#and that's what i'm talking about

[theendless-possibilities]

Awkward Moments

I had a great day yesterday and today. Yesterday I went downtown with some friends (who all happened to be sisters) and we just hung out and rode some rental bikes around Stanley Park.

It was strange because we were waiting at this fountain and this guy comes up and says, "Assalamu Alaikum sisters, there is a program this Saturday about . . . " Then he gives us a card. After he comes back and gives one to my friend who he completely ignored and was like, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think you were Muslim, you want one too?". He also didn't have enough courtesy to hold back another question, "Where's your hijab?". Then her older sister laughed and was like, " We're all sisters and her hijab is coming. Then he was like,"Muslim women are the most beautiful, because they are wearing the flag of Islam". We were all just awkwardly staring at him and were waiting for him to leave.

In my head I was just like, "Well, you don't have the right to tell some random Muslim girl you don't even know, to wear a hijab." I mean, it just doesn't work that way! Like honestly, with a mom and 2 sisters who wear one, I'm pretty sure she knows, it's up to the person to come to terms with themselves to wear it, and when they do find the courage, it's the most amazing thing in the world.

[theendless-possibilities]

Maddening People

You know what makes me mad? When people are embarassed of their own ethnicity and/or the country their parents were born in. I mean really? You are what you are and you might as well embrace yourself and you're unique then. At least you have something that makes you different. My friends always talk about being white-washed and I don't understand what their saying, because first of all, I'm not the one who's crying about my race or ethnicity and now you're saying you want to be like everyone else? I mean, that does not work for me. 

And something else? I am a feminist and it makes me mad when a guy saunters up to you and goes, Did you know? All the greatest people in the world were men. Arrrrggggghhhh! What is wrong with them? Do you not know that some women had to pretend to be guys, because in that era, women weren't given all the rights they deserved. And you probably won't amount to anything big, if you don't even get your facts right before you say that straight to my face!!! Gosh, I mean why do people even say that men are better than women? What reasons do they have? Because I'm pretty damn sure that a man did not go through a whole lot of pain giving birth to you, and if a man did, then I would sure love to know.

It's sad that women in the western world have only had voting rights since 1926, and there are already female presidents and prime ministers in many muslim countries. This is why I am proud to be a muslim. (Among other reasons too, of course.)

[theendless-possibilities]

Stop

Change is inevitable. We, us, them, are constantly shifting, moving, inexplicably connected in our web of life. Every day I see things that then mean nothing (to me), which could mean a thousand lifetimes worth of sadness or happiness for someone else. I float, I don't really see. Do I take the time to ask, to ponder, to devise ways to make myself think about what is really there? Do we ever really stop?

My mom always says that the people of this generation are always moving, always have to be doing something, and that they never just lie down on their beds just for the sake of lying down on their beds. It's true, though. Always thinking of what will happen, not what's happening.

I see my mom come home from work every day, and my brother and I always rush to her and ask her questions, ask her for a little piece of her time. But when I see her relax, or talk with a friend, with a real smile on her face, I don't even say that she deserves it. When really, she deserves the world and so much more.

So yeah, change is everything in our lives, I look at pictures of my mother from years ago, and look at her now, her body weathered with age, with the wrinkles etched into her face, from times of joy and pain and sadness, all there from the process of this thing that we are all waiting for in our lives, which really, we can't wait for, but have to make happen.

[theendless-possibilities]

Pretty Mirror Compact Thingies

OMG. My dad came back today!!! My mom picked me up from school to go to the airport and I'm so excited I can't even type properly. Though none of you can tell, but you know.

And he got me and my mom these really pretty mirror compact thingies from China where he stopped over and they're really nice. Maybe I'll post a picture of it soon.