31 Life Lessons-Happy Birthday Sana!

Hello All,
For my upcoming birthday, I have penned down 31 lessons I have learned in my life. I am aware of the fact that I am still considered young and haven't experienced a lot in life- like marriage or children, but I have had my share of experiences. Please take time to read my words of wisdom that I have so lovingly written down for you guys.

1. Having tons of friends is re-assuring and fun, but having a loving and supportive family is so much more important.
2. A woman can be a mother, sister, daughter, and a wife, but above all has to be educated and have some financial independence.
3. It's not about having what you want, but wanting what you have.
4. Whenever life throws you a curve ball, yell, cry, but know at the end of the day, things always work out for the better.
5. Experience is when you don't get what you want. I will trade my experiences for nothing.
6. You can spend your life blaming your parents for the mistakes you think they made with you, or grow up and take charge of the person you want to be.
7. Building relationships takes years, ending relationships take minutes.
8. Learn about your heritage and lineage. It is the only true way to learn more about what makes you you.
9. Grandparents are cooler than parents, so if yours are alive, spend time with them. You never know when you have to say good-bye.
10. You spend your teenage years hating your parents. You truly begin to appreciate them when you are older. Learn to love them sooner. They are on your side.
11. The world can be beautiful and ugly. Discover it on your own by traveling. Nothing teaches you more.
12. Siblings know you when you were a child. They know you when you are old. No one will know you more than them your whole life.
13. Don't take your health for granted. Your body is a miracle. Take care of it as much as you can.
14. Money makes the world go round. Spending it wisely requires you to stop and think.
15. There will be a time when people you love will hurt or disappoint you.
16.  Nieces/nephews are the next thing to your children (I am guessing) that bring you closer to pure love.
17. Compare your problems with others. You will want yours.
18. No sound is sweeter than children laughing.
19. You truly appreciate sleep when you are awake at 3 in the morning.
20. Avoid shopping malls, if you can, during holiday season (doesn't apply everywhere).
21. Don't cry in front of your colleagues. It's the worst thing you can do. It is ok to cry in front of your boss.
22. Hobbies are expensive. Save some money and partake in them. They define who you are.
23. Words are just as loud as actions.
24. Reflection is the best way you can be the person you want to be.
25. You must be the change you want to see in the world-thanks Gandhi!
26. Laughing is infectious so is yawning.
27. The more wants you have, the less happy you are.
28. Getting into the college of your dreams is the biggest accomplishment of your young life. Staying in school and finishing is the next biggest.
29. Women want two things that are the hardest to deal with-men and children.
30. Date a lot of guys (nothing sexual here). You meet some great guys or they make some great stories.
31. Love who you are. After all, you will spend the rest of your life with yourself.

Ch..Ch..Changes

Turning thirty was a life-changing experience for me. Although my birthday was a low-key family affair, I didn't realize how great of an impact reaching this age will be on my personality. Still new to this decade, I have much more to learn from those who are older, but turning thirty has turned a switch on. No longer am I a vivacious, animated and cheerful twenty-something, but rather I have become a more serious, quiet, reflective human being who wants to become a better person than my former self-How so? That will be based on my choices and my unique journey. As you get older, your outlook on some areas of life become more refined as you learn the lessons life has prepared for you. You derive meaning out of these experiences and becoming a more learned and wise human being. The following are some important areas that each person embodies, and I have decided to write down how MY perceptions has changed after entering my thirties.

Relationships: In my twenties, my friendships and family were everything. I was a shy, but friendly young girl, who took time to make new friends. There was college- a time when I struggled to find my identity in a world much bigger than my high school and few friends. I gained independence, made life-long friends, and gained an asset that has helped me throughout my life-my degree. During this age and for the rest of my twenties, I traveled, got my first job, dated, while others got married, and had their first child. It was a time for many firsts. I made life choices that have me still being single, childless, and starting a new career at age 30. In my thirties, I am making peace with the choices I made in my twenties. This doesn't necessarily mean I have many regrets. It's just that I am left with a deeper understanding of who I was and why I made those choices. Many take the healthy approach and accept what choices they have made in the past, and after learning from their mistakes, become more wise and resolute in their actions. With my unique experiences as my backbone of my personality, I know what I can do and what I can't. What I am noticing is that while in my twenties, I was making friends with similar values to have fun with. In my thirties, I seek out more of a support structure. A husband becomes a life partner, friends become networking prospects, family become your confidant, and office colleagues become friends. The evolution of relationships carry over through all decades of your life-not just reserved for twenties and thirties.

Self-Image: After spotting my first grey hair at age twenty, I had a complete Laissez-faire attitude about it since it was the only one. I didn't think much about growing old or my looks changing. Since turning thirty I have spotted many few grey hairs and am becoming to brace myself against the prospect that I will not look young forever no matter how young I feel inside. While still struggling with adult acne, I often find myself worrying about wrinkles and closely observe my face and hands to see if I have some.   My self-image changes on daily basis. Sometimes I look at myself and feel completely happy with what I have, and other times, I am not. I don't often think about my looks, only until this annoying voice inside my head starts to focus my energy on what I look like. It's difficult to fight this voice, especially when it is present in my head as frequently as the day is long. Your self-image can change if you have supportive people in your life, but how one sees himself/herself is unique to each person and can stay consistent throughout their lives. 

December 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

The end of December is approaching marking the end of yet another year.  Time is flying by so fast that it has put me in a nostalgic mood. I would have penned down my happenings of the year, but I feel this year I have kept you quiet well-informed. Instead, I decided to focus on, in my opinion, the ten significant events/trends of the last decade.

It has been almost 10 years since the turn of the century (and millennium) or as I fondly remember the Y2K. Exactly ten years ago, the biggest threat to all mankind was the supposed implosion of all technological devices- a problem with likes that only John Connor could save us from. Luckily, year 2000 rang in with no technological apocalypse and the world has come a long way since then.

Disclaimer: Please note that these are my opinions and more important affairs have probably taken place that are not mentioned.

In no particular order:

Fashion

The 1970s had bell-bottoms, tie-die and platforms. The '80s had acid-washed jeans, leg warmers and shoulder pads. The '90s had the grunge look, the Rachel haircut and flared jeans. The ‘00s had:

1. The Mary-Kate Olsen Bag-Lady Look

The Mary-Kate Olsen’s “boho-chic” look, a.k.a pseudo-homeless look inspired women’s fashion for some time. You know the look: leggings or skinny jeans under a man-sized cardigan or a dress, large-framed sunglasses, flashy jewelry and a $3,000 Gucci handbag that can fit a week’s laundry.

2. Sweatpants with words across the bottom

They're those sweatpants that say 'Sexy' or ‘Juicy’ on the back. The sweats became a must-have item for the ladies (to be clear, I don’t own a pair).

3. Ugly Footwear

My first opinion of Uggs was “Uggs-the onomonopotania of shoes”. However, after flipping through numerous magazines with Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears sporting them with dresses and shorts, I caved in and bought a pair. Sure they look like an animal that is inside out (a sphinx cat if you will) but they sure keep your feet warm in these cold winter days.

Trucker hats, crocs, Live Strong bracelets, grills, Spanx, and many more fashion trends made the ‘00s another memorable fashion decade.

Celebrity/ Entertainment

4. Celebrity Life Choices

Celebrity lives became more transparent to the public due to an explosion of television shows, fan websites, and blogs dedicated to them. Celebrity pregnancies were of much interest, but what really got our attention were the unique baby names. Names such Suri, Shiloh, Rhyder, Apple, Audio, Camera, Ka-el (yes, as in Superman’s birth name) served not only as a conversation piece, but inspired the beloved celebrity baby name game during many baby showers.  Adoption among celebrities was another topic of discussion. Stars such as Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, and Madonna adopted from different countries that brought much attention to these impoverished countries and encouraged adoption in general.  Religion choices of celebrities also got public’s attention. Remember Madonna’s Kabbalah bracelets and Tom Cruise’s enthusiastic support of Scientology?

5. Reality T.V

Ahhh…reality television, an American institution. Long gone are the simple, “PG” rated days of “Candid Camera” and “The Newlywed Game”. These days, people are willing to display their entire lives (although mostly scripted) in front of millions of people, no matter how embarrassing, and I, like so many others, just eat it up.

6. Social Networking Websites (brownie points to those who can figure out whose literary voice I am trying to emulate)

The world has come a lot closer since the creation of social networking websites. Nowadays we know in an instant what our friends are doing, share pictures, say hello and learn about events around the globe. But some argue that these websites encourage self-exhibition and diminish the opportunities of real human contact. Is this true? Do we prefer socializing virtually to meeting in person or are these websites just another vehicle to keep in touch? After all, the motivation for online self-presentation is the very desire for social contact and curiosity about other people. And the supposed self-exhibition is merely a medium for exchange. But do people prefer solely keeping in contact with others behind safety buttons of ‘delete’ or ‘remove’? I couldn’t help but wonder, are we evolving past relationship building and just social networking?  

Politics

7. September 11^th, 2001

This event unarguably changed world’s politics. I, like so many others, exactly remember where I was when I first learned about it and the proceeding days. It was merely 4 years earlier that I was standing on the top of one of the towers looking over the city. There is a lot of debate about the root cause of this new type of terrorism and whether the approaches are effective or not.

8. The Bush Era

Regardless of your political views, Bush’s administration was one of the most talked about presidencies in recent history. Hurricane Katrina, No Child Left Behind, September 11, the Iraq war, War on Terror, tax breaks, (the Chenney hunting accident), and “bushisms” were all part of many political pundits and public’s conversations. He has many admirers and many critics. Only time will tell the long-term effects of his decisions and policies. 

9. Natural Disasters

These last few years have brought an overwhelming display of nature’s power. Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the tsunami in 2004, and the recent floods in Pakistan are all reminders of how fragile life is and how vulnerable we all are to unexpected (and sometimes expected) natural disasters.

10. Elections 2008

Election 2008 set records that are likely to resonate across the country for years to come. This campaign was marked by breakthroughs in race, gender, age, and communication via technology. The country fighting two foreign wars and facing an economic crisis saw a voter turnout not witnessed in generations. All of this culminated to the first African American President being voted into the Oval Office.

December 2009

Hello Friends,

Another year has passed and like many before, it brought in many highs and some lows. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season as you wind down and focus on what is most important- surrounding yourself with loved ones. As I reflect back on the year and look forward to the upcoming year I have penned down some memorable  experiences of 2009. Please read on.

Earlier this year, I overcame my fear of skiing. You may ask fear of skiing? Is there such a thing? Yes, my friends, there is. How this fear started is another story. In January, one of my friends invited me to a ski trip. Determined not to pass on my irrational fear to my future children, I reluctantly agreed in hopes I would successfully learn to ski. Needless to say, most of the morning was spent in crippling hesitation to go down the slopes. After many successful falls (hey, trying to stay positive here) I made a decision. I invested in private lessons with a coach and proudly learned how to ski. Next goal: to step off ski lifts without falling!

In March, I entered a new role in my life. I became an aunt! My wonderful niece was born on March 18^th and it was love at first sight. Her parents named her Sameeha Zahra. It has been quite a journey seeing her grow up right before my eyes. She recently started crawling and will be walking in no time!

This year I also met my favorite actor of all time- Shahrukh Khan. Being arguably the number one actor of Bollywood, he is ubiquitously associated with Indian cinema. After attending a wedding shower of a friend, which was aptly themed Shahrukh Khan by the way, we decided to stake out San Francisco’s W hotel where he was staying. This was a completely unplanned and spontaneous operation organized by my super stalker Berkeley friends ( I won’t mention their names, but you know who you are!). After three hours, he finally made an appearance alongside Karan Johar, Kajol, Jimmy Sherill, and Manish Malhotra (other Bollywood celebrities). Needless to say, he was startled by a group of doe-eyed twenty-something women with huge grins in his hotel lobby, but he was kind enough to take a few pictures.

The latter part of the summer was spent in Karachi, Pakistan. The trip consisted of everything essential in a Pakistani trip- plenty of food, non-stop shopping, going to the beach, watching Bollywood movies in the wee hours of the morning, and meeting family relatives. The highlight of the trip was having dinner each night with my cousins, aunt and uncle. Can’t wait to go back!

As I reread my writing, I realize how blessed I truly am. I hope you all recognize the blessings in your life. Please stay in touch. Happy New Year!!