Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Abu-Abed

Abu Abed khalas shoghlo wa ija 3al bait wa la7a Em Abed a3dah 3al takhat bala tyab.

Abu Abed sa7alah, "Lash ma labsa tyab ya Em Abed?".

Aleet, "Walah ya Abu Abed, ma 3anda tyab!"

"Shoo, ma 3andeek tyab?!?! Ta3a la hon." Wa akhada 3alal khzaneh.

"Layka---hay fastan, hay fastan, hay fastan, hay fastan, marhaba jar, hay fastan, hay fastan....."

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Trust Thyself, Every Heart Beats to that Iron String

If there is any piece of literature that I would recommend to anyone, written words that strike me in ways unimaginable, thoughts so provoking that it continues to inspire me since a decade ago.

This is a 20 page essay called Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The essay has some points that I agree and disagree with, however. What I really enjoy about this particular work is what the message is:

imitation is suicide and we have to break free from what society wants to make us, to believe in ourselves, and maintain our identities, which is a constant struggle for a Lebanese in the West

I am sure it happense to all of us. We always immediately get asked, where are you from? What is your religion? What is your's (or your dad's) occupation?

People who ask me these kind of questions trigger something in my brain: they are looking for a way to identify me, box me up in one sentence. Sum me up in a few words.

Well, that is not going to happen.

Anywho, I am digressing. What I wanted to talk about was why you, yes you, should read this essay.

It is easier in this world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude, says Mr. Emerson.

He gives examples, for example, have you ever wanted to answer a question but were hesitant to say something infront of everyone and be wrong.? Then, the person next to you says the answer in your head and you are forced to give him/her the credit of the idea that you thought of first. That happened/s to me all the time.

Also, one more thing about consistency. Emerson has taught me that being consistent is sometimes a good thing, but changing is ok. We sometimes fear that by changing our opinions, we fear to be viewed as capricious and fickle people. My opinion is that of Emerson's and that is the brain has nothing to do if it does not occasionally reevaluate its thoughts.

That said and done, I must go study for my beloved exam. Speaking of which, I took my first diagnostic exam today....six fun hours of test-taking excitement..ok, ok, ok I am going................

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Xtreme Days




Saturday, January 21, 2006

Highs and Lows

Ok, I was thinking about it: we have high points and low points in our lives.

When we are at our lowest, when we feel that absolutely noone understands us, when we feel all alone, desolate, and invisible, we forget that the situation is passing. I try hard to ask myself, "Will this be important in five years?"

Will it?

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Today

Today, I will be productive.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Well...at least it will be quick

You scored as Gunshot.

Your death will be by gunshot, probably because you are some important person or whatever. Possibly a sniper, nice, quick, clean shot to the head. Just beautiful.

Gunshot
100%

Suicide
80%

Stabbed
73%

Eaten
67%

Posion
67%

Natural Causes
67%

Bomb
53%

Accident
40%

Drowning
33%

Cut Throat
33%

Disappear
27%

Suffocated
13%

Disease
0%


http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=8960

Thanks Eve!

Friday, January 13, 2006

Sensitivity in the Field of Health

Each Friday, I volunteer at a clinic that helps underserved people in my area. I take the usual vital signs and chief complaints that patients may have. My first patient was a woman whose son died of leukemia last week. She cried and cried and I all I could do to comfort her was to get her some water then prick her hand to take her blood sugar level. More and more, I am beginning to realize that patients are looking for someone who cares, who truely cares. We all want someone to care about us. It's human nature. I just wonder how much we reciprocate that feeling towards others. I vow that I will continue to be a compassionate person, to genuinely care about the welfare of others, and to continuously assess myself in my attitude towards others. Occasionally, you run into health care workers who have heard every tragedy known to man. These workers begin to see these tragedies as commonplace and a part of the circle of life. They lose the compassion and say the same phrase, "I am sorry to hear that," over and over again. It is when these workers begin to react this way that they need to take a good look in the mirror and ask themselves why they are in the profession in the first place. What goes around comes around. The way you treat people will be the same way they will treat you one day.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

My two new posts have some mistakes in it..I tried to edit both but it won't work.

I would be much obliged if anyone can tell me how to fix it cause it is driving me nuts!

April

Ok, the most important test of my life is in April...there is no need to panic, but my palms are clamy and cold. I am partially hyperventilating becuase I don't know sh*t and and and ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Ok, must focus, here is what a dear friend of mine read to me last night, which gives me some serenity:

Always remember the hills ahead are never as steep as they seem, so with faith in your heart, start upward and climb until you reach your dream, for faith is a mover of mountains-there is nothing that you cannot achieve if you have the courage to try it and then have the faith to believe.

66th Anniversary

I baked cookies for my friends who celebrate Christmas not too long ago. I sat and visitid with them and they told me that there anniversary is on Christmas day. Guess how long they have been married???

SIXTY SIX YEARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

That's so breathtaking to me...I was thinking, I have known my parents (since birth until now) for 22 years. Multiply that by three and you get this couple's commitment to each other.

You know what else? One can tell that this couple genuinely love each other-the kind of love only found in the movies or fairy tales. The way the talk about how they first met feels like it was yesterday. They knew each other since elementary school age. They both moved away and then returned to their homes for the summer. It was during the summer that they knew things were "different".

They are so beautiful, so understanding and so enjoyable.

I pray to God that I will meet someone to share my life with.