Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Doing Something For Yourself

Do for yourself for no one else will. - Johanna Lindsey


I am talking about some 'me' time here.
Time spent by myself is time spent alone with my thoughts, which I relish in a world of distractions. Once alone, I get to give attention to something mentally or not think of anything at all and simply appreciate the present moment.
I know when you think about yourself, most often, it’s viewed negatively by others and because of that you tend to stop thinking. But you can’t live your life pleasing others. You are not gonna get anything out of it. Accept it.
I am talking about a little ‘me’ time. Not asking you to be ‘mean’.
And if you really want to be happy with your life, you definitely gotta make some ‘me’ time. Keep the rest for others, but add ‘me’ somewhere.

Being alone with your mind, is one of the best things for your soul.

You don’t have to do great things like gifting yourself a car, well that sounds somewhat crazy. I’m talking about simple everyday things.

Here are few examples of doing things for yourself that can make you happy:

1.       Exercise.
I know you might be rolling your eyes, especially those not interested in fitness or health. I am not talking about any abs or thigh workout, I am talking about simple exercises like walking or swimming. That makes you happy. Just few minutes of walking in a place you like?
This has been scientifically proven to help you.

2.       Practice smiling.
There are few people I know who don’t smile because someone in the past told them they don’t have a nice smile. If you practice smiling every day, you can master it! The beginning is always uncomfortable, but when you continue you start to be really good at it and eventually a pro.
Oh, yes, you even learn to smile naturally with your eyes. No fake ones!

3.       Pampering your skin.
Use good products that makes your skin feel good. Like using a good quality moisturiser on your face every morning, every night, or if you live in a dry or cold climate area. I've got friends who say “I've got so many products, I have no idea what am I gonna do with them.” Use them! Once you start using them and you see your skin feeling all great and smooth, your skin likes it and it is thanking you.

4.       Stop to smell the flowers when you see someone selling it. Don’t just ignore. It may sound a bit cheesy, but try it. Why not try it when it can make you feel better?
If you are allergic, sorry about that, forget this one. I'm allergic to certain stuffs, so I totally understand that.

5.       Look nice on days when you have nothing special. Why do you only dress up for meetings or dates? Dress up for yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror and appreciate the way you look and give a thumbs up. We often dress up to receive compliments.
There are days, I dress up, do little make-up and click lots of pictures. And I've noticed how it makes me happy.

6.       Get some sleep.
This is very important. When you feel weak, don’t wait for yourself to fall asleep and later drag your body to bed. That’s more like a torture anyway. Listen to the signals your body gives, and get to sleep. Think of that amazing feeling you get when you wake up after a good sound sleep? Yes. You deserve that.

7.       Compliment someone.
You compliment someone else, but when you see them happy because of your compliment, it gives instant happiness for you. Isn't that great?
Compliment anyone you know on something they do for you, or something they do every day without complaining. You can even compliment on their looks or clothes, but that’s more common.

8.       Let your loved ones know that you love them.
Yeah, yeah. We know they love us and we love them, there’s no need of saying anything. But, there’s something special about letting them know we love them verbally, even if they know it already. Their reaction can be sentimental at times. When was the last time you said ‘I love you for everything you do for me,’ ‘I love you for taking care of our family’?
We may think about it when it’s too late. Better do it now.

I can make the list even longer, but hey, you gotta add things that make you happy too. So I’ll stop here.
There’s nothing to plan for ‘me’ time, you can start even now. 

- Shark

Bahrah, Saudi Arabia
1:11 AM

18th May 2016

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Amour turns Twenty One.
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Friday, April 15, 2016

Different and Beautiful

Back home in Bahrah. 
I wrote this down last week in India.
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Flawed and imperfect. That is what we all are.
The world would be so boring and monotonous if we didn’t have different people. I love change. I don’t like seeing the same thing again unless there’s some emotional attachment towards it.
You are beautiful, exactly the way you are. I am not saying this because I love inspiring. But because I have experienced it. I feel beautiful when I am myself. There is a unique feeling in being appreciated for being yourself.
One of the most important thing I’ve got to say is, feeling bad and comparing yourself to others will never, N-E-V-E-R change you or make you better. It will just make you feel more miserable.
You can never make yourself like someone else. That is the truth. So stop wasting what you have. Make use of it.
Accept yourself. Then, make the better you.
Eventually, you will be happy to see the real you. Be proud of what you are. Confidence comes in automatically.
Try to change only yourself, not others. You can advise them, but don’t ask them to follow what you follow.
And do not expect from others. It leads to disappointments. Having hope is good, but you must make your mind strong enough to bear the loss as well. Blindly expecting things is not being positive. It is called ‘being crazy’. You never know, you might end up being your worst enemy. 
Do for yourself for no one else will. There used to be days when I had headache and I used to think, let them figure out I am having a bad headache, let them take care of me.
Well, there are no mind readers. Tell them, if you seriously wanna let them know.
Help others. Doesn’t mean you need to do huge stuffs like paying someone’s debt completely. That’s the toughest thing in this materialistic world right?
Do simple acts, where all you need is, YOU.
Smile. If you are sad, don’t make everyone around you too sad. There are so many people who just need someone to talk to. Talk to them. You might be making their day just by talking to them.
The happiness you get by making someone else happy is priceless.
I am a kind of person who doesn’t believe that life depends on money. You need to have enough of it to live or survive. Save. But for emergency or for better future. Saving to make yourself feel like you have some amount is dumb. Totally.
Express love to your loved ones when you feel it. Never wait for a perfect moment. Sometimes it gets too late and you realize it only after the person is gone forever.
Enjoy being yourself. Try to stay in good health. It’s not necessary to be happy always. It’s nice to get pissed at times. Or even sad. Going in a smooth flow isn’t as great as it sounds.
The ups and down are to make us better and real.
Stay blessed.
Shark.
9th April 2016
7:49 PM

Vengara, India

Thursday, February 25, 2016

So many beautiful reasons to be happy.

I am writing this in one of my finest moods.

I have seen so many things unfold in my life in just these two months. When I turned down, depressed for one whole year, almost lost faith and trust, never did I think of God’s plan. Maybe because I was never into religion, I did all the obligatory things to be done, but my body not soul. I kept complaining about every single thing that went wrong. I continued on the dry land with no hopes, but continued, because I never wanted anyone else to know that I was depressed and lost, specially my parents. Sports being one of my greatest passions, lifted me up a bit. I could forget about everything I was worried about when I sprinted. Though, just few seconds.
Gradually I started to accept the way my life is and started to work with things around me. I came across the real good people, people who had the worst experiences and made their life beautiful, people who genuinely loved, cared and people who noticed inner beauty.
Inspiration brought me closer to happiness.
And almost a year later I made up my mind that no matter what, I am going to do things to utmost perfection yet imperfect. I will enjoy every single moment, cherish every moment I meet or see the people I love. It was a simple decision taken up in my mind. Never thought of it every day nor wrote it down anywhere, but something led me on the exact path I wanted to go. I stopped thinking about people who wanted to destroy me, who hated me because if I thought about them, my life was being under their control. And I have made myself stronger than ever to keep away from people who don’t deserve to be around me and right now I only have people who deserve to be with me and I with them.
If you are one of those I have around me, you are among those I love.
It even includes few people I have met through my blog and made friends, not just people I have spoken to verbally.
I choose to be happy, love every beautiful soul, and respect my family and religion. And move on in life no matter how huge the thunder is, and use the lightning to bring beauty in.
God is the best of the planners and he has even bigger dreams for you than yours.
Let Go and Let God handle it.



Cochin, Ernakulam
18th February 2016

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Just wanted to share another piece of happiness, I was awarded on 17th February in IISJ for being national topper in Humanities Stream among all the CBSE affiliated schools in Saudi Arabia.
Even though I never aimed at being one, I believe whenever God gives, he gives the bestest of best. Seeing my family so happy and proud, just brightened me up. 

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Sunday, January 17, 2016

Nineteenth Year on the Planet ‘Earth’

When my 24 year old sister acts 14, why can’t I be 18? ;)
I can stay eighteen forever.

Like my previous posts, this is definitely not about being grown up or acting mature or even India.
Experience in simplest words.



I talk to God, almost every single day. Even when I am studying so hard and don’t even have a minute to spare a day before Zoology exam, I talk to him. Of course, I am alone during these times because I wouldn’t want people to judge me on that basis. I do it because it makes me feel good.
My inspirational sister always asked me to turn towards him especially when I get alone and don’t have anyone to talk to. There are certain things I don’t share with a-n-y-o-n-e. She says ‘don’t you know how much a mother loves her child, Allah loves you even more than that.’ She wrote that in a letter she gave me before I left Jeddah, I read it whenever I miss home.
The first three days of college, the fresher’s were given orientation to have an awesome start, on the last day, Beena Ma’m, who shared inspirational experiences from her life, said ‘even if we believe in God, it’s really difficult for us to say “Lord, Have your way in me,” because we are not sure whether God want’s the way we want or whether we would like the path he chooses for us.’
I have a huge collection of dreams, few more like impossible, but I wanted each one of them to come true at some point in my life. I was never gonna give everything in his hands, even though somewhere I knew everything was under his control. What if he skipped one of my dreams?
When I went to sleep, crying every night because I was too far from home, alone in hostel, missed the free flowing life, I asked him why can’t I just be strong and let the three years to pass especially when I thought I am not sentimental. I asked him too many questions and then went to sleep.
I don’t remember when was it that I made up my mind to accept his way in me and go through it no matter what. It wasn’t a decision taken one fine day, it just happened eventually.
I’m sure I see dreams every day, though I forget most of them. There are few dreams I can remember with exact details. About my future, my fears, my expectations and even my weaknesses. Obviously all of this didn’t start suddenly, it’s happening since the past few years, but it took time for me to notice the way things are proceeding in my life.


Sometimes I just look up, smile and say, “I know that was you Lord, Thanks!”

2:27 PM (IST)
17th January 2016
Vengara, India

Notice the 7 again. ;)