Always look on the bright side.

Recently, where I live the weather has perked up and the sun has decided to make an appearance.
Spring seems to finally be arriving after a winter that felt like it was never going to end!

After waking up and seeing the blue skies for a few days in a row, I realised how something as simple as the weather has the power to completely change my mood.

Seeing the sun shining, even if I'm indoors or at work immediately makes me smile as though my mind and body want to mimic the brightness of the sunshine! (Almost like pathetic fallacy for all my fellow English students/graduates).

What changes your mood for the better?

:) x

Battling for balance.

Recently, I've been feeling as though there just aren't enough hours in the day to sleep, study, work, eat, read, write, blog, stay up to date with current affairs, stay in touch with friends and family, and finally, relax.

My life at the moment seems to be a constant battle between fitting all of the above into a single 24 hours. 

Is it even possible?!

'Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.' - Thomas Merton

^ And that is what I seem to be lacking.

Condemnation.

To the numerous amounts of people on social media asking where the Muslims are when it comes to condemning the Charlie Hebdo massacre,

Of course I am disgusted and horrified by the atrocity in Paris. And yes, I condemn the horrific actions of those people. But not because of the fact that I'm a Muslim, but because I think we should all condemn this kind of violence. 

Regardless of faith.

Condemning because of my religion, would be to admit that these individuals acted in the name of my religion.

My Islam that teaches me to pray 5 times a day.

My Islam that teaches me to respect my parents.

My Islam that teaches me to give a percentage of my wealth to charity every year.

My Islam that teaches me peace, love, and compassion. 

#Notinmyname

Syria to Sydney.. Peshawar to Paris.

For days I've been reading around what's happened in Paris, trying to wrap my head around what's gone on, and trying to think of how to respond. 

Unfortunately, this seems to be becoming a common occurrence. From seeing and hearing about the terrible news in Syria, Pakistan, Australia and now Paris, the words 'Muslim extremists' seem to have been heard so often, that they've become almost arbitrary. 

Now in terms of Charlie Hebdo in particular, I want to start by saying I am ALL for freedom of expression. When you start limiting what can and can't be said, you're going down a very slippery slope! 

However, when some people in France are stopped from wearing what they want to (i.e. the hijab and/or the veil) then does freedom of expression no longer matter? Is it exclusive to certain groups? If so, how is that fair? 

Secondly, once again, the media coverage between these sorts of events is unbelievably disproportionate. It seems that they don't even attempt to be discreet or covert in their attitude that some lives (western lives in particular), are more valuable than others.

Penultimately, what baffles me each time these sorts of events occur, is why hardly anyone seems to be interested in uncovering why these keep re-occurring. 

I don't claim to have the answers, but if we pulled together and stopped creating situations in which terrorism thrives, maybe these events would become few and far between as opposed to increasingly frequent.

Finally, to those spreading hatred. And I mean on both sides, those who are approving of the Charlie Hedbo attack, and those who got the 'Kill all Muslims' Hashtag trending, you are part of the problem. When in fact we should be striving towards a solution.

14 things I know as of 2014

1. Almost everything tastes better with Nutella (Excuse the unintentional rhyme)
2. All relationships require effort from both sides
3. There are certain things that we have no control over
4. Happiness is an emotion that fluctuates. Not a permanent state of being
5. Being alone and being lonely are two completely different things
6. Change isn't necessarily a bad thing
7. Success and achievement take time, hard work, and dedication
8. Plans are subject to change, nothing is set in stone
9. Chocolate has the ability to fix almost everything
10. Faith can keep you going even when you're at breaking point
11. Where you are born determines the quality of your life
12. Although I love reading fiction, I can't write it to save my life
13. You can control/change who you associate and surround yourself with
14. Optimism shouldn't be mistaken for naivety 

:) x

"Time and tide wait for no man." - Geoffrey Chaucer

The fact that we are fast approaching the end of the year, as well as the fact that it's been over 4 months since I last posted on this blog (I'm really terrible at this), ties in well with today's topic.

Time.

Yes that funny old thing. On occasion it drags as though the situation you're in may never actually pass. While on others, it flies by, leaving you wishing you could go back and relive those moments all over again. 

A single day, 24 hours on its own, often seems insignificant due to the monotonous routine we fall into, waking up, eating, working, watching TV, sleeping, and then doing it all over again the next day, and the next. But when those days add up, and turn into weeks, and then months, it's actually quite scary to look back and see how much time has really passed.

Before you know it, another year seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye, and while sometimes major events may have occurred, other times, it can feel like nothing has changed at all.

What do you spend the most time doing?

:) x

'The Other Half'

We all have that one friend. He/she has jumped from long term relationship to long term relationship, their promise to stay single after the most recent break up, never quite being fulfilled.

Most of us also know of a person who refuses to even pop to the shops alone, insisting, or at times, dragging, a friend to go with them. 

And while many love their own company, often opting for a night in alone over going out with friends, there still exists a preoccupation of sorts, with being alone.

Whether it's the constant stream of love stories we're taught to believe in through books and films from such a young and impressionable age, or just society at large frowning on those who choose to be alone.

I mean, we even refer to partners as 'the other half'. Implying that we aren't quite complete until we meet prince/princess charming. 

As with anything, moderation is key. Being at two extremes will no doubt drive you potty. But while it is of upmost important to not spend all your time cooped up in your room alone, I think it's equally important to be comfortable being alone. And the latter, in my opinion, isn't emphasised or encouraged anywhere near as frequently, as the former.

To be happy with yourself first and foremost is the trick. Not to think that happiness is an external entity. Because while that person may make you smile when they are in your midst, when they leave, (don't mistake the inevitable for pessimism) your happiness will walk out of the door with them.

And to end my ramblings, I shall leave you with this wonderfully ironic quote by the author of (yes I'm about to break the rules,) Fight Club. 

'People used what they called a telephone because they hated being close together and they were scared of being alone.' - Chuck Palahniuk.

:) x