.:Bullet Proof Read:.

Ernest Hemingway said,

“Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.”

I guess that means I shouldn’t go on trips at all, eh? Loving thyself… ahh but if only it were the topic of today but alas, I shall speak instead of travel for indeed I shall be a traveller myself in but few…Travelling. I like it. It’s that nice feeling you get in your heart. It’s that escape that you so badly need… But what is an escape if you ever so willingly return home? A temporal escape of denial? Surely, it’s the perspectives gained from new scenery that’s worth it? Then again, travelling need not be to new places. It could be that common trip to a favourite destination… The road often travelled.

Sigh. Not feeling very articulate at the moment. Tired, excited… and somewhat… down on the upside? Hmm.

All I know is that I’m gonna have a wonderful time, insha Allah… In the end, it is always about the peoples! :)

“Journeys end in lovers meeting”??? Why, Shakespeare could be quite right. Quite right.

Wallaaaaaahu a’lam. My du’as. Your du’as, please :D

After watching Angrybot (this cool flash cartoon from We Are Robots), I noticed I became irritable. I’d tell people on MSN to shut up (amongst other rude things :$). It almost felt good until I realised it was partly an effect from being exposed to the barrage of anger. Ok I’m not here to debate violence in the media and its influence. I’m just saying that at that point it was a factor in affecting me. Wallahu a’lam.

Reminded me of “priming experiments” which taps into our unconscious mentioned in blink (OK book, haven’t finished reading - what’s new :P). One such experiment had two groups of students do a scrambled-sentence test. One group got words like “aggressively”, “bold”, “rude” and “intrude” while the other group had words like “respect”, “considerate”, “patiently” and “polite”. They then made these students go down the hall after they’ve finished the test to talk to the experimenter (individually). When a student arrived at the experimenter’s room, he’d find the experimenter busy talking to another person standing in the doorway. The result? Students from the first group would get annoyed and eventually interrupt. The other group, most of them… would stand and wait politely for some time! Interesting, eh? Masha Allah.

Erm for those who didn’t quite get it, I’m too lazy to type up the whole text from the book. I’d recommend you to get the book yourself but I’m not too well-informed of it to do so, heh. I’ve read a couple of ‘bad’ reviews. But hey, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion… When it comes to such books, at least.

Ok, to sum it up, I do believe everything you’re exposed to has some impact on your life, even simple words. And when you’re exposed to a particular thing repeatedly, it has greater, more significant influence on you as a person.

What to do with anger in particular? Keep the powerful words of our Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam in mind: La taghdab, la taghdab, la taghdab.

For moments in anger, you’d have in mind the word ANGER like “I’m ANGRY” but by remembering those blessed words, you remember the “LA” part which will cancel out the anger, insha Allah. It should help, amongst the other practial advice our beloved, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, has given us. Read more here.

“Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.” - Albert Einstein

I’ve been feeling down lately, missing those who aren’t with me. Just as I was getting used to my sister and her kids being far away, my other sister migrated to a distant land with her family. Then I’d fondly remember my brother in the UK whom I last saw 8 years ago. I wish I could meet up with him, so much has changed. I also miss my friends who are away and some, out of reach. May Allah protect them all.

Of course, I’d be advised to bear these situations with patience and alhamdulillah, He has given me some strength to deal with all this. Indeed all I need to remember is that, as a dear friend pointed out before, the void in the heart can only be filled with the remembrance of Allah.

I’ve learnt that the way to treat your heart is to remember Allah in the very context of the situation. That is, reflect upon what has happened and see the blessings in disguise. Play it out in your head, draw up the reasons that make it the best it could have been. When you know the true wisdom behind the situation, it makes it that much easier to accept Qadr.

The second part to it is to complain only to Allah. The complaint to another person is futile not only because the person can hardly bring any comfort to you… but because the complaint to humans often leads to inactivity. Whoever said bearing with patience means to passively sit without any action whatsoever?

Next, be thankful, be thankful, be thankful. It’s a simple equation. You show thanks by worshipping Allah. And with so many ways…

Finally, the du’as (usually the endnote of complaints) to Allah - hold on fast to them. Grip them like they’re the only thing that can save you from falling 100 storeys straight off a building. To remember that Allah answers our calls to Him, our needy requests of Him, helps a lot in soothing our hearts. To have faith in Him that only He can help us is key to filling that void in the heart.

We sometimes forget, that’s all. So this is the reminder to myself first, then to whoever sweet enough to read this page. Jazakum Allahu khair.

In the end, this depression stage? It’s all overrated. Get over it. ;-)

The secret’s out
Your diary’s opened wide
Will you be safe
Or drowned by the media tide?

I worry for you
And my heart it aches
Yet I know to be strong
That your faith won’t break.

I knew it vague
Enough to set me apart
As news draws closer
Wishing it would never start.

Inevitably facing
With hopes so high, so nigh
To Allah our Lord
We share a prayer, a sigh.

It gives me a shiver
As my tears grow cold
I might’ve been with you
Had I been told.

May Allah protect our imprisoned brothers and sisters everywhere and keep them steadfast. May He hasten their release and grant patience and tranquility to them and their families.