Form Lii: Fill & Download for Free

Fake off guard poses in an effort to appear aesthetically pleasing.Workout attire that screams I work out and I'm a tad bit conceited.Random object in the background that appears as if it’s growing from a limb.Awkward stance in a failed attempt not to look awkward.Image source - camera roll

Walk beautifully, talk beautifully, live beautifully.A closed door is a closed door. If something isn't meant for you, don't force it to work, and trust where the Universe (God) is guiding you.Maktub—Arabic for ”It is written”. Where you currently are in life is exactly where you're supposed to be, it is all apart of your divine plan. Focus on now and learn whatever it is your now is trying to teach you.Meditate. Teach yourself to relax and allow time to de-stress. Your body will thank you for this.EXERCISE at least 3 days out of the week. When you look good you feel good, and when you feel good, you perform well.Say what you mean, and mean what you say.Smile through the highs and the lows.Exude beautiful energy everywhere you go. Your vibe attracts your tribe.Don't take things so personally. Have a light heart and worry about your own thoughts and feelings."Hakuna matata"—everything will work out just fine.

My father died, which let loose dominos of misfortune.It all started when I was 4.5 years old and my sister was 1 day away from being one month old. On January 11, 2001, midnight I heard my mom yelling (It’s still foggy because I was young). Before I knew it, our small apartment was filled with red suits and slight panic. And cries.The next day my mom picked me up from kindergarten and I had asked: ‘Where’s daddy? I want a piggy back ride again!’I remember my mom’s mouth twitching as she said: ‘Your daddy will be away for a while.’I was so oblivious. I believed her.The following story is written from my mother’s perspective that she had shared with me, when I got old enough:After my father’s death, my father’s mother (my grandmother) blamed my mom for his death and cut almost all ties with our family. My mom constantly begged her to babysit me and my sister, because she needed to work late hours to provide for us. She was a newly-graduated hairdresser, so she needed as much clients as possible. We got no financial support from neither of my grandparents (except my father’s father, who sometimes sneaked us some money). My mother had ran away from home at the age of 16. I have no idea why, but I whenever I was there, I was ashamed to call them my grandparents. They were constantly smoking and drinking with my uncle. I even witnessed my grandmother wetting herself like 3 times. Me and my sister experienced the horror of drunken rage. I called my mom crying that we wanted home, and my grandfather slapped me out of anger. My mom called a taxi for us, and we went home. That’s when I realized we had no family, but we had each other.My mom’s life was hell during that time. She was in a mental hospital with clinical depression while we stayed at her friends’. She was there for 8 months, I think. After my dad’s death, she wanted to kill herself (She really loved him. Still wears the wedding ring and his last name), but there she realized, she has to live for her two children that really love their mommy.We were financially struggling, but we were a family. We barely got candy and toys, except when my mom’s clients brought us some.I was bullied in middle school, but I never told my mom, because I saw her struggling. I kept it inside myself, and just tried to do my best in class. But when graduation was getting closer, the stress was getting to me. I broke down in school. They called my mom and I took a mental evaluation, where it was discovered that I had depression. My mom hugged me and cried: ‘Dearest, why didn’t you tell me you were bullied!’‘I didn’t want to bother you..’During parent-teacher conference, my mom scolded the bullies’ moms, but all she got was blacklash. She broke down. She felt like she had failed me and failed as a mother. Only one kind lady hugged her in support.The teachers decided that whenever I would feel bothered, I could voluntarily go to another class to study independently. My class didn’t like it, but at least I was safe from mental bullying.That’s my childhood. It’s sad, but it only made me stronger and grew me into the person I am right now.Right now, I barely talk to my dad’s family, but since my mom’s mom passed away, we started to visit grandfather often, and I appreciate every moment of it. I want to mend the wounds, and have a grandfather. I sometimes communicate with my cousins, who wish to do the same.My mom has found the perfect life partner and they have been together for about 7 years now. I am happy for her.Our income has gotten slightly better, too.I’m on my way to get a BA in Computer Science. Have I moved on? Not really. I sometimes get episodes of crying, when I’m under intense pressure, and then I avoid communication for days.But I won’t let it take control of me. I try to remain happy every day. I do my best to make people smile. Even one smile at a stranger can change their life, because you have no idea what they’re going through!