Note to a friend!

S! you are one amazing, beautiful strong very strong very strong person! But darling, don't let that strength be the reason for anyone to exploit u. You are still a girl and u ought to be one. don't let people turn u into something u don't in ur heart want to be. It's okay to cry its okay to curse:) it's okay to scream in pain and let everyone around u who love u know that cuz they have no right to be around u if they can't; when they claim they are family they are friend... they have no right to call themselves that if they are not willing to love u completely totally selflessly! Don't give up on any of ur dreams desires wishes. You know what's with faith... it lies with you and where u place it. if u will place it in a flower it will grow there... if u place it in God it will grow there.... When u have it, it would never fail u....But the day u will doubt it, it will die.. so its life is in ur hand, in our hands... don't let anyone kill it just cuz they cant see what u see for yourself working. I don't say don't hear others opinions but don't hear others doubts and act on them. Their doubts should never be ur belief, even if it's our own parents. Let them share with you beliefs, not their doubts. It seems every one of us has a long list of doubts and not even a handful of faith.

Remember this when you remember me!

So I took this quote a little too seriously! And thought I will not let my voice die in oblivion!

https://soundcloud.com/ahubuka-ya-maulaa-ya/ae-ajnabi-from-dilse

And when you remember me remember this and nothing else... cuz probably there is nothing else to me. :)

This is what I learned doing from the time I believe I got my senses.... This is what I did when life got impossible and this is where I found my refuge every time things got unbearable!

I have lived an amazing life. I remember every bit of it distinctly cuz I have lived it breathed it, tasted it, endured it...

Even the pains were not pains... they were the life they mattered they taught me things about me I didn't know before. Made me proud of me and of course I will never have those moments again... they are etched in me like scars and stars that they were.

And this journey was and will be my favorite... Cuz I get to spend it with some of the most amazing humans... My maula for starters... to have the privilege to have seen him, known him, loved him and loved him well with purest of intentions with every heartbeat and those who came for a moment or two but left a mark.... in shape of heartbreak,a tear or even a scream... they all in that moment gave me everything I needed I had desired and hoped and wished for...

I was asked once who do you think you want to be like... and I told him like no one else... I want to be like me I hope me to be... Never in my life I envied anyone for what they had... if you would know what I want and get it... you will understand why.... But my best and worst moments each one of them has given me memories and shown me the reality of people in a good way. If I had not lived this intensely I probably would not have found my existence worthy...

To all those intense souls worldwide you guys give this world its soul! without your life would be lifeless really! 

What people don't know about Iraq!

My fascination for this country is spiritual. It is the land of my beloved Imam, who was martyred brutally along with his family on the soils of Kerbala. 

But Iraq as a country has been a taboo for many. With USA trying to control and occupy the land to further its own interests, and the rest looking at its barren landscape, with poverty-stricken people and kids having the bare minimum to survive, you have to be able to go beyond that ugly face that you see to learn what this country has been all about. 

"Kerbala" is a word made with conjoining two words literally: Karb and Bala, pain and perils. Who gave this land this word? Who names a land really? In the case of America, it was Christopher Columbus. But in the case of Kerbala, it was no human who named it after accidently discovering it. The name for this land had come the very moment this land was conceived and born.

And that is the real reason for this country and city to be. 

The city if you look deeply is a trailer of the reality of this world.  I am not someone who isn't ready and invested in working for the construction of this world and for its sustenance and growth. But as a person of faith, I know this world was conceived with an expiry date. What's once beautiful full of life like me and you, will one day become lifeless and turned into dust. The land thus serves as a reminder to always remember it is not worth trying to live forever, succeed forever and gather forever. Because this world has no forever.

But as the people continue despising this land, fearing for it to be a zone of danger to humanity, the more this city and its terror will continue affecting the world negatively.

I would urge anyone who wants to experience the truth for their own self to visit this land. Let its streets and monuments and history help you reinvent yourself in a more holistic way. 

Everything in our world is connected to every other thing. If you try to harm one thing, it's impossible to keep the rest of the things unharmed. So those who think they can grow in isolation, no one is more blind in their heads, heart, and minds, than them to think that it is a possibility even for a second let alone the eternity they are hoping to remain in this world.

Before hating anything about this world or anyone, take the time to understand and know what makes them that. And before trying to destroy a nation a country, know that it's a law of nature : "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction".

(The article is my  beliefs, thoughts and opinions. Reader has the discretion to take or leave anything they wish to.)

Things to seriously consider doing!

Spend a night under the stars
Help a homeless person to get back to a normal life
Complete one integrity challenge- doing  one hard thing everyday for a assigned period of day
Make a list of things that truly make you happy. Easy right!
Go offline for a whole day, week  and month!
Write a book
Become a disciplined person
Daily habit of exercising
Eating healthier
create an online business

What if?

What if i say i was in love with you
Will you be angry with me

Would you say back you love me too
Or would you even stop being friends with me

would it work out for us
or would it be like a fleeting bus
Will it be a lot of rush


I want to love you just for the sake
Have a walk with you near the lake
And hold your hands as we take a break

Nothing said as we stare
into each others souls or share
may be a word or two
as i place my fingers in your hair

Just do it for its sake
A friendship that would make
with nothing on stake

Will you hold me tight
as i lay awake in the night
and say those things just right

What if i say i was falling in love with you
will that make us two?

17 Small Things To Do Every Day To Be Much Smarter BY MENTOR PALOKAJ

1. Drink 2 glasses of water within 30 minutes of waking up

Since you’ve been asleep for hours, your body has not gotten water for 6-9 hours. Water is needed for the filtration of waste products and fluid balance. Two big glasses of water offset the fluid deficit you had from sleeping. Studies on kids (study 1, study 2) show that drinking more water increases their ability to complete mental tasks. Make sure your brain is not dehydrated at the beginning of the day already.

2. Read a book summary during breakfast

Reading books is great, but breakfast is far more suitable for something shorter. Instead of reading news articles that have little impact on your life/intelligence, read best selling book summaries. You can find summaries by:

• Googling your book title + summary, for example “7 Habits of Highly Effective People summary”
• Use a summary subscription like Blinkist or getAbstract

3. Listen to stimulating podcasts/audiobooks during your commute

Even if you spend only 10 minutes on your bike like I do, load your phone up with intellectually stimulating audio. Good sources could be:

• TED talks (their app lets you pre-download audio so you don’t eat your mobile data)
• Blinkist has some of their summaries in audio form
• Audiobooks you purchased
• Podcast of your favorite authors

4. Drink green tea while working

Where caffeine makes many people anxious, green tea (especially Matcha tea) contains l-theanine. This aminoacid causes an increase in alpha brain waves in the brain:In practice this means that where coffee can induce anxiety, high quality green teas cause a relaxed focus without inducing sleepiness. This is also why l-theanine is available as a supplement to aid in relaxation and increasing cardiovascular health.

5. Take naps during the day

Napping helps your mind refresh. It’s been shown that napping during learning increases learning speed. Your mind has a rhythm that determines when it gets sleepy and when it needs sleep:As you can see on average people feel more sleepy than usual between noon and 4 PM. This is a perfect time to have a nap, and will increase your alertness and productivity for the rest of the day. Personally I’ve has good results with post-workday naps too (around 6 PM).

6. Don’t take sugar during the day

In fact, if you can cut it altogether. But if you can’t for whatever reason, just make sure not to have it during times where you need to focus. Sugar highs and the following lows are not good to keep your brain functioning smartly. What does work very well are fatty acids. Try to switch any sweet stuff during lunch for something more substantial like fish or eggs.

7. Do social media / meme websites only a couple of times a day

The brain adapts to the information you throw at it. If you bombard it work non-stimulating and fast switching information your focus will get destroyed. Keep your brain functioning on a higher level by throwing stimulating things at it. If you feel the need to procrastinate, set a timer  and don’t get lost in mindlessly scrolling.

8. Play games instead of watching series or movies

Watching tv is a passive activity. Your brain is consuming information, but not processing or interacting with it. Substitute or supplement this entertainment with gaming. A 2014 study showed that even a simple game like Super Mario has visible impact on brain plasticity (flexibility). Another piece of research covered by Forbes shows the same. Actively engage your brain where you can, instead of letting it slumber passively.

9. Read a book instead of watching tv

Similar to playing games instead of watching tv, reading a book is an active exercise for the brain. Where watching video entertainment is a passive consumption of information, reading a book requires your brain to actively construct mental images of what you are reading.

10. Do some programming

Programming is a great way to learn to think logically and in patterns. Coding used to be hard to learn but with free websites like Codeacademy and free/paid platforms like Udemy it is easy and fun to learn. Consider it the next level of puzzles. As an added advantage learning to code in your free time increases your employability in the job market.

11. Watch TED talks while cooking

Preparing dinner is a great time to catch up on some cutting edge developments in Technology, Education and Design (ted.com). It turns what would otherwise be downtime into a fascinating and stimulating block of time. It’s like watching the news, only you are watching the world’s most inspiring individuals talk about their work.

12. Do some simple exercises during the day

The body and the mind are strongly connected. Physical fitness helps the brain function well. You don’t however have to go to the gym every day to benefit from this (though you can of course). Doing some push-ups throughout the day and walking or skipping up some stairs has a great impact already. Try to do something physical every hour or so, even if it’s just getting up, stretching a little and tensing all your muscles as hard as you can for 5-10 seconds.

13. Spend time with someone smarter than you

Habits are socially contagious. It is a well known fact in science that obesity for example spreads through social networks (link to research). The habits and thinking patterns of those you spend time with rub off on you. Expose yourself to people who are smarter than you in order to benefit from them.

14. Talk to people who disagree with you

Get into (friendly) discussions with people who disagree with you on any topic. Arguing with them allows you to either:

• Sharpen your arguments
• Be convinced that you are wrong

In both cases you win. In the first you convince the other person by out reasoning them, and I the second false logic you previously had is not eliminated.

15. Go for a walk in nature

Walking through nature has a number of benefits:

• There is more oxygen since plants produce it
• The human mind calms down when surrounded by plants
• Walking helps your blood circulation

Having a walk in a park at lunch time can greatly help you work smartly for the rest of the day.

16. Carry a notepad

Great minds like Leonardo Da Vinci always carries a notepad. They used it to jot down ideas, sketches and questions they had for later review. Having a little book on you and writing down interesting things can greatly help you train your curiosity and logical thinking.

17. Take 10 minutes at the end of the day to plan tomorrow

By planning tomorrow the day before you begin the day with a plan. This allows you to work much more productively. Many people are busy all day, but not actually productive. A great part of being smart is knowing that hard work is inferior to smart work. Pick your battles in advance.

15 Signs You’re Doing Well In Life Even Though You Don’t Think So BY SARITA KING

Let’s face it, sometimes life feels like it’s falling apart at the seams.  Perhaps you’ve lost your job, or your marriage just ended, or you failed to pass an exam and now you are simply feeling helpless and defeated. Winston Churchill once said: “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loosing enthusiasm.” Today I want to remind you why, even though you may be feeling a bit like a failure, you are most definitely not.  Here are 15 signs that show you are doing well in life even though you don’t think so!

1. You’ve lived and learned

No one said life was easy and while the bumps on the road may hurt, the ride is definitely worth it.  Think back to your failures and defeats. You must know they were all for a reason and part of a grander plan.  Each difficulty has led you to where you are at today, each trial has molded you into the magnificent, resilient, person that you are. Continue to move forward in faith, hope and love, knowing that each experience has taught you what you need to become who you were born to be.

2. You have a comfy bed to sleep in

I’ll never forget an interview done on NPR a while back. A young Haitian mother told her story. She had little ones that constantly wondered when they would be able to eat and go to school like all the other kids around them. What impacted me the most about this story was their sleeping arrangements: they all laid on the dirt floor, and at night if it rained everyone would have to get up, grab whatever was left of their “bed” and move to a dry spot.  This story gave me a whole new appreciation for my bed and I hope it does the same thing for you!

3. You strive to be better

The fact you are feeling a bit down because you haven’t achieved what you want to achieve shows you are trying. In the grand scheme of things, you always strive to be better and for as long as you continue to do that, happiness, success and love will come – just don’t give up. Einstein once said: “It’s not that I am so smart, it’s that I stay with problems longer.” Hang in there and never stop striving to be all you can be!

4. You have/had a job

Whichever way you look at this one, it is still a win-win situation for you. If you have a job: kudos! Keep at it and know that you are richly blessed.  If you recently lost your job, don’t fret! You’ve gotten a job before, you can get one all over again. Perhaps this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to do something you truly love to do. Keep searching, keep hoping, and know that you can accomplish the seemingly impossible if you work hard and believe you can.

5. Knowledge is at your fingertips

In this day and age, you can learn anything and everything you want. Knowledge is truly at your fingertips! Since knowledge is power, seize that power and let it assist you in the pursuit of your dreams. Take advantage of all the “learning” opportunities that come your way.

6. You have food to eat

Sometimes a bit more than you should! Food is such an overlooked blessing, yet if you miss it for a few hours you start feeling the necessity of it. Take the time to enjoy your next meal, whatever that is, savor each bite and remind yourself that happiness is found in enjoying the simple things of life, such as eating a piece of pie.

7. You have the power of choose

Aristotle once said: “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”  Need I say more? Claim your power to choose.

8. You’ve experienced love butterflies or something like it

Ahh! To be in love…to feel your whole body literally react to that moment when you simply steal a glance from the one you are infatuated with. Experiencing such a natural, basic and simple, yet passionate moment will give you memories that will last a life time. You are beyond blessed to have experienced such a sublime moment!

9. You have clean water

This one should not be overlooked. Do you ever watch Bear Grills and all his desperate moves to get just a few ounces of muddy water? There are also people who aren’t going without water because they have a survival show, but instead because it is their harsh reality. Around 783 million people do not have access to clean water around the globe. Be thankful and fully aware that you are doing well in life even if you don’t think so.

10. You have a dream

Whatever your dream is, it’s yours. You have the ability to embrace it and create it. Don’t give up on dreaming or on your dreams. They are what life’s best things are made up of.

11. Your happiness is real

You have the power to choose happiness for your life in everything you do and in every circumstance.  Your happiness is defined by whether or not you are able to discern and seize an opportunity to feel happy. It may be something as simple as enjoying the laughter of a child.

12. You have clothes to wear

And sometimes too many options, which trumps your productivity, but that is another subject. The bottom line is, you don’t have to go naked through the streets or poorly dressed. You enjoy the blessing of being properly dressed for every occasion and have the ability to shield your body from the elements. Really, life would get very cold without clothes.

13. You have the ability to forgive

Can you imagine what this world would look like without forgiveness? Never mind the world, just your life! Imagine how bogged down, bitter and unhappy you would be if you did not have the ability to forgive other’s mistakes as well as your own. It would make it nearly impossible to live and most definitely a nightmare to move on with life when difficulties arose. You have the unique gift of forgiving and moving on.

14. You believe in something greater than yourself

For all the times you were so caught up in your own little world and drowning in a kiddie pool version of life’s problems, you’ve had the ability to step back and realize that you have something greater to live for than yourself.  Whether it is God, your family or friends, you can believe that your purpose is to achieve something that will be for the greater good or to simply bring honor to your God.

15. You have the opportunity to build global friendships

In today’s day and age, your best friend can literally be five thousand miles away yet you can still experience the beauty of that friendship. You have the unique capacity to be acquaintances with one person in almost every country of the world, something no other generation before the 1900’s was easily able to do. As far as I am concerned, your global ability to make friends is definitely a sign you are doing well in life, even if you don’t think so.