Category Archives: Emotional

A Penny for Your Thoughts

My Mom always gave whole heartedly, to those close to her, and to those she had never met. She was an amazingly generous individual and this is one of the reasons I am so proud of her.

One time as we were leaving the grocery store, a man was asking for money outside. My Mom opened her wallet, she didn’t have any change so she gave him five dollars and wished him a good day. As we climbed into the car, she told me, “I don’t always have cash, but when I do I try to give something, if I see someone who needs help.”

This is just one example of a time my Mom’s generous spirit helped to enrich the lives of those around her. From now on, when asked for a donation, I will try my best to give, and include my Moms name so she can continue to be apart of helping others.

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Thinking Out Loud

“If you really want to dream, be fully awake”
– Paul Coelho
The Alchemist 

My mom always told us to follow our dreams, to work hard, and to do our best. The later two can make your dreams come true. Show the world what you can do, prove to those who have doubted you, and know that the possibilities are limitless. As we struggle forward and make our way in the world, it teaches us to appreciate our successes and to learn from our failures. Check out a video my brother produced with a few of his friends covering Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran – I’m sure this is going to be the beginning of something great!

See You Again

Our lives are not set in stone, they are shifting beneath us, forcing us to adapt because at any point, the ground beneath us might suddenly be swept away. It’s what makes life so exciting, but also a little scary. The obstacles we have to overcome force us to change and grow into the people we are meant to be. And at the end of the day, it’s important to remember that no matter what life throws at you, you are never alone.

The SCAR Project: Breast Cancer is Not a Pink Ribbon

Fashion Photographer, David Jay, was inspired to act when his friend, a young woman of 32, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The SCAR Project features large scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors. The project began as a way to raise awareness, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in young women ages 15-40. The SCAR Project participants range from ages 18 to 35. These photographs represent their courage, their personal victory over the disease, and remind them that they are not alone. 

Hairspray

Today, as I twirled a few strands of hair with my fingers, memories of how my Mom used to cut my hair came flooding back. As a little girl, when people would ask me what my Mom did, I would say that she was a hairdresser, and she had, in fact, gone to hairdressing school.

Around grade 7 or 8, everyone started ironing their hair – I’m not talking flat iron – I’m talking real iron. I told my Mom the theory; “Lets try it.” She replied. She pulled out the ironing board, brushed out my hair, and literally, ironed it (in the traditional sense) until it was straight. We used this method until finally we got a flat iron that worked on our curls.

In my twenties, I asked her to cut my bangs, and she messed them up so badly, “Moooom,” I whined, halfway between amused and annoyed “Seriously?” She couldn’t stop grinned, “Hold still.” She told me with a half laugh, “Stop making that face.” She chopped at my hair in an attempt to fix the damage, “I’ll fix it.” she promised, “There, go look in the mirror.” She would always say this when she was done. She had managed to make the bangs look decent, but the next time I asked, I reminded her of the incident and the whole process started over.

A month before Christmas, two years ago, my Mom came home from shopping, “Look what I bought while Baba was busy!” She announced proudly. “Mom! What are you doing buying things right before Christmas!?” I asked her a little annoyed as I was currently struggling to find her a gift. “It’s for both of us.” she told me, a twinkle in her eye as she called me into the kitchen to unpack the purchase. “We got a new hair straightener, curling wand, mini straightener, and…Do you notice anything different?” she giggled as I gave her a once over. “Extensions!” I exclaimed. “Yes!” she laughed, “Aren’t they cool! Your friends are going to be soooo jealous!” At this point I couldn’t help but laugh and agree, my initial frustration completely gone. My Mom was cool (did I mention all the appliances were in zebra print?) but she was also the most thoughtful and generous person I knew.

These memories made me smile, and I realized that these might be some of the first memories I’ve experienced without also feeling sad.