Might have heard of the word self-esteem, right? I have, a lot. Since when? I know not. But ever wondered what this word contains? The “esteem” part of self-esteem comes from the Latin verb aestimare, meaning “to value“. Also, this “esteem” part is a verb, and verbs we all know are always the main part of the predicate. One cannot talk of self-esteem without first thinking of self-love. It is a basic understanding, if you do not love or value yourself, you are clearly losing the game of self-esteem. But when your self-esteem meets with your individuality at the crossroad of respect and value, you get self-enriched.
It takes one an inward eye to taste the bliss of solitude. There is this essential unity existing between man’s heart and mind. It works miracles, if not thwarted. It helps one find that inward eye that once revealed promises nothing less than pure bliss. It takes you to a magnified emotional state of solace, let you appreciate it and find the strength that it carries. Voila! You got gifted with this new understanding of everything.
The world is a busy place but can ironically leave you feeling lonelier than ever. No one can help but get too immersed in this modern mundanity because, of course, much of life’s biggest joys stem from our relationships. But once in a while try closing your eyes, and let your senses immerse to find a daub of colors in that pseudo darkness. I don’t know but for me, it’s a fortunate stroke of serendipity when separated from the outside world. It elevates me to think of events that my heart pines to re-live, it reminds me of a kind gesture that my heart yearns to reciprocate, something that brings nourishment to the soul.
“The happiest of all life is a busy solitude” ~Voltaire
Solitude isn’t loneliness, it is the richness of self. It soothes, it teaches, and it nurtures souls. It is a state of being alone by choice. Loneliness becomes solitude when it’s beautifully brushed with streaks of imagination, that allow one to reflect, to learn, and to dream. We perceive things with our eyes open to the world, we imagine and visualize things with our eyes closed to the world, beyond that there is an intertwined universe of thoughts, a silence way deeper. Dwell on that silence, satiate your inward eye. This solitude is a virtuous time to express thankfulness for all the blessings in your life and have joy at just a being. Quietly contemplate, think, and understand.
I know finding solace or bliss in solitude may sound enigmatic, and convincing someone to spend time alone is a tough sell. But there exists truth and beauty to it. Once in a while try enjoying the consolation hidden in solitude. Try relishing your own company! Try being your own friend! The more you enjoy solitude the simpler life becomes. Never forgo a conscious moment of the bliss of solitude. You can never be alone if you like the person or the company you are alone with.
[The idiom was coined by Shakespeare in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ & refers to a person who is or has been able to wisely settle matters.]
September has been a bit consuming this time. Amidst all the bustle, I got to realize that the month is ready to draw its curtain and I haven’t yet held onto my pen. I am glad to proclaim that I’m a person always trying to stitch my ties with my memories so that they are not lost anywhere in this mundane cycle, not only because they’re so precious but also because they’re so so beautiful. And beautiful things always leave an imprint on my mind (stands true for bad experiences as well).
Mother-daughter relationship can take shape in the myriad of ways but one thing that’s always guaranteed is ‘Love’. Of all the different roles a woman undertakes at different stages of life, she prizes motherhood the most. She becomes an all rounder mother who never hesitates to go extra miles to protect her child and if she bears a daughter, she settles for nothing less than ‘Perfection’ for her.
Long ago, I ran across these words by Roosevelt. They somewhat landed me believing in this very idea that if I start comparing myself with others in life, I would be like lending a hand in my ingenuity’s destruction and letting myself rob of all the joy and peace in my life. Today, I am glad I let myself believing in that.
The hardest yet the most fulfilling, frustrating yet the most satisfying, challenging yet the most rewarding job in the world is good parenting. It could be a long flight you might ever board but you as a parent learn & re-learn a lot too as you go. Good parenting to me is raising a confident, compassionate, & complacent child who is independent, courageous, & everything that aids him in being a healthy & happy addition to society, irrespective of his gender.
Those who have known me must have known it too that I think the world of my father. He has always been my ideal, my mentor, my advisor, & my counselor. Looking up at him has always left me comforted that I’ve someone by my side be it rain or shine. I’ve always loved when it was said that I resemble him a lot, & I’ve always loved it whenever he felt a sense of pride & accomplishment in me. Today on Father’s Day, I felt that there would be nothing better than interviewing my dearest father & hear from him his thoughts about fatherhood and paternal bonds. So, without any further delay, I’d introduce to you my greatest inspiration of all time, the wind beneath my wings, my dearest father, Colonel (R) Amir Hamza.
Today I’m very excited to have an amazing expert with me for our interview series. What’s exciting about this interview is that we’ll end up accumulating quite some helpful Dental advice & information from our Dental Expert that’ll aid us in our understanding of a Dental condition that is very common but is usually left unaddressed.
Little did I know that grief would be this unique when you’ll leave us. A quintessence of endurance & endearment, that was all that you were. For a moment it seems as if am still in a dream, but it is what it is. Was there anyone like you? No, no one was, & never would be. One of a kind, a blessed one, truer than the truth. I can not tell you how much you are missed & will be missed for the times to come.
The world is facing the worst global health crisis in generations. More than 163 million people have lost their lives to COVID-19, worldwide. The need of the hour is to put an end to this global pandemic & the only & effective way to do that (other than social isolation) is – Vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna (approved by FDA & EUA in the US) are presently authorized for emergency use by the Qatar Health Ministry in the State of Qatar. The tables turned when Qatar received its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech back in December 2020 followed by Moderna in February 2021, paving the way for inoculations to begin.
QuratulAin Hamza 