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It Just Occurred to Me

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Now that all my followers are probably gone from my blogging site, let me try to write again.

It’s been awhile. And I’m not really sure why, and I have no good reason for that either. There have been some things I have noticed since growing up (yes, I have considered myself growing up the past few years- and possibly peaking… but we’ll see).

I’ve been doing a lot of “soul searching”- to try to find myself and what I want and need to do. At one point, I wanted to launch into a full on website, which I found too stressful and the pressure left me with no creative energy to write. I guess you could compare that to when you work to do the things you love and end up hating it one day? That argument can go many ways, it’s just a feeling.

My last post is a year ago now. I could beat myself up for not keeping up with this, but I have also recently learned that I should be nicer to myself. How about I consider it as a conversation with my readers (if there are any)?

Some things I’ve been working on half-assed lately:

  • Writing a book- “Traveling for Introverts”… which is me in a nutshell. It’s been horrible, so I wouldn’t expect much. I did read Steven King’s memoir On Writing, to draw inspiration, and realize I’ll never be as good as him. So why try? … just kidding, I’ll try a bit.
  • Reading – to fulfill a contract I set up with my sister to be better this year. There’s more to the contract, which I’ll share later.
  • Learning code – something I used to enjoy, but suffered from indecision-itis… so I never pursued.

Probably no one read this. So… I’ll publish and get back to work.

Time Fleeting By

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To put into perspective, I started this blog three years ago. At that time, I was living in Manhattan and Staten Island. I spent my day in the busiest city of the world. Thinking about it now, it sounds more like a dream- a distant memory of someone else’s life. We had so much freedom in the hustle and bustle. It’s been quite a long while since I’ve felt anything like it. I was disenchanted with New York because big city life caught up with me. New York was so… fast. It became like the party that kept on going and I felt stuck. I missed my family. I missed the four seasons of the mountains. Since then, life led me to helping my family at our business, trying a life in Atlanta, and traveling Vietnam. Even though I live each day, one better or worse than the last, somehow time still slipped by. I realize it’s been three years and so much has happened. I’ve tried to keep my blog as updated as my motivation, life, work, travels allows me. It has been quite an adventure, jotting my thoughts down and seeing my developments over the years.

Volunteering With Fardos

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I have grown incredibly attached to my Syrian friends, whom I volunteer with at Catholic Charities in Atlanta. Fardos, who had needed computer literacy help, was my first volunteer case.

She was always so gracious and thankful of my help. She had shared so many of her culture’s cuisine with me. I would have so many foods to bring home to share with my own family. She shared food with me that I would not have known about otherwise.

She is a wonderful woman, with 5 beautiful children: Hanin 10, Nemin 8, Hazem 7, Nagham 5, Reffef 3. These kids are full of energy, questions, intelligence. They love watching Youtube cooking shows and hacker channels.

Visiting her reminds me of my family when we first immigrated to the United States. Seeing her small 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment be enough for all 7 people.

I had loved her since my first visit, how she had learned so quickly. Our bond had grown over the 3 months that I have volunteered with her. We talked about our cultures and our religions. There is still so much to learn. She was a fiery ambitious, life-loving, dancer and it was exhilarating to see her around her children.

They are moving today to Nebraska, where they can make a better living. I’ll miss them all.

Today, I played Can’t Help Falling In Love on the Ukulele

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This song was played really badly, I’ve been meaning to learn finger-plucking, and just did the simplest technique.

I think it goes quite nicely with the song because I’m “rushing in” to playing this song. I’d prefer to not edit it because this would be a good marking point to where I started out playing. I want to see myself get better! But I’m dedicating this to my boo friend <3

 

Today, I drew rain.

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After yesterday’s resolve to post more, I had already almost not done anything for today.

My boyfriend says it looks like a woman with an umbrella head, but it’s okay, because I like it.

Really, it’s not too bad, right?

I like the rain. I like listening to it and looking at it. I don’t like it so much while caught in it though.

I accidentally set off my workplace alarm system by trying to get in through the backdoor. Troubled a friendly officer, having to come check the place out.

In other news, I’m completely hooked on Ender’s Game, a childhood favorite of mine. And, I’m looking into signing up for Krav Maga classes to keep life interesting. Neh?

Cheers!

Hey everyone, I drew sadness.

Trying something new to improve my skills.

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I used to be good at art. Now, after years of letting go, holding a pen (and the fact that I’m using a pen, not pencil) to draw art makes me feel like a newbie.

I don’t really know why, but I felt very motivated to draw “Sadness” from the movie inside out.

And I don’t really know why I chose to draw something sad, which was what I searched up on Bing. I just started a new job, so it really should be a good thing going on for me.

Maybe it meant that I’m not doing all the I have the potential to do? Like, what is a hobby?

As a resolve to change my busy bee way of life, I’ve decided to take a picture of something I enjoy doing at least once a week (I’ll try for once a day, if it works out).

img_1284

By the way, sorry this picture is so bad. I thought about redrawing so that it looks better to put on my blog, but I wanted it to be authentic.

My family is pretty artistic, and by “pretty” I mean that my brother and sisters put my newbie drawing to shame. Seriously, they’re, like, 10 and they have a Youtube channel with animated videos. Feel free to follow them!

My sister, 12 years old, animated this one:

She is literally obsessed with art. She spends 10 hours a day in the summer, just drawing. And when we come home at night, she still wants to draw.

My brother, 10 years old, animated this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU7z5W_bUVY

He has lots of talent, which I think is such a waste that he spends most his time watching Youtube videos.

My other sister, 15 years old at the age of drawing this, is super talented. It’s a pity she’s so ambitious and is boggled down with 6 college and high school classes in a semester. I’m really pushing for her to continue drawing, but we’ll see.

I wonder if it’s the commute that’s bringing me down. For the first time, I have to commute 30-45 minutes by CAR. New York doesn’t count because at least I got to sit down in the subway train, and read a book. /sigh/

Well, thanks for stopping in!! I really appreciate your reading my blog. 🙂

 

 

Three Day, Three Quotes Challenge: Day 3

On the last day of my quotes challenge, I decided to choose another song. Here is one of my all time favorite songs.

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It’s a lot of pressure to find a perfect quote to end this challenge.

Since my first two responses have been lyrics from songs, I feel a strong desire to do one for today as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=CWzrABouyeE

What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses too 
I see them bloom for me and you 
And I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white 
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night 
And I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky 
Are also on the faces of people goin’ by 
I see friends shakin’ hands, sayin’ 
“How do you do?” 
They’re really sayin’, 
“I love you.”

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow 
They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know 
And I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow 
They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know 
And I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself 
What a wonderful world
What a wonderful world

I hope you enjoyed the song! This song has been my go-to cheer up song, each line encapsulates a beautiful feeling. Some things in life are just beautiful in its simple ways. Ending the day with jazz and a sip of wine is my way to go.

The ability to do something isn’t so much a problem as keeping it consistent. Hope to be back for good now. I may be joining a blogging challenge again pretty soon. I just need to build up a solid discipline foundation. See you in the next post!

I am nominating:

Three Day, Three Quotes Challenge: Day 2

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Every birth year, I look back and reflect on what life lessons in that year resonated with me most. I have been 24 years old for 4 months now, and I have experienced by far the most internal struggle I’ve ever been through. I’ve met and dealt with situations beyond my comfort zones.

For my 2nd Day’s Quote Challenge Response, I am choosing another song that I have come to appreciate more and more over the years. This song outlines the goals in my life.

“My Way”

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way

Yes, it was my way

I am nominating:

Three Day, Three Quote Challenge: Day 1

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iWinta was nominated by Simon at To Cut a A Short Story Short, and please check his blog and many creative short stories!

The GUIDELINES are:

  • Thank the person who nominated you.
  • Post one quote per day over three days.
  • Nominate 3 blogs per day to take part in the challenge.

It’s entirely voluntary and there’s no time limit for completion.

 

My first quote is going to be from a song that struck a chord in my heart most recently.

Smile by Judy Garland

Smile though your heart is aching 
Smile, even though it’s breaking 
When there are clouds, in the sky, you’ll get by 
If you smile, through your fear and sorrow 
Smile, and there’ll be tomorrow 
You’ll see the sun come shining through 
If you’ll…. 
Light up your face with gladness 
Hide every trace of sadness 
Although a tear, may be ever so near, 
That’s the time, you must keep on trying 
Smile, what’s the use of crying? 
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, 
If you’ll just…. 
Light up your face with gladness 
Hide every trace of sadness 
Although a tear, may be ever so near, 
That’s the time, you must keep on trying 
Smile, what’s the use of crying? 
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, 
If you’ll just…. 
Smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8oLGBNXpE

There are tons of great quotes I want to use. The fun part of this challenge for me is finding one that fits my feelings best.

And my three nominations for day 1 are: