Sidelines

To become what you want
is a dream come true.

To do what you love
gives a sense of liberation.

Yet masterpieces take time.

Ottoman Empire & Rome weren't built in a day.

Until then
learn to enjoy the journey & trust the process.

For you will finally be where you aspire to be.

Baby Makin Besar, Mommy Mesti Makin Kuat

Alhamdulillah, today marks our baby turns 5 months and 4 days. The journey has been life changing and so beautiful. I quitted my stressful job as a project executive at a development company. Its a billion dollar project of constructing Kedah Integrated Fishery Port (KIFT) in Kuala Kedah. My ex-boss was training me on the technical parts of building a ship. Which is a part and parcel of an engineering point of view but I suppose, once I am fluent in the construction of the ship and its benefits, I am supposed to convince fishermen to buy our modern ships which technology comes from China. A modern fishery vessel which the fishermen can go further with into the deep sea of the Indian Ocean to catch tuna fishes which will then be processed at KIFT and then be sent to China for the tuna to be exported all around the world.

I loved the project and its big prospects. The fact that I get to learn hands-on and be part of one of Malaysia's history changing projects. But, since this is my first ever pregnancy, I really do not want to jeopardise our baby's health by being stressful everyday. Upon agreement, I quitted the job and spend most of my time enjoying the growth of our baby and even, enjoying being a baby. Because we all know once we delivered the baby, we are no more babies. We are guardians of our new borns. So now I am really taking my time to embrace this journey, read on baby's growth and practice on becoming a mindful mother, prepare spiritually mentally and physically to care for our new born because honestly motherhood requires copious amounts of resolve, confidence, stamina, endurance and calmness. And this is what my husband and I are training ourselves to be. Day by day, we are getting there alhamdulillah.

Becoming mindful to the growth inside our tummies is very important. Slowly God develops the motherly instincts inside ourselves and it is essential that we give attention to also put effort into growing the motherly instinct given to us so that when the baby comes out, we are more prepared to care and love for the child. This is particularly important for the parents (mothers especially), because when we are prepared spiritually, mentally and physically to receive the baby - we will be happier in terms of taking care of the new born and loving them with all the might. Things could get more complicated when we are not prepared for this life changing event or accepting the fact that our lives soon will revolve around them - like they are our new lives. Thus, if we can nurture ourselves into becoming this accepting mother of the changes that our child will bring upon us, we will be happier. When we are happy, our child will be happy, so does our husband and our surrounding.

One of the things that you can do to connect with your child and becoming mindful to your pregnancy is:

Giving Vitality to Your Baby through Your Breath

After a hectic day at work, come back refreshed with a calming shower. A shower in which - you lather yourselves with the foam of the soap, massage your head when you are shampooing your hair and just take your time to enjoy your shower or bath. Smile while you are doing this and know that in your heart; yourself and your baby are appreciating you for taking time to treat yourself to a nice me-time, cleaning yourselves off the dirt of dusty air and exhaling all the tiring and negative thoughts you had in the day. Let it all go - it doesn't serve you anymore. What happened, happened. What was done, was done. Let it be. Let it go. Let, go.

Then you shower yourself off the soap foam, closing your eyes while picturing that you are cleansing all the dirts of the day, all the gossips that you've heard, your boss blaming or shouting, all your bad thoughts about an event or how annoyed you felt when your colleague spoke something bad about you or someone you respect. Anything that doesn't serve you anymore - just, let, them, go. Let, go. Its nicer to shower with warm water as it will calm your senses down after a long day at work and getting you ready for sleep.

After a warm shower or bath, you might want to thank God for all the beautiful things he has bestowed upon you today and be grateful to Him for still helping you survive your day and most of all giving you the time to enjoy life and precious moments with your love ones. You'll take your time and pray Isha' mindfully, thanking Him for all the wonderful things He has given you. You also take the time to do zikr after your solah and then when you pray to Him, you smile and let Him know how you love Him for everything He has blessed you with.

You then lie down on your bed with the lights off or with a very dim orange light, calm your mind and body. Feel any tension that is stuck in your body and breathe the tensions out of you. You inhale all the positivity deeply, and give a long exhale out of all the negativity left that you still have in you. You continue to inhale deeply and your baby absorbs vitality. You exhale, and you draw your baby closer to your core - nurturing your unborn child with your breath flow, holding them in the gentle rhythm of your life force.

Let your breath flows and feel the life energy rising within you, continue breathing without mental effort or exertion. Feel your breath deepens and your body relaxes deeper each time you inhale and exhale out your breaths as your mind quiets down and your body relaxes into tranquility. You are no longer mechanically breathing, but consciously connecting your mind to the source of your vitality.

Your ego may resist being told to slow down. What it wants to do is for you to keep busying your mind with things that no longer serves you. That's okay, it is normal that your ego would not want to cooperate with you. Don't judge it - it's just its job to be like that (ego is God's creature too and its their nature to behave so). Accept that your ego is trying to shift your mind into something else rather than calling for tranquility and calmness and let it go while you continue focusing on your breath and bringing vitality to your unborn child. Be patient and persistent. If you need to, stretch out your body and bring back your mind into concentrating on your breath and the unborn baby even when your ego is trying to distract you and reclaim its control over your attention.

Keep on being patient and persistent. Soon, your mind will become receptive to following your breath flow, enabling you to drop more easily into a meditative state of alertness. Then, you can feel your energy and the current that flows inside you connecting to your womb which holds your unborn baby.

With this done, you will feel more connected with your baby and likewise. You might even feel that they are speaking back at you, thanking you for taking the time to really connect with them after your hectic day's work - letting you know how happy they are to be granted your precious time for them.

Because really, when you do this every night now before your baby is born, you will already create a habit to always spend sometime with them mindfully no matter how bad your day went. This is not only good for them but for you especially as their role models, and ultimately giving you the feeling of accomplishment when you've done good for your child and contentment to end your day beautifully for a new fresh beginning the next.

PS: This is not only beneficial for mothers to be, but for anyone who really wants to let go of the past, be free of any negative thoughts that have been holding you down and for those who want to enjoy their present moment.

Goodnight, let's hop on the bed and calm our mind and body, getting ourselves ready to shutdown and looking forward to a new day tomorrow.

Love,
Mus

2017 Goals!

My Things to Achieve Before 25 made when I was 20. 

If you've been into my room, you'll notice this A0 sized paper pasted on my wall. Before 25 to achieve all that?! Unrealistic, kan? I never renewed the goals, I stayed with them for 3 freaking years! One because upon landing in the UK, I thought I've achieved it all. Two because I lost myself when I was in the UK, so I really didn't know what I wanted then. Yap, me losing myself in the UK was gravely. But, great thing was - in all 35 things to achieve I managed to cross 3 of them in 3 years. In average, I only achieve one thing each year. Alhamdulillah yet it could be better.  

So, this year I've decided to come clean - wanting to achieve everything at one time only brought me to frustrations when it deceived me to feel like I've achieved it all when in reality - I've only really accomplished one of them. Those 35 things I jot down could be my long term goals, but for you to be able to stay focused - you need to break it down into chunks so your mind will be focused on achieving them, one by one.

MAKING IT HAPPEN 🎯

When setting goals, it needs to be specific. Like, how are you going to achieve it and when do you plan to achieve it. For example:

#Be more productive.

For the first two months, I will get into the habit of sleeping and waking up early - sleep at 11pm and wake up at 5am. Before sleeping every night, I already plan and visualise the things that I am going to achieve the next day. And the rest will follow because after 44 days, it will already become a habit. 

I purposely use a very basic goal because once we get into a routine of sleeping and waking up early, the chances for us to achieve our daily goals are higher and at the end of the day we will feel accomplished. This positive feeling is really important to keep us going and staying motivated to bring us closer to achieve our bigger goals.

Paste your goals on the wall of your working table so you will always be reminded about the things that you want to achieve. Or if you prefer a more techie alternative, display them as your lock screen image or phone background.

And as for me, my targets this year is:

Mmm, so much cleaner and saner doncha think? 😏

So, how to breakdown my targets into daily tasks which I need to do to achieve the bigger goals?

1. Become a TV Host by September 2017. In the meantime, I will be active in joining and doing individual projects, charity events, hold independent basic yoga and meditation sessions to build self-confidence, network with more people and be in the game while filming my activities to enhance my portfolio. 

2. Commit in researching a topic for writing a book & improving my website in terms of content wise, ease of navigation for users. The content will keep on inspiring and move people to achieve greater heights and to take leaps of faiths. In order to achieve this - everyday, I will spend 2 hours to research the topics that I cover. I will learn to design, code and make an impactful website. 

Reflect on your goals to ensure that you are on track to achieve those goals of yours. Ask yourself, "Is what I do today or this week have made me closer to my goals?" If yes, keep it up and double the work as things become easier to do for you to do (alah bisa tegal biasa) if not, revise and ask yourself what went wrong, what should you do instead. Fix it and you're ready to go! And, last but not least -

"You are exactly where you need to be. Be patient and keep on working. An empire isn't built in a day. In fact, it is built in tens or hundreds of years. Just like ourselves, we don't get to be where we want to be in a blink of an eye, nor in a day, nor in a month. But everyday, when we work towards it - we are slowly getting closer to it. And that's what we want - Progress."

Happy achieving our realistic, measurable and attainable goals for this year everyone! 

Finally Opening Up 💋

I have always wanted to write about my experiences studying in the UK. But, I never really did it partly because I was ashamed to open up since it didn't really turn the way I wanted it to be. Ie: A lot of my targets weren't achieved when I was in the UK. Nonetheless, I understand the struggles of living far away from home in a totally foreign land, the feeling of homesickness and ultimately - the feeling of losing yourself. 

It is in no doubt that you will be juggling a lot of things such as your study life, love life, family & friends, adapting into an alien culture and how to handle or fit in, ultimately travelling and exploring the world. All is so new and exciting and you want to do everything! Which then you forgot to prioritise and most of the times, you feel like something is missing inside of you which needed to be mended. 

That's why now, I am happy to open up to all of you so you can learn from my experiences and be wiser in terms of choosing and analysing what's best for you while you are 56785329 miles away from home!

Enjoy the ride ~~~~~~

Preparing for Parenthood Pt. I

Parenthood.

Photo courtesy of Annie Spratt from unsplash.com.

It is normal for married couples to dream about having a child. While most might want it to happen sooner, there are also couples who want it a bit later for variety of reasons such as - still studying, current career unsuitability, financial situations, or simply wanting to enjoy their honeymoon moments as partners some more. 

If to be embarking in a married life is something so huge, then what about having a baby (or babies....) and raising one or two or three bouncing happy feet after marriage?! Some people develop motherly instincts while being around their sisters', or cousins' or friends' kids (yet of course, it is not the same as caring for your own), some take a longer time to adapt to having a baby and being a mother while some - don't really develop motherly instincts at all. 

To quote the last sentence of the most recent paragraph, there was a blog post I encountered about a lady, blessed with two children; struggling with motherhood. After 3 years of embarking into this journey, she still doesn't feel love for her children. She has given herself time, but now she's opt to meeting a psychiatrist to get help diagnosing her problems, if they are any in the hope to fix it. And, whatever she does now is for the sake of responsibility. 

I respect her for opening her heart out and really show the reality of becoming a mother and how she felt about it. For being open enough to seek for help and for understanding how important it is to get help when we know something is just not right. So moms to be, when we feel that something isn't right, speak about it with your husband, family & friends. Ask for perspectives and of course, pray for the ease of everything & wellness, a lot. 

Because to be honest, although it may look like a great achievement to be bearing a child or two at quite a young age, can we actually ensure that we will enjoy motherhood forever? (Because once you become a mother, you are a mother forever). 

I believe we can but before being able to, first and foremost we need to understand the reality of becoming a mother. So, what does it mean to become a mother? 

Pros:

1. You will have a legacy. 
2. You have life achievement unlocked! 
3. You will have someone to pray for you when you are 6 feet under. 
4. You will be their inspiration & hero. 
5. You will be cured by their joy.
6. Yada yada yada and all the happiness a mom would usually feel. 

Cons:

1. You are a mother cum maid.
2. You are deprived of sleep. 
3. You need more time to adapt to motherhood but baby is crying now. 
4. You have less time to do everything from shower to brushing your teeth to cook to sleep to work on your career and projects. 
5. You worry constantly if you've done your best today, or if you have taught your children correctly or if you have made them understood why you scolded them earlier.
6. You have no idea what to feed them after all the meals you prepared were disapproved by them.
7. You worry if they hated you for scolding them and telling them they can't do this or can't have that. 
8. You are not sure why they never stop crying and you regret every shout to them to be quiet. 
9. And you start wishing that you have a day off from being a mother. 
10. Yada yada yada and all the struggles you see your sister, or friends or cousins who enter motherhood earlier than you, go through. 

In reality, becoming a mother is exciting, rewarding and joyful but at the same time - nerve-wrecking, mentally & physically draining and emotionally an El Toro roller-coaster. Am I right or am I right, mothers?

That is why although we are happy about bearing a life in our belly, all the congratulatory messages that we receive, and all the happy things we think about doing with our children soon - we must also be realistic and understand that becoming a parent comes with a price. And that, we can reduce the mental, physical & emotional price by being prepared of what's to come.

How to be prepared? Read more articles about pregnancy & parenthood, share and ask questions to the other parents about their experiences and the solutions that work for them which we can try. 

"Because, the more realistic we are about it, the easier it is for us to get through difficult things (inshaAllah)."

And remember, this journey is not only for you to embrace alone. It is for the both of you as partners. So, try to include your spouse in every fact, every new finding, every exciting thing as to make this a two-way journey, in fact a three-way journey once your baby grows.

Next update will be on list of things to prepare before embarking into parenthood inshaAllah.

Stay lovely!

Mus <3

Disclaimer: I am not in any way an expert in this matter. Still researching and learning. Hope we can learn together. Do leave some comments to add in more or to correct where I could have erred. Thank you! 

The Art of Being an Artist

BCL. 

Have always adored you and will continue to. Thank you for the inspirations and honest expressions that moves. 

Love you,

Mus

This is for You, Dear Baby ❤️

Josiah Launstein, Award Winning Wildlife Photographer.

When we were young, we write in the biodata books' ambition section - Journalist, Lawyer, Fashion Designer, Accountant, Architect, Engineer or a Businessman and etc. 

I don't remember what mine used to be in primary school but agriculturist was what I wrote in my blog during my high school years. 

Towards entering adulthood I never had a specific ambition anymore. 

It was undefinable to me. 

All I knew was I wanted to be: first; influential, second; inspirational and third; motivating. That's all I knew. So to me, it doesn't matter what I become as long as I have these traits with me. 

And so, that's why when people suggested that I find a job - I find it really hard to begin with. Like, what kind of job should I do? Where should I work? What do I do? How? What then will I become?

And until now, I am still finding a platform where I can be all the adjectives that I have written above. 

Any idea what career I can look into to become a person with those traits? And what's your ambition, are you living your ambition now? Share wimme your story and your thoughts! 

And to our Dear Baby, be who you want to be as long as you know where you stand in front of your Creator.

Be adventurous, be passionate, be loving and kind, be curious and a risk taker, be analytical & be well travelled. 

And when you grow, you'll understand why Mummy doesn't ask you to become an adventurer but be adventurous instead. Don't ask you to become a traveller but be well travelled instead. 

Go wild and explore life, create who you really want yourself to be. Don't let the world intimidate you.  

And remember, whatever you do, know where you stand in front of your Creator & most of all, be Happy. 

Love,

Mummy & Daddy <3

A Lost Cause

Cesme, 2015. The beach where the Syrian baby was washed ashore.
(Semoga dia berjumpa dengan keluarganya di syurga bersama mangsa-mangsa perang yang lain. Amin)

Nobody tells you that life after studies is gonna be challenging. You may get a warn or two by some but until you really experience it yourself, no matter what people tell you, you can never fully comprehend it.

As with me, this year was a total struggle. Never in my life have I gone through something so serious that I thought really needed a fix asap. But to my surprise, it totally went the opposite. 

It needed a time-off. 

Time does heal pain. But human nature, we always want things - pronto, por favor! We are always in a rush of the unknown and when we cannot surpass it - we start blaming ourselves, or the surrounding or whoever, whatever we can put the blame on. 

-

After studies I was so eager to be in the active loop again and just start to do everything altogether at one time! And ultimately, I didn't want to have a fixed job. Because to me, I would not really have the time to proceed with the project ideas I have in mind. So, anything would do but just not a fixed job. 

But, unfortunately.

My organic farming, my Public Mutual & AIA Takaful, my organic chicken and my book project all went down the drain. Nothing worked. So I broke down and I cried a thousand times but kept the prayer strong. 

I shut myself off from people, surrounding and anything that I don't feel like dealing with. I was sad & broken.

Yet, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. And the shut down was actually a blessing in disguise. So we could listen to ourselves more, detect the wrongs and improve them, we have more time to explore and learn rather than being too greedy of the unknown.

Be patient and continue working on it. One day, you will learn why things went the way it did. 

But, if you are just a lost cause like how I was (or maybe still am), try listening to Brendon - he's a professional motivator and hopefully you will get some of his spirit and insights to motivate you with your plans.

A summary of what you can do when you feel lost:

1. Call and meet a friend to get some perspectives.
2. Go volunteer and be around people who does good and have a cause.
3. Read a good book.
4. Get momentum by achieving small daily goals like taking a shower! Hmm 🤔😆😆😆

& don't fret, this is life. From time to time, life will stop and drag you down only to lift you up higher.

So, keep your chin up and keep on swimming~~~

Love,

Mus

A Bun in the Oven ❤️

Home for now, 12th December 2016.

Allahumma solli ‘ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala Ali sayyidina Muhammad. 

Salam Maulidurrasul, 12 Rabiulawal 1438H.

I'm not sure how to do this –

A part of me is wanting to make it private and just surprise everyone once the baby comes out inshaAllah. But another bigger part of me is wanting to share and exchange (with other mothers) about the ups and downs of being an expecting mother, pregnancy diet tips, pregnancy yoga & last but not least, maternity style yay! 😄

Usually, when a person isn’t married yet, people ask “Bila nak kahwin?”, when a person is married but haven’t been blessed with a baby yet, people ask “Bila nak dapat anak?”, when a person is married and have been blessed with a son, people ask “Bila nak dapat anak perempuan pulak?” (& vice versa), and when a person has been blessed with a pair of son and daughter, people ask “Bila nak tambah anak lagi?”

Hahahahaha.

I guess, we all can relate to these nerve-wrecking questions to a conversation (or our people say, soalan cepumas) which following our moods – sometimes we can take it openly and sometimes we just feel like punching them in their face for being nosy. My husband and I have been asked “Bila nak dapat anak?” a lot of times too. Most of the times, we take it openly because after marriage we always pray to Allah that “You will give when the time is right and You know best”. With that, we enjoy our single lives together doing the things that we know once we have a baby, we might have to put extra effort into doing or finishing it.

We’ve been married for 2 years and only now God decides to bless us with a child and we believe that it means, we are ready now following our prayers to Him, inshaAllah. So, don’t worry if you’ve been married for a year, 3 years, 5 or more but haven’t been blessed with one. Keep on praying and believing in His blessings. Just like how Nabi Zakaria did – he never gave up in praying to Allah for a child and finally (even when he’s old and his wife infertile), Allah blessed him with Nabi Yahya (Surah Maryam, Ayat 1-10).

In the meantime, keep enjoying your single life with your spouse. Explore something new like going dirty dancing together (tango, waltz or fusion dance whatever you prefer to keep the heat going 😜), caving or diving, start a healthy lifestyle with clean eating together, attend religious talks and become an avid volunteer to a cause that you really care for. For example, becoming a weekend teacher to the Rohingyan or Syrian kids, or just spend sometime with them talking about their dreams and ambitions.

And also, don’t worry! When you are asked these soalan cepumas, try to take it lightly and say “Pray for me” (because most of the times, people just want to break the ice but don’t know where to start) or giggle while putting your hand over your mouth, or if that time you are feeling annoyed but can’t punch them in the face (obvsly!), you just muster your courage to fake a smile and walk away. 😆

And if there are married women out there who really want to get pregnant but haven’t been blessed so yet, or anyone really wanting something but it just doesn’t come your way yet, try practicing this doa (after every solat fardhu) which after sometime of practicing this prayer – soothed me a lot when I was confused with my career path.

"Ya Allah! Berikanlah aku keredhaan atas penentuanMu dan berkatilah aku pada apa yang telah ditentukan (diqadarkan), hingga tidaklah aku ingin mendahulukan apa yang Engkau lewatkan dan tidak pula melewatkan apa yang telah Engkau dahulukan. Amin."

To expecting parents out there, may He ease it all and that we make it through the journey inshaAllah amin. Next update on pregnancy would be on how we found out that we are pregnant!

Till then. Love yous,

Mus

Raining

It’s raining and my favourite thing to do while raining is to write. I’ve not written for so so long. Tho I miss it, I can’t quite find myself finishing even a post when I try to. And I figured I write when I’m enthusiastic, when I’m on a project, when I’m on top of the world. But, when I’m feeling normal I can’t usually write. I’ve been feeling normal for a very very very long time now and it’s totally not something that I am proud of but it has made my heart sooth from all the yearns of my surrounding. And I’m glad.

Things that motivate me are my reasons to write. I know how my life has been all about setting goals and achieving them. But this time, its been a bit slow in that. I’ve been going on with the flow which wasn’t me at all. Still it’s good. To explore and create different sides of character which I never knew existed in me. I learned to listen which I never really did before this, I learned to analyse which I never knew its importance before this, I learned to improve which I thought I had it all before this.

17th July 2016

The Swirling Mus, July 2015. 

My husband sang the birthday song so softly to me at 00:00 only to be saying “I know how it felt, turning 25” at 11:30pm on the same day. “My moments of truth were turning 16, maybe turning 18 when we left high school, absolutely turning 20 when we left the teenagers and 25 when we really entered adulthood”, added him.

Contradictory to me, my moments of truth were only turning 20 yes when we left teenagers and turning 25 – absolutely – when we really entered adulthood. Wow, welcome to adulthood Mus. I’m a proper adult now and I don’t wish to meddle in petty things. Ceh hahahahahahaha. So let’s keep ’em at bay, please. And if I ever become petty myself, lemme know that softly and firmly, so I can continue being an adult again.

Thank God for bringing me this far, Alhamdulillah. I wouldn’t wish for anything more, for now this is abundant x infinity. I had so much fun growing up especially with my girls and family (you don’t need to know me close enough to notice that I am more a friend-oriented person than family from my pictures uploaded). But on the day I turned 25th, the occasion was different for me. I spent my whole day in the being of family, yes the whole 24 hours. Felt odd but it was true and very encouraging for my strive to become more family-oriented. Somehow, this has sparked out gently from the day I wished I was more balanced or at least have a division of 60% family and 40% friend oriented.

From time to time I have also managed to cut loose irrelevant people in my life which was a struggle for me as I was really a people person. But time, does does magic. You should do this too, remove toxic and parasites from your life. This makes your life more worthwhile and you can start focusing on your self-development rather than wasting your time, energy and money on unimportant things. The best is, you will feel more alive and present. Like how the yogi usually said it,

Be grateful, mindful and you’ll be more present.

Yes, I understand it is always hard to move on from someone who you have had some collisions with especially when you keep it inside and never confess. I love confessions so much that I don’t usually get them. You know the life equation which when you love something you don’t really get them but for the people who hates being confronted or confessed at always gets one or two. Please gimme more guys, always intrigue me to know where I’ve wronged and how I can improve. But sadly, I don’t really get them. Some from my friends, but very few. Absolutely from family – that’s what family does righttttt? And sarcastically too. Hahahahaha. No doubt from my husband who last time wasn’t like this but I nurtured him to be one until it gets quite uncontrollable. Hahaha. But I take it that he covers the parts where my friends do not.

If done right, confessions are really healthy for any relationships. Provided that you say it softly and regretfully too. Make sure to remove all egos first before starting one because what you really feel inside can really be felt by the people around you. You’ve heard of vibes? Yeap, that’s the one. If you are confessing just because you want people to think that you are a good person, it will feel fake. So, get your intentions right and inshaAllah it will all be smooth sailing.

To be honest, I don’t really have a particular topic to bring about in this piece. Maybe just to mark my 25th year of living and to let all of you know that I am writing a travelogue of our backpacking experience which I hope to publish the book soon. Well, we’ll see how it goes, shall we. InshaAllah <3

Thanks a lot, you’ve all been an amazing support system.

I love you. Mwahs

Writing

Last time I wrote to express my feelings, to tell the ones I love – I love them. I always find joy in writing which I suppose comes from my dad. So thanks Abah!

But now, I write to track how my writings have changed over the years, how my thoughts and perspectives have developed and especially how can I improve, how can I convey my messages shorter and to the point. Have my use of vocabulary expanded and if yes in what ways.

Ultimately, I am looking to earn and travel with my writings too. He wills, amen.

So many dreams to be achieved and although I’d like to think I do have the time to lavish, the reality is I have to push while I am still able and young. So this means, I’ve got only so little time!

But whatever it is, let’s keep going. Even if we go slowly it doesn’t matter as long as we make progress.

For, be not afraid of going slowly, but be afraid of standing still.

First Airbnb Hosting Experience

Elena from Spain, Matias from Argentina, Najmy, Yours Truly & Sergio from Mexico. June, 2016.

We wanted to open the house for CouchSurfing but we knew we gotta leverage ourselves too, so Airbnb it is.

Our first experience was quite unique. We were approached by a local called Zack who lives in KL. He opens his space for CouchSurfing but cannot host surfers in his house for it is currently under renovation. Thus, when surfers request his couches – he takes the surfers in and books an Airbnb to host his guests at.

What a very kind act I thought. The travellers would be forever grateful for such kindness. Coz, you know why. You travel a lot too don’t you?

So, basically Zack was the one who guided them and brought them around. But on the last night, we heard Matias playing ukulele and were interested to listen to him live. So we joined them and we all spoke about ourselves, our life aims, our travels and experiences. It was very refreshing for us since the last time we really travelled and exchanged stories with other travellers was half a year ago.

Elena and Matias studied in Germany and that’s where they met. They’ve been travelling for 2 months and their last stop before going back to Matias’s hometown in Argentina is the Olympics in Rio. While Sergio has been travelling for 2 years! He’s a web designer and a photographer who sells his pictures online – that’s how he finances his travel. You can check out his project here The Arcae Project and show some support!

It also felt good to finally host! All these while we’ve always been surfing only. So yeah

Listening to others peoples’ aims make us want to work harder to live our dream lives too. InshaAllah.

Goals Oriented

Loch Lomond, Scotland 2014.

I love jotting down my goals and dreams. There were quite a number that I already checked. Among them are – studying in the UK, start a baking & organic farming business, sell good (read Halalan Thoyyiban) foods, establish my own philanthropic community, get married at 22 and backpack around Europe with my soulmate just to name a few. Alhamdulillah.

So for now I’d like to jot down a few more which I will divide into two different routes. One – if I pursue my career which are business, writing & financial consultation (maybe other things too along the way as trying out new things is my forte). Two – if I pursue my Masters education in MBA. Actually, I would love to do performing arts. But hubs suggested that performing arts can be learned in an arts academy not in the Uni. So, MBA it is and performing arts can come in weekend theatrical classes. InshaAllah.

Now, let’s go through ’em.

Career-focused path: 

1. I involved myself in organic farming in 2012. Now, I took it to another level by supplying organic chickens to anyone who aim to make positive impacts in their lives and the world. More people are shifting to organic foods now and in a matter of time, organic business will be the next big thing in Malaysia. With that, it will all be worth it soon. 
2. I have 7 products in line to be produced under my organic company but – let’s concrete one by one. 
3. In 5 years time (if we can shoot for lesser then alhamdulillah), we look into opening our own organic shops and bars (no alcoholic drinks involved – bar just sounds cool). 
4. Franchising our organic chicken farm system (10 years and counting of experience) to other places and communities to strengthen local economy, promote job opportunities, increase awareness and health to anyone involved. 
5. Best consumer experience international company. World’s leading organic company. InshaAllah. 
6. When we have so much control over the country’s economics, we get to facilitate positively in the country’s economic decisions. Amen. 
7. Empowering poverty affected communities to become self-sustainable with our strategic farming systems. 
8. Travel to all parts of the world getting our business and philanthropic affairs done. 

I have a few more but I’m keeping them in. Let’s now move on to the academic route.

Life is a lifelong learning.

1. Last time I wanted to do PhD – become a food scientist and change the world of agriculture and food production from a hierarchical point of view. Like, if I really want to end world poverty I gotta be a very influential person – a person with authority right? I can’t end world poverty with the small scale humanitarian projects like I used to do anymore. But, things didn’t work out as we’ve planned. Yet, it doesn’t mean it stops there because if we keep on paving the pavement of our own dream life, then He is always here as our biggest supporter. 
2. Do Masters in MBA at a university in Cornwall – as I’ve said before – any place in the UK where the sun shines brighter than my scarves, would do. But, let’s stick to Cornwall. Studying in the US is tempting too. But I don’t wanna repeat the same thing I did when I was doing my degree. Most of my times were spent travelling, discovering and trying out new things rather than excelling in my studies. Really, if its a US, I’ll be surfing my way to Hawaii or hiking my way up the Canyons in Utah. I’ll stick to the place where I’ve gotten the hang of it so when I’m there to study – I’ll really study. I’m gonna make the valedictorian (that’s very American of me) and someone with the biggest positive impact in the Uni affecting other states as well. Amen. 
3. Increase my analytical skills. Of course, even if I didn’t further my studies anyways, I’m improving this. 
4. Find a masters course with a contemporary touch to it (I’m done with the conservative ways of learning) with a two year sandwich program. I know this is quite unlikely. But hey, we never know! 
5. Do internship with Innocent and continue to work with them for 2 years more. Raising three kids with my handsome husband who manages the business. 
6. I’m looking to further my studies after I’ve concreted my organic business and can entrust it to someone who can actually run it without me being physically there. And this means, I gotta strategise my system soon enough too. 
7. We’ll bring our three kids along to experience our childhood dreams – the whole of Africa for 6 months. Live, walk, dress like one of them and especially put a very heavy thing on our heads like a pro too! Hike its mountains, surf its waves and enjoy its animal inhabitants. 
8. Make another 6 months trip to the USA and Latin America before coming back to Malaysia via a caravan from the UK. So, about 4 years overseas again. 

And now, I’ll have to think about financing all of these. Hahahaha. I might mix these routes too but whatever it is, I’m glad it is relieved from my system and if I go haywire, the writings are here as my manual.

I’m surprised to know that ending world poverty is still my dreams after all these years. I’ve only realised this after I’ve written this too.

Well, if its meant to be, it will. No rush, no judgements, no punishments.

Life is always a box of chocolates.

Changes

Confidence is not – I will be fine when they like me.

Confidence is – I will be fine if they don’t.

I like the changes I’m implementing in myself right now.

Nothing in life stays constant. The only constant thing in life is change. And, to be able to rhythm with life’s rule – is where I wanna be.

Alhamdulillah.

Confessions

I have a few confessions to make. The ultimate one being – let me do the hell that I wanna do. There are really people out there who say they care for you, are concern about your well being or your career but they seem to be acting in the wrong direction. While I – I have a different idea about how being caring and really concerned about someone’s future or wellbeing should be like.

When I was in the UK with my husband – we were free. We were so free and that was the reason why we didn’t wanna come back to the same crowd too. But either God has a better plan for us or we didn’t work hard enough to be able to migrate to the UK (yes, we don’t appreciate people alienating us as non-locals). But, to be back in the circle where people ‘care’ so much about you until it can actually damage you, doesn’t sound like a good place to be in too.

Take migrating to Spain. There, nobody knew who you were, nobody realises who you are and nobody cares who you will be. When you are back at your old circle – people knew who you were and although you’ve travelled half the world and had tremendously changed in the way you think and of your perspective about life, they still treat you like how they did in the past. I appreciate its only normal when I am the one who’s changed but I suffer its suffocation now. Yes, until I get the hang of it and master the art of – listen, smile, agree and then do whatever the fuck I was gonna do anyway.

To be honest, this was who I have been all my life. Yeah, I listen and I smile and I seem to agree but I do whatever the fuck I want. But for 3 whole years in a foreign land, I didn’t have to oblige to anyone at all and instead of listening, smiling and agreeing – I do whatever the fuck I wanted straight away. But, coming back – I gotta get used to listening, smiling and seeming to agree again. Not that I wanted to fake it but to be rude or standing up for something that you don’t understand is pointless and energy sucking.

So I’ll do whatever the fuck I want in a very mild and professional way like I always do.

Gimme a break.

Do realise that I am big enough to do my decisions. I decide and do them just like how I always did. Just because I decided not to work as a lecturer although I am regarded as someone who has the teacher ‘face’ and the attitude, or work as a researcher at MARDI or UPM, or apply to work at Sime Darby or Halal Hub for that matter or do whatever the fuck you think I should be doing doesn’t mean I am not accomplishing life.

Accomplishing life is exactly what I am doing – in my own way.

I am doing whatever the fuck that I want.

So don’t meddle with why I don’t have any kids yet Allah knows when is the best time or why do I waste my international degree and do something that doesn’t relate to my study course or why am I wasting my time doing nothing.

It’s for me to decide and for you to shut up – although you won’t.

It’s funny how, last time I never feared, I never doubted, I never cared what people think about me or what I do or what I wore for that matter. I colour-blocked and wore lots of prints, people thought I was crazy but now both become the trend. I did whatever the fuck I wanted. Yes I was radical, I was hardcore. But whatever I went through in life gave me wisdom and it balanced my radicalness and made me a more – considerate person. Which is awesome!

Only I’ll have to practice consideration at a place that could benefit from it not at the place which could destroy it.

This is me growing up.

And the fucks and bullshits – don’t tell me you’ve never used them.

And – if you are really concern about your brother’s wellbeing, your daughter’s future or your friend’s decision – you should start believing in us and praying for all the good things to happen.

Leave us be, let us explore, let us have the time to figure things out and when we do, be prepared to be starstruck. Because you never knew what we are secretly working on.

But only if you stay outta the way and change your so-called concerned to really believing in the person and praying for the good things to happen.

Inspire people, inspire. Don’t judge.

Because this is what being concern and caring really about – to me. And I think, it’s a very encouraging one too. So why not you adopt this kind of caring?

What Would You Rather Be?

Light at the End of the Tunnel, Sg. Pisang, April 2016. 

I came across a question;

“What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?”

I felt its great for me to express it here so I can move on. But to me, I’d like to tweak the question to – ‘what would you rather be if sin was not part of life equation?’

Then I would be a pole dancer. Yes. Really.

Yes. Really.

Yes. Really.

Not for the attention I’ll get but for the freedom of expressions I earn with wild & dirty dancing. And dancing, will always be the career I could never pursue.

I remember when I was 9, my father registered me for a swimming class. Every time he dropped me at the club, I would see younger girls attending ballet classes. Wearing those fluffy pink dresses, bringing bouquet of flowers in a cute little basket. Tiptoeing their ways into the class, with an attitude – all chests and chins up.

I loved that! And until today, I still do.

I told my dad I wanted to do ballet instead of swimming. But he detested. Maybe having had the feeling that I would pursue it as my career and not just as a children-weekend-self-development kinda thing. And I guessed it was for the better, for I could have really been a dancer if he had really allowed me into the class then. And I didn’t mean that disrespectfully. But, maybe. Just, maybe. A girl who comes from a strong Islamic family-background would be loathed for pursuing something that is seen as, sinful?

Yet as I grew, I developed my kind of thinking that questions ‘Who are we to say what is right and what is wrong, that’s not our job to do’. I know its not mine but if you think its yours, then by all means.

I was enrolled into a piano class and I hated the teacher too. No, I didn’t hate her. I just couldn’t care less what she thought about me. She called me ‘stupid dam dam’ (I suppose that was dumb) for not following her instructions. My sister was a favourite one for she followed instructions, understood English and played gracefully. I told my dad I wanted to drum instead but it was a done deal. Swimming meant swimming, so was piano.

But, although those weren’t what I wanted I am still grateful that at least, at least I have some skills that I could show off to my friends when we hung out hahahahahaha. Yet, I can’t help but think that it could have worked wonders if parents could listen to their children’s passion and support the children’s choice. But of course, I understood the strive we all face to follow the faith/avoid any harm too.

Even then, those classes help me have a bigger view about life. Maybe not then when I was stupid dam dam but totally now when I can make more sense of life. So that’s okay Dad. Everything happened for a reason and its for the best reasons of all :)

And, what was done was done. We’d still dance to our favourite songs with ’em girls and some spontaneous public ones too!

And oh yes, some outta the topic thoughts;

For the married couples – its always great to share hobbies together. That helps us bond better and we’ll forever be each other’s best friends when we do what we love together! For example, my sugar loves The Walking Dead. Initially, I despised it because the zombies look stupid to me and not frightening at all and ultimately, because the series are tooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwww. Period. But then, I learned to like it and it made wonders. We could then tease the series and make inside jokes together. Imagine if I knew nothing about the series, how could we have come up with inside jokes then? Hahahahaha.

And because I love the recent Peanuts movie so much – he then joined me for the OST dance along tutorial and it made everything so much funner!

Don't Stop Creating

The Six Rockstars, Sg. Pisang Waterfall, April 2016. 

The Notebook

I would say, I have always been a maker for all I’ve remembered. I love notebooks, which girl doesn’t? But at 12, instead of buying the same ol boring factory produced ones, I tailor-made notebooks using card boards as the covers, wrapped with cut-out magazine ads of Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes or Louis Vuitton. Fill them with green A4 papers (because we had tons of them at home from my mom’s Early Learning Centre – a Montessori kinder-garden she run!) folded into two making it an A5 size. Punched two holes at the sides and tied them intact with hot-pink ribbons. I’d gave them away to my closest friends with a personalised love notes on the first page.

At 17, I volunteered for Global Peace Mission and raised funds for the Palestinians by selling these notebooks and celebration cards which was also DIY-ed.

Tim Burton Wannabe

At 14, influenced most by Utopia, Gempakstarz and manga, I started to imagine and make-up stories for a dialogue-based short story on my own and sold them to my tuition mates. Yes, it was only dialogue based as I am not a gifted artist to draw. Although I asked my mom to register me for a drawing class, it went to waste as I couldn’t settle with the teacher. As much as I wanted to be this kid who could just persevere even if I couldn’t settle with the surrounding people, I just couldn’t. Being a total people-person, I am very particular of a person’s personality and if I couldn’t feel how that person’s personality is benefiting me (or how I could benefit them for that matter), I would usually just leave.

I have this, “it should be like this” habit which is annoying I know and I apologise to my family and close friends for having to bear this annoyance. But with having to narrate a story on my own, I was able to create a story just ‘like how it should be’ and I loved every bit of this job!

Asian Mary Berry

Hah, not even close! But, I love the fact how passion really drives people and at 81 this legendary baker is still giving an impact to the world of baking and cooking! I loved baking (note the use of ‘d’ – because to be honest, I really don’t know now).

I started baking since I was 11 inspired by the children playbook I found in my dad’s library. My family was undergoing a horrible financial crisis that time but when I told my mom I wanted to bake the lemon cookies with orange icing, she brought me the ingredients nonetheless. Hey, I was too young to be able to understand my parents’ struggles that time. But it was true for whatever good you invested in, it becomes an asset. So I continued baking, mostly making cookies but at one point in life I thought about how great it would be if other people could also taste my bakes.

At 20, I started my own baking business which I named Magnifique Bonbons. It was also an initiative to raise funds for the Cambodia Humanitarian Mission I directed under my college. I would say that it was a success for me. Although looking back at it, I realised how very little I knew about baking but my guts were bigger than my fear. So I proceeded and learned a long the way.

The not-so Gisele Bundchen

I partnered up with my friend who had a clothing line business and became her model. We agreed for every piece of bakes I sold, the buyer gets a 5% off her clothes which was donated into my Supercake for the Cambodians fundraising project.

Business-Class Couple

When I continued my studies in the UK, I had a major identity crisis which I didn’t even know I had – I stopped doing most of the things that I used to do back in Malaysia (not because I wanted to but because I was a little bit culturally shock). So I searched for comforts in new things especially travelling. I could have gone to Egypt alone for internship when the Morsi riot was ongoing. Which my uncle would have been proud of, if I fell as a martyr there. And I could have succeeded my childhood dream of seeing what Africa is really like. But, ‘thanks’ to my husband – my boyfriend then for brainwashing me to believe that I did not have to go to such places alone (he promised we’d go there together one day. So yes, we’re working on that).

While I was having a break from my entrepreneurial ventures, my husband was not. He was forever persuading me that I could sell my Nasi Lemak (because he knew I wouldn’t wanna bake anymore). Oh my god I tell you, he’s an amazing persuader. Don’t know how he does it. It’s not at all desperate. It’s a sharp convincing message in all the calmness.

And so we did sell Nasi Lemak during the Sidney Grove backyard sale, and how the Brits loved the sweet chicken rendang! We even knocked door-to-door and offered our Pakistan neighbour Nasi Lemak with sweet chicken rendang for free.

“It’s a Malaysian spice,” said us.

“It’s okay, we have our own spices,” replied the mam. And when she shut her door, we both instantly looked at each other puzzled, and burst out laughing. Hahahahahahahaha! Couldn’t help that, sorry!

Then, my husband did it again during Ramadan last year when he convinced me we could sell Roti Johns. I despised the idea because cooking is god, tiring. I didn’t wanna do it. But, determined into bringing out and nurturing my entrepreneurial self again, he added “Imagine how great it is to give people amazing food to eat, we could distribute them to the homeless in town and we could get all creative about it too!”. Aaaaaaaaaaah, and we supplied about a hundred Roti Johns during Ramadan.

The Next Steve, Richard & Elon

Now fired to change the world just like how these three entrepreneurs did it, we are hoping to get entrepreneurial again. But, don’t wanna say anything about it not wanting to jinx it! Researching and developing sure take time. We’ll see how it turns out. And one thing for sho, thank God I never really got tired of writing! Alhamdulillah…

Everyday, there are many futures fighting for your attention. But, it’s the one you pay most attention to that happens.

So, what’s your entrepreneurial story?

Fresh Graduates vs. Retirees

Newcastle University, Class of 2015, June 2015.

As my friends and I (the fresh graduates) are finding the perfect jobs for ourselves, so do our parents who recently retired. And I found a few similarities between us,

Which we: 

1. Think a lot about what to do in order to continue sustaining our lives. 
2. Jump into one profession to the other in search of a job that fits our soul. 
3. Have time to think about so many things and developing ideas but to execute them is another story. 
4. Talk a lot about doing business but mostly do not have the experience in handling a business. Because the retirees are from govt/private/NGO sectors and the graduates are from universities learning theoretical knowledge. 
5. Staying at home doing house chores and running household errands while regretting a few things that we could have made right – like; 

• increasing our savings while we earn and get allowances for future use. 
• investing in our self worth by doing the things that we enjoy so we progressively improve and be a master in a few things. (To do the things that we love, we need to pay for it, so that’s what I mean by investing in self-improvement). 
• buy quality things such as a Chanel handbag, Calvin Klein jeans, Dolce & Gabbana dresses, Cuisinart kitchen essentials – basically all things that last a lifetime – while we earn. This, I regret a lot! Cry cry cry! 
• make lots of friends and maintain the network as I tell you, networking is too important. Because life is a business itself, everybody has something to sell and everyone buys from someone else. Means everyone has something to offer which you might need later. So, maintain your networking! 
• listening to lots of other opinions and feeling limited to limiting opinions (everyone has something to say and honestly, opinions is one of the cheapest thing that people can give). And at the end of the day, its not people who will pursue our dreams, its ourselves. 
• use all the KWSP/EPF money for house renovation, travel the world, start a business that we have no experience in without a successful mentor guiding, buy a new car or throw a lavish wedding party for the children. And three years after that, more than half of the EPF money has been used and only some is left is to be used for the next 10-20 years. So please leave half of your retirement fund capital in the investment portfolio, let it continue growing for you and take only the dividend before you’ll regret it later. 
• not diversifying our wealth by investing in stock market, unit trusts, promising business or property. Have no insurance for medical coverage that when we fall sick, we need to use our savings to finance our medication instead of benefiting from the insurance’s company coverage. 
• not managing our wealth well – we have lands and properties. But we don’t manage it to become our income but instead, the assets become a liability to us. So, manage your assets well that you can earn from them soon after you bought them. 
• not starting to work on our dreams soon enough that when we realise it, we feel that its too late. 

Two things that I can say are,

Prepare monetarily for your future

And,

Give up on the things (and people) that don’t serve you anymore to give space for what does

Nothing is ever too late. May Allah grant us the best path for our own unique life story. Amen.

Graduating Field vs. Real Life Career

Public Mutual Berhad, Damansara Perdana, January 2016. 

I am an agriculture graduate. I majored in Animal Production Science and my final year dissertation was focused on Halal Meat Quality. Our initial plan was for me to continue my studies at Masters level either in the UK or more preferably, US at Cornell University. Where they had a Halal Initiative Department looking into substituting the use of ruminant gelatin in Halal foods with fish gelatin. And also, because I found a warm prospect supervisor named Joe Regenstein if ever I further my career doing PhD in Food Science. Joe was generous enough to give uplifting comments about my dissertation and directed me to another professor in Iowa University whose current project was on Halal meat quality then.

But, being biased into enrolling Cornell University I didn’t mind researching into something that Joe’s department was looking into because I’ve heard that most of the times, your supervisor plays a very big role in the success of your research. Though I am unaware until what extend this is true but it is possible. Regardless of that, my scholarship applications were not successful. I was shortlisted for Chevening Awards for Northumbria and/or Glasgow Caledonian though. But, Chevening’s email came in after I have touched down in Malaysia and that time, our priorities have changed. No more looking into furthering studies but building a base for our family.

So, a week after touchdown I went to Langkawi to see my father’s organic project he started in early August, 2015. It is a partnership between him and another friend. The project was looking good growing corns, legumes and soon leafy vegetables. But, after some careful considerations between my husband and I, we decided we couldn’t join the project yet. Because as for me, I was impatient to wait for the revenue and to farm under the scorching hot sun. Yes, honestly. So it was confirmed that when I was ideally taking agriculture as my academic path to end world poverty, I wasn’t thinking of growing the crops myself. But just managing it or owning a company who directs such deeds.

Not long after, I knew I had to decide what to do asap. Time is money and both weren’t waiting for me. Everyday I thought about what to do, I could be a motivator – I love uplifting people’s spirits and make them believe in themselves like never before. I could be an author – for my love for fantasy tales. I could be a proofreader – but that was not good enough for me according to my husband. I could be a model, starting just by posting pictures at my IG and soon talent seekers will notice me – but my husband has a different idea about modelling. I could be an actor, hahahaha. That was funny. But honestly I have always thought being an actress is cool. Because you get to explore the sides of yourself you never will if you weren’t being asked to act different characters. You get to try new things ultimately adventurous things. You get to travel the world and be as influential as Jolie. And surprisingly, my husband nodded to that. Adding,

“Yeah, why not. And make yourself eligible to be in quality movies like late Yasmin Ahmad’s and Ola Bola. Not just random Suami Aku Ustaz drama and the likes. Hahahahaha,” so we both laughed.

“Of course, if I ever became an actress, I would go for the internationals. Just like Yuna penetrating the US music industry not long after she became a singer. She’s absolutely inspirational,” added I.

“Yes, and soon we will build our own production house and start a theatre just like how we always wanted,” added my husband and we both smiled.

Both my husband and I like to think that we are artists. Only that he really is a musician but I am either a ballerina or a theatre actor in my dreams. I used to be the main actor in sketches at school; direct, narrate, script write and manage a theatre in college. But that was it, no further. I could have pursued it professionally but I didn’t – thinking that being in music and film industry might make myself contradictory to my beliefs. So, I kept that interest and moved on.

Then, I was offered a lecturing job. Only for three months to replace my ex-lecturer who will be on maternity leave. It was a great offer, thinking that from replacing my ex-lecturer I could start building my career in academic line once again. Great, great opportunity. But, I ended up not taking the job because I knew I didn’t want to be tied up to the place I used to have so many commitments at. I could be a freelance motivational speaker to the students, I like the idea but to be there for a few months, I contemplated on that. Yes its only three months, but then my decision has been made as I strongly wanted to go somewhere new, explore something edgy.

Ultimately, I want a job where if I work really hard, I can earn more.

“I could be a financial consultant like my mother!” So it hit me. “Yes yes!” She has time for the children and for herself. She invites people to save money to secure their future and help people live a comfortable life. She manages people’s wealth, help grow them and then distributes them. And after sometime, she already has passive income. “Actually very ideal for me. Besides, I love people and helping where I could. Even though I can’t yet end world poverty (yes very idealistic) food wise, I can help people stay away from poverty by helping them manage their financial matters. In time, I’ll be freaking wealthy and I can really start contributing to end world poverty food wise”.

Freaking wealthy, yeap.

So here I am, as a unit trust consultant, taking takaful license soon as lots of my clients ask if I offer takaful too and sooner will be covering wasiat writing. As believe it or not, some really ridiculously wealthy people really forgot to prepare wasiat before they head to the heavens. Leaving their wealth not benefiting their family nor the community (sedekah/amal jariah), and managing the unreleased wealth involved service charges by the trustees. So be wise and have your wasiat written ok. God wills, taking Islamic Financial Planner (IFP) license to take this profession at a more professional level.

At the end of the day, the field you graduated in might not be your real life career because as you grow; your goals are modified, your priorities are changed along the way, you adapt to the changes of the technology and you embrace the fast-paced moving world. That you realised pursuing something the way you used to picture it to be executed might have to be tweaked here and there in order to for you sustain your life, yourself and your family.

And it don’t matter too.

Because if you don’t know it, you can always learn. As life, is a life-long learning process.

Learning never ends.