Each day I have is packed with some ups and downs. From the last post I had many posts that I was composing in my head. One dealing with the house move I have to make, but none compelled me to write as much as this one.

Two days ago I felt I had the worst day ever. Things seem to pile on me and I felt I was sinking in misery of added stress. I looked up to the sky and asked God for assistance. Before going to sleep I asked God to allow me to achieve things through his blessings rather than my own doing. He knows what is in my heart and how I want to be his tool to make a difference.

I woke up early the next day and felt my thoughts were in a better order. I made my to do list for the day with few tasks seeming a bit ambitious for one day. Some of my volunteers called and sent messages to check on me which always makes me feel that we are connected as one family. Each task seemed to move well to the next and at one point I had to schedule for a painter to paint the new flat. I did not know where to find one and thought of asking to call the security of the building and ask if he knows anyone. While going through the list of recently dialed phone numbers to retrieve the security guard’s number I saw a contact called “painter”.

The phone originally belonged to my husband and I had no idea he had a contact number of a painter which was dialed few minutes before I began my search, while the phone was in my 2 year old son’s hand. I dialed it and the painter agreed to come over in the afternoon with colour sheets to select from.

I ended the call with a smile and felt that I experience a miracle. The rest of the tasks seemed to sort themselves and I was lucky to see some special friends that day who made me feel full of energy and supported. A very dear friend was helping me to go over few things and organize my thoughts. We all need that kind of friend. And Yesterday I felt blessed and I was repeating one chorus, “In the arms of an angel fly away”. These are not the actual words for the song but that is how I felt after talking to my friend. I was ready to fly to the highest mountain. Not climb but fly with ease.

Not all the words match how i feel and the song seems to be about submitting to death. However, I view death as a form of rebirth. So in the case of how i was feeling the past two days the song seems fitting. I felt at peace.

Thank you God and thank you Coach

I leave you with the song and I hope you appreciate the angels in your life.

Around 14 years ago, my cousin gave me a children’s book by Dr Naif Al-Mutawa (the creator of the 99 comic series)

The story was simple but the message was powerful and somehow the name of the author stuck to my head although I am not one to remember names yet alone of authors. I saw Dr Naif in 2010 in P2BK exhibition and felt very inspired by him. Today I watched his TED talk and felt proud and wanted to share it. I think he should be one of the 99 heroes. His passion is so stronge I think it could be contagious

My daily internet surfing routine involves the following;

1) checking my facebook for any comments or updates (in case someone thought of communicating something important there and forget that calling is still an option)

2) My emails (I have 5 I check daily and 2 occasionally)

3) Botamba.com, Botamba.com and did I say Botamba?! (I love it so much that I decided long time ago that any blog that is not there I will not even bother reading and so when I meet bloggers I always recommend that they add their blogs to it.

Of the many blogs listed there few that catch my attention like Ansam’s, ilsultana, his & her, exotic events and few others based on interesting posts with varying levels of quality, but there is one blog that I would not miss and has always been able to draw a smile on my face.

Kumail plus blog never failed to impress me. Although most posts are of pictures so I don’t actually need to visit the site and still enjoy it (which might underestimate the site visits). The posts are simple but well selected and after following the blog for awhile it is the first blog that I would recommend and think is worthy of mention.

I thought of dedicating a whole category for nifty ideas but then thought they also make good inspiration. I came across these very clever notebooks in scribbler (London). It is a very simple idea and they have cute sections in the kids one. You can make your own if you label a blank notebook, but somehow pre-printed notebooks always have their charm

Again this one has an empowering for girls.

This is a song for every girl who’s
Ever been through something she thought she couldn’t make it through
I sing these words because
I was that girl too
Wanting something better than this
But who do I turn to

Now we’re moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

‘Cause you’re beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

This is a song for every girl who
Feels like she is not special
‘Cause she don’t look like a supermodel Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you to shake your moneymaker
Shake your head and tell them, tell them you’re a leader

Now we’re moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

‘Cause you’re beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

I thought these words were powerful from a song by India Arie. It is nice to see such songs that have more depth in their words. An artist with a message

I Am Not My Hair lyrics
(India Arie feat. )

Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlock all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY….

[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what’s on your head
Its what’s underneath and say HEY….

[Chorus]

Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend?
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
I am expressing my creativity..

[Verse 3]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY…

[Chorus 2x]

If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don’t take a bit away
From the soul that I got
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don’t see what wrong with that

It is at a certain point in life when you realize that in some ways living is like a painting. When you have a certain vision that you try to communicate and then actualize, but the problem is no one else can see what you are seeing, in your mind’s eye at least. No one will know your potential that you are still realizing and no one would predict any unforeseen obstacles.

Friends who believe in you might get excited over the idea and show support, while others will see your project as a waste of time. Rivals who feel threatened by your potential will try to weigh you down. But the choice remains with you. Do you choose to put heart and soul to make your vision become real? Or surrender and add it to the many visions that turn to the forgotten phantoms of thoughts.

Mind you, the time it takes to paint your picture could be more than you initially anticipated and there are many hurdles that might suddenly make an appearance. Yet, to achieve is another tier of living and once you do that at least you can evaluate, measure and know how visions can become real and to what extent. What strokes you could add and what mistakes to avoid.

Once the painting is complete, then it will only be down to taste. My husband says, “Life is a matter of taste.”

Personally, I choose mine to be sweet

Remember, “Life is a matter of choice”

To achieve or not

To be happy or not

To be or not to be

It might require a competitive spirit to aim high but to be still standing yet alone achieve anything is a different ball game.

This strength has a found a new name to exemplify it. Canadian skater, Joannie Rochette, moved the audience of cheering supporters with her strong and graceful will to still continue and skate, despite the recent loss of her mother.

A lot of people would have been sympathetic if she chose to quit yet such word did not relate to her. This tragedy did not deter her if not push her further to reach new limits. A strong person like her does not seek sympathy but rather recognition and celebration. It is people like her who inspire others to go on and reach new heights with pure determination.

Whatever the score Joannie you already won many battles and inspired many minds. You have captivated an audience and won many hearts. You make your mama proud.