I started bullet journaling in July and it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made during the hell year that was 2020. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, bullet journaling is an organizational method created by designer Ryder Carroll meant to help you keep track of everything in your life. It’s the KonMari method for your mind. I decided to keep a bullet journal after binge-watching a ton of AmandaRachLee videos during the first few months of quarantine. I just graduated and had no clue where my life was going. I started to panic because there was so much I wanted to do all at once, but I had no idea where or how to start. I decided to try out bullet journaling. I’ve been aware of the method for a couple of years, but was too intimidated to try it out until now. Ever since I started using this method of organization, my life has been a lot easier. I want to share a couple insights from my bujo journey and reasons why everyone should keep a bujo in 2021.
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My journey with makeup is one of self-love and growth. I first started experimenting in high school with a foundation that was waaayy too orange for my skin. It may not have been the best look, but it made me feel beautiful. I loved the creativity involved in makeup and every time I looked in the mirror, I actually liked what I saw.
I’ve spent the last few years perfecting my makeup skills, and I’ve come a long way. I’ve also learned a lot about the industry. Unfortunately, there are still folks out there who have misconceptions about makeup, so I’m here to help differentiate between truths and myths. Where are my fellow writers and book nerds at? Hello! How are you? This is going to be a bit of a long read so grab a blanket and a beverage of your choice and snuggle up.
Salaam everyone and happy November! I’m sure you’ve already heard this elsewhere, but it’s truly wild that there are only two months left in 2020. I’m sure I don’t need to explain how tough this year was for everyone. While I’m sure the world isn’t magically going to back to normal on midnight January 1 (what even is normal anymore), I’m excited to bid 2020 adieu!
Oh my goodness! So much is happening in such a short period of time. My manuscript is almost complete. I’m getting closer to my goal of publication. And I got my very first feature in a media publication! It’s all surreal. I thought I’d take this time to step back and reflect on where I am. This past month was difficult in terms of writing and putting out content for my book. My mental health got to a low that I hadn’t seen in a while. My interpersonal relationships suffered a bit as well. I had no will to write. At times, I thought about giving up completely. After all, who would want to read a fantasy novel written by me? I really needed to stop for a second, and breathe. I needed to remind myself why I’m writing this book in the first place. I’d love to share with you all the story behind Khadijah Haq. Art by me
So. . . I haven’t posted for a while. My bad.
But I’m back with an exciting announcement: I’m writing a book! It’s been a dream of mine to be a published fantasy author, and it’s finally coming true! I’ve been working on my debut novel, “The Source of Hate,” since I was in high school. I was never able to fully dedicate my time and energy to it due to school and mental health. But since I graduated college, I’ve finally been able to give my all to my childhood dream. The oil cackles as my mom fries samosas. A live stream of prayer in Makkah plays on the T.V. My family gathers around the dining table, eagerly awaiting the call to prayer.
Ramadan always brings a warm feeling of community, of ease. This year, it just doesn’t feel right. [Note: I wasn't able to post last Friday due to my workload, so y'all get two posts this week. Fun!]
I had so much planned for my last term at the University of Oregon. I wanted to study in as many coffee shops as possible. I wanted to hike Spencer’s Butte. I wanted to take more walks along the Willamette River. I wanted to throw Ramadan iftars for the MSA. I wanted to take grad pics in front of Lillis and Allen. Most importantly, I wanted to put on my cap and gown, and walk across the stage to receive my diploma. I won’t be able to do any of that now. In this era of COVID-19, almost nothing is certain. My anxiety developed around the same time as my depression. Towards the end of high school, the pressures from school and work became too much for me, and I mentally collapsed. My grades dropped, I lost interest in my hobbies and I lost the motivation to be productive.
People who don’t have anxiety don’t understand how it works. They don’t understand how you can be frozen in fear at the thought of doing the most simple task. They don’t understand that you’re not trying to avoid your responsibilities. They just think you’re lazy. People who don’t understand anxiety offer solutions that don’t work. So here are some methods I use personally that actually help. They may not work for everyone, but they improved my productivity, so they’re worth trying out. I sit at a window seat in a coffee shop on a rainy day. My workstation is set up for optimal productivity. My phone lies face-down on the table, next to my laptop. My journal is bookmarked with ideas in case I need inspiration. My Google document is ready for my flow of genius.
Too bad that rarely ever comes. Ugh. Why is writing so hard? |