Patriot

Blessed is the land to which I return . . .

I'm coming back, my America . . .

Grease Monkey

So I've been eating healthier these days due to the discouraging realization that my metabolism is slowing down. I can no longer eat the worst foods yet maintain my physique. Thus, I'm eating more citrus-based and mediterranean foods, while cutting back on the meats and creamy curries. I wasn't much of a fried food enthusiast, so that shouldn't be a problem. And sweets is something I am good at controlling generally. I must admit, the physical and psychological effects of eating healthier are drastic. I feel light, energetic, and youthful. My skin looks clearer, and that odd feeling of heaviness is decreasing.

Portions is another facet I'm paying attention to. We actually don't need so much food in our system. It's no wonder we Americans are so obese - have you studied the portion sizes in our restaurants? For example, instead of heavy, creamy pasta dunked with gyro meat for lunch, I ate hummus with olive oil, one pita, coucous salad, and three grape leaves with stuffed rice. It was light, refreshing, and digestively clean. Afterward I had herbal tea with lemon. And it works! You don't need to stuff yourself as if its the last meal you're ever going to eat.

And I even have a solution for maintaining energy for those intense gym sessions. The trick to maintaining consistent energy during exercise, and indeed, throughout the day, is to eat those small meals (like the one I described above), several times a day. I technically have two small lunches, the latter around 4:30pm - it gives me the necessary booster to work my way straight into a "hell hath no fury" workout in the evening. If you're far too busy running office errands and making deadlines, then I suggest packing some dense, nutrient-rich energy snacks to go. Dinner should be light as well, and at least three hours before bedtime.

Now, let's see what happens when I return to my mother's dinner table in two weeks.

Fortune Cookie

Countless thoughts cross my mind everyday. Small epiphanies catalyzed through love, observations, boredom, creativity, books, exercise, music, among other human engines, keep me going during my stay in Prague. Perhaps the most critical engine that keeps me going here is the knowledge of my inevitable return to the United States. Not to sound like a child, but I can hardly contain my excitement at the thought of coming back home. Prague, indeed any place, pales in comparison to the pristine beauty of my beloved, the humor of my father, and the tenderness of my mother.

I am happy. I'm in a wonderfully compatible and complimentary relationship, one that has enriched my life exponentially; I have a family that is optimistic in its outlook, endearing in its humor, and enthusiastic in its love; and my professional endeavors are coming along swiftly, alhumdullilah.

Writing from a normative perspective, I think the reason why everything seems “balanced” at this point is because I have actively sought to create my environment. While God has everything to do with setting the stage, including the family one is born into, He allows us the opportunity over our lifetime to exercise our will according to the precepts of our conscience. Thus, I ultimately select my relationships, keeping in mind what I want for myself and my environment. By implication, there are individuals who I will not direct my energy toward (this does not necessarily mean exclusion; with the exception of malicious individuals or those whose lifestyles fundamentally don't comport with mine, I do believe in the power of diplomacy and pragmatism).

Further, I continue to develop professionally and personally. Living selflessly is overrated. In fact, the notion that there is a common public good that we must all strive to pursue over and above our intimate goals is in my perspective, the biggest conspiracy placed upon humankind. The process of contribution has been bastardized by those who never became what they wanted. They lost their primordial, basic vision of self-actualization due to their own lack of courage and thus, adopted one or the other form of existence: they either prosthelize their terms to others or become dependent on given circumstances in order to reassure themselves. Tragically, all they have become are hollow shells of their audience. Cowardice never met a better compliment in the follower of the masses.

Note that I am not speaking of actually wanting to do something for those you love. The personal process of synergizing one's life with those who care for you and will be there for you during your life is a journey of strength.

Each individual however, must claim the process of contribution as a personal endeavor. Whether it's a profession dedicated to public service or a specific charitable cause, it requires innovation and improvement through one's own work and ethics. It's a process intimate and private to the individual, a realm of existence that subsists on nothing more than one's power to do well. It is through this power that the less fortunate, those individuals who truly had no choice due to grinding, systemic poverty, disease, or other calamities beyond their control, can find meaning not only in the results of one's practical assistance, but in the concept of self-empowerment. Boldness is a requisite to inspire. Inspiration is necessary for change.

All else is simply clutter.

Almost home baby . . . almost home . . .

I Shrugged

So a particular individual today expressed some unwarranted opinions regarding my relatively "conservative" social norms, which placed me in a defensive posture. I have a general question: Why do people demand justification from an individual who may approach social circumstances differently? People react in varying degrees to social propositions offered in a given setting. The majority will usually leap at the offer, perhaps in fear or maybe because it’s simply the majority; but a few may not be comfortable in participating in a specific form of social conduct. The point is, what's it to anyone why one chooses a particular course of action? Further, why demand an explanation?

Personally, I don’t ask anyone about their choices; really, I don’t even care what they do. Indeed, I never solicit their opinion about my actions in the first place. Yet for some reason, people feel compelled to impose their understanding and expectations of how things should be against the backdrop of my choices. It's not advice; it's more like insurance for their self-esteem. If people are that troubled by my unimposing social choices, perhaps they need to check their premises about themselves.

I stand my ground, come what may.

Your Day

aankhein teri, kitni haseen
ki inka aashiq, mein ban gaya hoon
mujhko basa le, inme tu


Happy Birthday Sweetheart...