Limited Immortality
When I started this blog, I started it as an assignment from a teacher and friend of mine, to track my growth. Later on I continued it, for it was a means for me to further define myself, focus on self improvement, and help me get more focused.
This blog has fulfilled its purpose, and now there is no need for it any further. I figured that as a last thing I may post my reflections for hajj, but at this point I don't see the need to post it online.
If you truly wish to know about my hajj experience, contact me in person and inshaAllah I will share with you all the beautiful gems I came across and collected :-)
Everything comes to an end...even death. Until death is slaughtered...we all have limited immortality.
A Heart's Journey | Day 01
The following posts will be about my trip to Makkah, Medina, and my experience during Hajj. I pray that it will be a benefit to you all...my homies, Muslim brothers and sisters, as well as non-Muslim readers.
I will be posting images as well as gems and the beautiful experiences I had there :)
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When you enter the Medina airspace a feeling comes over you. A feeling that humbles you and at the same time makes you anxious...to see Masjid Nabawi. If you don't drop a tear, you will have a lump in your throat.
I wasn't the only one feeling these emotions. You can see the tears in the faces of people to see the light coming from the Prophet's masjid from the air plane. It was almost like the full moon in the night sky. The brightest structure on the ground among the other lit buildings.
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What was special about this moment? It was a moment that was indescribable. Everyone on the plane was emotional for the same reason...men women, and children. They all wanted to go to the city of the greatest man that ever lived.
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It was a moment that was indescribable. Everyone on the plane was emotional for the same reason...men women, and children. They all wanted to go to the city of the greatest man that ever lived.
We landed and proceeded to the checkpoints. One of the security guards after looking at my passport said, "
Asalaamu Alaikum Belal"
I replied, "
Walaikum Asalaam"
security said, "
Takallama arabiyyah?"
I replied, "
Nah"
security guard said, "
Welcome to Medina"
I smiled and replied, "
Jazakallahu Khairun"
security guard smiles back and says, "
Kayfa takallama arabiyyah?"
I'm thinking to myself, "
werd...I just learned some arabic" :P
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One of the goals I had made before leaving for hajj was that I want to learn some Arabic. When I said, "nah" it was against my goal mentality...this brother basically reminded me of that.
Hajj is about having a positive attitude. Look at the opportunities in front of you and take em by the horns
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After we exited the checkpoints, we were greeted by one of the hajj group coordinators...Br. Gamal. When he saw me he said, "
Asalaamu Alaikum Belal".
I'm thinking, "
I know this man from some where...he looks waaay to familiar, and his persona was just very welcoming."
We got on the bus around 4am, and waited to get all the paper work for the hotels reservations. While waiting I leaned my head on my mom's shoulder and went to sleep...
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If any of you wish to learn a little bit about Medina. Check out the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medina
"Send us a resume and URL"
Yesterday I found myself in the company of uncles who went on again talking about politics and 'back home' stuff. I decided to pick up the newspaper and shift through for anything interesting. In the "
Money & Careers" section I came across an article:
Send us a resume and URL:Searching for a job? A positive online identity could be your key to getting hiredI figured its a good idea to outline this article here for I believe its of benefit to all.
A lot of us have go online and fool around, as a result we may have a persona on the internet that is not very suitable in a professional environment. Employers will search the internet for any 'Digital Dirt' you may have.
A good idea is to create a website inlcuding:
- your resume
- personal bio
- photos depicting you as professiona - yet somone who would be fun to work with
Look at your online profile:
- Find any and all dirt that may be out there and clean it up.
- Look yourself on google, yahoo, youtube, myspace and ask, "how professional does this look?"
- Be proactive in developing you own identity or brand online.
- Revamp your MySpace, Hi5, Facebook, etc profiles so when a employer looks (they do) you up they see something that is good and likable.
Career Portfolio on the Web:
- Portfolio can serve "as your storefront - and you're what's up for sale"
- People finding you online many times makes a decision on whether or not to hire you.
- Such available information has made the resume less important, but not obsolete.
- Resume is one dimensional, while an "efolio" gives a more dynamic impression
- recruiters are jumping to online search engines and social networking places to find out who you really are.
Blogs and resumes
- Make your profiles and blog such that they are attractive to employers.
- If you don't have one, then make one.
- Include an "About" page, "Strengths" page, and a "Volunteer Projects"
- Have a page with "Testimonials from co-workers"
Best foot forward on your site
- In your portfolio highlight your most "stunning work" | don't put old dated stuff which can turn recruiters off.
- Entire website much be coherent and professional, not just the page with your work projects.
- Consider writing a professional blog first, instead of a web portfolio. Update it regularly.
- Setup a Google alert that will notify you each time a name that matches yours is mentioned on the web -- -- -- I don't know how to do that. Someone wanna shed some light on that?
- When listing your email address for ".", "@" use "DOT", and "AT" so keep away spammers.
- Sift out skills, interests and accomplishments that would not be a good match.
Personal FeedbackFor the past couple weeks I had been pondering as to whether or not I should create an efolio which includes all my creative stuff from video (www.empfilms.net), graphic design, and photography.
I'm gonna add this to my actions list once I get back from hajj inshaAllah :-)
Fresh-MAN 15
When you were 15 years old, were you a man or a kid?
Islamically 15 is the age at which Muslim youth are adults. They are accountable for thier deeds, and thier parents are NOT financially responsible.
In todays socity’s culture, parents are responsible for thier chilren untill they are 30. They are required support them while they go to college, get a job, and get going with thier careers, and sometimes when they get married.
How can you expect a young man to become a leader and productive when they are being pampered or spoiled in this manner? When they are spending thier time and energies on Nintendo Wii?
There is no benefit in it for them. Parents say, “They are still young”. At the age of 5, 6, 7, 10...”They are still young”. Once they get to 14 or 15 years old, they are told that they are young adults and can think for themselves. The children get lost between being too young and being too old.
Where do you want your children to be at 15? Will he/she be a leader or a scrub?
Passion Action
In my Management Processes class the professor invites many different high level managers to share their experiences with the class regarding corporate America and organizational management. Couple weeks ago a gentleman from Johnson & Johnson was invited to address the class.
In class I asked him a question. “There are many students in this class who are juniors, seniors, ...super seniors. What should we be looking toward when it comes to jobs? What should we look forward to? What is it that we should do?”
He replied with a question, “What do you think you should do?”
I said, “I dont know. That’s why I’m asking the question :p”
He said, “Before you go looking for a job you need to know you passion. With that passion, what do you want to do? How can you bring that passion to the organization that you want to be a part of, and benefit them? Have that mentality”
Something clicked in my mind. Thinks made sense. One of my teachers once said to me, “Find what you would do for free, master it, and people will gladly pay you to do it.” That advice was good, but it was passive advice.
The advice of the J&J executive was of an active nature:
- Find your passion. What is it that you love to do? Something that you would do untill death whether you are paid or not.
- Whether you want to be part of a masjid, school, club, orgnaization, company, corporation...how can you take your passion and what you absolutely love to do to be of benefit to, them, the people they interact with, the people you interact with, yourself, and ultimately the world?
Answer that, and you will be successful inshaAllah.
