7 Steps to Staving Off Alzheimer's

1. Mind your mind: keep your brain active by learning and gleaning knowledge (eg.tazkirah, majlis ilmu), reading worthy materials being the utmost, the holy Al-Quran and engaging in social activities (eg ziarah for the noble cause of maintaining and nourishing silaturrahim)
2. Mind your diet: reduce saturated fats and take plenty of wholesome and antioxidant-rich foods
3. Mind your body: exercise for at least 30 min a day
4. Mind your head: take steps to avoid head injury, for example wearing safety harness and preventing falls
5. Mind your health: by having regular checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body weight
6. Mind your soul: by turning in early and waking up for Qiammullayl for the refreshing and cleansing of the mind, body and soul
7. Be socially active by visiting friends, relatives and neighbours and rekindling old friendships  

May You be Blessed, My Child

She is my second-born but to her being second doesn't mean she has to be second in everything else. That's what I truly miss about her. I like her ever-emerging spirits, her zest and eagerness in attaining what she sets out to achieve and she gives her all each time every time.

She's a bouncy, lively and joyful kind of person although she does brood and tend to get pessimistic at times which are exactly the things that she is learning to shun or turn away from. As a matter of fact, she has made progress in learning to spin the negatives around and turn them into something that will boost the drive even more.

I could practically see her maturity and outlook taking shape and suddenly realized that she's no longer my baby girl she used to be. Being in a hostel before and now miles and miles away from home have certainly opened up her eyes in learning about the various facets of life the hard but meaningful way which is always the more effective one.

I can say that she fits in well in any group too, be it young or old. Once, I saw her mingled enthusiastically with a group of senior citizens, engaging in a lofty conversation while peeling onions and potatoes with them and she was barely ten then; something that I don't see happening very often to young girls her age.

However nobody is without flaws and she has her own share of those too. She could get quite cranky easily especially when it comes to her younger brothers being overly playful and ignoring their responsibilities like praying or doing their fair bit of the chores. The downside of it is that this outburst could flare up and make her upset in the end.

Although they are well-intended, she realizes that her ways are not always with prudence. However, she is taking steps to deal with it with countless doa and effort. Alhamdulillah, she is beginning to demonstrate a more wiser tone now that she doesn't see her siblings as often as she would like to. The one thing that comes out right is that she knows almost immediately that she has to make amends.

For that, she also listens well to any good-intended advice and take heed of those reminders seriously. She is quite a high-achiever too, something that I'm most thankful for. Her spirit of competitiveness is envious and she does it with the right conscience and attitude, much to my satisfaction. On the flip side of it, she also has the knack and passion at art and crafts. Perhaps she takes after her late paternal grandmother who demonstrated dexterity with her hands and flowing, creative ideas.

In a nutshell, she to me is the daughter I have always dreamt of having and for that I feel so blessed and superfluously thankful to the Almighty. Needless to say, I am also grateful for the rest of my children too for they bring me unmatched joy and happiness in this world and hopefully, God willing, in the next one too. But above all, I am grateful that she turns out to be who she is now and I like her being just her, my God-sent beloved daughter. Oh my dear, I miss you so...

Family Ties Rekindled

The year 2006 was one of the most fondly remembered in our family. That was when we celebrated Chinese New Year in the true essence of the word with our long-lost Chinese relatives. You see, my hubby's deceased mother (Allahyarhamah Hjh Akmah Bt Abdullah) was a Chinese but adopted at birth by a Malay family and was raised and bred according to Malay and Muslim culture in a little town of Kangar, Perlis.

However, throughout her life, there was never an attempt to look for her natural parents as she was very much at ease and contented being what and who she was and digging up her past was the last thing in her list.  As time went by, years after her sudden demise at the age of 59, the topic that used to be a big no-no as a conversation piece, let alone for open discussion, started to crop up and the idea of finding our roots surprisingly progressed to an all-time new height, well, at least in my family. The urge and curiosity could be no longer kept at bay so much so that one fine day, we decided it was time we set out on a journey that was  long overdue.

(to be continued)

MUM is the Word by Rayhana

Mothers are vital, if not the most prominent part of everyone's life. They are the ones who brought us to this world, God willing, shape and nurture us from young to become somebody of good standing later in life. From those seemingly meek hands, we've had great leaders and individuals who contribute tirelessly to the prosperity of the religion, race and nation as a whole.

My mother is no exception. She sweats and toils to bring us up the best possible way she knows how and in doing so, showers us with great care and unconditional love. Making sacrifices by putting our interests first are nothing new and she listens attentively to our every whimper and whine. She imparts the utmost importance of seeking knowledge and education while instilling and upholding good moral values as taught by our beloved prophet (pbuh).  

Over the years, she has encountered her fair share of pain and sorrow and yet we could never see her immersed or engulfed by it. Rather, her endurance and perseverance during difficult times when we were growing up especially when the money was tight and the going got tough, were all shown brightly over her face, much to our admiration and consolation. 

In a nutshell, she is the epitome of love and strength in this family, something that I fervently hope to have emulated and practised in bringing up my own. It brings a whole new meaning and perspective to the adage, "a mother's love knows no bounds".    

The Night Journey

By Rayhana

In the midst of a single night,
an eventful, auspicious night,
laden with countless blessings and insights,
the 27th day of the month of 'Rejab', 621,
our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh),
was taken on a wondrous, physical and spiritual ascension,
in the speed of light beyond humanly perception,
via a journey henceforth named 'Israk',
flanked by loyal companion, the Archangel, 'Jibrail',
and rode on the heavenly steed 'Buraq',
to the farthest mosque, the holy 'Masjid Al-Aqsa',
where he led other prophets in congregation, Subhanallah.

Ascending through the awesome skies of Allah the Benevolent,
on a journey of 'Mikraj' called thereafter,
touring beyond the unimaginable seven circles of heaven,
where sea of angels so fine, lined up to meet and greet
the beloved prophet (pbuh), best of mankind, ever
overwhelmed with awe and amazement beyond words,
approaching the pinnacle of the sky kingdom adorned in all finery,
where perched the majestic throne of 'Sidratul Muntaha',
to meet in prostration before his gracious Lord, the Creator Ya Rabb,
and in all humbleness received the sacred ordain of 'Solat',
of which is the pillar of Islam, the epitome of all deeds,
paramount to all goodness, Allahu Akbar.

Thus, with this great milestone journey undertaken, Alhamdulillah,
Let us carry out the ordained commandment without fail and fault,
but with due diligence, humbleness and undivided earnestness,
demonstrating submission and gratitude to the highest level attainable,
for the multitude of 'nikmat' bestowed and granted,
while professing the oneness, the greatness of the Almighty,
lord of this world, the hereafter and everything within and in between.

Taking Chances by Rayhana

Life is like a box full of chocolates

You’ll never know what you’re going to get

If its fillings are candy and tartlets

You’ll be jolly, delightful and not fret

Life is also like a bowl of cherries

Red and sweet while some green, bitter and bad

If you carefully choose what you fancy,

You’ll hardly be sad with what you will get

So life’s all about making smart choices

So that later you will never regret

But if somehow you had ruined your chances

I doubt you’ll ever get another set

So friends, let’s grab whatever comes your way

And make it to the top and never sway!

The Best Things in Life by Suraya Syazwani Bt Mohamad Yusof

What are the best things in life? Well, for one, simply getting a smile from a loved one could mean the world to him while to others, attaining an insurmountable amount of wealth or surviving a near-death situation does tantamount to life’s best things. Too often a time when something regarded as ordinary to many is taken as a God-sent to some. I have seen how a meager pack of rice could light up one’s world when life was unbearably hard and going through the day without a decent meal was nothing new. For a person living the life of a destitute where his days reek of uncertainties, that scanty pack of sustenance was probably his life’s best thing. But for many, being loved, cared for and protected plus being able to lead a life full of happiness, joy and contentment certainly account for life’s best offers. In a nutshell, they come in a multitude of forms of varying nature and intensity.

Nevertheless, on many occasions, what we regard as life’s best things greatly depends on how we perceive them. For instance, a blind man receiving a gift of roses will appreciate the pleasant smell they emit and perhaps feel enlightened by his wondrous journey of imagining the possible riot of colours while another blind man might treat the gift as meaningless and disparaging. Time and again, we have seen that wealth does not always bring happiness and joy. It might even spell doom if it brings more harm than good. A mere peasant with little to spare might lead a much happier life than a man of greater wealth and standing as monetary prosperity does not always guarantee perpetual happiness while inner contentment does. So, one’s perception of life’s best things really depends on the individual’s unique interpretation and reception.

For me, life’s best things pertain to almost every facet of my life for which I am truly grateful. For a start, I am blessed with a loving and supportive family and relatives; neighbours that I care about and friends with whom we pledge our eternal friendship. These, I consider as my life’s best happenings and never in a million years would I trade them with anything else for I value this gift of love and devotion that surrounds me. Although my parents especially my doting father sometimes does get carried away by pampering us with worldly things we fancy, we never let our guard down especially when it comes to being conceited or condescending. But sadly, not every child in this world is fortunate enough to get his or her much deserving affection, what more care and protection from their supposedly loved ones?

I practically watch myself grow from year to year; leaving one phase and moving on to another, at least where values, hopes and aspirations are concerned. To me, life should not be looked at as a destiny beyond change. It does not have to be mundane, empty and worthless, as some might feel. In fact, it could as well be the opposite. We could gear to make things happen and God willing they will. The bottomline is how much goodness you want to reap from them. Some time back I saw an old lady about to cross a street. Doddering through the busy area, she looked a little helpless due to her frailness and old age. Normally I would just sit back and watch but this time I was somewhat compelled to get up and offer a helping hand. I finally helped her cross the street and in return she thanked me profusely. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of sheer contentment that overwhelmed me for the next few weeks! I never knew that one simple action could bring such an enormous impact on me. Perhaps it was because I have never done anything like this for a total stranger before and I was grateful that I did. I was literally bidding adieu to my former self and forging ahead with earnestness. Undoubtedly, it was one of my best days.

Like everyone else, I have an aspiration of my own and after some soul-searching I realize that my interest lies greatly in the field of medicine. From young I have always been fascinated with the medical fraternity and how they toil and strive to serve the community. I often read and see documentaries about their enormous contribution to societies so much so that I want to emulate them. I realize this would not be a walk in the park, and I need to commit my heart and soul to my studies and everything else that matters. Otherwise my life-long dream would just dissipate into thin air.

I was leaping with joy the other day when I had had the rare opportunity of meeting 2007 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Professor Sir Martin Evans who was in Malaysia recently on a special invitation by the country’s renowned think-tanks and academicians. I felt so lucky having been selected to represent my college, along with thirteen others. I managed to get his autograph which made me beaming with joy the whole day. The whole experience of meeting him in person and hearing him talk on the selected subjects were awe-inspiring and I felt all the more intrigued by the profession and its noble cause. God willing, when the day comes when I finally attain my scroll, it will be my all-time life’s best thing. I fervently hope that I will be able to serve the community well afterwards while upholding the principles and values that I have been taught to live by.

Seeing the atrocities afflicted to people everywhere, my ardent hope is also to see that world peace prevails so that there will be no more gory pictures about horrid war aftermaths that usually involve scores of innocent children and senior citizens as casualties. Sadly, in the midst of these warring factions, our one and only Earth becomes a victim too as if pollution of various kinds alone is not enough to ravage this planet we so-called love. I am sure that peace, harmony and unity will account for everyone’s best thing in life as it would benefit the whole of mankind and Mother Nature too. After all, ours is probably the only breed that is in existence in this universe. Once peace is attained, subsequently everything else like economic stability, well-being and integration, to name just a few, will follow suit. Every citizen shall have access to proper upbringing and education, healthcare and livelihood regardless of race, religion and colour of the skin. However should this mission fail and we continue to fight among ourselves and while doing so imparting substantial injustice to Mother Earth, mankind shall risk facing oblivion one day. This will in turn be the worst thing of our lives, ever.

Have A Dream by Rayhana

Well, it has been a good long while since I last penned my words, so much so that it almost slipped my mind that I do have a blog afterall, a modest one though. So naturally after the long hiatus, I do have loads to tell and here goes..

Have a dream or you go nowhere

A dream that takes you where one seldom dares

To greater height with zest and might

where plausible zenith is in sight

Follow the path less travelled

As you might be awed and marvelled

and hope not distraught by troubles

nor be awakened rudely that shattered dreams to rubbles 

Aspire without fear

And sincerely persevere

For life is nothing short

of pitfalls and many things unsure

Nothing is final until you let it be

Open your eyes to possibilities

Perhaps you have shunned the nitty-gritty

That determines the productivity

So strive harder, work smarter

Aim higher but be wary not to plunder

Discern and plan with prudence and prowess

And God Almighty will do the rest

Dreams come with an insurmountable hopes and with them tag along the insatiable urges to initiate actions that would finally lead to immortalizing your dreams. They come in various sizes, shapes and forms but whether they are big or small, good or horrid (God forbids), they would certainly leave an indelible mark to the beholder who can eventually exclaim "Alas, I have a purpose to fulfill and I am taking charge of my life".

More often than not, too great a dream tends to vanish as immediately as it was formed, most likely because halfway through it, it was perceived as far-fetched, hence inconceivable. Sometimes dreams are simply dropped away and forgotten because great amount of interest was lost in pursuing them due to a variety of probable reasons like personal incompetence or unavoidable hindrances like financial matters. So these dreams will remain as fantasies and with time will soon fade away and wither, unless and when they are resurrected, kept alive and ultimately realized.

Others may view that having dreams is a useless waste of energy as they usually do not materialize or they come horribly short of the target no matter how much effort were put in. As a result, dreams are shattered and you are where you were before. Although they have done what are supposed to be done, there is still this element of uncertainty looming ahead that prohibits the dreams to be realized. 

It is a harsh fact that life is totally unpredictable but then again life is also about taking chances. Dreams may not be realized now but only God knows that with sheer determination and endless courage, they might come into being at a later date, much to our pleasant surprise and anticipation. We have heard so many success stories based on this and these stories have also inspired many to follow suit.

However, there is still a looming possibility that they might not happen at all. But that should not stop us from initiating other dreams or keeping the initial ones alive, after all great success is built by taking the negatives and turning them around. These include being introspective to figure out the reasons to strive even harder. The bottom line is, everyone should have a dream no matter what form it takes because not having dreams at all will leave us with nothing new to be gained as the famous quote by Oscar Hammerstein reads ‘if you don't have a dream, how are you going to make a dream come true?’ and ‘if you can dream it, you can become it.’

Almost everyone has a dream, old or young, handicapped or not, rich or poor. The same goes to Bill Gates, the co- founder of Microsoft Corporation, which ultimately makes him the richest man in the world. He had always dreamt of becoming the most successful man in the whole wide world. He started invented his first software program when he was thirteen years old. Then, he continued to enlarge his interest by releasing his first microprocessor chip and wrote a version of BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) for the new Intel chip. He said that ‘No one actually wanted to buy the machine, at least not from a teenager’. But that did not prevent him from pursuing his lifelong dream. When opportunity finally knocked on his door, he never let it go. Little did he know then, when he left Harvard, he was asked by one of the most renowned computer industry leader to develop an operating system for a new personal computer and since then, there was no turning back.

History has also taught us that without dreams, Alexander the Great would not have conquered half of the world at his age. He even undermined his own father when he surpassed his father’s dream and succeeded to conquer not just their arch enemies’ territories. Have you ever wondered that if men like Christopher Columbus, Thomas Cook, Ferdinand Magellan or Admiral Cheng Ho did not bother to explore the seas as they did many years ago, the world that we know now would certainly be different. Perhaps Australia would still remain undiscovered. And all these major contributions to mankind stemmed from just having dreams to start with.

Likewise, many years ago, when our first Malaysian Cosmonaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, dreamed of going to outer space, many would have dismissed it as absurd and ridiculous and it was merely a young man’s wildest dream. But look now, he had accomplished just what he aspired to be and was even named a national hero, more than what he had hoped for. He always says that ‘what the mind believes, the body can achieve’. Finally, he had proven his critics wrong and that there is nothing wrong with having a dream as absurd as it may sound so long as they are accompanied by determination, dedication and willingness to overcome any obstacle encountered.

How about those with disability? They certainly have physical or mental limitations but having these do not refrain them from cultivating big dreams of their own. The so-called negatives are turned around and exploited to benefit them in whatever ways possible. They might dream of becoming an independent person when they grow up or simply being able to play basketball one day, things that we, as able persons take for granted. With sheer hard work and support from their loved ones and caring citizens they might achieve just that so long as they abide religiously by the adage ‘being disabled does not mean being unable’.

Over the years, our country has progressed by leaps and bounds. Opportunities are aplenty and they are up to be seized. People flock from all over the country to big cities seeking for greener pastures. They come in droves with big dreams to realize their potentials and strengths. They have seen their acquaintances that have ascended to greater heights and they want to be included as well.

This phenomenon even attracts people from neighbouring countries resulting in a huge influx of migrants seeking for a better future. Even those who live on ill-gotten wealth would not think twice about migrating as doing  ‘business’ in the cities is more lucrative. However it does not mean that those who are left behind do not have dreams of their own. They may aspire to become great farmers in the future possibly by working the land with better machinery to reap their very own ‘golden’ harvest. For all it’s worth, if need be, they will have to learn new things, adapt to new farming technology or perhaps change to a different approach altogether.  

For me, having dreams is absolutely imperative. Without them, I will be too complacent to strive for anything. From the time I started primary school I knew I had to be somebody when I grew up.  I drew up plans and many times dreamed of being somebody to be reckoned with.  As I grew older I learned that in order to make my dreams and goals realistic, it would involve determination on my part and countless dedications to Allah, the Almighty via prayers and doas.  So I constantly kept that in mind as I get a step closer to making decisions and choices.  

I suppose if you believe in yourself you can be anybody you would like to be, God willing, even if it may seem impossible in the beginning. So I turned my dream into aspiration and work myself up hoping to become a good muslimah to this world and its inhabitants, who could make an impact in my own small way on someone's life, to say the very least, in this world and the next. I realize having this dream comes with many sacrifices that I was not willing to part with in the beginning. These include getting out of my ‘comfort zone’ to take up new and more challenging roles and cutting down on certain ‘pleasures’. There is still a long way to go and is certainly no downhill task but I will try my utmost to persevere and commit fully towards achieving my lifelong dream. Ultimately, accompanying all our dreams and aspirations is the greatest divine power of the Almighty to whom we should, with all earnestness turn to, for blessings, guidance and most importantly realization of our dreams through Doa, Doa and Doa...  

I'm having a whale of time today! Alhamdulillah..