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Bloggers Challenge #18- First Week of Ramadan

In one of my posts I said that Ramadan is a great chance for a change; so during the past week I was trying to spot a change, not only in me but in everyone else and here's what I saw..

My baby nephew learned how to cry louder.

My baby sister started praying regularly and she fasts till 5 pm, which is good for a 7 years old girl.

My younger brothers spent less time playing FIFA and COD.

My pregnant sister starves a lot.

My brother in law and my older brother are focusing on their diets and that's great.

My parents keep on reminding us about how we grab the chances.

And then there's me.. I don't think that I changed BUT I started noticing things, sad things..

I start checking social networks like every two hours -that's actually sad but that's what addicts do- and what I saw saddened me because in Ramadan I expect everyone including me to behave, to try their best to be the best, to do whatever it takes for  ajir but I saw few people and I'm grateful because it's not "lot" of people; I saw them throwing their morals away!

Insults, sexual jokes and other things that offends humanity! It saddens me to see someone who thinks that offending someone is "cool" and that would make them more lovable! The funniest part is that they ask everyone not to judge them but they can play the judge role freely.

Insulting men..

Insulting women and their rights..

Insulting countries..

Insulting races..

Insulting global issues..

What's next?

I know that social networks are controlled by teenagers mostly and I'm one of them -I call myself a kid too- but I can name 15 years old girls and boys who think better than me and better than a 25 years old human; that's for 2 reasons:

1- they were raised right and they don't want to let their parents down.

2- they realize that they're the ones who are building tomorrow.

Then we have the other side of tomorrow's community who act like a five years old kid or even worse, they act recklessly and they got the nerve to call it "Young. Wild. Free" NOT all of them though! This type acts this way for several reasons:

1- they want to get attention.

2- they find someone who accepts their shameful behavior.

3- their parents aren't giving them enough attention.

4- they forget that god is up there and he's watching every single thing they do.

5- and other reasons you know and I don’t.

You and I aren't flawless, we're full of flaws that's what makes us humans but the difference is that some of us admit their mistakes and rush for god's forgiveness while the others forget that one day they'll be facing god, alone with no lawyers or parents to protect them just a book where all of their actions were recoded. They forget that this world needs better people but too bad they’re busy creating a life that doesn’t exist.

My dear all of us will go through that road so let's fix ourselves before it's too late, god's mercy doors are always opened for us.. Let’s give all we can for this country, to set a great example for others.. to bring Sheikh Zayed’s vision to life.

If you asked me what I learned during Ramadan’s first week I’d say nothing.. I just realized that I should give more.

_____

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot

Simple Lessons

In this life we get to see and experience things differently. Everything I share with you on my blog is written based on my perspective but this post is different because what you’re about to read is written by one of my colleagues Ahmed Al Mulla (@Ahmed_3B)

I thought about sharing it because I found a meaning behind his words words and I hope you find that meaning too as you read and enjoy like I did.

DON’T FORGET, your feedback is welcomed.

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot

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Why do people/friends/family change?

People have different reasons to change.. Either a positive or a negative change and we have to deal with it either to stay with them or just leave.

Finding a life partner is great and it’s a blessing, and getting married is a huge move; it’s the life path we will all go through. Who doesn't want to have kids and have a great family? It’s a blessing, but when is it the right time to do it?

Money can change a person; having luxuriant cars, big house and expensive things isn't something experienced by a normal or poor person and it’s a different life style, which is a way to have a different life.

Many of us did stupid and embarrassing mistakes in life that we learn from. Falling for someone is the best feeling ever, but you don't know what life brings up to you. Putting a great effort to be with someone can be easily forgotten, choose the right people to have in your life.

What to do when you feel down? Praying is a relief and it can make you feel much better, it satisfies god and your heart. Give yourself time, for you and god to think about life and about the mistakes you have done and what to do to be a better person.

At the end, choose the right person, don't lose the closest people to you, be with your family, don't judge, smile, and be happy because if you go deep you will get hurt, just ignore to live your life.

Ahmed Al Mulla.

@Ahmed_3B

Thirty Days

Today we’ll witness a new month, a new era for the ones who are looking for a change. What makes those thirty days so special? There are lots of thirty days in a year, right? But no one can deny how special they are! Not because our routine changes or because we get to eat two meals in a day which improve our health lifestyle. It’s much more than that! Those thirty days touch our hearts and minds leaving us in awe. I pity those who waste time during those blessed days, I’m not doubting their faith and beliefs but it breaks my heart to see them ignore those blissful moments..

THIRTY DAYS sound like ordinary days, but they’re filled with blessings and moments where you can feel that hearts are closer to god.. More forgiving.. More giving and less taking..

I find people change to the better and I pray that god help me to be like them or even better –yes, I’m selfish I want the “better”-

I see some of us are facing the TV, wasting their time watching meaningless things while others are busy reading and wondering the holy Quran and its verses for the sixth time during the thirty days.

Some of us attempt to be better, to change, to be the perfect Muslim while others are still busy chasing this immortal cheap things that they’re going to leave behind.

It’s the time where you can refresh your faith, get closer to Allah, to help others find the right route, to set your heart free, to guarantee your place in paradise. Use it, don’t let it go..

I’m not forcing you to give more, I’m trying to give you a reason to work harder and give more because god always gives us more than we need. During those thirty days lot of things can take a different path, so try because we don’t know if we’ll be there to witness the next holy thirty days! Maybe this year our books will be clean like the day we were born. I find it worth our hard work, right? I’m sure that happiness, joy, security and every great feeling will fill our hearts because god never reject the ones who are asking for the right track; he guides us and fulfill our souls with the love we need.

May Allah accept all of our efforts and let heaven be our final destination, right next to his prophet Mohammed –peace be upon him-

_____

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot

I was Wrong

The amount of “growing up” I had to do in the last ten months drove me crazy. During that time I met a person that I called true friend at the beginning but recklessness and doubts walked in between and my feeling toward that person went from “Friend” to “Foe” I was devastated by that because I still wanted to have that kind of bond but unfortunately I had to let go under the name “for the best”

Later on this person taught me that there are people who’re actually better than me. Because I gave them hard times and I could be the most annoying person in this world but still they found a way to stay in my life no matter how hard I try to resist. I associate my rude actions with defending my pride where I’m nothing but mean and brutal not giving others a chance to explain. There are lots of things I regret, words I wished I didn’t say, lot of damage I can’t undo and I wish I can go back to do all of these things once again but that’s life, we get what we’re offered.

Sometimes we wonder how did we survive the night, spending it with our crazy thoughts of whom we hurt and who hurt us; every night we think that we’re the victims and we accuse the others of being criminals toward us, but the truth is all of us are victims and criminals at the same time! We hurt and get hurt.

Today.. I feel that I’m the CRIMINAL, I feel that toward my dear friend whom I dared to call “Foe”..

…..

To that friend,

I’m sorry for shutting you out more than once.

I’m sorry for ignoring you whether you wanted me to be by your side or not.

I’m sorry for letting you go so easy, when you actually made a great effort.

I’m sorry for the moments where I turn to be irritating and bothersome.

I’m sorry for hurting you.

I’m sorry for not being so good at being “sorry.”

I’m sorry because one day I have to forget you but please don’t hate me for that.

I’m sorry for not telling you about how grateful I am for having you in my life.

 

I’m thankful because you taught me how to be forgiving.

I’m thankful for your sense of humor and your ability of making me laugh when I’m truly mad at you.

I’m thankful for the hard times you gave me because it made me stronger.

I’m thankful because you’re still good at being yourself when I changed.

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NOTE TO ALL OF YOU: This might seem as a personal post and that’s okay because my blog is like my diary, all of you are welcomed to read it and you’re also welcomed to use my words against me because I really don’t care if you can’t comprehend words right. MY point is, if you hurt someone please apologize to them –apologizing doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means that you’re brave enough to admit your mistake- and show your gratitude toward things and people because one day you’ll move out of this world and your memory is the only thing that’s going to stay behind you. (I was wrong and I admit it)

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot

Concrete Jungle

Bloggers challenge- Describe a destination.

“Wake up we’re at your destination.” He said.

I woke up from a dream to walk in another. I remember that we took almost one hour to find a space for our small white American car or as he called it “Impala” we spent half of the road trip listening to “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” by Alicia Keys without Jay-Z interrupting her majestic voice.

We couldn’t find a space so we took our car to the parking garage were someone can take it from there. A guy wearing shabby clothes came to my dad and said “YO! Wanna keep yo car ova here brotha?” –I imitate his accent whenever I want to act like a New Yorker- so we stepped out of our car and we had to walk in the cold painful December weather to Times Square, it was five blocks away but we didn’t care about the walking part because we were on our way to one of the amazing places in the whole world.

As I walked I had all the flashbacks including the conversations and arguments about how I can’t make it to NYC, at the end I gave up and believed that I can visit this city in my dreams only. My flashbacks were gone when my brother snapped at me saying “LIFT YOUR HEAD UP!” and once I did..

‘This streets will make you feel brand new,

Big lights will inspire you..’

And I thought to myself, those city light are such an inspiration. I walked and the huge signs were on every single building.

“Wicked” .. “Mamma Mia” .. “Annie” .. “Lion King”.. “The Phantom” .. And other huge Broadway signs that made me feel so small at the huge city.

I moved closer to the huge ball and I saw the city performers on the side, where one is hiting the empty boxes and containers living the moment as if he was the street version of Levon Helm.. then I moved further to see another guy who had an empty paper, nickel and spraying cans; he drew a master piece representing Times Square at night with those simple materials.

I walked.. I tripped over five times because of the broken legendary roads of New York that witnessed a revolution in the American history and I loved those streets because they observed the beginning of Broadway and it started from the place where I was standing on.

Later on we stood on a place where I can see the ball and the stage beneath it. Everyone who was with us started screaming and we joined them. Different words and voices but all of us sounded the same when the count down began.

“10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

HAPPY NEW YEAR”

The ball hit the ground and the screams came back but this it was louder and happier. Couples were kissing, families were hugging and crying, and there I was with my family holding hands grateful for living this moment. “Happy New year” my little brother shouted and then we came closer to each other till a voice disturbed our group hug.

“Aaaaaand now we present TAAAY-LOOR SWIFT with her new single ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’”

She was so pretty wearing a white blazer and her blonde hair was over her chest. I was thrilled! We sang along with her, the joy covered our faces and hugged our hearts..

Like every night this one had to end and I had to leave but I left happy not broken for leaving my favorite city in the world because that city taught me a lesson I forgot for a while.. Never give up on your dreams.

“Even if it ain’t all it seem

I got a pocket full of dreams..”

_____

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot