Saturday, June 30, 2012

First Impressions Don't Last


The other day, my cousin told me that his "tropa" was surprised to find that I'm "cool din pala." She initially thought I was "uptight." My smile turned into a guffaw. I'm definitely not uptight. HAHA! My friends and family know that. But I do get that a lot. People mistake me for being demure, a typical Maria Clara which I'm SO NOT. Don't get me wrong. I'm not on the other side of the spectrum either. I respect people who think that crazy dancing in crowded bars and boozing until they get tipsy are fun but they're not my cup of tea. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm a regular, fun-loving person. I love videoke and bowling nights. I'm hugely entertained by Garfield's sarcasm and Dr. Seuss's creativity. New Girl makes me laugh real hard and its chicken dance scene warms my heart everytime. I love watching movies on the big screen while munching on a tub of popcorn and sipping ice-cold Coke. I love hanging out in a bar while listening to a band playing songs from any genre as long as they're not too sappy or noisy. When I'm in the mood for some big time bonding, I invite my friends for coffee or pig out in my fave resto. I love walking towards anywhere my feet will carry me to. I love seeing the countryside with lots of trees and wildlife. I love getting lost in my thoughts while listening to the rhythmical waves of the ocean. I love going on road trips and visiting places outside my native boundaries. I LOVE food trips. I love exploring different cultures, mostly through their good eats. I love shopping for books, lingerie and nice clothes. I love clowning around with my kid. I broke rules and did insane things in my life as well. So, my friends, first impressions don't always last. ;-)



Friday, June 29, 2012

Music from 2007


As you may have noticed in my blog, I am an audiophile. Music is an integral part of my life. Whenever I listen to a song, my mind immediately picks up a memory or two associated with that song. That's how my brain works when I'm surrounded with music.

My first visit to the UAE was in 2007. I came over here in order to see the sights, and, well, to TRY to review for the medical boards. Not a great combination. Hehe. I remember entering The One store and hearing Regina Spektor's Real Love. I instantly fell in love with the song and bought the cd. The rest of the songs from the album are equally memorable. They were the perfect antidote to boredom while I went over my medical books on a daily basis. I passed the boards and got my physician's license. Well, that's another story.  

Here are some songs from that album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

(Just Like) Starting Over - Flaming Lips




Real Love - Regina Spektor




Caught Between Right and Wrong


By: May Rostom

At a certain age, we all reach the point where we stop to think about what's right and what's wrong. Recently it started occurring more often upon reaching this phase of self- exploration and thinking “we know it all” but get hit in the face with a shovel called “reality”. After questioning everything around me (even my own existence), I stop to think “am I where I'm Supposed to be, or is it where I Want to be”?!

You find yourself working two or three jobs, one of which is a family business that you’ve been stuck with since college, where the whole family is waiting for you to save them from their boring, structured life and start throwing their shit (pardon me) on you .

Most of us end up doing something else other than what we planned for which often leads us to the question …Am I on the right track? Should I just go with it or do I look for something else, something more Me?

Coming from a culture that resists change, it’s impossible to find an answer when you ask for advice; everyone ends up lying to you just to make you feel better or gives you examples based on their experience which- half of the time- don't apply to your case.

What do I make of this advice anyway, people don't know what I've been through, the path I've taken, and the decisions I've made. What difference is it going to make, why should I even bother?!

I myself think that my education- of choice- ended back in high school and that obtaining a pharmaceutical path and career was totally not the right choice. But wait a minute, isn’t that what usually happens when you're just a follower in the herd that is your culture or most likely, parents belief? Here I am, a pharmacist that made no use of her college degree and ended up working as a writer for MSN (which is 10 times better I must say). Taking the “Hard Way” out, not really caring what other people thought I should or should not do, did not stop me from making up my mind and going after what I think is right for me.

This is my 3rd job and I’m not even 30, yet initially I took this writing job as a challenge to prove to myself that I can type more than 350 words whenever I want to. As a reminder that I could always come up with new fresh ideas for my current job rather than being part of a herd.

This is exactly what I think you should all do when you go through something like that. JUST CHALLENGE yourself with work tasks, throw yourself out there, try new things, and don't submit to what people think you should do, because in the end you do not want to be just another ordinary person, we have a lot of these already. Live your life, not someone else’s.

Source: MSN Lifestyle

Thursday, June 28, 2012

:-)

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
--- Confucius

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Myers Briggs Test


My bestfriend recommended me to take this personality test. It was a part of their teambuilding session at work. I took the test just for the heck of it and I was amazed at the results. Haha. It's extremely accurate. Thanks Twin. :-)

Why do kids wake up once you've started enjoying your rare and precious ME time? Is it part of their body clock?!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Apnapan


a gentle touch of a finger
a leg rested gently against mine,
apnapan
a kind glance of empathy
in a crowded room,
apnapan
a hushed caring voice
on the other end
of a long distance call
are you ok ?,
apnapan

a hand laid gently
on my drooping shoulder
at a time of grief,
apnapan
a whispered unsaid
message of love
carried by the wind,
apnapan
a soft tear
at the corner of an eye
gently glistening
at the moment of parting,
apnapan
an imagined
image of you
at the other end of the bar
compassionate
at futile attempts
to go with the flow,
apnapan
knowing
somewhere
sometime
someplace
there will be
once again,
apnapan
apnapan : hindi for the deepest sense of belonging

Source: Shekhar Kapur's Blog

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Friday, June 15, 2012

All I Need Is S-L-E-E-P!


These days, my biggest wish is to get enough sleep, lots of it. A good 8-10 hours of uninterrupted, dreamless sleep which makes you feel re-energized and refreshed when you wake up the next morning. Yes, my friends, SLEEP has become a LUXURY. Rare and priceless.



Wishful Thinking


Mishka and I love making small talk upon waking up on Friday mornings.

Mishka: Mom, do you want to be a girl again?
Me: Yes, baby. Sometimes, I want to go back to being a girl again.
Mishka: No! I need you to be my Mommy.

Wishful thinking. Hehe.

With A Smile - Eraserheads




Lift your head, baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
You can't win at everything but you can try.

Baby, you don't have to worry
'Coz there ain't no need to hurry
No one ever said that there's an easy way
When they're closing all their doors
And they don't want you anymore
This sounds funny but I'll say it anyway.

Girl I'll stay through the bad times
Even if I have to fetch you everyday
I'll get by if you smile
You can never be too happy in this life.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/e/eraserheads/with_a_smile.html ]
In a world where everybody
Hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make the world go round
And don't let it bring you down
And turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song.

(Too doo doo...)
Let me hear you sing it
(Too doo doo...)

In a world where everybody
Hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make the world go round
But don't let it bring you down
And turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song.

Lift your head, baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
Now it's time to kiss away those tears goodbye

(Too doo doo...)
Let me hear you sing it
(Too doo doo...)

Welcome to Your Medical Career


You've been warned :-P

Source: Doctors Hangout

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Wake Up


Hush, my darling
Dry your tears
You've been crying in your sleep
Face your fears
The clouds are far away
The sun is here to stay.

Top 10 Tweets of the Week


"If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome."
--- Golda Meir

"The best way to make your DREAMS COME TRUE is to WAKE UP."
--- Paul Valery

"Self-righteous morality is cunning hypocrisy. The only virtue is reckless love."
--- Deepak Chopra

"If your nerves are raw and your brain is fried, just grab a friend and take a ride."
--- Goofy (A Goofy Movie)

"I just needed to get out on my own, live my own life. And I did, and it’s great."
--- Simba (The Lion King)

"I may be small, but I am fighting for something bigger than all of it."
--- Papi (Beverly Hills Chihuahua)

"We stand shoulder to shoulder . We see eye to eye. We dive deep under water. We jump high in the sky."
--- Heffalump Movie

Tuesday, June 12, 2012


"One of the greatest lessons in life is to learn to take people at their best, not their worst; to look for the divine, not the human, in them; the beautiful, not the ugly; the bright, not the dark; the straight, not the crooked side."

Do you keep a to-do list on a daily basis? Do you feel guilty when you have a lot of idle time on your hands? I learned that sometimes, simply doing nothing is beneficial. It's our gift to ourselves, something we truly deserve if we've been working too hard - a breathing space in between stressful periods. Let's start learning the art of doing nothing. ;-)

"Is it possible that I am so busy doing that I no longer have time to enjoy being?"

--- Wilson

Wednesday, June 06, 2012


My cousin Minic's words of wisdom:

"There is a tsunami!  Don't give up if you didn't catch that wave. Dry your tears. The next wave might be the one that will bring you to the beach."

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Why Noah and Allie Ended Up Together



By: May Rostom

A couple of days ago I was flipping through the ever so boring satellite channels to come across one of my favorite movies; “The Notebook”. I remember the first time I saw this movie I was still a teenager with a positive outlook on love and life- a dreamer if I might add. The movie touched my heart on so many levels and made me weep like a 3 year old baby that night I first saw it. The whole plot was so bitter-sweet to the extent that I promised myself I wouldn’t watch it again, I wouldn’t ruin my “Perfect” idea about love and having it all.

As I watched the movie for a second time, it didn’t make me cry as much as it did the first time around. Of course Ryan Gosling still made my heart beat like crazy but at the end of that movie all I can think about was “what the hell is this thing called Love”?! Do any of us REALLY believe in love to the point that we’re willing to be miserable for the rest of our lives for just that one person that got away? Throw ourselves and lives into ruin just living in a memory of how beautiful things were?

Opposing our families and society, going through a battle with almost everyone we know just to be with that person? Is this what Love is? A fight?

Every time I ask myself that question, my brain draws a blank; a flat line on a heart rate monitor. I mumble incoherent words that make no sense; I say things I don't mean or believe in 100%. My brain says one thing, but my heart interrupts it mid speech (for further clarification, keep on reading!).

Being in my mid twenties certainly did not help me define real love. It humbled me and dragged me a bit down from my “perfect” cloud, right down to where the rain is, but not too low near the ground.

Then again I say to myself, maybe it’s not a fight; maybe it’s as simple and innocent as this sentence: I want to grow old with you. I see you in my future, I want to plan it with you, I want to explore new things and new places with you not anyone else. I don't care about the consequences, I don't care about our “social” statuses, possessions come and go, and you are the one I constantly think about.

It’s not really a fight, but rather a declaration of what I want and how I feel. No pressure, no family ties, no anxiety from the excessive social needs, and no hurry to catch some stupid wedding train that is scaring the hell out of most girls these days.

Who cares what people think when they're not the ones that have to deal with the consequences of their words? Who cares what the right thing to do is when all you can think about is what's right for You? What make Noah and Allie such a perfect couple is the strong bond they have. A bond that despite the years and pressure did not simply break; and that’s why they ended up together. That even though they were both flawed, they were able to over-look each other’s imperfections. They were able to steer their relationship into the same direction, carrying the same life goals and emotions together, helping each other become better people. They were committed to making this work, they weren’t sick and tired of the “fight” for it. And the reason behind all that? The fact that they know no one else will ever replace them. The fact that losing them is so scary that they're willing to go through hell just not to. The fact that life has no “Clear History” button and that no matter how hard they try, they will never get over that one person. Simply, faith in each other and what they have. Faith in reliving those 5 minutes when she regains her memory only temporarily. Faith in this cliché’ but genuine sentence: “this is everything I ever dreamed of”. Faith in knowing that they don't want more than this.

In life, we don't always get what we want, we don't always end up with the “one”, and we certainly don't linger to memories of the golden days long enough, simply because we have no faith. In life, we choose how things will go. We all have a notebook; one that we believe in; the only thing that matters is how you choose to end that story; how you choose to tell it; and how you choose to play your part.


Source: Quotes and Sayings

Saturday, June 02, 2012

New Girl


Getting stuck at home on a Friday night usually sucks. So when I found myself in this situation, I wanted to sulk. The pilot episode of this show saved me from boredom. Thanks New Girl! Owe you big time. :-D

Friday, June 01, 2012

Hakuna Matata


Whenever you're having a bad day, try singing this song. Works for me. ;-)


KEEGAN: The Opposite of Loneliness


This article inspired me. I read it on http://www.yaledailynews.com. This mirrors my present feelings and thoughts. No matter how we feel about ourselves and our lives right now, we're never too young to do anything we want. We're never too young to get back on track. Screw age. RIP Marina Keegan. You're such an inspiration. 


The piece below was written by Marina Keegan '12 for a special edition of the News distributed at the class of 2012's commencement exercises last week. Keegan died in a car accident on Saturday. She was 22.

We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life. What I’m grateful and thankful to have found at Yale, and what I’m scared of losing when we wake up tomorrow and leave this place.

It’s not quite love and it’s not quite community; it’s just this feeling that there are people, an abundance of people, who are in this together. Who are on your team. When the check is paid and you stay at the table. When it’s four a.m. and no one goes to bed. That night with the guitar. That night we can’t remember. That time we did, we went, we saw, we laughed, we felt. The hats.

Yale is full of tiny circles we pull around ourselves. A cappella groups, sports teams, houses, societies, clubs. These tiny groups that make us feel loved and safe and part of something even on our loneliest nights when we stumble home to our computers — partner-less, tired, awake. We won’t have those next year. We won’t live on the same block as all our friends. We won’t have a bunch of group-texts.
This scares me. More than finding the right job or city or spouse – I’m scared of losing this web we’re in. This elusive, indefinable, opposite of loneliness. This feeling I feel right now.

But let us get one thing straight: the best years of our lives are not behind us. They’re part of us and they are set for repetition as we grow up and move to New York and away from New York and wish we did or didn’t live in New York. I plan on having parties when I’m 30. I plan on having fun when I’m old. Any notion of THE BEST years comes from clichéd “should haves...” “if I’d...” “wish I’d...”

Of course, there are things we wished we did: our readings, that boy across the hall. We’re our own hardest critics and it’s easy to let ourselves down. Sleeping too late. Procrastinating. Cutting corners. More than once I’ve looked back on my High School self and thought: how did I do that? How did I work so hard? Our private insecurities follow us and will always follow us.

But the thing is, we’re all like that. Nobody wakes up when they want to. Nobody did all of their reading (except maybe the crazy people who win the prizes…) We have these impossibly high standards and we’ll probably never live up to our perfect fantasies of our future selves. But I feel like that’s okay.
We’re so young. We’re so young. We’re twenty-two years old. We have so much time. There’s this sentiment I sometimes sense, creeping in our collective conscious as we lay alone after a party, or pack up our books when we give in and go out – that it is somehow too late. That others are somehow ahead. More accomplished, more specialized. More on the path to somehow saving the world, somehow creating or inventing or improving. That it’s too late now to BEGIN a beginning and we must settle for continuance, for commencement.
When we came to Yale, there was this sense of possibility. This immense and indefinable potential energy – and it’s easy to feel like that’s slipped away. We never had to choose and suddenly we’ve had to. Some of us have focused ourselves. Some of us know exactly what we want and are on the path to get it; already going to med school, working at the perfect NGO, doing research. To you I say both congratulations and you suck.

For most of us, however, we’re somewhat lost in this sea of liberal arts. Not quite sure what road we’re on and whether we should have taken it. If only I had majored in biology…if only I’d gotten involved in journalism as a freshman…if only I’d thought to apply for this or for that…

What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over. Get a post-bac or try writing for the first time. The notion that it’s too late to do anything is comical. It’s hilarious. We’re graduating college. We’re so young. We can’t, we MUST not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it’s all we have.
In the heart of a winter Friday night my freshman year, I was dazed and confused when I got a call from my friends to meet them at EST EST EST. Dazedly and confusedly, I began trudging to SSS, probably the point on campus farthest away. Remarkably, it wasn’t until I arrived at the door that I questioned how and why exactly my friends were partying in Yale’s administrative building. Of course, they weren’t. But it was cold and my ID somehow worked so I went inside SSS to pull out my phone. It was quiet, the old wood creaking and the snow barely visible outside the stained glass. And I sat down. And I looked up. At this giant room I was in. At this place where thousands of people had sat before me. And alone, at night, in the middle of a New Haven storm, I felt so remarkably, unbelievably safe.

We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I’d say that’s how I feel at Yale.
How I feel right now. Here. With all of you. In love, impressed, humbled, scared. And we don’t have to lose that.
We’re in this together, 2012. Let’s make something happen to this world.

"When you see what you have overcome, you have the impression that you have followed a plot that had already been written. However, at the moment of action, you seem to be lost in a storm: surprise after surprise, and many times with no time to breathe, having to take decisions all the time. Only later will you understand that each surprise, each decision, made sense."

--- Schopenhauer