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42.1%ANMag Issue 20 Personal Maintenance
Reality Check Column: Reflections
By Iman Tabbara Alayli, Staff Writer
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia − There is a child in all of us, a person who believes in a glorious future. Once this child crosses path with the cynical that one has become, reality sets in, and disappointments prevail.
The common belief is that a person’s expectations and dreams are the components that fuel our mundane existence day in and day out. The way I perceive it is that, in all cases, we are dying; it is a matter of time before we bid this life farewell and are blessed for each breathing moment. The main denominator that differentiates us from one another is our personal achievements while passing by on this earth. [More]
The Final Chapter: Macabre Farewell
By Mohamad Sobh, Staff Writer
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - A widespread saying states that we never truly learn a lesson until personal experience bangs us on the head, for we can sit and hear stories upon stories and long tale after long tale from friends, parents, grandparents, etc… without us really appreciating the moral of the narrated incident. But when tragedy strikes so near that one can unequivocally recount the feelings of misery, the sight of the tears, and the wails of the mourners, that is when we become the storytellers, those individuals who try, in vain naturally, to relate our experiences to those with inexperience − maybe with the sad goal of trying to shield those people from having to sit through similar events; or maybe, with an even sadder goal of trying to alleviate our pain and to spread it out by sharing it with others. [More]
Kinda Real Column: Friendship, the Need to Dig Deeper
By Kinda Adra Mugharbel, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon − Surface friendship… How ugly is it??? Some people like it; they like impersonal relationships, relationships that do not require any emotional attachment. Personally, I hate it. I hate going out with people who are not really my friends, people who are just going out to pass time or feel that they have to get it over with. I hate to go out with people whom I know nothing about, just to sit there sipping coffee over a shallow conversation, whereby you may or may never see that person again. Why do they even bother to show up and waste their time − and mine? [More]
Commitment for Life
By Suha Karaky, Managing Editor
Beirut, Lebanon – It may be considered a cliché, but whenever someone inquires about my hobbies or special interests, whether in interviews, social or professional gatherings, the first answer is usually: Reading. To avoid any misunderstanding, this will not be a dreary school-like article about the benefits of reading. However, and due to my nightly book indulgence, some excerpts strike my attention, and here is one of them from Are You the One for Me? Knowing Who’s Right & Avoiding Who’s Wrong, by Dr. Barbara De Angelis. [More]
Hang Me Up to Dry Column
By Lina Alotri, Staff Writer
Sacramento, California − From the time we are born −or even in our mothers’ wombs− we are used to something called music, a super stimulant that gives us a fascinating feeling. Music is everywhere; there is no doubt in that. It is believed that music is a universal language.
Recently, a prominent U.S. music executive, Russell Simmons, recommended the banning of extreme curse words. This has been one of the first efforts by someone from the hip hop and rap music industry to enforce censorship. Personally, I am astonished. Freedom of speech is one of the most significant rights given to us. But unfortunately, mass media and entertainers have been abusing it. I think it is about time that someone takes action and makes an effort to clean up the music industry. [More]
My Job as the Guy
By Tarek Khaled, Contributing Writer
New York, United States − I know my job, and I own up to it; I learned the hard way - but I own up to it now. My job is to be decisive when you say, "What do you want to do tonight?" My job is not to say, "I don’t know; what do you want to do?" It is my job to say, "I would like to [verb here] to [insert place] and [activity here]”. Yet, I must also know when you have your own idea and actually want me to say, "I don't know, what about you?" How should I know? That is my job as a man. I must know. I do know. [More]