Adulthood

I don't like the distinction between an adult and a child, in the way that our society outlines it. When you are an adult, you are supposed to lose the light in your eyes because you see the world more clearly, supposedly. You are supposed to know that money is what makes the world go around and you are not supposed to trust people easily. You are supposed to do a balancing act between your job, family, social life and everything in between, but to 'other' people, you are supposed to seem happy and alright most of the time, if not all the time. Not having some of these is a sign of immaturity. But I hate that concept! 

Reflections

Its important to speak to people in their language. You can be speaking the same language, but essentially, be speaking completely differently, which in fact, is almost as if you're speaking a different language. We did a case study about this once - an Aboriginal woman who was raped was not given her rights by court because she didn't speak the way they did, even though, both parties were speaking in English. She didn't have the same mannerisms, didn't use certain words in certain contexts, etcetera. I think I am beginning to understand that lately. When you speak to someone, you need to observe the way they speak, first, before you speak, in order to increase the chances of them understanding you completely. There are a lot of people in my life right now that I don't know how to do that with, yet. But our whole life is one big learning process, isn't it.

Its also important to recognise the difference between listening to advice and taking it. Everyone has a different situation that they are dealing with, and everyone is at different points in their life. Its important to recognise that some people have gotten bitter through experience, and they will give advice out of their own bitterness. But, yes, life can be bitter sometimes, and sometimes a bit sour, but life can be sweet too. We need to be thankful for the sweet times and be patient through the rest, and be grateful to Allah for His infinite wisdom for laying life out the way it is.

Sometimes, its hard to hear nature above all the clutters of the world. But we have a secret sound within us that we often miss - the sound of breathing. Its the sound that tells us we're living, and it almost sounds like the ocean inside a spiral shell. Sometimes, we just need to stop and hear ourselves breathe.

The mundanes - 2

I think I'm coming down with a flu. I have been coughing those phlegm-y coughs for the past few weeks, but it wasn't until last night that I felt like my entire head and nose area had been blocked off. I thought I was going to die last night, which was pretty scary, because when you think you are going to die, you start to take an account of all the things you've done in your life, and feel unprepared.

But, alhamdulillah, I did wake up this morning. We don't really have anything on today except for a dinner at night, so my plan was to make breakfast, wash some clothes, make tea for myself and immerse myself in stats for the rest of the day. This is the only subject that I'm doing this semester, and this is my 2nd time doing this one, so I really, really, really want to do well. The rotis that I attempted to make turned out terribly (they were fine with it, of course, they're awesome people!) and my tea ended up being cold and runny. Clothes are drying well though.

I started reading my stats notes and realised that nothing is going in and I keep having to use tissues and I began to feel like my eyes are heating up and body is heating up but also feeling too cold. Got another cup of tea with lemon, ginger, honey and all, called my mum and sorted through my notes. Mr H wants to go shopping for a few things he needs but I don't think I can get up at all.

One thing I realised recently - my in laws and my parents are very different in nature. The secret of being happy is to nurture people's nature, and not oppose it. My problem is that I tend to become like the people I am around, which is hard when you have different kinds of people around, because then your mind becomes confused as to which one you should become like. But I think its an advantage for people like me - it forces us to shape our own selves ourselves.