In this time and age, how do we single arab women in our thirties feel? How do we think those around us feel? What experiences do we go through, and how do these experiences affect our singlehood? Inspired from personal experience and of those of all the beautifully fabulous Arab Single Ladies out there, I hope this blog reminds us all just how amazing it is to be single! Or is it....?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Summary of 2011



Happy New Year!


In the past few days, and similar to the final days of every year, thoughts of the new year's resolutions would slowly form in my head, as well as thoughts of that ending year, and the memories I have gathered through it..

And, like every year, I start the year with high hopes of a better year to come, and of good times that will take place. This year, I was lucky enough to actually say that 2011 was a very good year for me, personally.

There are years that stick out (2005 still is my worst year, ever!), and I believe that 2011 is going to be one of these years. I found myself repeating this thoughts to myself often in the past few days, until I finally decided to come here, and write down what I remember of it, and what made these 365 days very special.

Well, for starters, I turned 30, and that is an age that I will always remember, because of it's 'sound'. All in all, I am excited to be stepping into my thirties, because I have never known myself or trusted myself more than I do now. I like to think that the twenties are actually a rehearsal for what the 'real thing' is, the Grand Thirties, and what makes it so special is that I have gone through so much in my twenties, gone through that right of passage from innocence and naivety to maturity and clarity, that I believe the thirties would be somewhat easier. Because I will see certain things, and I will think: I know how this will end, I have been there already, and make my decisions accordingly.

Having said that, there are also new experiences that I believe this decade will bring, and realistically speaking, some of which may not be pleasant, but I will have my friends, (those I have screened during the last decade and who I know are my real ones now), and my family,(now that I am done with the why-are-you-suffocating-me-let-me-be phase), a career that I have built and love, my independence that teaches me I am truly my own best friend, and all the other wonderful things that the twenties have (not so easily) given me.

Aside from turning thirty, I have gained a life-time friend this year. She was always a close friend, but this year, we hit a milestone in our friendship, and although the trigger was a difficult situation, the closeness that we now share is worth more than that, and will last until the last day of our lives. It is refreshing, as most ladies would know, to sit in your pajamas with your girlfriend and gossip and laugh and cry until the wee hours of the morning.

I have also lost a friend, unfortunately, one who was very close to me for the past 10 years. I have no grudges against him though, and I do understand that as we have matured over the past few years, we both have realized we are not the same people we were back in university days.. Yet, the impact of losing such a friend is not an easy one.

Still on friendship, I went through a very difficult experience last summer, with someone I trusted a lot and to whom I looked up to. My opinions of this lady were very high, and I have always hoped that I would get to be as peaceful and as 'Zen' as she was. Until I made the mistake of visiting her (she lives in another country) and realized that underneath that surface was a very aggressive and disturbed person. This again will be one of the memories that I know I will remember, but hopefully, by time, the pain will be less, and the lessons learnt will surpass it.

Well, I also met my Italian chef (who by the way will be visiting me again in 2 weeks) and I am sure all of you ladies understand the impact that a cute sexy guy pursuing has on life in general. Regardless of where this story would lead to, I know I will always remember this year, and remember the feeling of living a fairy tale: meeting a cute cute CUTE man on train in Venice.. Ah, isn't that just perfect?

I have also changed jobs this year, and I am blessed to be working where I am now, and I enjoy my work very much. I have gone through my share of horrible bosses and lousy companies to work for, and I have finally found a place where I can thrive. And I know that isn't easy in this time and day.

Although I only started this in the last few days of 2011, I believe I can still count it: I am quitting smoking, and I feel amazing about it already! Those close to me know that I was a very heavy smoker, and I have been using Champix (an amazing medication for quitting smoking for 9 days now) and have smoked less than 9 cigarettes in those 9 days. I am hoping to be entirely nicotine-free by next week, so wish me luck!

I am going to the gym regularly, and eating healthy, and that also makes me feel great about where I am right now. Because I feel I am on the right track, and fully prepared for all the beautiful things that 2012 is just about to bring me.

I wish you all a great year, and I hope that you chose what to remember of the past one carefully. One of my resolutions for this year is to try to see the full half of the cup this year, since I have realized that everything is a matter of perspective. So, I am shifting mine to the good scenes, to the bright spots. I am going to be happier and calmer and motivated. Because I am going to have to go through 2012 anyway (fingers crossed!) and so I choose to do so in the right mindset..

Wish me luck!













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