It is with the deepest regret that I announce that I will be leaving Canada’s capital city, my home for the past 5 years. I had dreamed of moving to Ottawa since I was 12 and I still consider Ottawa to be my dream city. So why am I leaving? Because I have to follow the yellow brick road, of course! Let me explain: in the past months my relationship has completely broken apart, I lost my job for the 2nd times in a year and my employment insurance was withheld far beyond the 3 weeks it should have taken. … Continue reading Follow the yellow brick road…

Some people have had at me for being “shameless”. Shamelessness is usually a derogatory term used to guilt people into silence. I don’t understand this concept. I don’t understand living in regrets: life happens, we make mistakes, we ask for forgiveness and we move on — hopefully with the intention not to repeat our mistakes. I am not going to say that I have absolutely no regret and I am not particularly proud of some moments of my life. However, there is no use to denying that it is, indeed, my life and while it was not all glitter and … Continue reading Guilt tripping, shame and honesty!

Peace and blessings. So Ramadan is right around the corner and I am, I must admit, dreading the long hours of fasting in the warmest weather of the year. Ramadan in Canada will be taking place during some of the longest days of summer averaging 17.5 hours between dawn and dusk. Yet, Ramadan was –and is– a large contributing factor to why I am a Muslim. After my first 30-day fast, I was in awe of  the insight it gave me on my body, on the greatness of God’s power of creation, and God’s ability to instill a will into … Continue reading You know you don’t have to do that!