The Ocean of My Being

Ocean is the name I gave to my journal. She ( yes, she's a she! ) is the only one who knows me completely, inside and out. When I write in Ocean , I feel that I can truly say what I want to say without any fear of judgment or criticism. I've had Ocean since I was in high school and she has really helped me a lot. She has been (still is) a major part of my life and has always been the thing that really keeps me sane. When I feel like I don't belong in this world, that I probably am in the wrong place and time, that nobody understands me, it's only Ocean that holds me together because with her, I can just be who and what I really am and she accepts me without conditions. She is my mirror. Going through her pages helps me a lot in understanding and learning about my past self and my present self. She keeps me from anger and destruction. She saves me. ************ When I read The Diary of Anne Frank for the first time back in high school, I remember finding her idea...

We've just celebrated Eid'l Fitr (one of the two most important days in the Islamic world). The day marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan . It is the day when Muslims all over the world gather to pray together as one. It is the day when we ask forgiveness from and grant forgiveness to one another. It is the day when families and friends get together to celebrate. It is the day when we all remember how we sacrificed for and in praise of Allah and wish with all our hearts that all our efforts are accepted by the Almighty . It is the day when we are reminded of all the lessons we learned from all the sacrifices we have made. It is the day when we show appreciation and gratitude for the gifts of the Holy Month . Here's to hoping that everything we got from Ramadhan stays with us for the rest of our lives and that we still be here to welcome and enjoy more Ramadhans to come. To everyone, Happy Eid'l Fitr! :)

Those who know me and those who have read this blog long enough know how much I love and enjoy reading. Reading has done me a lot of good. It has taken me to places, has made me find the best and most interesting friends, has helped me in dealing with and accepting life's blows, has taught me so much not just about the world and everything around me, but about myself. Reading is my anti-depressant and relaxant. It's the best drug for me. One of the subjects/courses I am teaching is Literature. Needless to say, I love it! My devotion to literature can easily be compared to a pair of lovers' devotion to each other. And, I want my students to have a clear view or at least a glimpse of that special world I have loved all my life. I want my students to feel the way I feel when I read and when I am blown away by the power and beauty of literary pieces. I want them to travel around the world in 80 days with Phileas Fogg and Passepartout . I want them to join the wonderful...