improve your luck, you have to try new things to see what works and what doesn’t.
Unlucky people tend to be creatures of habit.  They take the same route to and from work every single day, talk to the same types of people at social functions, and live out the same routine day in and day out.
In contrast, lucky people try to introduce variety into their lives.  For example, one lucky friend I know recently described how he thought of a color before arriving at a business convention and then introduced himself to people wearing that color.  This kind of behavior boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety into an otherwise status-quo situation.  And in my friend’s particular case, his (somewhat odd) tactic led to a fairly substantial contract deal with a new client.

Think about how lucky you are right now.

Lucky people tend to see the positive side of their ill fortune.  They imagine how things could have been so much worse.  For instance, I met a rather cheerful, successful and lucky business client recently who showed up to our meeting with a cast from shoulder to wrist on her left arm.  She then explained to me how she had fallen down a flight of stairs.  “But I am the luckiest person alive,” she continued.  “I walked away from that fall with a broken arm instead of a broken neck.”
Another interesting example of this is how research suggests that Olympic athletes who win bronze medals are typically happier than their Silver medalist counterparts.  This is because silver medalists think that if they had performed slightly better they might have won a gold medal.  In contrast, bronze medalists focus on how if they’d performed slightly worse, they wouldn’t have won anything.
Having a positive outlook on life is a must if you are to become a luckier person.  If your outlook on life is doom and gloom, then that’s all you’ll experience.  Fortunately, the opposite is also true.  You control your luck and your life by controlling your thoughts.
Look around.  Appreciate the things you have right now.  Many people aren’t so lucky.

Notice little things and solve small problems.

I chatted with an aspiring web application developer recently who was complaining that all the big ideas were being worked on already and that there was nothing groundbreaking left to do.  As he talked, I realized he was referencing massive projects that others were working on that seemed mostly out of reach.  And as I thought about all these ‘grand ideas’ I realized that in most cases they probably didn’t start with a massive plan or project, but rather started by trying to solve a simple problem.
This is the impression I get when I read about the early stages of companies like Google.  I’m pretty sure Google’s founders didn’t have the goal of organizing the all of the world’s information as their primary focus when they first started – instead they started with a series of smaller problems (problems are potential opportunities) and slowly expanded their end goal from there.

Work on things you’re passionate about.

Some of us were born to be musicians – to communicate intricate thoughts and rousing feelings with the strings of a guitar.  Some of us were born to be poets – to touch people’s hearts with exquisite prose.  Some of us were born to be entrepreneurs – to create growth and opportunity where others saw rubbish.  And still, some of us were born to do whatever it is, specifically, that moves you.
Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.  You must follow your intuition.  Good luck and true wealth come naturally to those who are passionate about their work.

Establish relationships with people who share your interests.

If you’re already passionate about something, finding and connecting with others who share your passionate viewpoint can help you in numerous ways.  You can tap into their knowledge on the topic, share your own ideas and experiences, and often share and learn things outside of your common interest area.
Make an extra effort to reach out to people who you’ve identified as having an interest overlap.  If you happen to meet someone casually who has an interest overlap with you, don’t hesitate, jump on board with that connection.  It can provide a great opportunity for you to build a friendship in an unexpected place.
Share your skills, ideas, and knowledge freely with others.  If you’re already involved in a group with a particular interest, make an effort to reach out to newcomers.  Not only will a friendly face help to encourage them to get involved, they’ll often hold you in high regard, as you’re the one who broke down some of that ‘newness’ barrier for them.  Similarly, when people come to such meetings looking for help, don’t hesitate to assist in any way you can.

Help others out when you’re able.

Remember, in life, you get what you put in.  Luck often comes in the form of help when you need it, and the best way to ‘grease the rails’ for help when you’ll eventually need it is by helping others right now.  If you’re presented with an opportunity to help – particularly one that you can fulfill without infringing on your other responsibilities – the luckiest thing you can possibly do is help in every way you possibly can.
And when you help others, don’t expect something in return. Instead, just enjoy the experience of helping that person out and building a stronger personal relationship with them. That stronger relationship will be there for you later on in your time of need – just trust in it and be a helpful friend whenever you can.

Take calculated risks.

Lucky people take more risks.  This doesn’t mean they gamble their livelihood by taking ill-advised risks on sketchy business opportunities.  Taking a risk can be calculated – you weigh your options, know what you can afford to lose, and go for it.  If it doesn’t work out, you go for it again when you can afford to lose a little more.
When you take small, calculated risks, either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.  Remember, if you never act, you will never know for sure, and you will be left standing in the same unlucky spot forever.

Pay close attention to the present.

Unlucky people often dwell on mistakes from the past, obsessing about the bad luck that put them in their present unlucky situation, or they concern themselves too much with future ideals.  Lucky people, on the other hand, concentrate on the present moment.
Life is happening right now.  You can’t learn something new or uncover a new opportunity that’s happening now if your mind is stuck in another time.  Opportunities present themselves every day, all around you, but you have to pay close attention to your surroundings to notice them. 

Identify the lesson.

Everything is a life lesson.  Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc.  They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’
Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way.  If you don’t get a job you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting.  And the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it.
Remember, having good luck is a choice.  Use all of the lessons you learn to make educated decisions and create good luck for yourself in the future.

Work toward your goals every day without fail.

The harder you work, the luckier you will become.  Stop waiting around for things to work out on their own.  They won’t.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By ‘working on it,’ I mean truly devoting oneself to the end result.  The rest of us never act on our decision.  Or, at best, we pretend to act on it by putting forth an uninspired, half-assed effort.
If you want good luck in your life, you’ve got to be willing to give it 100% every day.  No slacking off!  Achieving your goals and dreams can be a lot of work.  Be ready for it!


Source: MarkandAngel

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Mourning a Society




I've been looking for a new job for a while now and sending my resume everywhere, literally, but no one has called back, well not yet, but soon enough i know someone will. During one of my nothingness hours I was reading a blog on Vogue UK and I thought they're not any better than I, why can't I be a professional blogger? So I sent an email to the editor asking if they're interested in adding such an amazing asset as my wonderful sense of humor and one of a kind taste and sarcasm!... What? I am one of a kind, aren't I? any how a couple of days later I receive an email from the editorial coordinator, don't get all worked up it was a refusal letter, but the way it was written and the amount of ethics that shined through that monitor on me while reading almost made me cry, now I'm being too dramatic but seriously it was the most polite refusal letter I've ever read. The woman was apologizing for disappointing me, this might be normal for others but in Iraq people don't even send a thanks-but-no-thanks letter so I actually found it really sweet:



This kind of ethics is what made the western society the way it is right now, the Middle Eastern society, sadly, is extremely pretentious and most people, especially powerful ones tend to present them selves under the cover of religion, Islam that is, and then go on and do the most atrocious things and those who don't use the religion trick, use the retarded society card and go and do whatever it is that crosses their minds and call the rest of us uncivilized and retro! This is something that has always made me angry because those people are the reason why the Islam and middle-eastren's image to the west has always been associated with terrorists, camels and barbarian, savage, uncivilized bunch of guys drinking in a tent in the middle of the desert! despite  how far from reality this is, we can not blame the outer world for presenting us like this, we never really tried to change this image, most if not all modern Arabic movies and books are either a knock-off from a western story or is a wanna-be western story, middle easterns in general and especially Iraqis go to the united states and become more Americans than Americans them selves, we embrace all faulty and odd behaviors and present them to our society as a part of what should be the norm as if this is how societies evolution goes, flush all the beliefs down the toilet and in with the new and queer! Nowadays all that used to be taboo has become the norm and with that I've given up on the future and I send my condolences to those caught in the middle of fire, unfortunately nothing will ever mend the deep scar those outcasts made on our society's face.

Gandhi once said "The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice" for those who still have  manners, ethics and good old integrity left please hold on to them and pass as much as possible to world around for if we don't someday, not so far,we will wake up and and say rest in peace middle eastern society!


Have a nice a day

Monday, October 3, 2011

Angry Birds Mania

If we had Haloween or something similar this what I would have got for Ali and moi:








Aren't they adorable?

Have a nice day or like the feisty birdies say weeeeeeee