Friday's session at the conference certainly had many "take-note" moments. Of those, was Dr.Irfan's word of wisdom which went something like "Before you go to bed, imagine yourself as the man you want to be..become". Sound advice.. really.
I reflected further on it and in some strange way with the course of events in past few days, the purpose of those bedtime tales my Dad told me, became a lot clear. My father had a fixed definition of the person he wanted me to become.. let's say, he defined me. How? Well, I shall write down an excerpt from his narratives (these have translated in English).
"Once a upon time there was a girl named Cinderella.. Cinderella's mom and dad were going for Hajj ( the concept of death is a little too morbid for a toddler and even more so for a father who tucks her in bed). So they decided to leave a stepmother (this term remained unexplained and untouched for the greater bit of my childhood and strangely, I showed no curiosity to find out more about it) with her. Cinderella also had two stepsisters. Now, before leaving, Cinderella's father asked each of his daughters for gifts they wanted him to bring back home. He first asked Onka (his name for Anastasia). Onka replied 'I want lots and lots and lots jewelry; earrings and a necklace and rings!' Cinderella's Dad made a face *and then my dad would make a disgruntled face; a look of pure disgust* Then Cinderella's Dad asked Ponka ( his name for Drizella). Ponka replied, 'I want lots of make up; a lipstick and face powder and just lots of make up'. Cinderella's Dad made an even greater disgusting face and "hmph!" *infact my Dad would ask me "what did he say?" and I would go all "hmph!"* Finally, he asked Cinderella *His tone becomes soft and sweet* Cinderella replied, "Pappa, get me a pencil and a copy. I want colour pencils and a drawing book- *at this moment I'd speak up and cut him and continue the wishlist* and a pencil box and new crayons and new books.. picture books." And Cinderella's Dad would say 'Shabaash! I WILL get them for you!'. And he became very very happy...."
The rest of the tale would continue in it's original version with Dad rushing way fast at the very end since it usually gets way too mushy for a kid- primary reason he never narrated more Sleeping Beauty and Snow White was true love's first kiss. Wise man my dad! And this pretty same beginning in essence was that of Beauty and the Beast, another favorite of ours. Even in this tale the father asks his three daughters the same questions and they (with different names) had almost the same answers.
I can't imagine how invaluable these were. I slept on these thoughts of a perfect girl who has no love for materialistic things like jewels or dresses or make-up and only loved studying and her hobbies and was content with them. I know for a fact, that this is the very reason I am, well, unusual. While the usual girl would picture a nice cafe and an expensive dessert, I would picture myself in it with a laptop or a book, snipping away some coffee. "oh please, Hafsa!" said someone once when were engrossed in similar musings.
The greater lesson, infact, the lesson in truth was Simplicity and a strong sense of not being a part of the material world. Your older years will do their level best to battle this notion. And you must.. be steadfast and try your level not to give in to the world.
I sometimes wonder if I am.. and then shake the world from my shoulders (need to do that again) and remind me of Cinderella. Only now, that cinderella is becoming more pro.. preserving her innate simplicity and blending in the acquired girl interest as part of professionalism. There are thin lines. I don't want to tread on any of them.
*ti-ding* I know what I'd be holding on to at bedtime now.
Off for now. iftari prep time.
P.S. shukar al hamdolillah for the awesome mausam.. made the long roza pretty easy.
I reflected further on it and in some strange way with the course of events in past few days, the purpose of those bedtime tales my Dad told me, became a lot clear. My father had a fixed definition of the person he wanted me to become.. let's say, he defined me. How? Well, I shall write down an excerpt from his narratives (these have translated in English).
"Once a upon time there was a girl named Cinderella.. Cinderella's mom and dad were going for Hajj ( the concept of death is a little too morbid for a toddler and even more so for a father who tucks her in bed). So they decided to leave a stepmother (this term remained unexplained and untouched for the greater bit of my childhood and strangely, I showed no curiosity to find out more about it) with her. Cinderella also had two stepsisters. Now, before leaving, Cinderella's father asked each of his daughters for gifts they wanted him to bring back home. He first asked Onka (his name for Anastasia). Onka replied 'I want lots and lots and lots jewelry; earrings and a necklace and rings!' Cinderella's Dad made a face *and then my dad would make a disgruntled face; a look of pure disgust* Then Cinderella's Dad asked Ponka ( his name for Drizella). Ponka replied, 'I want lots of make up; a lipstick and face powder and just lots of make up'. Cinderella's Dad made an even greater disgusting face and "hmph!" *infact my Dad would ask me "what did he say?" and I would go all "hmph!"* Finally, he asked Cinderella *His tone becomes soft and sweet* Cinderella replied, "Pappa, get me a pencil and a copy. I want colour pencils and a drawing book- *at this moment I'd speak up and cut him and continue the wishlist* and a pencil box and new crayons and new books.. picture books." And Cinderella's Dad would say 'Shabaash! I WILL get them for you!'. And he became very very happy...."
The rest of the tale would continue in it's original version with Dad rushing way fast at the very end since it usually gets way too mushy for a kid- primary reason he never narrated more Sleeping Beauty and Snow White was true love's first kiss. Wise man my dad! And this pretty same beginning in essence was that of Beauty and the Beast, another favorite of ours. Even in this tale the father asks his three daughters the same questions and they (with different names) had almost the same answers.
I can't imagine how invaluable these were. I slept on these thoughts of a perfect girl who has no love for materialistic things like jewels or dresses or make-up and only loved studying and her hobbies and was content with them. I know for a fact, that this is the very reason I am, well, unusual. While the usual girl would picture a nice cafe and an expensive dessert, I would picture myself in it with a laptop or a book, snipping away some coffee. "oh please, Hafsa!" said someone once when were engrossed in similar musings.
The greater lesson, infact, the lesson in truth was Simplicity and a strong sense of not being a part of the material world. Your older years will do their level best to battle this notion. And you must.. be steadfast and try your level not to give in to the world.
I sometimes wonder if I am.. and then shake the world from my shoulders (need to do that again) and remind me of Cinderella. Only now, that cinderella is becoming more pro.. preserving her innate simplicity and blending in the acquired girl interest as part of professionalism. There are thin lines. I don't want to tread on any of them.
*ti-ding* I know what I'd be holding on to at bedtime now.
Off for now. iftari prep time.
P.S. shukar al hamdolillah for the awesome mausam.. made the long roza pretty easy.
