I have been back since Thursday, but I just did not have the time to post something on this blog. All I can is that it was an unforgettable experience. I would love to get a chance to return to that place again. Serious.
Meanwhile, work is piling up at the office.. so I’d be busy for the next few days.
My other half has a job interview today, so all the best sweetheart. May Allah help our family in this blessed month of Ramadhan.
Today is the first day of Ramadhan. So, to all Muslims and Muslimahs, Ramadhan Kareem. May this blessed month brings us closer to Allah.We went out for dinner yesterday, and my colleague wanted to meet his old friend, a professor of economics who is originally from Iraq. Me and my other friend felt that it wasn’t proper for us to tag along this ‘visit’ so we decided to shop around while waiting for him. When we went to pick my friend up from the professor’s place, I finally get to meet this person that my colleague speaks so fondly of. And the first impression I had was that this is one extraordinary person. He is old. But his face shines. You can actually see that he has a very strong relationship with Allah. And the way he spoke.. it just felt so right.
On the way back to the hotel, I tried to find out more about this person. So, my colleague reiterated a story about this man. Once he was giving tazkeerah to a few brothers, and was quoting a hadith from Rasulullah s.a.w. Another brother tried to argue with him on what another sahabah (i.e. Abu Hanifah) said about the subject matter. And that brother was really trying to get him annoyed. So he simply said, “I said Rasulullah s.a.w. said this and you are telling me that Abu Hanifah said that… Please brother… have some respect for Rasulullah s.a.w.”
Of course when I actually read what I have just written, it may have no impact on anyone, but when this professor actually said it, these words had such an impact on my colleague that he still remembers it until now, 30 years later.
I learnt my greatest lesson yesterday… watch your words! What you say may have an impact on others – and it may be good or bad, so watchout!
I am sitting here at KLIA at one of the business class lounges. No, this is not my first time, but I am enjoying it very much despite the fact that I am missing my twins terribly. The younger one cried hysterically (well, almost) when she saw me boarding the plane and of course, the elder one was comforting her. My mother rang me to tell me that the elder one kept saying to the younger one, “mom’s going to work.. please don’t cry!” I held back my tears, I didn’t want them to feel sad. Besides, I won’t be gone for long.. only 7 days! (but it would definitely feel like 7 years!!)In two days time, this blog will be one year old. I am not sure if the destination where I am headed has internet connection, but if it doesn’t, Happy 1st Birthday to Maryam’s Daily Musings.
Pray that I have a safe journey!
I have been outstationed for the past two days. The first day, we had a meeting cum workshop at a hotel. The team accomplished what it had intended to do, so I guess it was good. The food was even better. Breakfast and lunch were exceptionally delicious. I must remember to organize the next meeting there. I wouldn’t miss the food or the comfortable king-sized bed for the world.
However, the next day was extraordinarily challenging. We had to skip one immigration procedure because time was running out. Usually, it would be okay since the organization where I work has a reputable name in the country. But then, they were so hard on me yesterday, and kept questioning me about things that I could not answer so I had a verbal argument with the authorities! I think I was rather verbally abusive.
But then, the incident yesterday has proven to me that my biggest weakness is my inability to control my temper. And when I lose my temper like I did yesterday, I tend to be very nasty. I did say a lot of things that I wasn’t supposed to say but I couldn’t stop myself. I know I hurt that lady’s feelings but at that point in time, I seem to forget who I was and why I was there. I seem to forget that Prophet Muhammad had said that we must not be angry!! Learn to control your temper!!! I think I should write her a letter to apologize for my misbehaviour.
How do I get over this biggest weakness of mine???????????????
I have just been through the hardest time in my life. It was definitely very challenging but it sure has made me wiser, and more patient. I have also learnt that tolerance is the key to a happy and peaceful life.
That ‘episode’ had such an extraordinary effect on me. I nearly lost control of myself. I even posted a note on my blog and had someone comment on it (thanks sis..) but now I regret putting it online and have everyone read it!
But I am back on track. My life has returned to normal. And I am more determined than ever to make my life worth living.
I have decided to change the look of my blog. I was getting bored with the old template. I think this one looks much better.
How I wish I had more time to learn new things. Particularly how to design webpages!
I have spent the past few weeks thinking about it. This burning desire to take it a step further is just something I cannot let go. It has been awhile since I completed my Masters degree.. and the quest for more knowledge is uncontrollable. I have two options, to do it locally on a part-time basis, or apply for a scholarship to do it outside this country on a full-time basis.
“Follow your heart” is what my mother says. “I know you can do it” is what my father says. And my loving husband says “I will support you, and be by your side through it all.”
Yes. But there are just so many other things that I have to let go if I leave my job now. The salary that I am getting plus all the other attractive benefits are just things that I cannot risk letting go. Of course, I may be able to get a better job when I complete.. but what if I don’t?
Well.. I still have another 9 months to think of it.
Today is another milestone for me. I did not update my blog for the past 9 days! That is bad. I miss my blog. I miss reading others’ blogs. But I am finally back on track. No more traveling for the next few days… so hopefully, it would be updated regularly.
The past 9 days was fun. The trip to the East Coast was tiring, but it sure opened up my mind. And I found out where my first love is now….. the fact that he is still not married shocked me! I just couldn’t believe it! And I couldn’t help but wonder.. if I had waited for him.. would things have been different? Would he still love me?
But life must go on… and there is no point imagining things that you know is in the past. I am thankful to be married to my husband, who loves me unconditionally.
And I am thankful.. for everything that Allah has granted me.. good health, challenging job, beautiful kids.. the list just goes on and on….
Could I ever ask for more?
This is the first time that I have been away from my blog for so long. It’s a record of almost 12 days – that is nearly two weeks! And there is only one thing that kept me away from you, my dear blog and that is work. I could never imagine a more hectic time than the past two weeks. Having to deal with new situations and new people is a big challenge, especially when it involves people from outside your country.And the funny thing was, my boss signed me up for a course during that most critical week of the month! I think he completely forgot about it. When the day arrived that I had to leave for three days, he had the nerve to question me about it! How dare he! But since the company had already paid for it, well… I might as well go. It was actually a refreshing three days for me and my significant other. Since mom decided that the twins should not go, we finally had some time for ourselves. It did feel very odd without the kids around, and the first night away almost drove me crazy.. but after awhile, I felt that it was a time to rekindle our love… Despite the fact that he was being his usual self..
However, I learnt a lot from the three-day course. It was a course about relationship building. I also discovered my personality. I’m supposed to be the soft person, always finding it hard to say ‘no’ to others.. and very sensitive. Funny. I found 80% of what was said to me true. Well of course it had to be true. The answers to the questionnaire were given by me and the system merely read my statements and put them back it nice words for me and finally, give it a label! But it was good anyway. It was good to be reminded that there are other people surrounding you.. and that every person has a different personality. It is up to you to treat them well.. and according to their personalities.
Other than that.. I am still busy. I think I need another two to three weeks to finally settle down. May Allah grant me the patience to get through this.
I feel horrible. I wish I could go back home and get some sleep. The twins had fever last night, they felt uncomfortable and refused to sleep. But here I am, on a Monday morning, trying to keep awake in front of the PC.
And there are so many things to do today.
Allah.. Help me get through the day!
