World Affairs And Beyond

The Victorian Inn

  Some of the best thoughts I miss penning down When in the night,  They cross my mind When in the dark basement I lie alone to sleep -- Sobia Saleh

Life in general is not easy for most or almost all of the living beings. My life is not easy, in that I have made it difficult for myself. I follow a certain set of rules in life. I do not break them. I do not deal with people who break them. This makes it a bit hard for me to go about life in the modern world. I have seen people lying and cheating. In while dealing with people, I am dead honest. I expect the same in return. Somebody somewhere will always cheat and lie. Somebody will always deceive you. When someone lies to me, or tries to deceive me, I avoid them the next time. No matter how important they are for the work I need done. They are out of my list for ever. The same goes for everything.

When something breaks on the outside, on the physical level, it is easy to fix it. When you get wounded on the outside, it is easy to apply medication or to even wear a splint, with the hope that it will heal soon. When something goes wrong with any of our other physical systems, it is easy for the doctors to fix that too. When something goes wrong with you emotionally, time can heal that easily without any special attention or remedy. When it come to spiritual damage, what do you do, when you are handed over a group of individuals who are completely derailed, morally corrupt, damaged or turned into barbarians and you are asked to fix them? How long would it take you to undo the damage that was caused to them? This is the one thing that I am still trying to figure out.

A sad incident at Jinnah College for Women University of Peshawar today, that I came to know of hours ago, has left me quite confused. Death cannot be cheated, we know that, but does that mean we should let the one in pain suffer to the extent of finally dying? A seventeen years old girl Maria Ayub, at Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar started suffering which seemed to be a heart attack, early this morning at college, around 7:30am. The students say that they argued with the teachers asking them to take her to the hospital, but the teachers said they were not allowed to leave college without the college principal's permission. The principal was not in college that early. They waited for 30 minutes till the girl breathed her last. Were there no disprin or aspirin tablets? Were there no male members or workers in the office who could drive any of the several vehicles standing there? Could not any female teacher take her to the hospital? I remember living at ...

At the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI), Peshawar.

  P.S: If I say, click on the graphic and it will blow up on your screen. That does not mean it will explode. :-P

If someone if unfair to you, don't worry about it. They will get what they deserve, while you will get what you deserve. It may take some time, as we know that, nature works at a slow pace; but justice is served sooner or later. Everything falls in the right place at the right time. Things happen when they should happen. For that happening, you however have to be prepared. For you and I, life has a plan of it's own.

Fear of something in the hearts and minds of individuals, kills their chance to peace and harmony. Fear breeds anger. Only those who do not fear, can succeed. When we fail to understand something, we begin to fear it. Fear leads to hatred and anger. We avoid what we hate and eventually deprive ourselves of an opportunity to get to know something good. Have you ever seen wild animals? Do you know we can tame even the wild wolves? Animals too can sense fear in a human, and that is when they attack only the individuals who fear them, since the wild animals can sense the unfriendliness in the hearts of those individuals. People who tame these wild animals do not fear them. They approach them with the determination to befriend them. That is the reason why they succeed in communicating with the wild animals.     You use force against something only when you fear it. You hate something only when you fear it. You fear  something only when you fail to understand it. If yo...

God must not care for whether someone wears a designer dress or is clad in rags. He may not care for whether someone is what we call ugly or perfectly beautiful. God may have his own definition of beauty. He may not be intimidated by someone's wealth. Today, I saw an old man sitting by the road side, all alone by himself, and he seemed very happy. He was in rags yet he did not seem to want anything. Right next to him, rich men were driving by, in their expensive cars. The man in rags was at peace. He did not wish for what those other men had. This poor man was wishing every passer by every happiness in the world. He was wishing out loud, when someone would walk by him. He was not begging. If riches were precious to God, He would have showered them over only his good people. That which we call beautiful is not the only beautiful to Him and that which we call ugly, is not the only ugly to Him. Riches to us, may not be riches to Him, while nothing to us may not be...

Just because you're getting older, doesn't mean you have to get old.

  We may not always know what we want, but we sure do know what we do not want.

A saying goes that you are only as old as you feel. That is right. You act old when you feel old, and you act young when you feel young. It is not always about how you look, or about how your skin appears to others. Most of us strive to look youthful on the outside. People will do almost anything to retain their youth, especially the women. They will try everything to keep their skin from getting cracked or wrinkled, and their hair from turning grey.     I know someone who constantly worries about how her face is getting all wrinkled up. Worrying and applying almost anything on her skin to try to make it appear youthful. Staying young does not necessarily have to mean looking sixteen in the skin or hair. Even if looking sixteen is all that matters, then going for external remedies like surgery and creams is not a long lasting solution. Even if you go for a skin surgery, you will eventually look the same over a period of time or even much worse. If you want to remain y...

Sometimes we may find ourselves in an impossible situation, where some people may constantly be trying to hurt us. Since childhood till this very day, I too, am faced with such people. I used to cry my heart out for hours and hours, wanting to change the unkind people into good human beings, working toward making them become peaceful creatures. I have realized that the best thing to do in order to get such people off one's back is, to let them be who they are, and steer clear of them; because all they know is how to blame and hurt others. No matter how much kindness you show to the unkind who is stronger to you, it may not work, it may not change them. Keep in mind that, where ever they go or whoever they meet, they will remain who they are. It is better to change your own course or direction instead. If you do not hear what they say about you, or not see what they do, you will not get hurt. Simply do not let yourself get hurt at all. We get hurt only when we expect a good tr...

Those who need to pay heed, don't read. That is how it is. People who need to learn to be good human beings, do not read all the quality literature available that can put them on the right track. Even if they ever get a chance to google or pick up a magazine, that will be for either fashion tips, or something totally unrelated to what they need to read in order to live in peace with the world around them. They remain uneducated on the things they should be educated on. As a result, we see disharmony in the world.

You can hide the sun with your thumb, out of only your own sight; but you cannot prevent it from shining it's light. What is meant to be, will be. You may knock someone down physically if you have the physical strength, but you cannot ever kill their spirit. Sooner or later, they will rise back up, and no matter how many times you try to knock them down, they will keep rising back on their feet. There is no stopping that ! You may try to be a carbon copy of someone, but you cannot ever be them. Messing with those who do not mess with you, willingly or unwillingly, is like inviting trouble or challenging the laws of nature. How better would it be for everyone of us, if we would show a little care for those around us, instead of trying to knock them down, only to make ourselves look better than they are. The tragedy with most people is, that the only way they think they can look good or get popular, is to try to make the person who they think is much better and talen...

First of all, I would like to say that I am a believer. A believer in the impossible even. I do believe that things are possible and nothing is impossible to achieve. My mind is open to all kinds of possibilities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) recently sent a 900 kg (2,000 lb) car-sized robotic rover, called "Curiosity" to Mars for exploring the Gale Crater. Curiosity landed successfully on the Martian surface in August 2012. It is a great feeling to know that we are finally landing on other planets now, this being the first step toward the whole idea of us someday being able to move out toward Mars or some other planet for shelter; if need be. But; did curiosity actually land on Mars? How do we know that which we see, which they are showing us, is actually Mars out there? Is it even out there in space, or do we see images and videos of some place right here?

Yes, that is true. It is not power that corrupts people. Power and money only unveils the true self of a being. When on a good position and in power and authority, a person will have the capability to do what his heart desires. The corrupt will desire corruption. They will abuse their authority, strength and power. You must have come across bullies in life, they are the miscreants who abuse the little physical strength that they possess. Some people may pretend to be all nice and decent, but as soon as they get a chance, they will stab you in the back. It is all a matter of chance. The moment that reveals their true colors. Such people will appear to change when their circumstances change, but in fact it is only now that their inner selves come into the limelight.

Remember the good old "Bunch"? Yes, this is me playing bunch. :-P Doesn't all text appear small and squarish after you play "bunch"?

Things worthwhile don't come easy !

How unfortunate is the person who when achieves success or happiness, has no family to share it with? Even more unfortunate than this person is one, who has a family but his achievements do not matter to them; especially to the parents, who instead of rejoicing at their children's success, belittle their efforts. Much worse than this, would be parents discriminating against one of their children, while rejoicing at others' success. What would you say to that? Home is where the heart is! Perhaps God does not consider it important for all humans to have such biological relations who would share their happiness with them. Biological relations are not the only relations in the world. Those who rejoice at our success are our true family, true friends and true relationships. Home is where we are welcomed and loved.

Zigar Jan (Ama), my great-grandmother. She was the mother of my paternal grandmother, and maternal grandfather. A true princess, as much as I can recall.  To me, she is like no other woman I have ever known. There are some wonderful things I remember about her from my childhood. She was the only lady who ever defended me and loved me. If it wasn't for her, I would never ever have seen a mother's love in my life. Though she was my great-grandmother, which is like a distant relationship, yet, today I remember her, only for the fact that she loved me, cared for me, and did not hesitate in defending me against those who disrespected and disregarded my view point in life, even during my childhood days. She saw me for who I was, and loved me for that. She actually listened to me. Not many grown up ladies listen to kids or value their opinions. I learnt from her, that if I listen to a little child today, give my love and care to them, tomorrow they will remember me for that, the ...

Me: Dusty, speak to me ! Dusty: You are surrounded by toxic elements these days. Your profound anger is impossible for me to absorb. I better stay silent. Me: :-S :-O

Poor is not he, who does not have money, poor is he, who does not have peace. Poor is he, who is not at peace; for even money cannot buy you inner peace.

Dusty says,  "You don't necessarily have to make one person's life miserable, in order to make another person happy."

After alot of deliberation, I have decided to give Dusty a chance to be on my blog. So from now on, I will be adding Dusty's voice to my blog too. Stay tuned to Dusty !

Ask me to speak, only when you have the courage to hear the truth. Most people invite me to speak. I speak the truth, and the wolves in sheep clothing get offended. People may ask you not to be blunt, not to speak the truth and to learn to lie. If you fear others, then learn to lie, otherwise, know that you have to live with yourself all the time, therefore speak the truth if you do not want to live with a liar.

Politics is an art, while leadership is a quality. Art is a quality too, but politics has become dirty business. The art of politics is made dirty by the dirty lot. Never confuse a politician with a leader, anywhere in any walk of life. To have the true ability to lead is much more than just politics.  Politics is - fashion.

The ultimate goal of our existence is not to get something material in life. It is to be at peace within. You may get everything you want and still may want more and more, you will remain poor, for as long as you keep on wanting. The day "you" achieve peace within, you would want no more. It is something that will make you feel like there is nothing in the universe that you want anymore; because, inner peace - if you have truly even known it; is literally "everything" that there is, that one will ever want to have. We are actually striving for peace without even knowing it. Some think it lies in money, some say, in love. While each human being holds it within himself at all times. We just need to dig deeper into our souls and find it.

Don't you see yourself? Don't you see the way you smile? Don't you feel the magic That surrounds - your existence You are breathtaking, you are enchanting Don't you see how beautiful, you are? Don't you see the world - Reflecting in your eyes. Don't you see your lips? Like petals on a rose. Don't you see your presence? A life giver - a whole universe, in one soul. © Sobia Nosheen (16th July 2012)

Ultimately everyone fears God. Even the so-called atheists. Nobody is ever free of fear. It's really amazing to see how, by the end, only God's rule prevails. People will always have a "god", for people are just people. Watch them run for their lives when the earth shakes. Watch them fast; out of fear (of anything), during the month of Ramadan. They fast because they "fear" some god. There is always a "god". Be it the fear of God Almighty, be it the fear of their godly neighbors, godly traditions, godly culture, or any other small worldly god. Nobody is ever in a state of actual godlessness.    

That little boy at the end of this cart is the owner, selling these fine dates. Peshawar Saddar after 9:00 pm on a Sunday night, is crowded no more.

The sun shines on everyone alike, regardless of their worth. The sun shines according to it's own worth. Each one of us behaves according to our own worth. If I am big, I have more kindness to offer. If I am small, I have not much good to offer. Nothing good ever comes out of a worthless being.

  You cannot drink out of an empty vessel/glass. If that vessel even has a hole in it, then it will never hold any water for you. Do not be upset when some people are not kind to you. They are like this empty vessel/glass. They lack greatness. They do not have respect, gentleness or kindness to offer. They are empty people.

Do not make life more difficult than it already is. You do not get a chance to live, if you keep judging and thinking. If life gives you a chance, do not ever waste it finding excuses for why it should not be or why it should be any different than it is. Life is all about doing the impossible, daring and living what others think you cannot do or live. Life is about deciding and sticking to your decisions. The dead in spirit do not decide. It is not sad to die physically, but it is tragic to die in spirit. Keeping your spirit alive is counted as success. Over burdening yourself with the thoughts of how things should be or how they should not be, is denying yourself the right to live, enjoy, learn and grow. Take life by the horns !

When I am forced to die - ...colored marbles and broken glass pieces that I can see through for hours, different colored paints that I can mix to make some more colors, clouds of different shapes and colors in the sky above me, turquoises of all shades, and; at night, looking into the deep endless starry sky; are a few of the things that make me happy even when I am forced to die a death I do not want to.

Sonnet 148 O me! what eyes hath love put in my head, Which have no correspondence with true sight! Oh, me! What kind of eyes has love put into my head that I don’t see anything accurately? Or, if they have, where is my judgment fled, That censures falsely what they see aright? Or if my eyes do see correctly, what’s happened to my judgment to make me wrongly criticize what they see?

When the sun doth shine ! There will always be a rainbow after the rain !

I do not like explaining the clouds because they are self explanatory. There is so much going on in there and so many images, shapes and forms; it is like a huge novel unfolding page after page on it's own. All you have to do is, to sit silently and watch what they do. Let the clouds amaze you. In the dark sky !

In a dream within a dream Death came to me as roots of trees While I was lying beside a baby On the floor of the roof of a house It covered me, layer by layer Silently, in my sleep I woke up from my slumber I was fine, the baby was fine I looked around, and all was fine I then walked out a door Into a club, where people waited in line For their fortunes, old women told I waited for a long time, For my name to be called out Getting tired of waiting I walked up to the one in charge He said he could not add my name I waited still, hoping to know I saw them all clueless about something I knew the answers the solutions I remember a lady, struggling with A molten piece of glass I took it from her hands; and Made some bubbles out of that She was pleased; she thanked me They could not tell my future For they could not see it Only I had the key They did not know it So I walked out that club; in my dream. Sobia Nosheen © April 22, 2012

Today, my new pet lizard reminded me of my old pet lizards back in my school days. They are loyal pets. Everyone must have a pet lizard to protect them from those ugly brown, beastly, winged, flying, creeping, dirty, bacterial, scary roaches. My pet lizard ate the sh*t out of a roach and saved my life today! Yayyy! During my school days, I had two pet lizards. They lived in the fireplace in my room. They would stay awake all night watching over me while I would be studying for my exams. They would protect me from cockroaches in the dark. It would make me happy to know they were around to eat the roaches before they could attack me. :-P lol

Around Peshawar  I was struggling with an injury, so lying on the backseat and thought I would take some photos of Peshawar. Here they are :-)