Music to my ears ;)

Hey people!!

Hmmm.... Lots of songs playing in my head these past few days.... Mostly from the 80's, primarily reminding me of those brilliant 'limsical' moments that have gone by.

Music is a healer, you know. It keeps us in a bubble. Helps to soothe the nerves, and to calm our soul. Helps us ponder, and wonder- what lies in the mysterious future, what could have been different in our personal histories.

Well, incase you're in an intense mood like me :)
...Do listen to:

Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits

It'll hit the spot, I tell ya!
If not the lyrics, then the soulful twanging of the guitar...

Cheers!

-JB

Hi fellow humans!

Hmmm... I read the most interesting quote a few days ago. I don't remember who it's by, or if it's from a book, but it's stuck in my head and makes total sense from all angles...

It goes-

" You can have anything you want in life, just as long as you give up everything else. "

I have reflected on my life quite deeply after reading this, and I fully agree. All is within reach. All is possible. You can have that one thing you want most, but forget about all other things. It's like a thin line being drawn in my head. One that defines two parallels- One is Wisdom, and the other is Madness. And have we all not at one point chosen one above the other?

Reflect, please.

-JB

Learning to Love

Hello,

Its been a while since I last typed anything here... I did have a lot to say, but life has become so busy and complicated that I really never got the chance. Its mid-October 2006... another two months and the next year will begin. Sigh! This year literally flew by. I've learnt many things these past few months, but the most important lesson I recently learnt is that one must learn to love oneself above all. That is the only way one can be truly happy throughout life.

Sounds quite self-centred and selfish, but it is really true!
Try it ;)

Keep loving, and learning always!

-JB

The Worst Teacher

I happened to read my horoscope a few days ago, and it said- "This year will be the hardest year of your entire life"! Well, not that I'm a firm believer in the Zodiac, but things have been quite testing lately, and life does seem to be getting more and more challenging with each new dawn! Yes, fate had a bit to do with the whole scenario, but mostly it was the choices I made in the last few months.

Ah, yes... choices... How do you know if your choices are good ones, right ones? Or what the outcomes of your choices will be? I believe that is the biggest challenge of life itself- the choices you have to make and then live with.

As a wise man once said, "Experience is the worst teacher; It gives the lesson after the test."
How true.

-JB

Erase and Rewind...?

I read the most interesting quote today by some guy called Robert Quillen. It goes:

"Character is defined by what you stand for. Reputation by what you fall for."

Is that true, or what?!

Throughout our lives after the age of thirteen, I guess, we evolve on a daily basis into whom we are to the world, to the people who know us or know of us. Our outlooks, perceptions, ideas, likes, dislikes, all become defined with the passage of time depending on our absorbtion and interaction with our world. How true then to say that our characters are defined by what we stand for and believe in, while at the same time our reputations develop with our falls and poor choices in life.

Be strong always,

-JB

2006... here i come!

Hello people!!!

Gosh... i've totally neglected my blog, haven't I?!

The truth be told, wrapping up 2005 was a hard and tedious process.

Life took me through many twists and turns, and there were moments when i feared the worst, and prayed for the best outcomes... but all's well that ends well, right?

Well, 2006 is here with a BANG! and although there were tons of 'downs' that were down in the dumps... I noticed that the few 'ups' that I found along the way were beautifully invigorating and rejuvenating. There were simple moments, small things which made me feel so lucky to be alive and well.

And this is my message to you today: Enjoy life as it comes.
It's never going to be perfect, so why burn your blood trying to make it perfect?!

-JB

Just Like A Prayer

Hi,

Haven't written much lately... I was suffering from some new and improved version of 'writer's block', in which the symptoms happened to be that while I searched for words to read ( as in, books), but avoided to write any(not even one decent paragraph!)!

Adding to this state of mental procrastination was the tragic earthquake that hit and very literally shook the foundations of my beloved Pakistan. The news updates on the victims and the survivors were shocking. I was moved, pained, and at the same time guided towards the deeper meaning of it all in my mind.

It could have been me, I thought. It could have been my loved ones! The very thought of any harm coming to my two little bundles of joy can transform me into a madwoman... and yet women survived the quake only to find they had lost their sons and husbands, and siblings. A sad reality. Makes you realize all at once, that life really is not in our control; that there is a higher power controlling our fates, our futures.

While many say that the earthquake is a punishment from our Creator; I believe that it is infact a test, with a warning hidden in it. The test: face whatever comes your way; fight it to the best of your abilities laced with an iron-clad faith. The warning: you are a mere mortal, don't play God!

I pray for those who died, and those who lost their people in the devastating quake that hit some parts of Asia. May their souls rest in peace. Amen!

Don't take life for granted. Ever.
Take care, my dears....

-JB

.......

We learn new things everyday. We learn from our mistakes the most. And sadly enough we make the same mistakes over and over again. Life is not about living anymore, it's all about the survival of it. The existence we have depends on so many things, we are infact just a part of our own existence.

This has dawned on me today. I dont know why exactly, but it's there in my head swirling round and round in the nothingness that is my brain....

hmmm.... food for thought from a me to you,

-JaneBravo

Incomplete

"I go on pretending like I never knew you...
I'm awake, but my world is half asleep..."

-Incomplete
Performed by the Backstreet Boys

Yet another lovely touching ballad by the suave-looking backstreet boys. Ofcourse, they are anything but a 'boy' gang from your run of the mill 'backstreet'...!

I am in love with this song people!!!!! Actually the poetry is boootiful... a must-listen in dreamy summer rain kind of weather :) when you're driving around feeling a little loved, a little lost and a little lonely!

Check it out, please!

-JaneBravo

Let the Monsoons begin

Hi people...
...it rained today; beautiful, lovely rain! All the greenery became greener, the birds looked happier and the hot and dry, parched earth absorbed as much cool water into itself as it possibly could. As I sat on the steps of my mother's kitchen back entrance, I smelled the fresh breeze as it touched my face, making me feel alive... and happy to be alive!

On the ghastly (down) side, however... later on the seven o'clock news I heard that six people died in the brutal arrival on monsoon, and it also left thirteen people badly injured! Ufffffff! Also, roads all over Lahore, including the really really posh localities were badly flooded and were inaccesible to most people. This made me quite depressed.

What am I trying to tell you? Something like: One man's trash is another man's treasure!? Ummm, not exactly... Think.

I wish the government would make our country a cleaner, safer place to live in. I mean if we can't cope with the monsoon rains, how can we begin to talk about nuclear peace and national security? Scary thought, truly.

Wake up, people... the rain didn't make the grass greener on the other side.

-JaneBravo

Un Bon Serviteur

I may be different than you,
but that doesn't make me bad.
When you tease and make fun of me,
it makes me very sad.
I may not be as smart,
or as attractive as you.
But I am still human,
and my heart can break in two.
I have special things about me,
I think you would agree,
If instead of laughing,
you would take the time to see.

I really loved this poem when I read it. Just sharing...

-JaneBravo

How bad can a goodbye be???

There's something about goodbyes that scares the hell out of me! They seem so permanent, and so irreversible! Yes, yes, I know people say things like: Absence makes the heart grow fonder... but then what about: Out of sight, out of mind?? Interesting.

How does one say goodbye to one they share a bond with, a history with? Tears arent a very good idea. Too dramatic! They seem to add to the tension and sadness. Hugs are nice, I guess, but not too clingy! Its always nice to say goodbye with a parting gift, sort of a forget-me-not kind of thing...

But its still going to be excrutiating... all this business of saying goodbye.

Anyway dear readers, let your loved ones know you love them when they are with you; dont wait for the goodbye moment! Take care you all...

-JaneBravo

Judging Jane

I judged too much today. When I pointed a finger at my friend, I pointed three back at myself. I realised too late the hurt I had initiated. I regret it to this minute. Experience is the worst teacher, it gives the lesson after the test!

-JaneBravo

Fight Club

My message for today is:

"A small cut is better than a deep wound"

Just think about it. Fight the fights that are worth fighting. Motivate yourself to win. And dont worry about the small cuts you may have to bear. These will heal sooner or later.

-JaneBravo

Culture Club

Hello Readers,

I have no profound truths and thoughts to share with you today! I would instead like to introduce to you a very interesting pakistan-based website. I personally feel this website caters to a variety of tastes. I also think that the rewaj.com forum helps the younger generation exchange their views values. If you have ten minutes to kill, do check it out(Click on the title to access the mentioned site).

-JaneBravo

Life's like that

"Be prepared that it absolutely is not going to go the way it is in your head... It may be better it may be worse, but its not going to be what you expect."

**Taken from "Sperm donors' offspring reaching out into past" by Judith Graham**
(Click on title to view the article)

-JaneBravo

To Sir, with love...

Father's Day... hmmm, let's see now... I think Shakespeare said it best, "It is a wise father that knows his own child". We all defy our fathers like their fathers were defied by them. But inside we love them and we respect them, and we always want them to be proud of us. However, somehow we spend most of our lives trying to figure each other out. We test each others limits, highlight each others faults and ignore the plus points. All I can say is, life has a strange way of making us put our feet in our mouths! Be nice to your fathers... and hope that you can bond better with your future children. We can't choose who our father is, but the choice to be kind and understanding, with a touch of love, is yours.

"It doesnt matter who my father was; It matters who I remember he was." (-Anne Sexton)

-JaneBravo

Stand By Yourself

Today was a pretty all-in-one kind of day... a little bit of romance, a little bit of tears, some smiles, some screams.... but at the end of it all, all the players came out clean! Some days the elements like to test us, test our spirits and our strengths. And it is at moments like these when we show our true colours to each other... and to ourselves. I liked who I saw inside me today. Being happy with who you are is an essential thing. Recognize yourself... and stand by you!

-JaneBravo

Dreamy Treasures

They say that it is better to be practical than to run after our dreams. Today I ran across a very interesting quote, "All the treasures lie in the sea. But for those who want safety, stay ashore". How true is that? I guess, it is great to be responsible and practical. However, once in a while some amazing thing happens in our lives, and it is at times like these when we must DARE TO DREAM...

-JaneBravo

One Way Lovers

A good friend once asked me, "If you had to choose, what would it be, spend your life with the man you love, or spend your life with the man who loves you?" It's been nearly four months now and believe it or not, I have still not managed to answer this question! Of all the emotions we feel and learn to feel during our lives, the most intense and complicated one is obviously love. Medical studies prove that a person in love may at some point go into a state of madness (clinical insanity) to prove and receive the love that he or she feels.... scary, huh? Coming back to answering the four month old question... Does it feel good to BE loved, or does it feel better TO love? I suppose for love to be and to survive it has to be both ways; two people who love each other and value the love offered by each other. One way love is meaningless no matter how strongly you feel it inside you. It can only come alive if the one you love returns your love. Just make sure the person you go clinically insane for is worth it!

-JaneBravo