New Year Resolutions

Here comes a new year.. and for it to actually have something new, I've put a list for my
new year resolution..

By 2010, if I'm still alive, I should have accomplished the following:

1* have a TOEFL test [CHECKED]
2* attend CISCO lessons [CANCELED]
3* get a G passport [CHECKED]
4* get another excellent average of marks [will do next year!]
5* read PhilosopherNotes
6* buy a new camera [CHECKED]
and read and learn on becoming a photographer
7* learn how to cook a decent meal
8* read Quran occasionally, at least every Friday
9* buy a breadboard and implement some practical circuits
10* spend less aimless times
11* continue learning Java
12* read at least 12 books other than college books
13* stop running around college
14* watch news.. I really need to be more aware of the situation [I subscribed to BBC news]
15* watch documentary often
16* I wish I can learn to drive but dad always give me reasons why he can't teach me.. and problem is, they're good reasons!
17* learn German [I subscribed to a two month program to learn German in BBC]

I only haven't planned to be alive because I don't have a hand in this.. but I'll try to!
I'm sure I can write more if I think more, but I don't want to think more..

DSC02898edited (Large)

DSC02898edited (Large), originally uploaded by Najma.

Loved the Fake HDR effect!
to see the photo before editing, click on the photo to be directed to my flickr.

Military College

Military College, originally uploaded by Najma.

Loved the Fake HDR effect!
to see the photo before editing, click on the photo to be directed to my flickr.

FWD: have a laugh!

خرجت يوم العيدِ

بملبسي الجديدِ

و قلت يا اخواني

هيا الى الدكانِ

گالوا ارجع ولك ممعيد السيستاني!

Concentrated wisdom

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” ~ Wayne Dyer

You're busy. I get that.

You're also committed to living at your highest potential and going full-out in this precious hero's journey of ours. I get that, too.

The challenge is that when you put the two together, it can be tough to do all the studying/learning/reading you'd like to do, eh?

Wouldn't it be cool if, over the next year, you could get through the Big Ideas of 50 of the best self-development books in less than half an hour of reading/listening a week? I thought so, too.

Enter: PhilosophersNotes.

(Imagine CliffsNotes for self-development books. Only shorter. And cooler. And a *lot* more inspiring. :)

This is a link to the great PhilosopherNotes now available for download, for free!

If you can't download (I'm not sure if non-members can) just send me an email and I'll send you a gift subscription.

The difference between where you are today and where you’ll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you’ve read.” ~ Jim Rohn

Remember..

"The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flights, but they, while their companion slept, were toiling upward in the night."

"It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness"

The Cigarette and the Rubber Band

As soon as the lecture ends, male students light the cigarettes and start smoking.. and by the time the next lecture is due, the classroom smells like cigarettes and we have to open the windows to get some fresh air.

I strongly believe that smoking is a sign of weakness, the way smokers "deal" with anger, frustration or any bad feeling.
Girls don't smoke here, primarily because it is not good for her reputation (a male is rarely judged because of his smoking habits whereas a girl is severely judged).. If girls can control themselves and restrain from smoking, then so can boys, unless they're weak, yet they don't admit it.

Last year we hung a little sign against smoking in our class but the male students took it very seriously, made a fuss about it, and took off the sign immediately.
One day I strictly asked them not to smoke in class, but after a hard lecture a student sarcastically told me that with all this I really shouldn't ask him to stop.. and gradually they got back to smoking in class.

We, the girls, take our anger out by whining, and some by crying.. and I strongly believe Pepsi makes me feel better. Or well, any good food. But two days ago I had my hands on a rubber band and put it on my wrist for later use, and during a really incomprehensible lecture I started focusing on pulling the rubber band and then letting loose instead of focusing on the burdensome lecture. I remember that I read somewhere that this helps in anger management and well, I've been wearing that rubber band for the last 3 days and I do not feel stressed at all. My friend however finds it funny and can hardly fight the temptation of pulling it hard..

Smoking is harmful to one's health, and is a complete waste of time and money. A rubber band is almost free, and I think it actually looks good on the wrist!