Dear Owls, God.

Dear Owls, 

I don't talk about God much on my blog and it's not because he's not an important part in my life, but because his value in my life is so great that I don't really know what to say. I believe that God has and will always be there for me no matter what situation I am put into. And this reminder keeps the monsters under the bed, keeps the dirtiest secrets clean and keeps my mind at bay.

See, what I love most about God is his presence, his stand with me. Some people don't know God like I do, and that's rather sad. I know him. I truly got to know him every time he has been with me throughout all my battles. In my times of desperation, I pray to him and everything is instantly better, at least in my mind. I know from the teachings of God that forgiveness and letting go are the most important things in life. 

"This life was designed to break your heart"

Putting your life in the hands of humans is pathetic, and most people do it. God knows I did it. If you were made weak, how could you expect other people to depend on you? You're allowed to screw up. You're allowed to look back at your life and see a few messed up days. To err is human, to punish is the monstrosity. If someone has made a mistake, God has trusted me with the responsibility that I will forgive and forget. After all, when you are under the ground, naked and bare with no one to talk to but your angels, what will you say? Will you tell them how you spent your days on earth gossiping, fighting, swearing, complaining and making life harder on yourself? 

See, life wasn't made to be easy. God put us through things that will eventually teach us a lesson. When I was younger, I would blame everything on everyone else, telling all my friends that my life sucked because of so and so factors. Growing up, I realized that was bull. Blaming people gets you nowhere and it's the most chicken thing I ever did. Fessing up, seeing that you're in control of your mistakes and past... that's what got my engines turning. I stopped living for others and started living for God. I started living for my rewards later on, and even if there are some who speculate the afterlife- at least do people a favor and live a good life for your own health. 

It's been proven that people who keep things in their heart have unhealthy minds and bodies. So, no thanks. I'd rather live knowing that I lived every single second of my breath with compassion, with love, with kindness. 

Even though mercy doesn't pay the bills, it pays the debts. Debts that you've held people accountable for, loans of promises of people gave to you that you just don't know why they don't pay back. Humans cannot be depended on. For a matter of fact, humans can't be trusted- not that I don't occasionally try to test that theory. The truth to the matter is that every body is going through something different, and it's just wrong to expect someone to prioritize your life over theirs. You need to be able to pick yourself up whenever you need to and wipe off the dust, while having a support system of course, just don't place your happiness in the hands of a human and complain about the damage done. God is greater than everything and everyone. Placing your happiness in the palms of God is the one true insurance to not getting heartbroken. 

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever" -Gandhi

Probably one of my favorite quotes ever, I love to live by these words because I can't stop learning. I doubt I will ever retire from my ever longing search to learn. Google is my bestfriend. Books are my right hand. Even the movies and shows I watch are the one true things that keep me going because they do teach you a lot. I think we are shaped by what we know and by what we don't; they go hand in hand. 

"Last night I lost the world and gained the universe" C JoyBell

This world is just step one. It is a test and a hard one. You don't have to believe in God. You don't even have to believe in anything and that remains a choice that you keep with you and I have nothing but respect to your choice- but I just can't say I agree. Sometimes believing in the unseen can keep you longing for more. Sometimes in your times of true confusion, you need something so great to remind you where you're going. At least that's the case with me.

 But if you want to believe in a higher power, you need to believe that losing the world is step one. Lose your need for material, your need for popularity, your craving for money, your lust for love and possession, your untamed hunger for more. You can't be happy in this world if you're running after things that were made to intrigue you. You need to seek to be comfortable, content and compassionate. Not happy. You should be happy about being comfortable but not the other way around. Being happy doesn't mean you have everything you want forever, it just means for that second in that little amount of time, you had what you needed. 

Happiness doesn't last very long. Put your comfort in things that are ever stable like, helping others, the stars, a beautiful sunset, seeing another human smiling. 

Be humble and stop asking people to give you what you need to seek alone. The quest for true purpose is hard, it's confusion and time consuming. However, it resonates to these few things; learn, laugh and love. But always work hard, without compromising these three things. 

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.” - Erma Bombeck

Seek the things you want most in life, gain friendships and lose them if you need to, the same goes with money. Don't be afraid to lose the money you gained. Don't be hesitant to call an old friend. Don't underestimate a simple wave to your neighbor. 

Don't sleep on the things God gave you. 

Don't count sheep, while others count blessings. 

Everything that God has put in your life is written to be there. It didn't magically land on your plate. Every grain of rice is a blessing from God that you need to remind yourself others don't have. Don't however get mad at the fact that others don't have this blessing- let God do his own job, let him teach people whatever lessons they need to learn and cleanse their soul in whatever way needs cleansing. 

For those of you who don't believe in God and feel somehow uncomfortable, I don't apologize for this post. It's my blog and I want to believe that I am free to talk about whatever crosses my mind. If you're offended in any way by the this, you're welcome to stop checking my blog. It's really all a choice after all. 

I respect everyone's decision to believe and not believe whatever they want, however when you start stepping on someone else's ground, telling them who you think they should be and what you think they should do, that's just a bit too much. People should really start focusing on their own path and realize that we really do have a purpose in life and there really is something waiting for us at the end of this rainbow. Some rainbows shorter than others. Reassess yourself every now and then and just see if your life coincides with the one God expects of you. 

Love to everyone and safe wishes. 

My heart goes out to all those in mourning to what's happening around the world. 

Me.

Dear Owls, journey to the center of the earth.

Dear Owls, 

What do you do when the only thing you can think about is how weak you are? What do you do when your feet tremble at the thought of thinking about thinking- just because your thoughts are that messed up. Feelings are always confusing. Mine are just annoying. A friend told me that it's only human to feel, but what she didn't understand was that I was simply tired of being human.

The idea that you've been putting on a smile for so long to only have it knocked right off your face is nerve wrecking; it's repulsive and a perfect definition of a waste of time. However, it's only human. It's the only way to know how strong you are as a person. If we didn't go through things that test our last breath, that make us feel like falling into a pool and never coming out, we wouldn't know how amazing each of us truly are.

Friendship is a powerful thing. There are two types of people, some who say you can choose your friends and others who say friends choose you, that you can't really pick and drop who you want your friends to be. For a very long time, I used to think I was the second type. I thought I could go through life and let the right people come to me, but now I'm not so sure. I still stand with the belief about myself that I can never get too close, I can try but there's always something in me that will be afraid of disappointments- mostly those I'm responsible for. But lately, the sight of friendship amuses me. It's just a beautiful thing to see friendship among people; a series of conversations about the past of each friend, people they've met or people they are yet to meet together, inside jokes and memories being shared. Seeing people laughing so hard, they need to cover their faces so deep into the ground, past the mantle down to the inner core, their face coming back up flustered red from the intensity of the heat.

Laughter is someone I've lost in touch with, an old friend Adele would probably sing about. I want to tell laughter that I've simply been on a journey of self recovery, and I'm coming back for it. Sometimes you need to leave certain things in your life and come back to them only when your strong enough to face the heat without getting burnt.

Yours,
A returning traveler.

Motivation || How to Get Over the Deadly Writer's Block

Step one: Refreshing 

Sometimes, all you need to do it drink some tea or coffee and brainstorm what is the message you want to send to the world. Everybody has something they want to say, once you find out what it is you find important- write about it. Just put in some bullet points and make a story out of it. 

Get some perspective on your topic. Whether you want to write a novel, poem or short story about a certain topic (love, mystery, action, thriller etc...) always make sure you've done enough research. People will most likely listen to someone who has legitimate information about what they're saying.

Step two: Start somewhere!

Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.

–Charles Bukowski

More times than others, you've got an idea, you've got a plot, character list, trigger and ending... but you have NO idea where to go about from there. Here are a few links that are SUPER helpful to start you story somewhere:

Here's a link to generate random first lines to your story with (check out the links on the left, they've got other generators too!)

http://writingexercises.co.uk/firstlinegenerator.php

Here's a link to FULL of other links of other generators with a genre or theme, amazing stuff and great content!

http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/plotgens.htm

Here's another link for prompt makers, but on this site you can make 10 at a time if you wanted. 

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=writeprompt

Here's a link that tells you "How to make your novel helplessly addicting"

http://victoriamixon.com/2010/10/04/5-ways-to-make-your-novel-helplessly-addictive/

Step three: Try something new 

• Go to a different place and write
• Write at a different time: If you write at night, try waking up early and write when you've got peace and quiet. If you're really committed to writing, this task won't be too hard.
• Coffee, tea and chocolate: I stress on this point the most.
• Write about not being able to write: Most bestseller authors confess that sometimes this is the only thing that gets them through writers block. It's funny how allowing yourself to write badly or about our weaknesses can help.
• Watch videos and short films on YouTube to feel inspired.
• Slam poetry, TED talks and motivational speeches are other cures 

Step four: Read More Books 

To become a writer, we need to learn from other writers. 

In the process of getting too excited to write our book/story we sometimes forget that we need to do the research first. It's boring and tiring but every writer needs to have a background to what they're writing. I love blogging, but I sometimes dislike the "research" part of things, because it takes forever to find what you're looking for. Don't get me wrong though, researching is really fun when you're JUST reading and learning- when you research to put things in your own words, things get much more annoying. 

Unfortunately, it is a crucial part of writing because, like I said before, people will respond better when you can back your story with facts (if it's necessary) For example; if you're writing about a Russian Spy, at least research a bit about what you want to say and if it's actually realistically possible. You never know if some nerdy kid in Russia calls you off on your lie about how "Kenya is the capital" or something less obviously absurd. 

When all else fails... read articles about the problem

1. How to Overcome Writers Block 
2. Creative Cures for Blocks
3. 27 Wacky Ways to Cure Blocks 

Goodluck!

Everyone goes through these days, but what you shouldn't do is just stop writing because it's not your day or month. Sometimes your best worst comes after a drought. Keep working and trying to get things write, even if you have to let yourself mess up a few times. 

Remember, it doesn't need to be perfect!

Dear Owls, observer.

Dear Owls, 

It's been a bumpy road from insanity to a more stable insanity. 

This semester, I've been more busy than ever and I like it. Of course those around me will beg to differ because of my mini (understatement) freak-out sessions. However, I like that I'm doing a lot. It's beats doing nothing. I'm in a ton of clubs to which I'll elaborate on later. I'm in 

I want to read more. There are so many stories in books that I don't even know about, that thought kills me on the inside. It literally creeps into my soul and makes me want to pause time. My God, if I could just pause the world for an hour... all the books I can catch up on. 

Each morning, I wake up being grateful. All the stories I read about people around the world, all the problems people face, it gets me so emotional. It makes me want to stop complaining. For a club, I was reading articles about problems around the world and I just keep stumbling on one thing after another. It's like it never stops. 

Tomorrow, I've got a thousand things on hold. I'm so stressed but blessed to have this kind of stress in my life. Sure, I'm screwed if I don't get everything done... but where's the challenge if it's all smooth sailing. 

It's been a while since I've written something on here, but I haven't got much to say really... just an observer these days, watching what life has to throw at everyone else including me. Sometimes you get more lessons out of silence. Sometimes saying something leaves more scars than it should. 

To all those who aren't sure what to say; always speak your mind. Tell the people you know what's on your mind, or at least, tell them the truth. If you can't do that- join me in being an observer- don't say anything.

Yours always,

me.

Dear Owls, destruction.

Dear Owls, 

At this point in my life, I'm just so caught up with all the unfortunate people around the world. Everything that's going on, specifically in the Arab world, just brings so much pain and aching to my heart. It's gotten to such a point where I really become so down and lost in thought about it. I've been keeping in touch with all the news and updates about all the situations going on around the world.

I don't even have my social media on my notifications, but I do have these News updates so that I know exactly when something new happens and I can read the article about it. Some of the people around me have told me how this is all just negativity and that keeping it out of your mind is so much better for emotional health; but does avoiding the problem mean that there isn't a problem? Is it okay that I just sit here and listen to all this bad stuff happening to all these good people? There's nothing I can do and there's nothing I will do because wars have been going on for centuries. Ever since mankind began, war was always an issue. But acknowledging the problem, praying for these people and spreading the world is the least I can do, it's the least everyone can do.  

However, this is insanity. People being asked to leave their countries. Refugees being thrown at the borders. Many of them, most of them children! It's such a hard weight for my heart to carry and my thoughts and tears go out to the mothers of these children, the caretakers who have to watch all this happen to them while they die on the corner- their last memory of the universe, their last sight would be their children's blood spilling on the floor of those who did not have enough power to keep their floor white. And who do we blame then? Who do we curse at? Who do we aid?

And what about what happened in Makka, Saudi Arabia? No worries about the people who died being squashed by crane, but what do I say about inconsiderate people around the world who cheered for this crane, calling it "Karma for the towers on 9/11". What is wrong with the world? What is this logic that we have been using? Does nobody see how damaging labels are? Making it easier to hate people at a faster rate, simply by saying "I hate Muslims" or "I hate Americans". That's almost like saying you've met EVERY single American there is out there and you've managed to hate them all. 

All this used to be a joke before, but I'm not sure that people realize how serious this is. People are desperately fighting for the things we take for granted, for things we go through normally on a daily basis. So I ask of you this, the next time you take a warm shower, drink a sip of water, eat an apple, or even go to bed with at least a blanket... please just appreciate it. Be grateful and happy. Sleep like there's literally no tomorrow, because for some people, there sometimes isn't. 

Do this for a few days and watch your world change. The bag you thought you "really" needed becomes another thing that's just a luxury, the stain on your favorite shirt becomes a battle scar, your headache becomes a blessing of surviving a long day of hard work, your fight with your parents becomes another opportunity of bonding moments through resolving and every breath you take will feel so valuable, you almost want to bottle it up and cherish it. 

This world is becoming too drawn away from the ultimate purpose, which is not to make money but rather make meaning. Do your best today, do it for someone who's taking their last breath right now. 

I'd love to hear your comments.

Yours always, 

Me. 

Dear Owls, life changer.

Dear Owls, 

Many times, it's been proven that those who come to my rescue are people I've been ignoring my whole life. A simple conversation with a stranger I judged turns into a good friendship with someone. Sometimes, we are too quick to judge people, we forget that they deal with their problems in a different way. A very good example would be my encounter with a girl in a Book Fest, around the month of April. At first, I thought she laughed a little too much at everybody's joke. Especially the boys'. And so, being a girl, I wasn't too slow to give her the weirdest looks and my imagination went wild. 

"Wow, have her parents not raised her well?"

"Does she not know how to contain herself?"

"Is there something wrong with her hormones?"

My thoughts were kept to myself until the girl came and sat next to me. She smiled and said, "That boy is such an idiot." I smiled back and asked her how long she's known him for. She told me she just met him, just like I did. So, I couldn't not say anything. I looked at my bag and remarked, "You laughed too comfortably with him, so I assumed you knew him longer."

And just like that, I turned into those girls I swore I'd never become. She laughed once more and said that she loved laughing. 

Later on in our conversation, my mother called and told me to get home because she needed me. I wasn't prepared to go home alone and we found out that we both live in the same area. She noticed that I wasn't ready to be alone and offered to take a Taxi together. I loved that suggestion because at that time, I was going through some stuff and I avoided being alone as much as possible. 

In the car ride, we talked... as all girls do. And I found out that her father had passed away less than 2 months ago! I immediately hated myself for thinking all those thoughts. I loved her energy and bravery. She was laughing off the pain every step of the way, and I mistook it for a behavior deficit. My stomach turned and I spent the whole ride listening to her grieve.

She had been really close to her dad and he was really healthy. He died of a heart attack and she was expecting everything but that. She told me she had to be strong for her mother who was practically falling apart. Her story, like many others, had inspired me insanely. 

It also taught me to be more open with strangers, get to know them and understand more about their stories. Anyone is willing to talk about themselves, the trick is to know how to get them to start. Everyone that passes by us smiling, is most probably tearing up on the inside. After all, this world is a masquerade and we're all wearing our finest masks.

To anyone who's reading, I hope you take the best out of this. If this girl happens to read this too and recognizes it's her, thank you. You gave me a piece of the puzzle that helped me get through an emotional time in my life. Many aspects influenced my rise after a great fall and your encounter is something I value. It was short, simple and needed. I wish you all the best. And this just became a letter inside a letter. 

Yours always owls, 

Me. 

Dear Owls, Oceans.

Dear Owls, 

Something about the ocean feels right. Although I hate visits to the beach, I am aware, deep down, that everything in this world is somehow connected. If we are more conscious of our surroundings, we can alter anything we want. To a certain extent, I do believe that we can remember the past better than we lived in and that sometimes, we can predict the future. It is in our mental capacity to remember an unlimited number of things for an unlimited number of time if we truly push ourselves to the limit. We are also capable of recalling memories from a third person point of view, and sometimes, thinking we are somewhat disconnected to this memory- a watcher, if you may. We can jump through our thoughts in and out without leaving footprints, because no matter how many times you may lose yourself daydreaming about going to Paris, you are aware at the end of the day that you did not actually visit it; not your physical body, at least. 

I also believe that Déjà vu is a remarkable thing. I may have overthought it, but for imagination's sake, let's say we could tell the future... maybe just for a few seconds even. Wouldn't that explain why sometimes you're thinking something is going to happen and it does. Or when you're sleeping and you wake up to a scream, but then seconds later someone actually screams? There are so many things we are yet to discover about the human mind. We keep connecting it to monkeys, apes and God knows what else. In reality, humans have proven to be extraordinary in all their abilities. We change constantly. Our lives seem to have purpose and meaning. We are the only species that create, lie and destroy as per our own wishes. A lion may seem destructive, but it's only to feed or protect. Not all humans kill humans to protect, and here's me hoping none kill to eat either. 

There is so little we know, although it's funny how we never admit to it. As soon as someone knows a little more than we do, we give them a title, a pedestal. We call them doctor and hang up their degree on a wall and let them tell us how much danger we're in, how much time we've got left. And I'm not only talking about physical doctors- but all doctors. Space, earth, mental... everyone who has the privilege of earning the highest honors degree. I'm sure those who do work hard are more informed about a lot, but anyone with that much information can muster up two or three words about astronomical behaviors and other fancy words I'm not sure I want to try to say.  

At the root of it all, we still don't know how far the galaxy goes (and infinity isn't an answer), we still don't know if we're in this Universe alone, or if we're on Earth alone. Everyone has their own explanation to everything and nobody's willing to hear you out unless you're on TV. 

Something about the ocean feels right. As if to say, "Why know more about land on Mars than you do about the water on your own land, given 3/4 of it are oceans?" 

I think that tells us a lot about humans. The oceans are ourselves, our feelings and emotions. But we jump to the neighboring planet because whatever lies hidden is just too hard to understand, too deep, too unsettling and yet too familiar.