Wednesday, September 29, 2010

(NOT) TO FORGIVE AND (NOT) TO FORGET

In life, sometimes we have to make choices when it comes to the next course of action once a (bad) relationship is over. When I say relationship, it can mean anything and everything. It can be a relationship between lovers, spouses, colleagues, friends, relatives and even siblings. Should any connection with the other party continue or should it stop? Should any casual relationship be allowed to exist or should everything be best put to rest? Someone who has been hurt badly in a relationship might go for one of these options but it is definitely difficult to make the right decision since a lot of factors can come into play.

a. to forgive and forget
b. to forgive but not to forget
c. not to forgive and not to forget
d. not to forgive but to forget

I have always believed that for everything and anything that has happened, it is better to forgive and forget. All that has changed and I'm not even sure if it's for the better. I am trying to learn to erase certain people, places and memories from my life. It's one of the most difficult decisions that I've made but I do have a lot of scars, bruises and injuries on my soul to prove and I do not want to add even another scratch to it. At the moment, I simply cannot afford to be my 'old self' anymore. My decision might seem harsh and irrational to some people but there is no more room for all these. In other words, the bitter past is over and there will never be a second chance for it to slide back into my life. I have to move on and look to the future. Good experiences will be kept tight in the corners of my mind. That is where they belong. I have always cherished them (and always will) but don't expect me to be bound to them as if they were the most precious things in my life. The opposite, on the other hand, does not even deserve to be part of my life anymore. I've been grounded for too long and I want to learn how to fly. Naturally, I cannot be weighed down by any emotional burden and sentimentality. I am not saying that this is going to be my principle forever since nothing ever stays the same but at this moment, this is how I feel...

Sunday, September 19, 2010

HOW TO BE A DIVA

Welcome to DIVA 101. This is a short course on how to be a real diva. Here you will find tips that will help you become the envy of every woman alive. These tips are not in any particular order but each and everyone of them is as important as the other so don't try to skip any. Simply follow them religiously and success is guaranteed to be yours. If you fail, don't bother retaking it. It simply means you are not meant to be one. Other recommended courses : NERD 101, JOCK 101, SLUT 101.


Lesson 1 : It can be real or it can be fake but you still need to have it. Lots and lots of it. The bigger, the better. No self-respecting diva can be seen without 'it' being in its proper place. What is it? HAIR. As mentioned earlier, it can be yours, it can be fake, it can be somebody else's but you still need to have it. Just look at Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor. Local example : Sharifah Aini.

Lesson 2 : Lots of glitter (not shine). You can have glitter on your clothing. You can have glitter on your hair. Or you can have glitter on your make-up. Just remember that the Vegas showgirl look is a definite NO. Go for classy glitter not trashy. Again, Diana Ross is the perfect example.

Lesson 3 : Never explain yourself. Explaining yourself shows that you care too much about what other people say which translates yourself as someone who is not confident enough to brave the wilderness. A diva could care less about gossips and rumours surrounding her. There is nothing mysterious about her. She simply has a nonchalant attitude. Madonna will never be the diva she is today if she has to explain every single controversial thing that she does (which is a lot).

Lesson 4 : Be over the top (even if you can't really afford it). Being over the top depends on your attitude not the size of your Swiss bank account. There are women who definitely will have more money than you do but they can never be the divas they aspire to be. So maximise and optimise your situation and your lifestyle. Some people say that the sky is the limit but a diva can definitely go beyond that. Extravagance and opulence are the keywords here. Examples : Kimora Lee Simmons and Naomi Campbell.

Lesson 5 : Jewelry. You can buy them, borrow them, rent them or even steal them. It doesn't really matter what you do as long as you have them. First choice : Diamonds. One carat and above. Nothing less than that. If possible, of rare cut and colour. Nothing can top that and it's the definite status symbol. Second choice : no second choice actually. No costume jewelry and please no imitation either. Anybody can spot a fake from a mile away. And never ever wear rhinestones.

Lesson 6 : Marry well and marry rich (not someone with the surname 'Rich' okay?). It also doesn't hurt if you marry more than once but make sure you don't come out of any marriage with nothing. Never marry someone who is below your social status unless it's your third or fourth marriage and you have enough from your previous marriage to support your definitely younger toy boy. Learn something from Rita Hayworth and Liz Taylor.

Lesson 7 : Never show your weakness(es) in public. Never succumb to your own emotions in public. A diva can fall from grace when she shows that she is just like any other woman out there. Shed a tear (two at the most) and quickly wipe it (them) from the corners of your eyes but never sob.

Lesson 8 : Never stay at home waiting for something to happen. Make sure you are always in the public eye. You can go out socialising, doing charity work or even be in jail. Just make sure the press and the paparazzi know you are in there. Bring an entourage if possible. The more is definitely the merrier. Remember that the universe revolves around you.

Lesson 9 : Dress as if you have a socialite party to attend. Wear designer clothes which sound exotic and foreign (if possible, the ones which are barely pronounceable). Leave Guess, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger to the kids. Choose Badley Mischka, Emilio Pucci, Diane von Fürstenberg or Yohji Yamamoto instead. Patronise an aspiring designer if you like his or her work. Drop the label if it has become too commercial.

Lesson 10 : Never pay cash. A diva doesn't have time to deal with real money. Imagine looking for coins in your purse when it should be holding your blood-red lipstick. Leave the paying part to your assistant and your accountant. American Express only, please. No Visa or MasterCard.

Lesson 11 : High heels. You can be a six-footer but nobody says that you cannot wear them. No ballerina slippers or worse, sandals. Stilettos if you can balance yourself well. Don't horse-walk and don't drag your heels. Just sashay and float. Paint your toe nails if you have to show them but not in garish colours. RuPaul is almost seven foot tall but that doesn't stop him from hitting the roof in his heels.

Lesson 12 : Never curse and never swear. Leave all the four-letter words to the hoes from the ghettos and the bitches from the hood. Be acidic and sarcastic but never bitchy. Come up with witty remarks and unforgettable quotes. And no shouting either (not in public anyway. You can always shout at your domestic help at home if necessary).

Lesson 13 : Smile but don't grin. Grinning is for girls who think they can attract guys by showing their pearly whites. Plus grinning always makes anybody look stupid. You are a diva not a bimbo so smile like one.

Lesson 14 : Leave a trail of exotic scent wherever you go but never divulge to others what it is. If you can afford to have a perfume named after you then so much the better. Visit a perfumer ('le nez'  if you are a snob) to create your own personalised perfume and make sure it is packaged to reflect your 'divaness'.

Lesson 15 : Never ever proclaim yourself as a diva. A diva is like a queen and a queen does not need to tell her subjects that she is one. She knows who she is and her subjects do too. But remember a queen can always be dethroned so protect yourself well.


If you think you can follow these simple steps, then you are ready to enroll in Diva 102 which is definitely more comprehensive and intensive than this introductory course. There will be no test (which means no retest) or final exam. Only an on-going assessment of your progress and status. Good luck!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

HAVE A BLESSED EID 1431H

To all, may we have a blessed Eid this year and may peace be with all of us.

Monday, September 6, 2010

MY RAMADHAN

A few more days and the fasting month will be over. Muslims all over the world will be celebrating Eid and Syawal will soon take the place of Ramadhan. I haven't done much preparation for the celebration except making some cookies yesterday (which turned out okay) and cleaning the house (which was very therapeutic for me). Really pathetic I know but I can't do more than that. I'm not in the mood for a lot of things lately and I feel emotionally drained. I've been going through Ramadhan this year like a zombie and it's not a very pleasant sensation. To my frustration, I can't even pinpoint the exact reason(s) for the turmoil I'm experiencing inside. I'm sure it's not midlife crisis (I went through that a few years back) and it's definitely not andropause (not going to have that in the next few years at least). I want to blame it on the weather but I'm too smart to pick on anything that can't defend itself. Neither can I put it on the people around me since nobody has done me any wrong (nothing that is that serious anyway). So what is the problem here? I guess I only have myself to blame. A lot of bad and sad things are happening around me and I guess I can't take them anymore. A few people I know passed away unexpectedly this Ramadhan. A good friend is having serious marital problems after twenty years of marriage. Another good friend is breaking up with his lover. The devastating flood in Pakistan. Some people taking my kindness for weakness. The negativity and depressing news in the media. The list goes on and on. My emotions are too fragile at the moment and I can't handle all these things simultaneously. I'm sure this feeling is temporary and I'm also sure that I will soon recover from this minor emotional disorder (I don't have any other choice, do I?). It's just that I hate feeling so helpless and weak. In retrospective, I believe all these things are blessings in disguise. On second thought, it has been a great Ramadhan and I am thankful that I am still breathing to bask in all its wonder. I'm sure that Syawal is going to bring new lights, new insights and new directions into my life.
آمين