#TGIF The red string theory

I always think about how we know two souls are already tied since the beginning of time, only waiting for the right time to meet. The red string theory said something similar -- where lovers are connected, by a red string and they are destined to be together. The string can be stretched, tangled, knotted and revolving around wrong person or timing and even circumstances but it will never be broken or amiss. It always connect two people who are meant to meet. 

But truth to be told, I haven't seen this kind of clear, cosmic connection in my life yet. I have seen in small doses, yes. If my parents had not met they way they did, I believe they still would've met each other as my Aunt (my mom's sister) married my dad's housemate. Or if my sister hadn't met my brother in law the way she did, she probably would be connected to him anyway because his relatives live 5 mins away from our neighborhood and my Aunt worked with his Aunt. 

"What a small world!" is one of my favorite lines of all and I love it when I find out I share mutual friends with somebody. It's interesting to see how we are all connected, how our lives tangled. Every step I take, I know I am inching closer to the one my own red string is tied to. Some times I do wonder - to who would this man be connect to?

I would link this with the fact that we are only 3-4 degrees of separation with each other. Did you know that? For all you know, you are only 4 acquaintances away from Barack Obama. As absurd as that sounds, we are closer to each other than you think. That is another theory that blew my mind the moment I learnt about it.

Hold me accountable

I'll need a little help from you on this one. 

I'm planning to publish a post every week for the rest of the year -- at least one, every week -- and I need your help! Remind me, demand from me and hold me accountable to follow through.

Last week on Instagram, I asked my friends for writing prompts and some of them kindly shared with me what they'd like me to write about. A  few of the topics were really interesting and I know I'll have my own take on it. I don't write factual entries well, so I'll stay far away from it. 

I'd love more ideas/questions and feedback is very much encouraged too! Drop yours here.

Starting this week, meet me here every Friday at 8PM. It's a date ;) #TGIF

A very delayed 28th birthday post

When I was much younger, I had a different expectation of who I will be at 28. I was sure I would be a medical doctor, possibly married with kids, have my own car and probably already own a house by now. 

Truth is, I am nowhere near any of those. I'm going to be honest with you, it took me a while to come to terms with the things that I know I will never get to do or achieve by a certain age that I had predefined in my head. I'm done being sad, questioning the 'what ifs' because I know now, this is exactly where I am meant to be. 

Often times I need to pinch myself, am I really 28 now? It's not because I don't want or scared to grow old, but I can't believe how fast time moves. It flies, for real! Internally, I don't feel 28. Alhamdulillah, because I am unmarried, I still live with both my parents and they have never, ever set any expectations of how I should be behaving at 28. I am not saying I misbehave, but they let me be a single, unmarried lady. Simply put, I still feel like I am a teenager under my parents' care, but now with money, hahaha.

At 28, I am not a doctor like I hoped to be when I was a teen, but I would tell you I am proud of my career, proud of who I am professionally. I think why I wanted to be a doctor in the first place came from a desire to help people and to be of benefit to others. Up until now, in my prayers I hope to be an added value to the life of others & be a real benefit to the ones closest to me, my community and InshaAllah, to Ummah as a whole.

At 28, I am not married with children like I thought I would when I was much younger, but I believe in Allah's wisdom. I pray for a lot in a spouse with specific criteria and it's only fair that Allah give me ample time to perfect my own self to reflect the same qualities I want in a partner. I acknowledge whatever I wish for in a husband, I need to have the same in myself too. I am not rushing into it, I am not desperate for it, I am grateful for the extra time Allah is giving me to pray for the one and I know for a fact, Allah will not disappoint me. 

Don't I feel anything seeing my friends move into that phase of life (getting married and being a mom)? I am a human after all, of course I do. The feeling was stronger in my mid 20's than now, though. For some reason at 28, I am able to just celebrate people without whining 'when will it be my turn?'. 

My rizq is abundant in different aspects and Alhamdulillah the quicker I acknowledge this and count my own blessings, the better it is. Not once I feel lonely. I have my Mom, my sisters, my friends (loads of them!) that will always be around. At 28, instead of complaining about the things I have yet to achieve, I am counting the things I am blessed with. Far beyond the materials, I am grateful for the ability to see what truly matters; my sound heart, my conscious mind, and the desire to seek instead of settling. 

Regardless of how I imagined 28 would look like before, I am now living my best life that is given by Allah. Life is full of mysteries and mine is unfolding beautifully.