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RESILIENCE PART 1: FOUR PEOPLE, FOUR POWERFUL LESSONS!

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When life places an obstacle in our path, do we see only the obstacle, or can we also see an opportunity to discover strength within ourselves that we never knew we possessed? Abstract Image created by yours truly - with a little help from AI This is Part 1 of 2 articles I am presenting - on important lessons we all need to study and practice to become resilient citizens of the world. Part 1 is about 4 chosen individuals who faced very different circumstances and who lived in totally different times zones and contexts - yet are epitomes of resilience. Some drew strength from faith, others from conviction, courage, education or a commitment to justice. Yet their stories share a common thread: they refused to let adversity have the final say in their lives. “Resilience is not measured by how many times we fall, but by how we rise, what we learn, and the person we become along the way.” So here are the four individuals -- in no particular order of preference or priority! Harriet Tubman (c...
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RESILIENCE - PART 2: The bloodstream of Hope

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Image created by yours truly - with a little help from AI Last week we reviewed 4 examples of souls who are epitomes of RESILIENCE. There are many many more similar cases - if not more poignant! But these four came to my mind immediately I started writing ... So why is resilience so important? Simple - because it is the bloodstream of HOPE. We build resilience because we have hope and want to give hope to our loved ones to live a more fulfilling life. A more comfortable life. An enjoyable life - but all this in accordance with HIS will and commands.  And without hope; life has no purpose!  Keep in mind that the underlying reason behind most suicides is hopelessness. So how do we build resilience in our lives? Here is jumble of ideas which I relate to. Whether you are Royal blood or a humble person like 99.99999% of human beings on earth; life will throw challenges at you - from expected and unexpected angles. Some will be major life-changing events, and some will be minor irri...
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CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF

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Recently, whilst listening to a podcast on "Anger Management," the reader repeatedly mentioned the need for and importance of 'Checking in with yourself" regularly. By this he meant self-talk, self-evaluation, mindfulness! My late father; Ahmed Khan Juma Khan - regularly talked to himself whilst solving puzzles or a mathematical equation or any other situation. What I noticed is that it guided him to solve issues analytically - step by step! Even when faced with a social issue or domestic problem - he applied the same tact. And it worked! I too have somewhat picked this habit ... gladly so! So, when faced with a tricky design situation on the drawing pad I apply the same method. I talk myself to a solution.  But there is immense strength and potential in developing this further to be applied to our lives in virtually all aspects of our daily interactions. And these interactions need not be limited to design challenges or mathematical equations but even mundane daily ...
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MAKE YOUR BED EVERY DAY!

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"The first thing I do in the morning is to make my bed and while I am making up my bed, I am making up my mind as to what kind of a day I am going to have." — Robert Frost I live by this citation! Years ago, I accidentally met an Arabic-looking man at Moi International Airport in Mombasa. I was walking up and down the departure lounge - catching up on my daily obsession of steps target. As I continued, he surveyed the expansive lounge - looking for a seat. And found one - for the lounge was largely empty. But on the seat, he found an empty plastic soda bottle strewn upon it and a plastic wrapper for Lays Crisps - someone had left the trash on the seat. He picked these up and walked to the distant waste bin. And at the same moment, I reached near the same waste bin and greeted him.  "Assalamu Aleikum" - assuming he was Muslim ( I profiled him as an Arab and thus Muslim - judging a book by its cover! ). "Aleikum Salaam," he replied confidently and with purpo...
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GIVE WAY - AVOID LIFE RAGE!

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  I vividly remember two uncles from my dad's side. Ali & Afzal. By the time my memory started recording - the others had passed on and I cannot remember them. But Ali and Afzal - I remember them vividly because they were around longer whilst I was still a young boy and well into adulthood. And as fate would have it - both Ali and Afzal have also passed on. We are all headed there anyway - so no novelty in this! Amongst the many superb qualities and talents my uncles had - they were avid amateur musicians. Ali could play the tabla (one of many Indian drums) and Afzal could do the Mouthorgan and any other Indian instruments that he could lay his hands on. Ali and Afzal were also good marksmen with their Air Rifles. They were also very good swimmers and fishermen - a trait they picked from none other than my grandfather - Mr Juma Khan Kabul Khan. They were good with their hands and could fix almost anything that needed fixing - they were handy men! Electrics, Plumbing, Cars, Wood...
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OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE - TIME!

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Almighty God; in His infinity mercy and fairness gives each one of us exactly 24 hrs per day. Irrespective of our status in society or quantum of our wealth or lack of it. Irrespective of our physical characteristics or condition. Irrespective of how old or young we are - God still awards us 24 hrs per day. The Thieves, the Kings, the Presidents, and also the Mighty and the Meek - all receive the same allocation! This is the precious PRESENT He awards each of us. The present (the gift) is the PRESENT (the here and now) itself! There is no greater nor more precious gift that the Present itself - the here and now! Most of us live life as it comes. And before we realise it; the day is over! And before long our lives are over! We have regrets - secret and open regrets. Many of us don't even want to talk about them (the regrets) - these are demons of a past life - a life which just recently - not too long ago - we were in the midst of. We are suddenly battling restricted movement - mayb...
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THE POWER OF INTENTION!

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Does this sound familiar? Life has passed us by. We are now in our twilight years.  There are many regrets - most of them silent, unsaid, hidden and deep secrets - that keep mowing into our subconscious minds and even deeper into our very souls. Some of us have lived comfortably; others not so much ... this is fate, Qadr as we call it! But as things stand - modern life can be harsh. Many times, we live in a constant state of overwhelm and then frequently we have a tendency to overthink absolutely everything… we draw back and detach, only allowing ourselves to think about the very next thing on our list. Or we get so caught up in the cycle of overthinking so much that we never stop long enough to actually DO anything!  Before we even realize it, years pass - life is like a river: it flows on in spite of the situations we are in...  And in no time, we realise - Life has already happened to us!   We haven’t been living an intentional life, and we barely even noticed. Th...
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