Hi Everyone!

I went on a break. Well, actually that's a lie. I didn't actually go anywhere, I just had a small break from blogging. It made me quite sad!

Can you see me?

It was a self imposed break - partly because I was at a loss of what to blog. I have draft posts but I lost my momentum when something I had waited for a long time to happen was put to a halt for reasons beyond my control (posts on this to follow, fear not!). I was also actually quite busy at home and work too - it's been a busy month!

But finally I'm back at it. I have my momentum back! So looking forward to posting regularly again!!

How have you been?

I made tea without a tea bag... it's not the first time I've done this. I normally put the kettle on, get my mug out and a spoon out, open the cupboard to get a tea bag and by this time, the kettle has finished boiling. It pings to let me know and that's it, I forget about the tea bag! So there I am having poured hot water into my mug, mixing it wondering why it's not changing colour. Luckily it's not too late as I see the water and just drop a tea bag into it and tada! Problem solved!

You'd think that having done this once, I wouldn't do it again but it actually happens quite often - observations from this:
- I am tired,
- I find the kettle rather distracting,
- I could possibly be going crazy,
- Maybe I'm defiantly losing my mind?!
- I really do know how to make a decent cuppa, fear not!

Ok, so don't panic just yet. I haven't totally lost my mind because I don't do this everyday. It happens every now and then - but enough for me to have noticed it. And since I began this post, it hasn't happened once! I think writing about it helps!

The thing is, we all do weird and wonderful things. I, myself, have accidentally put biscuits in the fridge and I've watched people do odd things too - here's why: distractions. I noticed that every time I, or a friend, has done something a little crazy, we've been distracted. You know that saying 'creatures of habit' - well it's like accidentally mixing up your habits and amalgamating them. But that doesn't make us crazy does it?

No, I, in my highly unprofessional opinion - seeing as I am in no way qualified to make decisions that should be adopted by others - think it's because of distractions and being tired. We are so busy that we take small things for granted. The things we do without even noticing, it's only when we do something a little bit different, or wrong, that we notice that we do them! Maaaan....does this even
make any sense?!

I'm going to take a break, maybe it'll help!

We all do crazy things that are a little weird, or sometimes very weird but we are human after all. Have you done anything crazy lately?

What's going on?! Why is it so hard for us to be optimists in matters concerning ourselves! Although I know this isn’t the case for everyone - I definitely know people that are only too full of praise for their selves.

Hello Hello Hello! 

Hope you are all well and happy :) soooo..... as you may have guessed from this post, I'm back!! Obviously I'm sure you all really missed me and are all extremely glad to have me back #sarcasmmuch!? But seriously, it's quite nice to be back - to be able to actually do things and attempting to plan things (I don't like planning too far ahead) and not being constantly reminded of all the work I still have to do :) - it's a great feeling! Getting that work done was so much fun but it took over my life for a while. Ahem, it's also partly my fault for bad time management but I got there. And so did/will everyone else :) 

Alright, so I guess I want to get something over with, start with a bit of housekeeping. Oooh, this feels like I'm leading a class! Ahahah. Let's talk about comments! I have mentioned this before but I really really appreciate and love comments :) it makes me happy and I hope by reading my blog it makes you happy too! :) 

Feedback for my work is great, I LOVE feedback, both good AND bad because it means I can improve my work and keep doing something if it's right, but negative comments that aren't about anything to do with anything, I really don't like. Let me give you an example:

So I recently wrote a post on Ramadan, a month in the Islamic calendar. I appreciate that a lot of my readers are not Muslim and so I wanted to write something that everyone can read, regardless of your beliefs. And honestly, I had something to share so I posted! It was quite a well received post :) yay! 

But I did get a few funny comments, ones that I won’t publish because they are offensive – those comments stressed the readers hate for religion and how we too should feel the same way, which if that’s how you feel fair enough – you are allowed to make your own decisions and decide your own feelings, just don’t impose them on others. Therefore I’d really be grateful if offensive comments were not posted on my blog.

I’m aware that everyone has different feelings and opinions and I respect that and would love to hear these views, but ideally if they will cause discomfort to other readers, please find another platform to express them on, not my blog.

Here’s an example:

Ramadan! It's Ramadan and for me and muslims alike, we have been fasting. It's not been easy, but it does get easier and it's definitely rewarding.

Ok, so firstly, if you're not quite sure what Ramadan is, then check out this video from Tazzy Phe and also from Aminakin (Pearl Daisy) Both are great places to start! :)

Here are a few things that this month has taught me - some are random but definitely worth mentioning!

1. I cannot make samosas - Now, hold your horses, I can, ahem, cook them. What I mean is actually making that triangle shape...mine just doesn't work, the edges don't meet and there are holes! But never fear, I've heard you get better with practise.

2. Patience - Fasting really reinforces that notion of patience because we have to 'let go' for a time of so many things we think is impossible to live without, like food and water! This isn't only things like food and water, it goes further to include things such as manners. For example because the month has been described as a month of reflection, when you are speaking with someone and they annoy you, whilst fasting, you are more aware of what you are saying because of what ramadan means. So rather than putting that person in their place, like you would normally do, you think before you speak! We should really do this anyway, but because it's ramadan we are extra aware of things like this and then try to become and stay a better person throughout the rest of the year.

3. Thankfulness  - I've realised that we have so much to be thankful for. This laptop I'm using to write this post on, the money I saved to buy it, the hours I worked to save for it, my job, - none of it would be possible without help. And what I'm describing to you is material, but it goes further because we have our health, strength, senses, legs, families, beds, shelter....the list is endless. So stay thankful. It also helps us to remain humble people and realise the importance of helping others - we don't know the situation other people face. So lets say thank you and alhamdulillah more often!

4. Life goes on - So there I am sitting at the desk helping a customer whilst at the same time, there is a thunderstorm in my stomach. And here it is, I may be hungry for a short time, but that doesn't mean the world stops for me. In the same way, there are people going hungry, like people who actually have no choice but to stay hungry, and still we live our lives. This really isn't meant to be in a horrible way, what I'm trying to say is that we keep doing the things we do, living whilst there are really people out there - and 'out there' doesn't just mean other countries, but also your own country, the city you live in -  who are homeless, hungry, poor, have lost their families and homes, yet we carry on with our lives as if it's all the same. We have to stop and think about this, seriously.

5. Be less judgemental:

Source

6. And lastly, there are some amazing people out there! Ramadan is a month where we reflect upon ourselves, and in doing this, it often brings out the good in people. It's about self-improvement.