It is not easy getting rid of the flu...

Today has proven to be difficult...with blocked nose, severe headache, high fever, sore throat and no energy...and with loss of a Great Teacher and Inspiring Hero of all times...it has been quite a day!

Tried to rest as much as I could but nothing seemed to help, took an afternoon nap so my body could go to rest, woke up feeling even worse, could hardly open my eyes that is how sore my upper face felt...

I desperately needed something to renergise myself, a miracle solution, I had my antibiotics before I took my nap so there was nothing else I could take. The warm ginger drinks had definitely soothed my throat, but there was so much more I needed... as it felt very sore even moving from one room to another.

I then thought what better than the hot bath, which did wonders for me yesterday. I filled the tub with hot water, and threw in a dash of sea salt, eculaptus oil and ginger powder and 20 minutes of my time in the tub definitely helped and as soon as I finished I felt about 65% better, sometimes no medicine can even boost you so much and so quick! I got rid of my muscle pains and aches...I would highly recommend it as for me it will be now my all time favourite ritual to get rid of the flu.

However the severe headache remained, I struggled to move around the house with my splitting headache. Then I recalled I had purchased tiger balm on my last visit to Hong Kong, I jumped out of couch to try this. I unwrapped it and massaged into my temples and thankfully I would say my headache improved by 70%..It will be my saviour for the next few days...

I so hope to an easier morning tomorrow.

Feeling under the weather

Its 5th of December 2013, only three weeks away until the arrival of 2014 and I surely did not stick to my promise of writing more. It is sad that I have to feel under the weather to come and visit my blog but feeling quite grateful despite a sore thoat, runny nose and an irritable cough. I assure you if it was not for this horrible flu which my son gave me, I would still have zillion things flashing on my mind, racing against time and him.

I woke up feeling cold this morning, my body wrapped with aches and concerned how will I be able to take care of my sick baby. As a new mother, worry about my child is always chained to me. I could not care less that my body was trying to tell me stop and relax. The first thought which came to mind was how will I spend with my little fellow If I am feeling weak.

The first ten minutes the thought of leaving the bed seemed impossible but it wasn't long when I pulled myself out of bed made myself coffee. It definitely made me superficially feel better. We cant underestimate how much our head controls us both emotionally and physically.

After sipping coffee and having my morning strepsils I finally decided to take it easy and what I told myself was to take it easy..what that means for me is to not to think not to worry and let the day unfold and allowed my body to surrender to the natural course...

I enjoyed sitting in bed with my laptop. I enjoyed reading about various health regimes, home remedies to beat the flu, detox bath and more.

Around mid-day, I then decided to soak in hot bath which immensely helped, it renewed my energy and got rid of body aches and most importantly helped me to clear my head.

Our body is our vehicle and we all owe a lot to our body. I like many take my body for granted from time to time but we have a grave duty to take care of our body otherwise we will not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. We must also learn to love it and accept as it takes us through this journey of life. There is a beautiful seamless connection between the body and soul and only very recently I have learnt to see myself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul.

I am grateful for my day as I feel it has been a day well spent sipping my favourite old time recipe of hot water with brewed ginger,squeezed lemon and golden honey and inhaling eucalyptus oil on the burner. Tempted to soak again as I retire to bed.

I wish I had 72 hours a day...

I truly wish I had 72 hours a day and maybe only then I would be able to accommodate all my tasks, interests and commitments and most importantly time to rest and meditate. As for now in the finite hours I am blessed with I ensure to comply with my tasks in the different roles I carry as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, employee and a friend of the community. 

Most days, these days, it leaves me exhausted with no time to rest or enjoy luxuries of life (in my book luxuries of life is found in the most simple joys and not in material luxuries).

I am new to motherhood and yes have hardly slept properly in the last six months but cant express how much of a joy it is to give time, love and care to a soul which learns to develop and be familiar with his new surroundings. Lack of sleep definitely has a toll on your body and even more so when it is continued over a long period of time. What makes some mornings even more difficult than others is when I am delegated to start my day earlier than my official working hours to drive to Abu Dhabi for example. Motherhood is not a challenge it is a joy but it surely becomes challenging when one has a very demanding professional work life.

I don't know whether it is fortunate or sad that I live in a time where people usually get my updates these days through Blackberry, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. It is true that these networks discourage you from calling or even putting the effort to meet your friends and family in person because you feel you are connected to them by the second by viewing their status update or find what they are eating or wearing through Instagram. In a way for someone who is very busy like myself these social media networks is both a blessing and a curse.

On weekends I take out the time to visit family and also call the elders to find out of their well being and listen to their joys and concerns. The elders traditionally have the same complaint that I don't hear enough from me or see me as much I would like to, I try to explain to them about my various commitments but I fail to convince them that I am not avoiding them but simply the various chores of life does not allow to see them as often as I would like to. The good news is that I shall take out the time in the upcoming month of April to see the loved ones and also some special friends. Life without family and friends is like tasteless food.

I hope and trust that as the days pass by things settle in a more rythmic manner. Life is a great gift and must be celebrated and the reason I wish I have more time is simply because I want more reasons and time to celebrate it. 

I am grateful with all the blessings and challenges life has presented to me, if not for these blessings and challenges I would not be the person I am today.

Time does not stop for anyone and if we don't stop and pause to reflect which direction life is taking us or which path we want to take before we know it we may standing at a point with too many regrets. There is no harm in sometime pausing to review yourself, reflect on everything around you. It only strucked me today that I had not viisted my blog sadly since 2009 simply because I was engulfed with too many things. I realised what I was mising out and promptly put my intention to action. On this note I shall end to take a walk in my garden.

Revisiting

I am visiting my blog after a very long time and to my surprise the record shows that I last updated it in Aug 2009 and now that is surely a long time...I attempted on many occasions in the past couple of years to post a topic or two but was not able to and you would wonder why?...Different priorities were introduced into my life, bigger professional and personal responsibilities were handed over to me and as a result I had to give my priorities different weight and unfortunately some of my interests and passions in life had to take a back seat and writing unfortunately being one of them.

On the eve of 2013 I vowed to write again, to definitely paint sometime in the course of this year whilst I am juggling different acts and surely to make more time to read and also take care of my well being...It is almost end of March 2013 and if you ask how much more of reading or writing or any art work I have finished my answers to all your questions would be in the negative. I read on daily basis but it is work related reading and of course I write but they are mainly legal opinions, and daily use my writing skills in drafting legislations, policies and work documents. I miss writing what reflects on my mind or expressing a particular topic which helps my heart beat.

Today after a very long week and after putting my 5month 4 week old baby Jaber to nap I decided to pass by my blog and here I am trying to filter the zillion thoughts which cross my mind and to a certain extent keep me awake at night....

I would like to commit to my blog even if it means a few minutes a day...writing and painting has always been therapeutic just like when you sprinkle lavender on your bed before retiring to sleep or when you add zest into your bowl of fresh salad.

                                                                                                   Lubna

                                                                                                   28 March 2013

                                                                                                   8:30pm, Home