something I scribbled down yesterday

Things I've learnt in the first 20 years of my life/

Letter to my past teenage self/

Letter to my current teenage sisters/

Letter to the teenagers I currently know/

1. It's okay to be misunderstood.
2. People will let you down, and you will make mistakes but every storm will pass by.
3. The choice to pick yourself up is yours to make.
4. Sometimes, we set ourselves up for disappointment by expecting too much.
5. The key to gratitude is to give freely and much, yet expect little in return.
6. It's okay if people don't like you and talk behind your back.
7. People who do the above thing are usually insecure in their own way, love them anyway.
8. It's okay if people judge you or say untrue things about you. It's better to be gossiped about than to be the gossiper.
9. Complaining less will actually make you a happier person.
10. You can't change people. You can only change how you feel about them.
11. You can't make everyone likes you.
12. Since there's so little things you can actually change or control, when you find one, go all out and make a difference.
13. Things won't, can't and will never change overnight.
14. Instead of asking when your miracle will happen, ask yourself who you can be a miracle for.
15. Most of the time, you'll get what you most want when you are not even looking for it.
16. There's a lot of things in life not worth fighting for or crying over.
17. When you find a few things that are worth it, hold on to them with all your might and don't let them go.
18. Everything worth doing is worth doing all-out-passionately.
19. Everything worth having is worth suffering and struggling for.
20. Everybody screws up. It's just a matter of when and how fast you get over it.
21. The faster you screw up, the faster you can move on, get over it, learn something from it and grow stronger for it.
22. It's okay to change your mind, it's okay to admit you were wrong. And it's also not a problem to be stubborn and apologize later.
23. When you speak your mind, you'll offend people. Refer back to #11 and don't ever let anyone shut you up from voicing your opinions.
24. Everything changes. Every season of life will pass. Life is temporary but you can live it for things that aren't.
25. Don't expect perfection on this side of heaven. Learn to see the beauty in the imperfection.
26. Though life is temporary, you can experience glimpses of the eternal here and now.
27. Though life is temporary, it doesn't mean we are meant to spend it in misery and self-sacrifice and suffering.
28. It's easy to be a hero in a crisis.
29. The real challenge is in day-to-day-living. In keeping our heart wide open to love and our eyes wide open to see the good in a world so disillusioned and weary; in coming alive in a world running on autopilot. Still,
30. Life is worth living. Every day, every minute, every second. Always and forever.

the last lecture

I'm so blessed to be able to bring you the review of a special book. The Last Lecture (Achieving Childhood Dreams) by Randy Pausch may be a small book in size, but it carries a powerful punch to the hill of troubles in our life. I am attracted to this book about a month ago (tell me I've been living under the rock!) the moment I read through the synopsis. Credit to Jalilah for lending me this amazing book and for letting me know how beneficial this book is :).

Synopsis

This book outlines the lecture called Achieving Childhood Dreams by Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Melon University. What made this lecture so special as to become publish in a book was that, when Professor Pausch gave the lecture, he was suffering from a terminal cancer, facing a death (sort of death sentence, me think) - in fact, it was his last lecture, which would remain as the very last legacy of Pausch's life and career. In this lecture, he went onto preach about dream, hope and life. From his anecdotes on his life experiences, his thoughts and beliefs, Randy Pausch encourages the readers to live their life to the fullest. 

Personal response

This book is definitely one of the most influential and motivating books I've ever encountered. And for good reason, this book also serves a list of things he wanted his 3 kids to know about him and some advices since he wouldn't be around to deliver them. And for this, I feel like, somehow, I've been reading an advice from someone who is very close to me.


Now, instead of thinking what should I not do, I learn about what should I do, what kind of attitude I should adopt and what to pursue in my life. His lecture definitely motivates me to work harder (do I sound rhetoric here? whatever!), and helps me to get through ups and downs, which he quoted as 'The wall is not there for no reason. It is there for you to prove how badly you want something' (sounds something like this laa). Overall, the book covers much of different aspects of lives and it gives a lot of tips and advices to lead a meaningful life. It is very inspiring for me and I would recommend this book to anyone who needs some sort of motivation and inspiration in life.

I savored this book during the stolen moment between classes, group discussions and chores last month. This book is like an open, protecting and cozy thing to read. I, in a very humble mode, so dearly wanted to be moved by this book. In fact, I've bought one right after finishing the entire book. And I bought it for that exact reason. I wanted something to make me keep on going. I want to live my life to the fullest! (Ya Allah, please guide me).

There are so many nuggets of wisdom scattered here and there in this book. Here are some examples I quote from the book which I like best:

• Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want (oh, how cool is that!).
• We cannot change the card we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
• It's not helpful if we spend everyday dreading tomorrow.

Tips to improve group collaboration:


> meet people properly.
> find things you have in common.
> try for optimal meeting conditions.
> let everyone talk.
> praise each other.

• Go out and do for others what somebody did for you.
• Halfhearted or insincere apologies are always worse than not apologizing at all because the recipients will find them insulting.
• Brick walls are there for a reason. And once you get over them - even if someone has practically had to throw you over - it can be helpful to others to tell them how you do it.

I just can't tell you more. Go get one copy from the bookstore and you will find it's worth spending! That's all I would like to share in this entry. I'll let you know if I've read any other fabulous book, okay? But, only if I'm really into writing about the book la hehe ^-^

p/s: you will get use to my -only if-, -i promise-, -i will- and etc etc. you know what do they mean, right?

november girls ;)

Hi there!




I'm sorry I'm late with this. I would like to wish Happy 20th Birthday to Taqwa (classmate) which fall on 20th November, and also Happy 19th Birthday to Ummi (roommate) which fall on 23rd November. (Sorry Taqwa, I make you look a bit older here hehe).




Both of you are totally amazing, awesome, brilliant, genius and.. urm ape lagi ek? And ok larr comey and cun! And very much admirable and lovable! And bond-ish for that matter.:) And funny and great grand punya sempoi. You are aware I'm not using the dictionary for any of these words, kan? So, my words are lame and limited, but Taqwa and Ummi, you are highly adored, and held up high, and irresistible! Not joking!

birthday cake

I wish to put more pictures, but they will take me like ages. Call me IT-blind! Waiting to upload just a single picture is enough to raise my blood pressure (my nerve is very delicate). Enough about me.! Actually, we had a celebration last Friday (kat bilik Andah and Jal), so it was a bit earlier for Ummi. And unfortunately, Jal wasn't there :( (sorry dear, we can't do it this week because our schedule is really pack). Guess what? Shortly, I will reveal some sort of secrets (so-called secrets) about these two girls.

Ta-daa!!

Both Taqwa and Ummi are: 

• Kuat makan hahaha - not really, but I tell you what, they can be so expressive when it comes to food.
• Kaki jalan jugak - they can stroll for hours without complaining of tiredness. And I think they love window shopping the most! Am I right?
• Talkative! - a lot of talk, really. Especially Taqwa haha ^_^. They use up to 3000 words a day, not to mention number of calls they receive in a day.
• Posers - able to do a lot of posing in front of camera. Consider you are lucky because I didn't upload all the 'gedik' pictures of you, we took during the party (huh? kantoi)
• Naughty kehkeh - but still, you both are not as naughty as Andah haha =P (who is Andah?)
• Enough, Aisyah. Enough!

Taqwa and Ummi, I need you to stay who you are. Because all these things make you so special. Taqwa and Ummi are very very cool (and so hot!) heheh :). You are the best! Don't try to act mature after your birthday. Girls who try to be mature are not cute at all haha =D

So, again Happy Birthday, dear =)

fantastic four

I've been tagged - so, beware because you might be next! I've been tagged by Andak Omey aka i2i. FYI, this is my first time entertaining this sort of activity. My question is, does she really want to know about me? Perhaps. Who knows? So, here I am dutifully answering the questions as honestly as I could.




FOUR NAMES FRIENDS CALL YOU.

• Ecah (preferable. If you want to call me Aisyah is better)
• Moksya (long long time ago and don't dare to call me that now!)
• Uda or Ude (al Farafishans)
• Delacour haha ^_^ perasannye

FOUR MOST IMPORTANT DATE IN YOUR LIFE.

• Dearest family members' birthday (of course)
• Friends' birthday especially Octoberians (don't sue me for discriminating huhu)
• Examination day (uh-huh?)
• Urm.. in fact, everyday is an important date for me (overstatement! *_*)

FOUR THINGS YOU HAVE DONE 30 MINUTES AGO.

• Having lunch (plus blueberry butter cake and cuisines from King's *yummy*)
• Answering call (I'm the most important person. You can tell, right?)
• Deleting inbox messages (some of them are really annoying)
• Jumping from one blog to another

FOUR WAYS TO BE HAPPY.

• Act in accordance to al Quran and Sunnah (I assure you! And you won't need the other three ways)
• Just be yourself (it's not good to be hypocrite, but it's good trying to be a better person)
• Simplicity in life (never underestimate nor overreact)
• Smile, because your smile can light up the world =p

FOUR GIFTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE.

• Toyota Fortuner (you wish la!)
• Set of LCD TV *wink wink*
• Emergency lamp (cikai2 pun takpe, corridor ni asek takde lampu je)
• Broadband (internet connection here is damn slow)

FOUR MOST FAVOURITES HOBBIES.

• Reading, when I have nothing else (i.e: quizzes) to worry about
• Watching, at home! Not really enjoy doing it at hostel
• Solving puzzle, only if I know how haha :) (otherwise I'll leave it unattended)
• Distracting people (bad girl!)

FOUR PLACES TO GO FOR VACATION.

• Spain, al Hamra' Palace
• Rome, pantheon
• Venice, Italy
• Pulau Sipadan pun okay la

FOUR FAVOURITE DRINKS.

• Chocolate blended
• Yogurt drinks
• Coconut shake
• Iced milo (just crossed my mind)

FOUR THINGS ALWAYS FOUND IN YOUR BAG.

• Keys (always)
• Mobile phone (may be)
• Notebook and pen (perhaps)
• Urm.. I don't know. Go check by yourself.

FOUR FAVOURITE COLOURS.

• Blue
• Blue
• Blue
• Blue (ooops! Did you mention four? Did you mean four, as in #4?)

FOUR MOST BELOVED PEOPLE.

• Mummy and daddy (for sure la)
• Siblings (Along, Biha, Yah, Apis)
• Everyone (I just said, I love you! Get it? ^o^)
• Actually, I haven't yet determined the level of how-much-i-love-someone. You know, you will always meet someone adorable and very much darling. But still, I do have a few people (a part from family) whom I love so dearly. *You know who you are, right? No need to mention here.

FOUR THINGS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO YOU.

• Cube
• Puzzle
• Accessory
• Gadget

FOUR PEOPLE YOU THINK WILL RESPONSE TO THIS SURVEY.

• Maryam (the first one who came across my mind)
• T rex haha (why of sudden disappearing from blogosphere? Just to give you an idea what to put on your new blog ^_^)
• Andak Ibtisam, Ucu Batrisya, Ateh Syaukatun Najlaa, hehe got you! (If you are free, okay. I know all of you are super duper busy)
• Hey! Don't think you are safe. Everyone who has gone through this entry, has been tagged by me haha *evil laugh*

THE REASON WHY YOU ANSWER THIS SURVEY.

• I don't know why ?_?. I need you to tell me why.

can we decide our fate?

It is examination season (except for my campus of course). Everybody is busy studying and revising what have been taught throughout the academic semester. For hardworking people (or should I say geek? =), it is about revisiting all those neural connection which have been established during classes or lectures. For the less fortunate, this period is a frantic combination of some revising and a lot of learning. No matter what state a person is in, one fact is obvious: everyone is hard at work.


From Umar alKhattab from the Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

If you relied on Allah a true reliance, He would provide sustenance for you just as He does the birds: they fly out in the morning empty and return in the afternoon with full stomachs. 

(Ahmad, An Nasaa'i, Ibn Majah, Al Hakim and At Tarmizhi)

Students (everyone else, in fact) are like birds. Just like the birds leave the nest everyday to look for worms, students leave their room everyday to search knowledge. Just like the birds looking everywhere their wings can take to find their sustenance, students attend lectures and classes to get the knowledge they need in life. Indeed, food can be found everywhere, so why do birds have to fly far and wide in order to find it? The key is, what they regard as beneficial food. Similarly, knowledge can be found anywhere under the sky. To get beneficial knowledge, however, we have to work a bit harder.

The reality is, we are blessed with the mercy of Allah. And He controls everything from the fact of where you are studying, in what profession you are in the future, to the spectacles you are wearing, colour of dress you are wearing today, and right down to every bacterium living in your stomach. It may be true that we have our own intentions and desires, and as the matter of fact, we have accomplished some of them in life. But, remember, that is because of Allah who lets us to have them.

We might want to achieve first-class honour this semester, and we may study during every single moment we have. If Allah wants, He can cause us a sudden pain in abdomen which leaves us stricken in the bed, what can we do? What can we do? And if it turns out that the pain is caused by an abscess in the liver which could be fatal (under influence of House ^^), who can help us?

...and in Allah should be faithful (Ever) put their trust. [3:122]

That's all the answer is. We are at the mercy of Allah's will. This is where we place the concept of tawakkal.

...and if anyone put his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah bestow) for him...[65:3]

Whoever relies on Allah, and then Allah will suffice for him. If Allah helps you in the examinations, then bring the toughest paper on Earth, you will definitely see the paper as a piece of cake. But if Allah leaves you in the exam hall with a sudden mental block, even the simplest paper will make you crying and shouting inside.

So, my dear, let us rely solely on Allah after all the preparations we made and all the efforts we boosted up  (not to mention the energy spent and sleepless night) at this particular moment. And don't forget to pray and ask forgiveness from Him.

At this opportunity, I would like to wish all of you, especially Biha, Yah, Maryam, Mas, Ama, Mary, Syira Saleh, Syira Brun, Jihad, Kak Ya, Kak Tiqah and everybody who are in the exam mode now (sorry for not mentioning your names, 'shoutbox' me more so I can remember you haha), good luck in your final exam, best of luck and may Allah always with you :).

*too late aisyah. they are about to finish the exam already!