Contagious

I would say one of my life's long term goals is to be able to inspire people.

When I look on Instagram, there are always times when I see people do amazing things, become artists, travel, pursue their dreams ... and that made me go "I want to do that too."

I want to be able to make people feel that way too.

In all honesty, this has nothing to do with gaining popularity. It's just more of knowing that I can have a good impact on people, even if it's small.

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This year for me has been quite the ride so far, filled with a lot of different things I've never done before and at this point in time, I'm loving the diversity in my activities. And there'll be more that's coming... but more on that later.

The thing about me is, I realized I actually quite enjoy sharing what I do with people because when I start something, I get super excited over it and there's just too much energy to contain within myself (hence the reason I have a blog).

But another thing that I've realized is sometimes it creates a chain reaction;

Just the other day, I was talking to my best friend about my goal to run a 10km course this year since I've never done it and I want to challenge myself. We had a pretty good talk about our concerns, dreams, goals, all that good stuff that best friends talk about. The funny thing is, the next thing you know, she texted me saying that she had already signed up and paid for a 10km this August! Talk about being influenced!

Last Wednesday, I was having waffles with a different friend. As usual, our conversations ranged from relationships, to my photography stint the other day (click here to read) all the way to travelling solo and disappearing from our little circle of friends. Me being the excited person I am, couldn't help but sharing what I might be getting up to in the next coming month... Which now I realize probably sparked something in him because of late he seems so keen on travelling solo and actively searching for flight tickets!

And there have been more occurrences like this in the past few months.

I've been told several times that I'm contagious - but if being contagious means inspiring people to go out, do something they've always wanted to try and live their life, then I honestly don't mind being called contagious, even though the word brings a bad connotation.

Because if being contagious means I can bring a difference to someone's life, I'm all for it.

My Year

A conversation with my best friend always manages to put things in perspective (which is probably why I love her and we've been best friends for 16 years).

We were just catching up on everything that's been going on in our lives, with her having started her own business and me, well .. doing all sorts of things.

I told her how sometimes I hesitate to do some things because I keep thinking about what other people would think, what my parents would say, the money it costs to do certain things ... And right there and then she just said " Mira, it's your year. Enjoy it. "

And that did put some things in perspective.

Because you know what, yes, it should be my year. Everyone should have their year where they try out new things, try to push their limits and better themselves. So what if my newfound stint doesn't last forever? New things are there for me to try and if I don't like it, stop.

Want to try out a new hair colour? Change it.

Feel like doing an extreme sport? Why not?

Want to start a business? Plan it out and give it a go!

Want to join a 10km run but unfit? Sign up and train for it.

And I think it's amazing what happens when we just believe in ourselves to try. Our body, our mind, is so much more capable than we think. God has given us all a mind, a body and soul. Each of us has a special capability and we should find what that capability. Believe me when I say, a strong mind and willpower, makes a lot of difference.

The most difficult part is to start. Everything that comes after that is up to you, whether you want to continue or stop. 

So here's to my year. A year for new things, pushing limits and especially (finally and hopefully) some self-love.

Just Married ♥ and some things I wished I'd done

Yesterday was a nice cloudy day. Absolutely perfect for an outdoor photo shoot!

Yesterday was the first time I agreed to do a paid photo shoot, and the brief was post-wedding. Honestly when she sought me out for a photo shoot, I was super nervous. I'm used to helping people do photo shoots, but they were always free of charge, so obviously there was less pressure on what I had to deliver. With it being free and all, people can't demand as much.  

So yesterday was a turning point in my photography "career". After some confidence boosts from friends, I decided to just go for it. After all, someone has to be my first customer. 

And so yesterday happened. 

It was pretty interesting (and totally nerve wrecking!) to be photographing people who aren't from my circle of friends. Giving instructions on how to pose, proved to be more difficult when I'm not as comfortable with them. Especially since I'm quite a newbie, I don't think I have the right to boss them around ahahahhaha. But obviously I'd have to suck it up one day and have to be able to direct them because both the client and I want pretty photos.

A night before the shoot, I decided to do a bit of research on Pinterest on Couple Photography. I jotted down some ideas and was supposed to keep them handy during the shoot. With all the nerves, I actually forgot to bring the sketchbook so I only managed to do a few of them that I had at the top of my head.

Also wished that I took more candid photos. Specifically, more useable candid photos. If I'm photographing my friends, their candid photographs could be used for blackmail of some sort. I couldn't very well do that with my clients, can I?

Lastly, I wish I wasn't so hard on myself. I love photography, I love art and I love most things that I do. But I constantly seek people's validation which I wish isn't the case all the time. Sometimes even though I love my work and personally think it's good, I wished someone would validate it, which I think shouldn't be the case. We should always be confident in our work especially if we, ourselves love it and think it's good. 

Again, it's a journey for me and I aim to better myself in that aspect though it'll take a long time. Slowly, but surely.

All in all, it was a good experience and I love the results! 

And then there's me; 

   

Spiritual Yoga

Just me on my yoga mat doing yoga things

So as I mentioned in this post, I've recently started yoga and I just want to reiterate what I've said before - it is sensational. 

I'm the type that does computer work 10 hours a day and as a result I tend to get very stiff in the neck and shoulders. Yoga has helped me loosen up a bit.

But really, the reason I say yoga is sensational isn't just because it's help my body, but more because it has affected me spiritually. I am first and foremost, a practicing Muslim and in no way do I engage with the " spiritual " side of yoga i.e. the chants and beliefs etc. I take yoga as an exercise. But, having done yoga for over a month now, I've seen some stark differences in the quality of my solat.

So here's what yoga is from my perspective; it consist of 3 components:

1. Movement
2. Breathing
3. Mind

It's not just about how we pose, but it's a combination of all three where we have to coordinate our movements with our inhales, exhales as well as our thoughts.

Basically, they teach us to constantly be aware of what's going on in our body i.e. the rhythm of our breathing, the sensation as our heart beats, the feeling of gravity on pulling on our body etc.

To be honest, during my first class, I didn't even bother with the coordination. I just focused on the movements because all I wanted was a little bit of stretching. But after a while I found that I was becoming more aware of my movements during solat. My mind was focused on actually doing and paying attention to the movements, not just doing them for the sake of routine.

I honestly do struggle to keep my concentration on my prayers sometimes, and it comes to a point where I'm so used to praying, it becomes routine and I do it without thinking. But I honestly feel that solat is more than just doing it but rather something we embrace.

Yoga has actually helped me embrace my prayers more, which I'm so thankful for. It makes me happier when I pray because I'm more aware of where my thoughts go and is able to bring it back to what I'm doing. Of course, there are times when my mind travels elsewhere, but it's always a work in progress. I can only work and hope to be better spiritually everyday.

Nonetheless, even if your prayers are already on point, yoga is still a good way to build flexibility, strength and balance. It's definitely good exercise and I'd definitely give it 10/10 rating.

And you sort of look cool doing it too 

What I've been up to (Part 2);

I have a job.

Like a legit job in a legit Architecture company.

And I'm getting paid (this is by far, the second best if not the best part - next to the experience of course, I'm meant to say this)

Having a job, especially here in Brisbane, is one of my proudest achievements, I would say. For locals, it may not be such a big thing, but for an international Muslim student like me, it's a milestone. Because it definitely doesn't come by easily.

Taking the job did require me to sacrifice my holidays, though. But it was worth it.

It's been great so far, the job. The environment is great, the people are amazing and my bosses are nothing short of super. I love working (even though sometimes I need some extra motivation money to remind me to get up early and catch the 7.30 am bus every morning).

The way they treat us here is way different than how they would in a Malaysian company. I know this because I've worked in Malaysia too, and it's just ... different.

They are ever willing to teach, to answer your sometimes stupid questions and they want to help. They also understand that there is a life outside work and no one is obligated to stay past the allotted time.

Everyday I feel truly blessed to have been given such an opportunity. Though there are times that I wished I could stay at home and sleep in a bit longer, the opposite end of the spectrum gives me so much more.

I also love the fact I get to dress up a bit to work! Adding these pictures in just because. Teehee.

What I've been up to;

At the start of this year, I set that my goal for the year was to be more bold, try new things - all for personal development. I guess that's what most people would aim for. It's not like it's anything new, but I never really make new years resolutions per se, so that's a big jump for me already.

So as a start, last month I joined the gym. 

Yes, gym. Me, gym. 

I couldn't get my head around it either when I first started. The whole concept of going to the gym and doing anything other than just running along the river was so foreign to me but I knew that I had to keep my body fit and healthy, especially since my family members who are 5 - 30 years older than I am are still exercising, jogging and running 10 km every now and again. I figured I should follow suit. The thing is my schedule is pretty much packed to be running in the morning or the evening before dark, so gym offered me some flexibility in the timing. It's also just in uni, so it's pretty much a 15 minute walk away.

You'd be happy to know that I do enjoy and regularly go to the gym nowadays. Contrary to what people believe, the gym isn't just about the going to the actual gym. There're group fitness classes as well, which is the part I enjoy and go to the most. 

I've started to do yoga as well (part of the group fitness classes) and it is sensational. I also find that it helps a lot with daily prayers but more on that some other time. I'm most proud of starting yoga because I've been talking about doing this for the past year but never got around to doing it. The most difficult really is the start. It all seems easier from then. 

Source: Google

Yes, I'm still alive (and kicking very hard!)

Well hello there again.

It's been more than a year since my last post, and though I've not been faithful to this blog, I still do write my thoughts from time to time. It's just that I feel my writings the past year were a bit too personal to share on here so I decided to keep them for myself. But I'm back here because I've missed sharing things with the general public, whoever you readers may be.

So first things first,

I'VE GRADUATED !

Already three fifths an architect as of December 2016, now continuing my studies in Masters of Architecture at University of Queensland and working as a student architect in an architecture firm here in Brisbane. 

Photo credits: Hanif Hamzah (MHII on Facebook)

Here's from one of my pre-graduation photoshoots with my buddy Hans. His work is amazing. 

Photo credits: Hans Kamaruzaman (Instagram: @teaforthursday)

It's funny how things work out in the end, you know. I started out in architecture school 3 years ago, not even wanting to do architecture, but because of my circumstances, sort of forced me into the situation. In first year, I used to "not get it"- the whole creative and design process, all the while thinking that I'm going to hate my 3 years of degree life. But Allah's plans are always on point. He knows what's best while we know not. I forced myself to love what I do, and you know what, I actually do enjoy the field. Once I found and used my strengths to my benefit, things started to fall into place. Of course it takes a whole lot of work and a whole lot of will power, but everyone gets there eventually. We shouldn't be too pressured into following other people. 

Every little progress is still progress. 

It's been an amazing ride, my life in Australia and there has not been a day that goes by that I don't feel truly blessed. So thank you to Him, and everyone that's help made it happen for me. 

More about my 2017 self development goals in posts to come (hopefully!)