Related Reading:
Shazi Blog! :) 

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 I wrote about the new journey of healing, and with this I am learning more about myself and also life adjustments. I want to take the opportunity to thank all who have crossed my path - who have touched my body, held my hand, and were as much ethical as I would like to be when disseminating knowledge, as professionals who I have encountered as a patient. Of course the observations and encounters have not always been positive. And like any other profession, there is always room for improvement. Similar to the educator who is an incumbent of the success / failure of a student, the health practitioners responsibility is weighted higher, because of the factors associated with life and survival. Just like we have a right to claim / attain an education, or any goals that we desire, we have a right to live our life, even if there are major or minor impediments to one's health. One must continuously exercise this rightful possession. But I am learning that it is also a human right, that one must fight for. 

    The visibility of the systemic barriers are much more visible when one is informed, not only that the barriers weigh another down further, when they are intersected with additional barriers. But I wonder: as I am thankful for the positive encounters - to what lengths do we have to go to for the sake of peace? Similar to ideas, geo / socio politics, politics, education or even health care, we can think about how ones personal encounters, even in a state of discomfort could be an example for peace? Here we can think and wonder, just like the human body that encounters conflict, similar to  the body at war is conflicted, hurt, body. Therefore a symbol for peace? 

   My thoughts make me wonder further - yes throughout the years / ages the writers, poets, and sages have suggested that there can be no peace without conflict. But as I sit here in this conflicted body, I wonder: Do we have to feel conflict before we can know peace? 
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My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on March 28th, 2019.
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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.

     Whilst I haven't been writing my thought posts lately, I wanted to assure my readers that I have been writing here and there, bits and pieces that will probably become a compilation of some sort of book, one day or another. But I also wanted to share that while this is a public platform; a little bit about the health challenges that have affected my ability to write, and also affecting the process of typing out words written from paper to a published form. I share this not to attain public sympathy of some sort or another, but rather to introspect about the cognitive process, and actions that are needed to perform simple functions, such as press a button on the keyboard. As we have to remember that the neural signals have to pass from brain, arm, and fingers in matters of millionths of seconds. As minute and challenging as it is, the process has reminded me of life itself. Challenges. Life details. Through the many factors we find ourselves in. Yes, and of course I have said and written the importance of health earlier, but this writing only exemplifies the cycles of life. Whilst the cycles of life is one cycle, it is the cycles within the cycle of life that we are called to manage.  

     Notes-Thank you for your continued support and readership. I look forward to continuing the conversations through my writing. These thoughts were originally hand written on Monday 25th, March 2019. Since writing these thoughts I have been performing hand exercises that are helping to make the muscles in my hands a little stronger, and was finally able to type these thoughts.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)  

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     Depending upon training, educators will know that seduction of the human mind is a pedagogical strategy to evoke passion / interest, in learning within the student. Of course when I say seduction, the word can be thought of as a tool; that varies according to the learners, skills, and abilities that are required to be learned, understood and achieved. It is also important to understand that the educator has received training, in these areas and is knowledgeable, about how to delicately allow a learning process to take place. The higher the learner climbs, the art or tool of seduction also varies and changes. Which is why within the field of academia, there is the idea of mutual consent. Consent may vary from region to region, national, international, or from institution to institution. But in my view I continue to believe that if there is mutual consent, and there is value for a pedagogical connection, then why hinder the development of intellectual / career development? Especially in cases where there is no conflict what so ever?

    I thought about the word hinder, stifle, and mutual consent. Especially with the recent facebook shenanigans. Facebook is either up, down, adjusting its settings, involved in the Russia investigations with the American elections, its either taking out pornography or doesn't care, but for some reason the video for the Christ Church Mosque Shooting in New Zealand, was displayed and posted on Facebook. While I am mindful about the sensitivity about the lives lost, I could not help but to think that Facebook really has to re-think it's public / social role on all fronts.

    Whilst the art of seduction is used as a subtle yet powerful pedagogical tool. It is probably not discussed in openly in the public realm, I wonder where do strategies such as these fit in with posting live terror shootings? Where is your public announcement Facebook? Where is Zuckerberg when Muslims are being killed and posted on Facebook? How is Facebook contributing to terrorism and extremism? The questions should make is think deeper about the recent Facebook shenanigans and compare to the posting of the Christchurch Mosque Shooting video response. Where really this was a time to call for unity and condemnation, regardless of religious faith or lifestyle choices.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on March 15th, 2019.
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Related Reading:
Grammys: Reflective Moments

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 was always quite critical about Taylor Swift's tour entitled "Reputation." I wondered about the underpinnings as to the naming of the album. Particularly when a very famous woman who is in the public eye, would probably have to take a leap from her own own reputation, would name her album "reputation." But whilst the thought did act as a spring board, it's not a new thought, and one that I've written about in earlier writings. But this time I wanted to take a philosophical stance and relate the idea of personhood to the popular metaphor of the tree and the shadows, our reputations, or what others have decided to know about us.

    It is easy to get to know someone through the words and thoughts of others. We could call these the shadows, or what , if you are popular we could think of news reports, or how one is portrayed in the public eye. Maybe I could even relate these thoughts to myself, as someone who has decided to publish on the web, through the various social media  and internet platform. With viewership, there is always going to be opinion-ship. But the opinion-ship is not necessarily reflective of the person who is the writer. We could call these the shadows, not the tree.

     When someone is in the public eye, you know that person for who they are, as they are portrayed. You really don't know them for them. Maybe Taylor Swift was sending a message about the very word reputation? Because you have to think about it. The artist on the stage is a performer. She is Taylor Swift the performer, just like any other famous musician / artist. And this is something that could be viewed as a positive or a negative for performers, professionals, or those who are in the public eye. It is the balance between who one becomes and the root to who one really is. Sometimes public opinion-ship / viewer-ship may scrutinize, but it's important to remember that can never please everyone, and if you in your heart you know that you have done the best you can, then what more can you do? The last thing you / we need is to hear more stories of famous artists taking overdoes, suicidal deaths, or even professionals, ordinary, every day individuals who feel the same pressure, and resort to the same actions. The cure is not punishment, but rather the inclusion of compassion, compassionate care, understanding, love, generosity, freedom, and the ability to allow others to be themselves. And even yourself to be you.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on March 12th 2019.
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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. 

    After receiving the news of Micheal Jackson's death, I can only really say that as a fan to this day I have felt a loss for his presence, not only for his music, but also as to what Jackson could have potentially achieved for music, the music industry, and even the world. We can feel his loss to the present day, even as his legacy remains. Jackson's legacy and the person he was, as he was alive, is now coming to question. Especially with the release of a documentary that reveals alleged sexual abuse of two specific individuals. The documentary has been met with opposition from his daughter, Paris Jackson, and also a filling of a lawsuit from the Jackson estate for $100 million.  

     I wondered if documentaries of individuals should be made that negatively portray them after death, such as a person as Micheal Jackson? In my view I think the public should allow Jackson to rest in peace. The scrutiny he received during his life, was more than enough. We can associate these thoughts with others such as Princess Diana, who also received constant harassment from the British paparazzi. 

     I value the telling of stores, however; I believe that there is more to the story that just the realizing of this documentary about Micheal Jackson. We can think about the timing, as just as the documentary was released, the Broadway production pre-screening in Chicago called: Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, was scheduled and was cancelled. 

    We can think about the value of Jackson's legacy, and enemies, and evil individuals who want to jeopardize the success of others. Because if you think about it, where there is money, fame, or success involved, it is inevitable to meet those who want to obstruct. Unfortunately. So whilst the released documentary tells a different side to Jackson, we have to remember all the positive impact that he left upon the world, and the amount of good that he did do. Because really one day we'll all turn to dust, how do you want to be remembered?

     We can think at the philosophical level to remind ourselves not to get caught up in the public views / reviews, but to look more at the political aspects of fame, success, and the accrual of money. Even after his death Jackson's legacy makes money, and it is this accrual that is being sabotaged and attacked. Or maybe this is how gossip is circulated through the film / movie industry? 

Further Reading: Leaving Neverland and the Fate of the Michael Jackson Musical on Broadway 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 8th, 2019.
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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.

     After the partition of India in 1947, the territory of Kashmir was not designated properly, and to the present day have been a source of dispute between India and Pakistan. Of course I have just really simplified the story, but really the violence and bitter deadly deaths are very real. The story continues as the cycles of violence have repeated themselves for years. However, we might ask why now? Why has violence erupted now? We could repeat what the news media or journalists are sharing. However, there are of course stories that are not told, or reasons and rationales that are not told. I for one think that Kashmir is being used, as a porn piece. A political ploy. Purposely being attacked so that leaders, especially the leaders of Pakistan and India focus their attention upon the fight. This is especially interesting when we hear about the Saudi Arabia investments, and a historic visit from  Crown Prince Salman to Pakistan, in February. This visit was a significant positive for the future economic development of Pakistan. However, this successful news was blurred with the eruption of violence between India and Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir. 

    We could think that the violence on India's front is a cover-up for jealousy and greed, towards the positive developments that are taking place in Pakistan. Or we can think about the land of Kashmir, a base purposely created for tension? Just as the tensions in the middle-east, between Israel and Palestine, or the U.S.A., and Mexico. Many regions in the world reveal patterns, where we can prove that these specific regions are bases to purposely create and cause tension. But really there is no need. If there is a desire for world progress, and to move forward, we have to think of other ways. Or does there have to be other ways to install tension in the first place?  

     If only leaders would realize that what is meant for you, will always be yours. No one can take away what is yours. If someone or a nation is meant to have more than you, then that is OK. If someone is meant to have less than you, but still possess the ability to survive then that is OK. Of course there is a desire for continued development and prosperity, but what is it worth? What is greed worth? What is jealousy worth? Greed and jealousy are not worth the life of innocent Kashmiri's who are being killed. The poor and the innocent don't deserve to die, at the hands of the greed and jealousy of political leaders. 

     Instead of fighting - maybe it's time for India and Pakistan to both let go, and allow Kashmir to become independent and free? Give them their freedom, and support them as they are allowed to become free. Modi's re-election, or Imran Khan's presidency should not be a reason for Kashmiri's to die. It really is a time to work towards a treaty to allow Kashmir to become a free, prosperous land.

Or will it end up being a nuclear war between India and Pakistan to fight for Kashmir? 

Further Reading:
New York Times - Why Do India and Pakistan Keep Fighting Over Kashmir? 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 7th, 2019.
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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.

    During President Trump's state of the union address 2019, there was a mention and applause with the high amount of women who have been elected in the democratic cabinet congress. This is really quite an achievement, because whilst I continue to believe that the voices of men are as important as women's, women have historically and to the present day experienced barriers, that really do prevent them from attaining specific goals, or enter fields / professions that tend to be male dominated. Of course there are barriers within the criteria of being a woman, that further divide women as to which woman, or what kind of woman should be expected to rise. For instance: other factors can come to play, such as skin color, religion, faith, (dis) ability. A current good example to demonstrate my thoughts can be associated with Democratic representative for Minnesota IIhan Omar. She was blasted for tweets that were viewed as anti-semitic. Whilst I believe that fellow politicians, law-makers, have a right to oppose what she has said, including groups within America, I wondered what if a woman who was not a Muslim, and who was not wearing a head-scarf (hijab)said the same comments. Would the response / reaction have been different? Given the various patterns of behaviour, thought, or dispositions held, it is quite likely that we can entertain the idea of discrimination upon Omar based on her belief, faith and being a person of color. However, there must be room to give IIhan Omar the benefit of the doubt, because we have to remember  that she is viewed as a freshman / newbie, entering congress. Who is now in the realms of public scrutiny for every utterance. At times can be equally pleasurable as well as frightening. 

    Of course the subjectivity is supported when we think objectively. America is an ally to Israel, just as America is an Ally to many other foreign nations. We have to think, is America Israel? If America was Israel, then why is America not called Israel? The fact is that America is named America, because that is the identification for the nation of America. But this is not about being pro-Israeli, or not, but rather to be mindful that Jewish communities are citizens, and contributors to America. Their presence is valued. Just as Muslim are citizens and contributors in America, whose presence should also be considered of value to America. 

    We are all learners. Life long learners. Just because someone obtains a paid position, does not mean that one has perfected that position, or the duties and responsibilities associated with the position. So instead of using the comments to bash a politician who has sworn the oath, why not use these as teachable moments, to teach, and the opportunity to strengthen relations with diverse politicians / lawmakers. As well as the communities that they serve. We have to remember that the elected official is a representative of societal populations, the least the critics can do is to commend her for her public apology. 

     IIhan Omar is also presented with an opportunity to learn about Anti-semitism, the cycles of trauma, and the very real effects. Which can also be related to the recent chemical gas attacks / warfare in Syria, which I have also compared to the Nazi occupation in earlier writings. Omar's opportunity, regardless of political affiliation offers another opportunity for the Muslim woman, and voice as positioned in America, to attempt to break down certain stereotypes associated with Islamaphobia. Because if we think about these events from a critical stance, IIhan Omar is a very real face of America, where the existence and contributions of American Muslims should also be thought of as value, just as fellow Jewish communities. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on march 5th, 2019.
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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.

     I think that many who have had the opportunity to discuss higher education with me will know that I'm a fan of the liberal arts, especially because we are able to obtain a variety of perspectives, and understand the intersection of the various disciplines. Maybe this is the true function of the liberal arts, including the social sciences as well? Whilst it is good to obtain a variety, I also re-thought about the idea of specialization or the speciality skill. These are important in terms of higher-education, or post-secondary studies. Without the specialist we would not have access to specialist knowledge and skill builders who can offer their expertise, as well as contribute to the advancement of knowledge. We can especially think of the specialists such as those in the health care or technological industries. For instance: in terms of our health care, we can be knowledgeable, have earned multiple degrees or even reached a Ph.D. level, but when it comes to a health decision we might not be able to make the decision alone. There becomes a need for delegating the task to a specialist, who could make the best possible decision for you. 

    This is where we can also bring in terms such as patient centred, ethical choices, that really do put the one who requires care first - regardless of political affiliation, nationality, or the ethnicity of those who are being treated. The specialist must seek to care, without the presence of prejudices, bias or discrimination. Of course patient centered can also mean that the patient learns and becomes knowledgeable about a specific condition. But in some instances and human states, self-knowledge and self-care might mean to entrust the professionals, in the hope that they have your best interests at the forefront.

     Sometimes this is difficult to believe especially if there have been negative health care experiences. Healthcare is just like any other profession, where there is judgement at play - with the exceptions of the weight of the judgment needed for a good and informed decision, because of the impact upon human health and human risk. As compared to the technological specialist, who is able to understand the working of information, technology and communication. However, we can also bring in the intersection of health and technology. Most often health is progressing along side technology. Some might even argue that technologies pace is much more faster. So essentially, whilst we can earn our multiple degrees and build our skills, sometimes we ourselves have to know that there is still much more to know.  

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes-These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 3rd, 2019.
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Related Reading:
Birthing Stars
61st Annual Grammys
Reflection: 91st Oscars

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 beauty of telling our stories is that the stories possess the ability to humanize ourselves and others. Stories tell the untold realities. We can think about the influence of a movie or a song, where there is the ability to impact the lives of thousands, millions, or even an entire globe. This is why whilst - what stories told are important, what the desired effect is or not is also important. This is where I can connect these thoughts to my previous thoughts where I wrote about the pressures that singers / musicians / artists face in real life. The impacts of fame and the unfortunate sudden deaths / suicides for some. We can also think about the movie - "A Star Is Born." A film / story that also reveals the same resulting end. I also wrote about this film as well. But I wanted to add another thought. What if we were to re-write the conversations about the pressures of fame, and create a different end? What if individuals such as: Jackson Maine were not left to die, but were really helped? So that there are different results at the end? Sometimes a huge part of a decision is recognizing the inability to decide for oneself.

     Of course whilst the movie itself is a re-make of the  1937 version, today we possess the ability to re-write stories, even our stories, even our lives. With the amount of information available to us, and even the resources, we are challenged to change conversations. Even the stigma, and recognize that the brain is an organ. Just as the heart, lungs, liver or kidneys. Events, circumstances, situational effects, do possess the ability to affect any organ in the body. But what about the brain, brain care / mental health? These effects are equally important - why not write about stories that reveal the human ability to overcome the mental health challenges, or even the courage to ask for help?

    What about changing the conversation of stardom / fame to that of individuals doing what they love? And caring and loving the self enough to ask for help? Re-telling the same stories creates the same result. The human condition can only improve, when we ourselves change the stories with the tools that we possess. Whether these are through individual life changes, or movies, music, video songs, or newly acclaimed books that are released that possess the ability to impact 1 person, 1 million, to an entire globe.  

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

These thoughts were originally hand-written on March 1st, 2019.
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