Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank


I used to keep a diary when I was 13 too, like Anne Frank. I read what I wrote sometimes and think how silly it all is, I only addressed what I did in my day and how was I feeling and it was mostly superficial, I would never go deep while I wrote it.
Anne Frank is like anyone else, she is a teenager and we all went through the same things basically, yet she writes about everything in detail and she does it so well. She described their hiding in Holland so well you can see her there. I had to remind myself several times that what I was reading is real, it happened to those people, it was hard to keep that in mind. Her diary wasn't written for anyone to read, she addressed certain issues repeatedly, not that I find that annoying; it is quite the contrary it's amazing and it is "real".
It just makes you feel miserable that you think how these people lived, and how they endured it. How it could have been stopped. She dwells on the war, and what she says is very true. One time she said that wars don't happen because governments want them to, if people were against wars then riots would happen and the people have the strength to stop a war, yet humans approve of wars because if they didn't none would happen.
That thought is very true, yet I only wonder sometimes people are afraid of their leaders, if those leaders happen to be as heartless as Hitler.

I loved the book, I loved getting inside of her head. It is a must-read for everyone. It confirms the fact that we're all alike, yet very different.

Here are a few quotes I liked:
"Up till now I always thought bickering was just something children did and they outgrew it. Of course, there's sometimes a reason to have a 'real' quarrel, but the verbal exchanges that take place here are just plain bickering. I should be used to the fact that these squabbles are daily occurrences, but I'm not and never will be as long as I'm the subject of nearly every discussion. (they refer to these as 'discussions instead of 'quarrels', but Germans don't know the difference!)
Pages 43, 44

"Riches, prestige, everything can be lost. But the happiness in your own heart can only be dimmed; it will always be there, as long as you live, to make you happy again."
Page 198

And this quote is amazing because her wishes came true, even after her death:
"I don't want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I've never met. I want to go on living even after my death!"

Friday, July 30, 2010

Vision cleared

Dear blog,
There are a lot of times I feel I need to let out my feelings but I just don't know where. You have served me very well over the years, and lately I've felt the need to vent out here but didn't do it. I am like that. I plan things in my head, but they take ages to happen.
I can't believe the things that are happening, the things being said. I try to do and say the right things, yet when I know I'm right I don't say anything. It's mostly because people have changed, or I've only begun now to understand them better. Most of the people around me stick to their point of view and they listen to argue back not to actually understand what you're saying.
It's frustrating to be in such a position. Am I seeing life the way it is?

Everybody can make a difference and change the world. If we disagree with the way our society works, then why live up with it? Why can't we try to change it?
I was shocked when I was told that there was no point in trying to change people's mind about something and going against the unwritten rules of conduct, because my life would be ruined in the process, so why can't I just live with it?
I tried to argue miserably over the fact that we can change because you're supposed to be the change you want to see in the world according to Gandhi. Yet people won't see it that way.

Why do we live by people's rules and not our own? And you ask what's wrong with our societies?! It's the state of comforness we reached, how we only complain and do nothing to change it.
How pathetic!

With hope,
Noor

Monday, July 19, 2010

Haven't Met You Yet

Dear Readers,
I thought I'd dedicate this feel-good song to all of you.
So sit back, and enjoy the music!




I love you, Bublé!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Live...

While I waited for any friend to come online, and as I fought the urge to play a silly facebook game that my brother doesn't even understand and asks laughingly 'Is that it? No explosions?', I needed to take a step back to assess and then, hopefully, be able to take a step forward.

I turn uneasily in my bed at night, thinking of everything all at once, and trying to decide. I say to myself, now you can think clearly; what do you want to do? I try to push back the answer that comes first, it says 'Save The World'. As I push it back I wonder why, it's what I truly want to do. I may have a narrow-minded understanding of what that means but I'm ready to be converted to any way that can accomplish that goal.
Results are out, what comes next is what matters. Where and what? How should I know? I guess I should, and I'm trying to convince myself of certain majors, I'm sounding dramatic using "convincing". I, too, have expectations of myself, and I need to see them come true. I always thought when my time comes I'll just know what to do, or they'll open up a major that is just right for me.Neither happened. I'm praying I'll choose right though!

Let's enjoy the moment.
Listen to loud music; and screw up the lyrics! :D

I always thought life happened, and would happen to me too when I grew up. It seemed that way on tv. I've learned that you have to make it happen, and it's probably the hardest thing ever.
To live.... happily! It's a choice you make.
So will you choose the right thing? You're worth it. (Talk about pep talk.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

راوية: الأشياء ليست في أماكنها

أعلنت مدونة "أكثر من حياة" على فرصة الحصول على نسخة موقعة من رواية الأشياء ليست في أماكنها للكاتبة هدى الجهوري. يمكنكم الدخول في السحب للحصول على نسخة هنا.
مبادرة جميلة جداً
!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Quotes


"Thus we never see the true State of our Condition, till it is illustrated to us by its Contraries; nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it."
Page 72
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
Penguin Popular classics


"
How good one feels when one is full - how satisfied with ourselves and with the world! People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained. One feels so forgiving and generous after a substantial and well-digested meal - so noble-minded, so kindly-hearted."
Page 87
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) - Jerome K. Jerome
Wordsworth Classics

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Faith

We have plants in our flat now. I water them everyday, twice.
They're not ours. They're for my dad's friend, and we're looking after them while he's away. It's great. Though the sad thing is, we sometimes leave the house for a day or two and there's no one to water them. One of them is already dead, or very near that because it's seriously dry. I felt really sorry for it. The others aren't very much better, it's because of the weather here. It's very very hot.

I asked my mom why didn't we have plants? She explained that she tried keeping some a few years back but they wouldn't stay alive, besides we don't have much room in our home for them. I always thought I'd have a garden in my house, and I wouldn't dwell much on who would tend it. It demands time and effort. Now I'm thinking a few planets on the balcony wouldn't be so bad. The weather needs to be appropriate.

However, I'm not writing to express my future wishes for keeping a garden. I need to think out loud, because I've been thinking a lot these days and I don't think it's very healthy living inside my head. I've been reading, I don't know if it's the books I'm reading or it's me, but I'm not relating to books now, I'm reading for the sake of reading and I don't like that. I've been watching online most of the time I'm awake, and that has made me uncomfortable about the way I'm spending my Summer. I try to talk, but I have no idea what to say or how to say it. I'm thinking about my average, majors, universities and life after this Summer. And I'm also thinking about getting a BlackBerry.
I always hated my lack of confidence in the decisions I make, I hate the state of indecisiveness I'm in, and I hate how big a deal I'm making everything look like because it may just happen to be normal. Perhaps it's the right state of being for me right now, but I hate the state of unproductiveness I'm in. I need to read books, be able to help around in the house, watch movies, learn how to drive, and not spend the day inside of my head thinking and thinking of what I should be doing. I need to simply think and act.
I think it's because I'm nervous about my future, and that's normal, and because last year not a day went to waste without a humongous guilt. This is the transition needed to get back to leading a normal life. So this needs to come out.

I have faith in myself, and I need to start acting upon it.
Let's act upon on!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

At the Mall


It's always fun to go to the mall. You're on your way with hopes you'll find something to buy, you'll eat that ice-cream you've been craving for so long, get that book you always wanted to read, and much more.
You arrive. You look around. You think there are many pieces worth considering, yet when you look closely you find nothing. You go eat dinner and never have that ice-cream. You see the book but think it's always there and can be bought another time. You leave the mall with thoughts of coming again in a week to filfull the plans you had in the first place.

The people are another thing. I always think of the mall as a place where you can see pretty much everyone. I don't mind people, I love watching them sometimes. I just hate people with certain airs they give themselves. I always thought people should be themselves.
I almost always catch myself laughing at something my sister is saying when we're walking at the mall, and I'd look around and there's a guy looking at me who may think I'm smiling at him. I'd hate that. I would seriously get annoyed by it before, but now I don't care! (:

So I hope this pointless post cheered you up a bit. And next time I'm at the mall, which would be tomorrow I think, I will have that Buskin Robbins ice-cream. Yes, I will!