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Wisdom Wednesday: Her Heart Is Hiding

As this blog’s history has seen, Wisdom Wednesday is usually just a few quotes that really mean something to me. But because the last few years have been up and down through learning experiences that hit both internally and externally, I wanted to do something different.

Every Wednesday (or so), I’d like to share things I’ve learned over the years stemming from events that have opened my eyes like relationships, friendships, family and sadly, death. For those wondering what the title of this blog signifies, it’s just one of my favorite songs from Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum that’s left me with a lot of thought at the end of some very starry nights.

To kick off this Wisdom Wednesday 2.0, here are seven things you should never apologize for.

  • Failing. It is not a permanent experience.
  • Following your dreams even if others don’t believe in it or they sound silly.
  • Putting yourself first. Your self-worth impacts your relationships, emotional and mental health.
  • Wanting more. Why should you settle?
  • Trusting your instincts. If you have to rely on others for your answers, you are living wrong.
  • Making mistakes. No one’s got it all figured out — and I still don’t.
  • Loving someone. Especially if you’ve been made to feel bad about it.

What are some things you won’t ever feel sorry about or apologize for? Share in the comments below and give the song a listen while you’re at it!

‘A Ghost Never Leaves a Haunted House’

I didn’t get a chance to share this as I’ve gotten a little busy with the holidays shortening work schedules and interviews just lining up but I got to watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife last month and have to say, it was 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆! Oh gosh, I just loved it so very much! The moment those piano keys played at the start, I don’t know what came over me but I started to tear up. This movie has been one of those films that has always been there for me in low times and happy times, and it just felt like coming home in a sense. I got to watch it with my dad and big sister whose arm I squeezed periodically.

Honestly, after waiting almost two years for this movie, I can proudly say it left me in awe, made me laugh and cry — and even just thinking about it again, I’m tearing up. It really is the Ghostbusters movie I’ve been waiting for since I was a kid and that is no disrespect to Paul Feig’s version because I love him. He is the absolute kindest, most thoughtful and cognizant filmmaker today and that cast was legit hilarious! But this one brings back the humor and spookiness the original movies were known for — were 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 for, and it had so much more heart than I could have imagined. I didn’t expect to respond that way but am glad I did. So eloquent and smartly written, Jason Reitman constructed this magical experience that really plays as a love letter to fans. I’m excited to see it again!

That said, I also have to say that the critics are wrong about this one. Giving it a freshness score of just a mere 63% is ridiculous. From the writing to the casting, and even the setting playing to the isolation Spengler felt in his last days — there was so much to love. Plus, McKenna Grace is going to be a force! I just love that kid. Have you seen her other work? She is such a talent. But the movie also wasn’t just a nostalgia-packed film for fans with Easter eggs and throwback nuggets. It served as a beautiful tribute to both Egon Spengler, everyone’s favorite spores, molds and fungus collector and of course, the incomparable Harold Ramis, who really helped make this world with Dan Aykroyd. Ramis, who passed away in 2014, also leaves us in the first few minutes of the film and it was heartbreaking. But the way they brought him back is such a delight and for McKenna to carry the torch with the young cast as the next generation, I am ready for s’more — and that concludes my (mini puft) review. What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments below.

‘You Dream of Some Epiphany’

I’ve been thinking of my grandma a lot lately, wondering about the type of person she was and the kind of relationship we would have had, had she been alive today. (She passed days before my sister was born). I know it would have been so great to have her in my life and a relationship that I would love so much and put all my love into. Over the past year and a half — and since the start of this pandemic — I’ve been looking into her along with my Aunt Dolly and have discovered some amazing things that I only ever heard about from my dad and relatives. Like, in addition to my grandma being a mom of six children, a loving wife to my grandfather (and an IAF pilot), she also spoke seven languages and wanted to do social work in her community.

My grandmother also made history as the first Muslim girl at 19 to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps for the RAF. (It’s where she would meet my grandfather.) Her father — my great grandfather, Chief Instructor of Urdu to British Officers — instilled hardworking values, ensuring she worked her way up the ranks instead of just getting a position because of him. She didn’t mind it. In fact, she loved it! I like to think I get my strong work ethic from her, constantly pushing past the norm for the dream.

While I knew some stories from my parents, I always thought they were exaggerations but I now have proof about it as I learned her great-grandfather was the King of Khorasan, a province of Iran, which means I share that relation too! But that is the least interesting thing about her (and me). In all fairness, I still stand in line for toilet paper and buy canned beans like everyone else, so it is not that big of a deal, and titles are a social construct. But it is cool because that also means more of our family records should be easily attainable, making things easy for my aunt and me to find these things!

I also learned my grandma had her story published in the 1943 edition of The Sphere, and her photograph with information is now encased as part of an exhibit for the Art Ministry Second World War Official Collection at the Imperial War Museum in London (I’m going to visit this someday). Not to mention, her photo went viral a few years ago, and so many people have devoted blogs and tweets to this one photo, praising this woman for all she’s done. A Bollywood reporter said they’d like to see a movie made about my grandma starring Deepika Padukone of “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” (err, please let’s talk).

It makes me so proud to know my grandma was such a beautiful, awe-inspiring person. But I’m also sad I never got to hear any of her stories straight from her. That said, the older I get, the closer I feel to her and I love her so very much.

Finding Gratitude in the Past

The holiday season is officially here and I can happily say, it really is the most wonderful time of year. Between the gorgeous foliage, cool breezes, hot drinks and sweet familial vibes associated with this season, there is so much to love about these last few months of the year and as one of my best friends recommended, now is a better time than any to “bare your heart to those you love as much as you want,” so here goes!

Amid all the hardships and heartbreak life tosses all of us, these short months leading into the new year have always brought, by the Grace of God, blessings to my amazing family, my dearest and closest friends, and myself. I’m not saying life has been easy — no way. It’s the same amount of struggle it always has been, but it has been eye-opening on so many levels on a personal aspect, especially when it comes to upholding my own self-worth and never settling just because it’s “convenient” or the emotional payoff lends itself to a life of comfort and makes one look “put together” to relatives or friends. The events that have led me to this moment are something I’m so grateful for and will forever reflect on as the years pass. I know there are critics who shame others for looking back and a bajillion articles that state “10 Reasons You Need to Stop Thinking About Yesterday,” but through valued discussions with friends, family and even some of my professors, I truly believe that is now an archaic, almost upstart way of thinking. Looking back at your past with gratitude is a lot more about honoring yourself, maturing in your skin and self-worth, and tracking all the progress you’ve made in loving yourself.

As a writer and someone who grew up with a diary, you are right to believe I find real value in reflecting on just about everything that has happened in my life, especially as I get a week off to celebrate this second Thanksgiving with family and friends (Oh, Canada!). Credit it to my upbringing by my amazing parents, but I have always been that person who has truly valued every single instant of my life, even the heartbreaking moments. You really have to be grateful for everything you have, you’ve been through and what you can achieve by looking back and reminding yourself of how far you’ve come. (more…)

Womanista Exclusive: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Pro Lindsay Arnold Dishes on David Ross, Her Diet and Married Life

Earlier this month, I got a chance to catch up with Dancing With the Stars pro, Lindsay Arnold for an exclusive feature with Womanista! In my first interview, we dished about the show and the controversies following this season. In my second interview, we explore more of the lighter side of performing, along with family life, wellness routines and more.

While you’re at it, check out Lindsay Arnold’s Womanista Approved Influencer picks, where the Utah native outlines her favorite things from beauty to entertainment to fitness and more, that you must have!

Womanista Exclusive: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Pro Lindsay Arnold Dishes on David Ross, Her Diet and Married Life

As one of the youngest professional dancers in Dancing With the Stars history, Lindsay Arnold is conquering the dance world and showing no signs of slowing down with every step, swing and cha-cha.
With a little more than half a million followers on social media and dancing her way victoriously to the title of top five finalists for three consecutive seasons, Arnold is clearly one to watch.
In her fifth season as a pro, the 23-year-old is hitting the dance floor this spring with former Chicago Cubs player, David Ross. But as she tells Womanista in an exclusive sit down, practice doesn’t come easy as there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes with travel and rehearsal time.
CONTINUE READING AT WOMANISTA…

How to Co-Parent Like an Adult and Make Life Way Easier Without the Crazy

Relationships are hard, but divorce can be much harder. As an ugly beast filled with a wide-range of emotions and a dose of bitterness, divorce can present some frustrating challenges for couples — like co-parenting.

While both parents are often caught in a cycle of retaliation due to the mental and emotional harm each has inflicted on the other due to doubt, irreconcilable differences or infidelity, they often don’t understand how their actions can actually affect their child’s life.

A report from CBS News found children living in single-parents homes marred by divorce were not only twice as likely to develop serious psychiatric illnesses and addictions later in life, but were more likely to feel insecure, unloved and unimportant.

Though divorce might be the only solution for some couples, there are several ways to effectively co-parent without life getting crazy. We might look towards celebrities as models who undergo starry steps for ‘conscious uncoupling,’ but the key is to be effective role models to your children in the most hostile of relationships for the betterment of their positive environment.

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5 TED Talks That Will Completely Refresh Your Outlook on Love

{Image Credit: iStock}

With the way life has been around the world lately, it wouldn’t hurt for us to add more love to the mix. From war, poverty, famine and the fight for human rights, the Burt Bacharach classic, “What The World Needs Now is Love” has never been more certifiable.

Considered one of the most essential components to our life, love is the basis of all things good and beautiful in our world, and true love is a real motivator for purpose and perspective.

While February is known famously as the month that celebrates love in all its manifestations, it’s also just the second month of the new year, which means if you feel a bit polarized in your goals and love life, it’s time to really pick yourself up. We all love indulging in our plans of Netflix and ice cream, but it’s important to recognize that in all its various forms, love is a central part of the human experience and deserves more attention.

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8 Awe-Inspiring Instagram Travel Accounts to Follow

Whether you’re heading overseas on a romantic trip for two or hitting the road with friends, what good is traveling if you can’t find a creative and fun way to share the experience with others? Today, social media has created a trusty and inspired haven through Instagram for users all over the world to share memorable moments on their every trip, while sparking an inspired wanderlust that drives our deepest desires to explore.

The travel category of Instagram can be a bit overwhelming for some as you spend hours sifting through thousands of accounts through destinations and users. But it’s an exciting feat to undertake as it encourages you to head out and dive into an unknown world while leaving your comfort zone for a purposeful existence. If you are in the mood for travel this chilly winter, check out eight of our favorite Instagram travel accounts to follow.

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