HomeI’m definitely getting carpal tunnel in my left hand. Which makes typing very hard. Khalid’s old school (which we left because of it’s C- average as an educational institution) has a place for him. Which is far, far, better than nothing, Alhamdulillah. Tomorrow I go to meet the principal, InshaAllah. Alhamdulillah. 
In the mean time, here’s a question- what rewards you? What makes you feel warm and fuzzy and appreciated? This random survey is inspired by a rather rude but very astute thing that Mona said to me the other day. I was sharing my epiphany with her- that the harder I worked and the longer hours I clocked, the harder I found it to eat healthy. This, it would seem, is because I figure if I’m working this hard I deserve to eat tasty things. Mona’s reply? “You’re not a dog. Don’t reward yourself with food.”
(Right Brain: We’ve sent thirty emails and we haven’t eaten anything for the last seven hours, we deserve a scooby snack!)
(Left Brain: Do you have any idea how many calories are in scooby snacks?)
(Right Brain: Do you have any idea how long it took me to finish my email? Also, we haven’t cooked any dinner.)
(Left Brain: Point taken. Scooby-dooby-doo!)
After the initial shock (and possibly outrage) wore off, I had to agree with her. So here I am, trying to figure out what I can ‘reward’ myself with instead of food so that I can stop eating so poorly. I don’t have the finances (or the mindset, or the time) for retail therapy. And I am working for, InshaAllah, a reward from Allah, but it would seem that I need to tell the workaholic in me that he’s been a good doggy and deserves not a treat, but maybe some other calorie-free form of personal appreciation? Perhaps that will enable me to ‘cheat’ and ‘deprive’ myself of treats in favor of normal food?
So, what makes you feel appreciated?
October 16th, 2011 at 9:22 PM
lol actually i also reward myself with food but maybe you can reward yourself with a favorite hobby or outing with your HF
Or you can spend some time alone relaxing, reading a book, going to the park for a nice walk, or going shopping if you like shopping but its not really for me cause i’m not a big fan of shopping.
October 16th, 2011 at 10:51 PM
What makes me feel appreciated? When I see my abstract struggle manifesting itself. Inducing change, betterment and improvement. Its priceless.
Remember me in your prayers.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:29 AM
A trip to the Corniche with people who don’t like to talk too much either when they’ve come to the Corniche.
Quiet introspection, being the closest to nature that I can get.
Once in a while looking up to the night sky, straining to see the stars through all the light pollution, realizing that in spite of me being a tiny, leetle, minuscule, invisible, particle of a particle amongst the millions and millions of gigantinourmous galaxies and then heavens, Allah has blessed me, especially me, with such amazing, beautiful, gigantinormous blessings! Alhumdulillah! And believing that there’s good in all the troubles along my way, though I may not see it. Alhumdulillahi ala kulli haal!
Phew! I’m done, The End. =)
October 17th, 2011 at 10:15 AM
on a side note, all my delicious cream cheese frosting is over (so’s the cake!) and i still don’t know what i reward myself with. ideally, it should be me-time, guilt-free but that’s in an ideal world.
:/
October 18th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I still am not sure of what I reward myself with. I know when I do something I think was worthy I kind of congratulate myself. Self approval then?
December 6th, 2011 at 10:10 PM
I only feel appreciated when I have been excused from cooking and taken to lunch/dinner.
yes, a typical kaam chor!
Love, love, love you blog Abez. And you have beautiful, wonderful children. MashaAllah. Bless you, you are such an inspiration. May the Almighty make it easy for you to do what all you want to do.