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

18^th May 2016

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Amour turns Twenty One.

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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

18^th 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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College life?

Been in St. Teresa’s for four months, India for five months and ten months as an adult, though I can still feel the adolescent in me. This post is about all that.

Maybe a bit long post, but if you know me, I know you will read through.

I miss my parents, sisters, friends and Jeddah badly. I am at my Mom’s place. It is here that I update my blog. I can’t write regularly even if I want to. In the hostel I am too busy or lazy to write. I am going back to the hostel in two days and I thought I need to update things here before I go back.

I have my Semester exams going on. Ignoring that, I am going back home on 18^th of next month. Yeah, after S-I-X months! Will be back home in 38 days. Insha Allah.

I have come to love the number ‘18’ after ‘7.’ My name has got 7 letters, my birthday is on 7^th of Jan, 1997. I made it my favourite number when I was in tenth, when my class used to be XA7, Roll no, 07. Hah!

So.

St. Teresa’s, instead of calling it a College, I call it post-school.

As far as I have been told, this is the part of our life where we can enjoy the most or where we must enjoy the most because after this it is never the same. Later, you become someone’s wife, then mother and then the generation just moves on. Doesn't mean that the happy life just ends, it may be happier but with lots of responsibilities, losses and gains.

In St. Teresa’s I bunk less. Like very less. We are fined if we are seen walking around, 500 Rs for just sitting in the Gym Plaza during class hours. I have not been fined yet though. Gym Plaza is where you can relax and have a coffee break as our mini canteen is just close. Gym Plaza is actually our basketball court.

The reason I bunk less is not because of the fine, its cause I am the class representative. I am the one who has to carry the attendance register and take attendance every hour. Duh.

Bunking for me isn't jumping off the college wall or going to Centre Square Mall.

It is relief, when I am tired of listening to ‘….The body is leaf like, dorsoventrally flattened and bilaterally symmetrical and comes to about 0.5 mm in length and 0.25 mm in breadth…’ Here, I can be a teacher too.

My Mom knows I bunk certain classes, she doesn't have an issue until it affects me in a negative way. She understands, who can sit for two hours listening to one super fast express read out from the text about creatures we can’t see with the naked eye? Why, I could be a teacher too.

Zoology, two hours. I run to the hostel. Slowly sneak in and go to my room. Call Mom and tell her, “It’s Zoology and it’s the same whether I sit there or not.” I never miss Chemistry classes, because the tutor is good at fixing the topics in my mind. Coming from Humanities background, who knew I would kinda like Chemistry?

I don’t want to be a part of those who wanna sit in the class whether they understand or not and in the end doesn't even score well. And their attendance goes like

Xania Yas Zas        | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | Ab | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |

That ‘Ab’ you see right there, I am sure they are still crying at it.

Before joining St. Teresa’s few said ‘girls become bold, like very bold after joining St. Teresa’s’, someone told my Mother ‘The boys are scared of the girls from St. Teresa’s.’ Enough for my Mom to freak out.

LMAO. Like seriously. There’s nothing as such. Nothing’s like the way it looks from outside.

Adult life. I can say my thoughts have matured a bit or at least I still don’t think of dumb impossible things, the people I like and love and the way I think about certain people also have changed.  I used to prefer people who are a kinda soft or introverts but now I prefer more of the strong or kinda extroverts, not extreme either. I like people who speak up opening their heart and share their feelings. When you listen to them you know they aren't lying and their words are true. Yeah. I have got such friends too. Rest, it’s the same.

Right now, I don’t wanna think of what’s to come in future or what was life few months back, because the either makes me sad or scared or both. Right now, let me complete the next two years and wait for the goodness in store for me.

I write about me here not because I want the public to read about my life, I know they don't even care, but because I can mostly put up everything I feel and experience in a better way when I write. And behind my each post, I write for certain people to read. And also the people I believe read my blog, are the people I write the posts for.  

Ending with my sister’s quote. “On the path to your dreams you may come across temporary unhappiness. Dare to go on and at the end of the road your dreams will sparkle more than anything else you behold. Trust Allah. All the pain will be worth it.”

I received her quote as a message on 31^st of August 2015 at 11:05 AM, a day after her wedding anniversary. Quote’s value says the previous statement.

Little Things ♡

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

-          Robert Brault

Little things mean a lot, but sometimes the smallest and the strangest of them can make your day. These little things, be they gestures, actions or words, are the many small things we do every day and that naturally expresses our heart.

They are not the result of calculations or intentions, but are rather spontaneous expression of what we exactly feel. Continued happiness does not come from occasional grand events or achievements, but from little things that fill our daily lives. There are so many of them that you would never realize till it’s late or you are made to remember.

Small doses of happiness.

·         The first time your feet slides effortlessly into new pair of socks.

·         When you wake up just few seconds before the alarm and you silence the beastly bell.

Hell Yeah!

·         When you just look at your friend and she understands what you exactly feel.

·         When someone buys something for you as well when they get for themselves.

           Coffee? Chocolates? Umm.

·         When you move around an area for someone to notice you or talk to you and that person does it.

           Yippieee!

·         When you wake up early in the morning for college or work and realize its Sunday!

·         When people respect your privacy and give you space when you badly need it.

·         Someone remembers everything you said that day and you thought they weren’t listening to you.

           How’s Regina? Is she fine after all the depressing events?

           (Aww. You were actually listening?)

·         Or someone remembers a random moment from the time you’ve spent with them.

           Remember the time when we used to send satirical messages to each other just to keep talking?

          (Gosh. I almost forgot about that. You remember all that?)

Some doses of positive illusions are valuable for long term love and happiness. Small manifestations of our love like linking arms when crossing the street or sending the warmth of a secret smile are natural and spontaneous actions that genuinely reflect more than any expensive gift or grand event. Those are few of ‘em that make my day.

Temme about the lil things that make your day.