I am currently in NYC and have been for merely a week, it was an unexpected trip (my sweet niece invited me and made sure I got my ticket) with many things to considered in such a short frame time… yet here I am.
In these five 5 days I had the urge to write when I had so many mixed feelings on my days… The strongest feeling is that I missed my soulmate like crazy, wished him here in every step and everything I do, things that we usually shared together when we travel… all that long morning walk (that he complained), cakes (that made him motivated), watching people over coffee and good food, chatting, got lost and all. But those 5 days also teach me a lot…
I met people, made friends, saw things that made me constantly praised God on all blessings I have been granted…
I saw some addicts who literally live in a subway train, where he prepared and sniffed his powder, cleaned up space around him and waited for the train to open its door to throw away his rubbish to the railway, got dressed, fixed himself with the help of the train window to look at his reflection, then off he popped. This made me sad and wondered how he could reach this time and place of his life… easy for me to say how his life seems wasted, but it does not feel right to do so, I would never know his struggle. I just hope he gets the best of this life and after. I prayed that the rest of us will make friends with our guardian angels so that they fly us away from all evil at any given time. Biidznillah.
I became a second hand weed smoker given (I think) everyone here smokes it instead of cigarettes. A Psychology study* reported that the reasons people smoke weed are (among other things) for relaxation, pain relief, a desire to fit in or per pressure, etc. As weed is addictive, this made me believe that addictions is likely epidemic here in New York and probably is a pandemic worldwide. And because some of the reasons are for relaxation and pain relief, that means many of us are tensed and/or in pain… depression and anxiety are extremely common…mental health awareness is crucial.
I got a big warm hug and a warm fresh cookie from a guy who worked in one of the famous cookie shops in New York City after we chatted about chocolate and rocky road, he literally chased me after I left the shop – this proves me that kindness last, even in this crazy world we live in, where more and more people are becoming selfish, focusing only on his/her needs and does not recognise that success is not only on our hard work, but also on the sacrifice of those who love them, a sincere prayer, and absolutely on God’s mercy.
I got a fellow tourist, a complete stranger, choreographed me on a photo shoot on Brooklyn bridge. I took his time, but he did not complain and even gave more than necessary. We chatted; we laughed silly then we parted. This is a morning boost that made my day… It teaches me that being social is the core of our wellbeing.
I got a very grumpy lady cashier on one of the famous Bagel shops on 5th Ave – sad to see how a pretty girl like her just had no effort to smile. Maybe simply not a morning person. It teaches me
I saw a man with Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night beautifully tattooed on his calf, it cost him USD2000, 4 sittings (8 hours each sitting) and pain but he loved it and let me take a picture of it and my husband then asked me “whhhhhy woman whhyyyyy??” LOL
I went down a memory lane, when I visited NYC where at that time I only had 2 sons (I now have 3 big boys), it was a bittersweet feeling, remembering how young I was, looking proud, holding an awesomely beautiful baby boy, while my husband took our other beautiful son to the nearby park where he followed a peacock to pat that bird. For a moment there…wasn’t I a Queen???
When I took my niece to Grand Central Terminal, I looked back on a sweet memory we made just before the pandemic and I learnt then, that even a sweet memory could hurts like $#!^ - a sweet memory that made of a brief moment when I believed all the world was right. I know I could have missed many pain in life had I known how things would end, but why would I want that? I am so happy I did not know. I’d rather have the pain than missed all the sweet dance.
I believe life is better left to chance – when we did everything to the best we could, when we put ourselves last so that those we love came first, when we love unconditionally, then the ups and downs, the happiness and sadness, the health and the sickness are parts of the rollercoasters of the sweet dance that if we are smart enough, would only make us laugh louder, stay stronger, be sweeter, grow wiser, always loving and more importantly… felt much much much loved in this worldly life.
Always remember who love you unconditionally and keep them at all stake and all things would just nicely fit in life.
I am so happy to be home again… after all, my place is being with you soulmate…
Alhamdulillah
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