Gaza: An Israeli reign written in blood

The devastating events occurring in Gaza this past week leave no room for excuses or turning a blind eye.

Every human has the ability and the obligation to do something to help if merely for the sake of humanity. Helping can come in any form, big or small, but we must at least do something.

- Pray for the people of Gaza.

- Sign petitions and appeals to officials.

- Tell others and spread the truth about what is happening in Gaza. The more people who know the more who lend a helping hand.

Here are some truths to get you started:

(i) Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territory.

(ii) Israel is breaking international law by collectively punishing the people of Gaza – not just by bombing them, but by restricting their freedom of movement, and their access to humanitarian aid, power and medical supplies.
(iii) Hamas was democratically elected by the majority of the Palestinian people in an election judged fair and free by impartial international observers.

Here is a video showing the real situation in Gaza; somewhat of an insider’s view:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=506195522739165

This article explains the political aspect of the Gaza blockade: 

http://myriamfrancoiscerrah.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/gazas-citizens-a-human-sacrifice-in-a-political-blame-game/

Gaza before the blockade

The magic of Reading

The Pro-Athlete Protocol

In order to be part of the 1% of remarkable people then you must do what only 1% of the population is willing to do.

Whatever you craft or profession may be, mindset is always the most important. We must remain positive and creative in the face of all the stress and hurdles we may face. It sounds like the recipe for success, but its easier said than done. Protecting your mindset requires dedication; one of the best guides that I’ve found so far to do so is by Robin Sharma and he advocates what he calls The Pro-Athlete Protocol. 

The Pro-Athlete Protocol consists of the following:

1. Wake up at 5 am. I wake up at 6 everyday for prayer anyway so I just stay awake after praying my morning prayer.

2. Exercise for an hour or a minimum of 15 min. I can’t do strenuous exercise before eating breakfast so I prefer to take a 45 min walk. The view of the sunrise and the fresh air is absolutely inspiring. When I get back to the dorm everybody is just waking up while I’m ready to conquer my day.

3. Drink tea/coffee and write in your journal. I eat breakfast and either write or plan my day. Keep in mind that applying this protocol must be personalized to you; I condense this routine so it can fit with the time available before classes.

4. Take a shower and do affirmations. Affirmations are short statements that are positive like “Today will be a fantastic day”. Repeating an affirmation will reprogram your brain to be more positive. We already talk to ourselves throughout the day but 85% of it is negative.

After doing that I get dressed and head to university. It truly does make a difference in your day. Waking up early will need some getting used to but as long as you sleep early then it’s a piece of cake.

 

 

 

Writing… Dreaming…

Writing is the best escape other than reading. Reading takes you into another world while writing gives you the tools to create your own world. Writing can also act as a pensieve.

Any Harry Potter fan will know what a pensieve is; it allows the person to remove their thoughts and memories from their head and store them elsewhere when they overcrowd the mind.

Writing works in the exact same way.

My preferred method of writing is on paper. I love being able to go back, scribble and edit. Yet I do prefer the organized and coherent font that comes along with writing on a computer.

The best of both worlds is: A Typewriter!

I have a slight obsession with typewriters. Since I plan to get one after I graduate (or whenever I have enough money to do so), I still have plenty of time to obsess over the different kinds and which one to get.

Very few people understand this. I have only one friend who does; so if you are a fellow believer in typewriters then welcome to the nation. Share and contribute your resources for we are few and far in between.

Speaking of writing, I found this old writing contest  to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Is it possible? Should I try it by my self? We’ll see…

I don’t usually write everyday, that never works for me. What I’ve gotten good at though is following inspiration. If I’m inspired to write then I will write anywhere, be it my phone, a paper or a napkin.  so,

Stress-free Productivity

My past weeks have been spent settling in and setting up a routine.

Everyone knows how busy the beginning of a school year can be, especially if you have to move into a dormitory and deal with the bureaucracy that comes with living abroad. So I set a deadline for myself; by the end of the first week of classes, I should have finished settling in and setting up a routine and should start being truly productive.

It’s Friday today and I am pleased to report that despite some complications, the mission is a success.

Setting up a routine can increase your productivity by up to 60 percent and it decreases stress.

To set up your routine decide your goals first so you are not simply going through day after day without any purpose. The whole point of a routine is to ensure that you move forward. Your goals can be cover all aspects of your life: spiritual, mental, physical, and professional.

An example from my goals would be:

-          My fitness training (physical)

-          Reading Quran everyday and getting more out of my prayers (spiritual)

-          Writing more and learning French, Turkish, and Swahili (mental)

-          Getting a higher GPA and launching Orphans United on time (professional)

This is just an example, your goals can be anything you want to get done or any habit you want to form but unlike New Year’s resolutions, you make sure you follow these through by setting up a routine. The routine is how you are going to make your goals a reality.

Your routine should be personalized to your own needs and what you do everyday, so don’t try and copy anyone else’s. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different routines until you find one that suits you. My number one rule about setting up your routine is to be honest to yourself; if you watch a movie, check Facebook, or whatever, keep it in your routine. BE REALISTIC.

 

 

 

Hiking in The Atlas Mountains

The health benefits of hiking, or any type of walking, are numerous. Throw in a great view and you have the most relaxing method of exercise you can get. So along with the fun of water sports, no internet, and great food, we decided to get some hiking done.

Our destination : The Cathedral.

This mountain is called The Cathedral by the locals because of its seclusion.  The name is unique to it because the population is predominantly Muslim so there is no confusion between it and the nonexistent cathedrals in the area.

The trip to the actual location where the hike will start took about 2 hours by car.

After the long dizzying car ride, we stopped to refuel for the hike with some locally grown, natural and delicious Moroccan food.

Walking with this around you is the most inspiring and relaxing thing in the world.

So even when you are on vacation, find creative ways to exercise. Hiking is just an example; another great idea to go with a fabulous view is yoga at dawn.

 

 

 

Charity for the Soul

Giving is an essential element in the journey towards happiness. Giving does not always have to mean giving money. Here are some ways in which you can give back:

1-      Smile at a stranger. You never know if you might be the reason behind someone’s day becoming better. Everybody has their own problems, spread positivity.

2-      Share your food.  Next time you bake or cook something, wrap a small amount and give it to a homeless person or someone in need.  It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.

3-      Spread kindness. Go out of your way to be kind to someone. It just may restore their faith in humanity.

4-       Transfer your knowledge. Teach someone a skill you have; it can be a craft, a language, or a profession.

5-       Provide an uplift. Write a thank you note or a positive quote and hand it to someone you know or a stranger.

So do something for others that will make your day better. Have fun with it!

 

 

 

10 Reasons to Throw Out Your TV

I’ve discovered from personal experience that throwing out your TV can be one of the best things you can do for your self.

Here is why:

1. You start becoming more productive. Hours can be spent in front of the television just flipping through channels and watching show after show.
2. It can help you lose weight.  Eating or snacking while watching television is extremely bad but unfortunately most of us have that habit.
3. You can be more positive. Watching the news can be filled with negativity and it effects us mentally. So kick the habit of watching the news and instead read the news online.
4. We can think for ourselves. Watching the TV can create a very narrow view of the world and make us very close minded. Plus, it is psychologically proven that what we watch on TV can unconsciously change the way we think. 
5. Reading is more stimulating. Reading either online or a book can teach you more, make you more creative, and significantly more open minded.
6. Discover hobbies and passions. Discover activities that are much more fun than being plopped on a couch in front of the TV.
7. Connect with the people you love. Sitting in front of the TV can disconnect people rather than connect them. You can spend hours in the same room with a person but if the TV is on then you are less likely to talk or learn anything about the person.
8. Become healthier and happier. TV is bad for your eyes and brain, thoughts and spirit. Instead of watching TV you can move or do something healthier and more positive.
9. You have a computer anyway. These days, a TV set isn’t needed for watching movies or tv series. You can follow them online and save cash on getting a TV.
10. This is an essential step towards a better you. so OPT OUT and try it.. I assure you won’t even miss that TV.

 

 

 

Cinnamon Sweet Rolls

These oh-so-delicious sticky sweet cinnamon rolls barely last a day in our house, especially with my brother around. That’s why I made a double batch this time.

Cinnamon Sweet Rolls

Dough:

- 1 package (1/4 ounce) dry yeast

(I used the yeast paste available in Morocco)

- 1 cup warm milk

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1/3 cup margarine or butter

- 1 tsp salt

- 2 eggs

- 4 cups flour + more for dusting

- Lightly knead the dough until smooth then let it rise in a warm place for an hour.

- roll out on a flour dusted counter top until the dough is roughly 13×9″.

Filling:

- 1 cup packaged brown sugar

( I used granulated sugar since brown sugar is not easily found in Morocco)

- 2 1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon

- 1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened

- Spread the mixture onto the rolled out dough (notice how thin it should be)

- roll the dough tightly then cut using a sharp knife

- place in a greased pan and let rise in a warm place for an hour

- bake at 180 C or 375 F for 45 min or until lightly browned

Icing:

- 8 Tbsp margarine or butter

- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

- 1/4 cup cream cheese

( I used 4 Kiri squares available in Morocco)

- 1/2 tsp vanilla

- 1/8 tsp salt

- Mix until creamy

- Remove hot Cinnamon Sweet Rolls from the oven

- Spread the icing on top and Enjoy!

(keep in mind that I made a double batch of this recipe)

 

 

 

French Crepes

French crepes are a staple in our household. Since Morocco used to be colonized by the french, many aspects of french culture is integrated into the Moroccan culture. Crepes are the equivalent of  pancakes therefore growing up we used to have them every weekend.

The best thing about crepes is that you can have them sweet or salty and they can be stuffed. So not only can they be eaten for dessert or breakfast but they can also double as a main dish.

Plus you get to enjoy doing that flippy thing. But notice the pan I’m using, it’s very light. Make sure the pan you use is either a crepe pan or a very light non-stick pan.

These are also a good school lunch idea for kids since they aren’t messy and they can easily be made ahead of time in large quantities and frozen.

This time I stuffed them with a mixture of ground meat and onions, which was delicious.

Here is the recipe for the crepes.

Crepe

Ingredients:

- 4 eggs

- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar (for sweet crepes)

- 1 tsp vanilla (for sweet crepes)

- 2 cups milk

- 2 Tbsp melted butter

- 1 1/2 cups flour

- A dash of salt (for salty crepes)

Method:

- Mix all the ingredients using a hand mixer or blender.

- pour a small amount into the crepe pan and swirl around until it covers the surface forming a thin layer of batter.

- cook until lightly browned.

-Tip: For storage, stuff crepes before freezing since they will break if you try to roll them after they have been frozen flat.

Bon Apetit!