Don't forget to...

I remember junior year of high school, there was a girl in my math class who had an unpleasant, unfriendly attitude toward anyone outside of her group of friends. At the time I didn't really like her because of that. Later, however, during a retreat I found out that she was dealing with perhaps one of the most difficult situations that a teenager in America could be dealing with. I remember that I cried at the end of her talk, not only because I felt sorry because of the things she had to go through or because every other person in the room was crying but also because I was immensely disappointed in my own opinion of her and my failure to consider the reasons behind her attitude and cut her some slack. Since then, I've kept this in mind.

Tonight as I was revisiting the blogs of various friends I ran into this quote "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" -Plato. It perfectly describes what I learned from that retreat.

A friend yesterday asked me if I wanted to hang out with a random acquaintance that neither of us is too fond of. I was puzzled. Why would I want to do that, I asked. The answer my friend gave was fascinating. "Because I know that he's very lonely and sad and our company will light up his life, if only for a day." That, my friends, is what one calls sacrifice. Giving up one's own interests and desires in order to do fulfill another individual's happiness.

May it be the professor who speaks harshly to you or the person who tries to cheat off you on the final; may it be the friend who betrays your trust or the more-than-friend who breaks your heart; may it be the parent who yells at you or doesn't hear you out, or the sibling who gets mad at you and gives you the silent treatment for no good reason. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Eyes

There are times in life when you take a step back and reconsider. You reconsider the ins and outs of everything. Your actions. Your mentality. Your friends or acquaintances.

There are times when what you previously deemed just a tradition becomes an immensely moving and enlightening experience. The type of experience that opens your eyes.

There are times when what you previously obsessed over and considered extremely important loses its value or significance because you now see better. You see more and you see more clearly.

You are reborn.

Truth

So a few nights ago (or maybe it was last night, I don't even remember days correctly any more!) my friend and I were talking about religion and spirituality and belonging to a certain group and such. During this talk I went on a rant about how "truth" or "the right way" is said to be such varying things by different ideologies. Why can't truth just be obvious? Think about it. It would eliminate all the animosity that exists between groups with opposite or different ideologies. It would eliminate wars. As I'm writing this the movie "The invention of lying" comes to mind.

I would continue my rant and perhaps be a bit more eloquent but... that's it for now.

Time well spent

Reading a book.

Tranquility.

Taking a walk somewhere beautiful.

Reflection.

Having a fun conversation.

Thinking.

Exchanging music/entertainment.

Watching a movie.

Fun.

I guess we all have our definition of time well and enjoyably spent.

p.s. I was told college is a time of self-discovery. I believe it now.

Departure

She had her backpack on and was putting on her shoes to leave for school, just like any other day.

I was making sure I hadn't left any of my belongings behind.

"Bye!!" She said, just like she would on any other day.

"Bye! Study well!" I said, just like I say more often than not.

I hugged her.

"Look who's talking?!"

"Uh...Valedictorian?" I replied.

"Fine." And off she went.

And off I went, but this time some 450 miles away.

A waste of talent

Today I met several wonderful girls. They ranged in age from 13 to 16, were very lively, sweet, and intelligent. Call me stupid or delusional but I recognize a smart person when I see one. There's something in an individual's eyes. A spark of intelligence. There's something in a girl's mannerism and wittiness that screams "thoughtful and sharp."

Today I realized that all those talks of "lack of education" that had given me the impression that such thing only occurs in 3rd world nations had misguided me. This thing, this lack of education, this abhorring injustice, this ridiculous situation happens just next door to most of us, here in one of the most technologically and intellectually advanced nations in the world. (In the words of a dear friend, in Amurrrca.) For as long as I remember, I have known that Islam encourages scientific advancement and the strive for individual worldly progress and feminism (Yes, Islam promotes feminism. Don't be shocked.) And here I am, still shocked at the deprivation that these girls, born and raised in our nation, experience. In a nation were receiving higher education is much easier than probably any other nation in the world. I have no problems with those who home-school their child but if doing so strips that child of the opportunity to pursue higher education and live to his/her fullest intellectual potential, then I have a very big issue with those parents. Each person has been gifted with certain talents. The entity that suppresses those talents, strips an individual of an easily-acquired education, and considers such sheltering a favor to that individual, is committing an abominable injustice. Need I rant more?

Lastly, today I realized how lucky I am to have been born into the family into which I've been born.

[I'm bringing my blog back. Apologies for the rustiness. It'll get rolling again.]