Related Thoughts:
A Spiritual Revolution
Love or Hate? 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that the other day I was thinking about a spiritual revolution. I thought that this is needed to happen, because when we use the umbrella term of Spirituality, for any belief or practice we are paving the way for allowing the beliefs of all without contending that one belief or unbelief is better than the other. I say this because I think of the many wars, sectarian divides that have, and are still taking place because of religion. But I don't think religion or having some sort of belief is a bad thing. Belief is a mechanism that grounds the soul. In my view it is essential for moral and spiritual development. Sometimes it is our human experience that teaches us, even if we don't hold a belief. We all have a soul, spirit, or that inner voice. A part of the self that cannot be seen, but also requires to be developed.

     But for the spiritual revolution to work, it really entails the idea of respect. Respecting each others belief as sacred as the others. It is not intended to abolish one's belief, but to continue with traditions, practices that are carried out to instill belief, to recognize each others faith. For example: We have reached probably the most sacred time of the Christian calendar, and even more so for the Catholic Christian. After the time of ending for Lent, and Good Friday, weekend, and Easter Monday. Both a time of deep reflection about the suffering, and rising of the spirit of Jesus Christ. By reaching out, being respectful to all who observe the traditions and beliefs simply shows respect. The respect shown to another faith does not diminish your own faith.

     At a time where there is a multitude of diversity, religious, and cultural, it only seems correct to think of ways to integrate peacefully and respectfully, with each others religiosity, than to continue with religious warfare and sectarian divides. And as it is the time of Easter, I call upon the deep reflection of the holy blood that has numbed my body, only to hope for the spirits rising to that of happiness, hope, peace, and tolerance. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 30th, 2018.
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Related Reading
Reflection: March For Our Lives
The Untold Story 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 
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     The truth is that I was taking the time to think upon my previous thoughts, particularly with regards to our human experiences, our stories, and how we decide to share these. I wrote about how the way we share stories will also affect how they are perceived. Even though my thoughts were geared towards the March For Our Lives, they can also be thought about from a scientific point of view. When we hear stories, or experiences that are about a particular subject, we can call this a form of qualitative data, because people are sharing data about their experience about the same situation or a life event. We call it qualitative when we measure, collect information via surveys, interviews or other methods of research. But the query arises when we look up research about the subject / topic from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Sometimes numbers do not match with the descriptors. But many researchers actually say that they prefer quantitive data, because it gives a quick snapshot about the subject area, and what they are interested in. With qualitative data it will be the opposite, as we have to sift through, read, and decipher for ourselves, but is this really the case? 

     I think that there is much more potential for qualitative data, not to say that quantitative is not useful, because it is. Qualitative data has not been put at the forefront particularly in the field of science as it is more costly, more time / human capital investments, as well as the difficulty to be able to quantify qualitative data. But what if we were able to collect qualitative data, sort through this, and assign numerical or alphabetical groupings to the data sets? Would we be able to produce a clearer picture from the data that was collected? 

     My questioning stems directly from the fact that there are discrepancies between quantitative and qualitative studies about the same research topic / subject. These discrepancies make us wonder about the accuracy of the data that is collected. Whilst research methods are selected for the best possible fit, the very methods that are selected also impact the results that are retrieved from the studies. There is an emphasis upon scientific numerical research, quantitative data, but qualitative data such as the stories we share, tell, could also tell a very different story in comparison with a numerical result. The formula as follows is written to reflect an ideal that we should strive for, where a combination of quantitative and qualitative data is approximately equal to each other. 

Q+q ≈

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 28th, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The truth is that I was taking the time to think about my previous thoughts, particularly with regards to the idea of story telling. I believe that there is a lot we can learn from listening and hearing each others stories. Sometimes we can learn more through each others human experiences, navigations through systems, advice and outcomes. But the question about human experience or the stories that we share arise when these are used as a tool, or political use. While I can't speak for all, some might feel compelled to share their experience for political use, or at the mass political level, but what about the vulnerable? What about these who are needing the time and space to heal from their experiences, and want to piece their lives back together? 

     These questions are related specifically to my thoughts about the March For Our Lives. While I also believe that there must be protection from school shootings, I don't think that the trauma that the survivors have seen and felt were healed enough to take the stage. Talking about what happened, actively doing something to raise awareness and concern will of course assist the healing, but we have to think that these students need to get back onto the path of integrating into their lives, and getting the support they need. The protests can be linked to the grieving process, but I exercise caution because I am assuming that a mass protest as large as this was probably more politically inclined. Using the vulnerable voices at the forefront. Here we can also think of the untold stories, that are also subject to influence how stories are told. So again while I do believe that there is much power in the student voice, I also do think that how we decide to share stories determines the impact and the perceived outcome, such as my critical stance.
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A Note of Appreciation:

While I have taken a critical stance, I do want to acknowledge the students voices, the survivors and all the children who spoke out about a very important topic. It takes great courage to speak, especially when healing is still taking place. You are all an inspiration. May you heal, and may your voices always reveal the spirt, and desire to learn in environments that are safe and free from any kind of violence.  

Dedicated to all survivors.
My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 27th, 2018.
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As we take the time to engage and create awareness about the Earth through Earth Hour.  I lit the candles, and turned off the lights, I wondered about the many populations who don't have access to electricity, or have continuous power outages through the day and night. In the cold where there is no heating, or in the heat where electric fans, or air conditioners stop working. Earth hour does create awareness, but what about those in the circumstances I mentioned? 

     As I think about everyone who marched for their lives, I wanted to first acknowledge and pay tribute to all the lives that have been lost through school shootings, and across the entire globe. One life is  and should never be valued more than another, weather it is a child sitting in a school in America feeling fearful for their life, or a child buried under rubble, because of a war crime. Everyone has an equal right and value to live and life as the other. However, what is different from Syria to the school shootings in the USA, is that Syria is in the midst of war, and the shootings in the schools are done in a nation where there is no formal declaration of war. Which does not make either right, but with no formal declarations of war, and tensions spurring from within, I think and wonder: Why should babies, children and teens have to March for their lives? What this question has revealed is that as a nation we have failed to protect vulnerable populations of children who want to go to school, to learn in a safe and secure environment, and we see them forced to take matters into their own hands, demanding action.

     While I do think that their is great power in student voice, I took the time to reflect as I saw the great emotions being poured. Real life stories have the ability to tell, impact, and create an effect upon another. The mass protests could even be viewed as populations trying to heal together. But when I see images of Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez upon stage, her actions and reactions. I think of trauma, this is the traumatic effect that the school shooting has created upon her and other survivors. Once again while I do think that there is great power in student voice, we must be mindful that student voice, and experience does not become exploited or politicized, student voice should never be use as a political tool. I am sad because at this age students should have the quench, desire, and zest for living, enjoying life, but here we see a mass orchestration of a fight to live. What is happening, and why do school shootings continue? The March For Our Lives protests differ because it was student-led, and organized with the Everytown For Gun Safety non-profit. We could either be grateful that the students are putting forth the demands and raising awareness about school shootings, or think of the mass psychological trauma that has resulted from school shootings on display. 

May there be healing.
My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 24th, 2018.
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Related Reading:
Love or Hate?
​Divine Stages

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted take the time to think and reflect.

    The truth is that the other day I wrote about divinity, a higher being, source or as many name: God. I have meditated, thought about God, and how belief should be integral to one's life. The act to believe or not believe is a belief. But the question had become more about how we can incorporate the spiritual practices, or getting to know the self through our daily living, life, just as we are to learn a subject matter such as English, Literature, Art, Social Sciences, Business, and so on. We have been through revolutions such as industry, technology, information, and still have to go through the creative revolution, but what about a Spiritual Revolution? Where we add aspects of all the revolutions, but also add in spirituality. The term spirituality is a unifying term. It unites all, humans who hold belief or unbelief. Through this umbrella term we get to practice our spirituality through the means we desire. Because why? I sense is that there are voids created through the busyness of life, relationships, peer pressure, and the challenges of life. What we are now forced to think about is how we can install hope and healing at the level of the collective. 

     If we have seen the damages of what war, destruction, and now modern terrorism has and is doing, we must think of how we can overcome these damages. Think about what is it that is dividing, and solutions through how we can unite. I offered an earlier example of the creation of sectarian unity, which is also worth further exploration. But in schools, or institutions where there is learning and socialization, we must think about how we can become more socially and consciously aware beings, because human consciousness, our thoughts, and imagination matters. Creativity is intrinsically linked to spirituality. The creative aspects of the self are forged from beyond the self. In other words there is no human organ that is labelled "creative" organ, except where we think of the right side of the brain, to be where the workings of our creativity arrives from. It is also known that creativity arrives when both hemispheres of the brain work holistically. So even if the creative revolution arrives in full swing, there will be the need to create space for thought, imaginistic thinking, which is why I think a spiritual revolution could possibly happen. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 24th, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The other day it was Reading Across America Day. So I decided to tweet, and share books that I read to my children when they were very young, probably between 1-2 years or the toddler age. Since that day, I left a couple of books out. I kept them were I could see them everyday as a reminder of the playful innocence, and wonder that can be found in children books. One of the books is called Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman. I re-colllect reading this book almost everyday in both English and Urdu to the kids, and the curiosity and intense suspense that was created in their eyes.  

The title of this book made me think about what it means to be a mother. Who is a mother? There is great pain involved in child birth, the pains are rewarded with the birth of a baby. The title and the curiosity of the bird reveal that a mother can be in the form of biological birth bonds, but it takes much more strength to raise a child, than to just birth the child. A mother can be anyone that is a care-giver, or one who takes on the role of a guardian, and where the baby forms attachments. 

     These thoughts can also be related to nations. When wealthy nations decide to assist or provide aid to nations in need, it is almost as though the wealthy nation is taking on a parental role to support that nation, to create bonds and attachments. This can be said because of the vast investments that were made in China by the USA, and the increased exportation of goods from China. Today we hear about the rise of China, but we have to think: Did the rise of China or thier economy happen by itself? No it was not. Western countries were outsourcing to China, exporting, investing, all contributing to the growth of China, the same can be said of India. However, the difference we see today is that China wants to engage in Trade Wars, while India acknowledges the historical ties, investments, industry, trade from the west. Which we hope continues.

     So when we ask or think of the question - Are You My Mother? We can relate. A mother is much more that giving birth, it involves taking on the parental role, doing the best you can to love and support the child's well-being. In the same sense nations must also remember who was there for them, when no one else was. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: these thoughts were originally hand-written on March 23rd, 2018.
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Related Reading:
Love Heals
A Growing Concern 
​The Psychological War
Make Good Choices 
Love or Hate? 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    The truth is: This past week or so, I have been thinking about teen experimentation, drug abuses, the conversations surrounding the legalization of Marijuana / weed, the dangers of street drugs, perceptions, and consequences for teen or adolescent use. We also heard the conversation at the National Level with President Trump's speech. As mentioned in my previous thoughts there are interventions, supports available, so that experimentations do not lead to long-term uses. As I wrote feeling loved, the sense for continued validation through an experimental phase is absolutely necessary. Sometimes you will find that teens are more likely to open up to a trusting adult rather than trusted professionals. Parents, caregivers or  legal guardians must understand that conversations might be difficult, but remind yourself that you are only human as well, and doing the best you can. Having open communication, and keeping the communication lines open is essential. The fact that the teen / adolescent chose to talk with you, shows  that the child chose you. Parents, caregivers, or legal guardians might not have the professional tools, but this is also an opportunity to read, learn, and become informed about the topics, so conversation points also become points to educate. Remember that every teen is different, and the adolescent years will be very different for each. Professional books might only tell you so much, sometimes its about learning through the experiences of others, and also stories. 

     I always remember reading the book Annie John, by Jamaica Kincaid. A little book that describes the essential bonds between mother and daughter. During the teen years we might see a child rebel, this should not mean detachment, although it is part of the natural process. It is intrinsically linked to attachment. Teens are still growing and maturing. They still need attachments from parents, care-givers, guardians, siblings, friends, peers, or educators. We must allow this process to take place, always fill the hollows with loving kindness, self-worth, and validation. Kincaid's book definitely exemplifies this, or as the New York Times reviews, "prophetic power".

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 23rd, 2018.
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I wanted to take some time to pause and reflect upon the death of the last Northern White Rhino, Sudan who was put down on March 19th 2018. It was with great sadness, I thought about this loss. Whilst I did not personally get to meet, or have any type of personal bond with the Rhino, the death marks extinction. We have witnessed and seen the extinction of a species. Just as we wonder about the dinosaurs presence or not on the Earth, future generation will also wonder about the presence of the Rhino species. 

Dedicated to all who took care, loved, and supported the last Male White Rhino, Sudan. Our thoughts of love and condolences. 

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Related Reading:
A Growing Concern 
​The Psychological War
Make Good Choices 
Love or Hate? 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I wanted to take the time to reflect upon my previous thoughts. I wondered about the teen use of street drugs, mixed with the complexity of hearing about the health benefits of weed / marijuana. The complexities arise when their is mis-use, mixing with other substances, and of course the ultimate line is the fact that it is also an illegal act if you are under age. So once again we have to think: Experimentation is going to happen, but when we enforce rules, regulations, laws, what happens to the teens? We are actually pushing those who we love, away from us. At times when there is conflict, we have to think of ways to pave for loving kindness, continue to find ways to validate, educate, have open conversations about the consequences, and sometimes it will be a case of tough love. 

     They always say prevention is better than a cure; and if we are lucky enough, early interventions can and will result only to experimentation, and reduce long-term uses that will lead to addictions. As I thought about the speech by President Trump regarding drugs and opioids, I was glad that he is taking active  steps to alert the public, but I myself am not for the death penalty. Anyone who is willing to make change to their lives, alter behaviour should be provided with this support. However, it also depends upon the severity of harm, and how actions of certain groups or individuals are a source of harm to others. There is only so much blanketing parents, caregivers, and educators can do. If experimentation does lead teens to understand for themselves the harm that they are causing to the self, then this will also serve as learning, growth, and development for them. 

    With regards to medicating those who are addicted to drugs, to help deal with the addictions, I myself would have to read and learn more about the drugs. Have their been studies done? What were the effects? What are the side effects? Medicating should always, always be the last resort. Sometimes its just a matter of a placebo. The brain is given the same sort of satisfaction. Support groups, keeping conversations open, as well as educating are also good ideas for early interventions. With regards to those who are heavily addicted there are ways to heal without the use of drugs: such as DNA Trauma Therapy, but these are not as readily available to the public because they are not FDA approved. Early interventions, teen use has also aroused a conversation at the national level, because getting access to street drugs, drug abuse is a slow, silent epidemic that deserves attention. Sometimes it is also a matter of taking away the stereotypes, stigma, and prejudices, and seek ways to fill humans with the love and support they need to get through and heal.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 21st, 2018.
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