The Art of Life

Assalamuallaikum WBT,

Hey, I missed you! It's been 2 months since I last wrote here. Alhamdulillah, here I am writing, expressing my thoughts and emotions while listening to the song 'How Does A Moment Last Forever' and 'Let it go' (isn't those two titles tell a total opposite message?), sitting next to a kind-hearted man at The Coffee Bean, with my sweet ice hazelnut and a classic scone. It brings back the memories of my life in London. It's been a year since I returned home, yes, I do miss that moment, I now realized the special place London has put herself in my heart, and how much the journey of the last 5 years has transformed me. I have now grown a little wiser than yesterday. Alhamdulillah. 

The Coffee Bean at Cyberjaya

Today, I found this beautiful quote, that awakens all the memories, and helping me see the lessons a little clearer than before; "the art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings" from the book 'Omoiyari' by Erin Niimi Longhurst. That is so true, and the main thing to look at here is the 'how', how to readjust to our surroundings, the transition phase in life? Sometimes that comes in handy, sometimes it feels like an unstoppable roller coaster ride, and at the other time, I feel I am not myself. 

From the book 'Omoiyari' by Erin Niimi Longhurst

I have been living in different places for the past 19 years, 5 years in the city of Lahad Datu, 6 years in Selangor, 1 year in Kota Kinabalu, 1 year in London, ~1 year in Terengganu, ~4 years in London, and 1 year in my hometown (Desa Kencana). I met friends/people from different part of the world, and they have been my companion in my journey through different phases of my life. I am blessed to have met every single soul, and indeed it's not a mere coincidence, it's Allah's perfect plan for me, sending me what I truly needed, some I anticipated, and some I have never expected. 

The past 5 months, though I am living in the same place, my hometown, it feels like I am living on a cruise sailing in the open sea, exploring all different part of life, doing things that I have never thought I would, pushing the limit, travel back and forth between comfort zone and uncomfortable zone, diving into the ocean of knowledge. 

Now, I am processing, integrating, and reflecting on all those beautiful experiences. And I am going to take my time, at my own pace, picking up all the priceless lesson that Allah has sent me, finding the fruits of knowledge, guidance. I think that's the answer to my question above (how to readjust to the surroundings?) It's not about the surrounding, it's about how you respond and what you pick up (learn) from the surrounding, the people, the life events, and what's more important is how you turn all those into guidance and are you able to see and follow the guidance?

May that guidance touches and stays in my heart, may that forever be my companion, my light in my every step to the final destination. 

From the book 'The Beginning of Guidance'

Again and again and again, I am forever blessed with all those experiences, the path, the beautiful 'takdir' that Allah has given me, and I will always look forward to what Allah has planned for me in the remaining time I have in this Dunia. He always gives what is best for us, in the perfect time, in the way we never expected.

That's the art of life, and we need to constantly learn and are able to see the uniqueness, the collateral beauty of life.

With Love,

Nur