A Thousand Farewells

A Thousand Farewells by Nahlah Ayed is a non-fiction book about Nahlah's life growing up in Winnipeg, her parents moving her back to Amman Jordan to a refugee camp to better connect her with her Palestine roots, to becoming a journalist.

I'm the type of person who loves to read.  My books oh choice are of the fantasy genre.  This is the first time that I've read a non-fiction novel that chronicles someones life.

What I liked about this book was the way Ayed painted a picture of every moment that took place.  It was easy to feel that I was there with her, seeing what she was seeing.

Even though she was able to tell her story so vividly, her book was very hard to follow. Most of her story jumped around from place to place, time to time.  Just when I thought I knew where I was, Ayed would jump to another location and time. 

The events that have taken  place in the Middle East, it's difficult for any one to be able to follow.  I believe that Ayed did her best to keep her story moving in a chronological fashion that would make sense for those reading her book.

Journalists can learn from this book that knowing your surroundings when traveling to a foreign country can be very helpful.  Knowing the language helped Ayed while in the Middle East.  She was able to understand what was going on, which was a huge advantage to her.  Journalists can also learn that they need to grow a thick skin.  Even after Ayed had been beaten in a mob, she still continued to go back and do her job.  If I was her I don't think I could go back after that.

Reading this book, I think, affected me in a different way than some of the others who read this book.  Knowing someone who has served over in the Middle East, who has seen what Ayed has described in her book, made me feel what she saw.  I felt connected to her words.  I also felt terrified. It scares me to think about what my friend has gone through.  To read it, that was very different. 

Valentine's Day With Friends

Happy Valentine's Day.

Though for most people, this may not be the 'happy' day it's supposed to be.

Valentine's day comes with a lot of stress.

I'm not talking about the stress guys feel about having to shop for a gift, or the over priced roses.

I'm talking about the stress the single population feels on this day of love.  It's easy to feel inadequate, and question why you're not with someone.  It's a pressure that needs not to exist.  Valentine's day shouldn't just be about showing/giving love one day a year. Instead it should act as a reminder that we need to show/give love everyday of the year.

I'm sure most of you might think I'm being ridiculous.  But I stand by my opinion.  I've only spent Valentine's day with a boyfriend twice in my life. Both times didn't exactly go the way I had hoped.  I'll admit I'm still hopeful for the Valentine's day that I'll feel was special and spent with the right guy.  Until that time comes, I'm not about to sit around crying about it, or forcing some guy to spend it with me when I know it's not right.

I almost spent this years Valentine's day with the wrong guy.  I briefly began seeing this guy at the end of January.  I thought he was this really sweet and caring guy (I'm sure he still is). Turns out, he's also a bit of a coward.  This past Sunday, he decides that maybe we're not right for each other. I'll admit we had our differences, but since when is that a bad thing? The point is, he wanted to end things but couldn't come right out and say it.  I had to end things for him, even though I didn't want to.  At least not yet.

I put a lot of hope in this guy when I shouldn't have.  Why, because I didn't want to be alone on Valentine's day.  I wanted to have the Valentine's day that I've been hoping for.  Now that this day is done, I'm glad that I didn't spend today with a guy I wasn't meant to be with.

Instead I spent today with three of my amazing girlfriends.  We went to Boston Pizza for heart shaped pizza, and I had a really great time just with my girls.

Valentine's day to me is about spending time with loved ones.  So if you're single one Valentine's day, Take A Moment to tell yourself that it's not a big deal, that it's just another day.  If that doesn't work, grab your girls and spend Valentine's day with them, since they're the ones who will love you no matter what.

Try it once before you say no

As I mentioned in my blog two weeks ago, I'm working on trying new things and opening myself up to, well, life.

I recently started seeing this guy, who is beyond sweet to me and makes me feel really good about myself.  He's a country boy (not the I'm into country music, but the I live outside the Perimeter kind of country boy).  He's into what I like to call the "rough n' tough"guy stuff.  He likes to go quading, snowmobiling, and shoot guns, among other things I'm sure.

He decided last weekend that he was going to take me out snowmobiling.  I was skeptical at first, having never been snowmobiling before.  But I told myself I would give it a try.  He was even sweet enough to lend me ski pants (that were too big for me but did the job) and a helmet. For the most part I enjoyed the experience.  I think it would have been better if he didn't go so fast and it wasn't ridiculously cold out (I'm not one for -40 weather).

I didn't scream in fear as he was hoping I would.  I sat at the front of the snowmobile as he stood behind me steering.  I just sat back and enjoyed the bumpy ride and the flying through the air.  Ok maybe not the flying part, that did scare me.  But I'm glad I went for the ride.

I came out of the experience virtually unscathed, only minor bruising on my knees.  I'm glad that I didn't say no to the experience.  It was worth the opportunity to say "I tried that".  I may not do it again, but at least I put myself out there.

Even though you may be scared to try something new, Take A Moment to try it anyways.  You just might enjoy the experience.

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