It's that time of the year again. We close another chapter of our lives and begin a new one, of empty pages yet to be written.





As usual comes the strings of new year resolutions: lose weight, find a partner, get a job. Though actually how many of these resolutions actually get fulfilled while others mostly get swept under the carpet and simply become the next year’s resolution, time and time again?

As for me, I never really make plans every time the new year comes. But what I do have are long term goals of what I wish to achieve in life; a bucket lists of the things I want to do before I die.

My bucket list (in no specific order):

  •  Finish my degree in dental school
  •  Get a degree in Psychology, Islamic Studies, and English Literature
  •  Masters in prosthodontics (maybe)
  •  Get married and build a family
  •  Publish my writings
  •  Start up my own charity
  •  Travel the world with the people I love
  •  Go on humanitarian missions/volunteer work
  •  Build my own house in a paddy field



I suppose once I have listed small goals instead of large ones, I feel very much contented when I do achieve what I want to be. Instead of trying so hard to achieve big unattainable targets, setting small ones like these make the path easier to travel.

But one thing we must always remember is not to plan so much, particularly regarding the timing of events in our lives. I used to make that mistake; graduation in 5 years, marriage after graduating, work, kids, etc. But we as humans can only plan, ultimately God is the One who will arrange the timeline of events that occur in our lives. Since my move back home, my life has made a total 180 degrees turn and my life went through a major change. As much as we plan, He will always have a better and bigger arrangement for us, which is better than what we may expect, and is beyond our knowledge, because He is the All Knowing.

You know how it is. Sometimes we plan a trip to one place, but something takes us to another.
~ Rumi


Some of these things in my list, I have achieved a lot earlier than I planned; like starting my own charity and publishing my writings, while others, like my studies, and even marriage is still a long way to go for me. The timing for two different person will never be the same, as the best that is meant for each one is different as well. God will give us things when we are ready. Trust me, been there, done that.


Writing for Palestine in  Champak4Ghaza


Though I do hope that 2015 will be better than the last for me. 2014 was great, but I'm hoping that this year will bring me some sweet surprises along the road as well. 

Hopefully, InsyaAllah,