Sonya Syed

So you may be wondering, "Am I having a quarter-life crisis?" To help you answer that question, take this quarter-life crisis diagnosis quiz which consists of 24, appropriately, questions. Read each question carefully and answer quickly with a simple yes or no (don't over think it!): 1. Are you in a "bad temper" when you feel like nothing is terribly wrong, but nothing seems right either? 2. Do you feel older for the first time in your life? 3. Are you unmotivated, directionless or passionless? 4. Are you concerned that you don't know what you want to do with your life? 5. Do you feel pressure to grow up and get your adult life in order? 6. Do you feel entitled to a life much grander than the one you are living? 7. Do you often feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, lost, and maybe even a little hopeless? 8. Do you feel a lot of pressure and expectations to do, have or be something? 9. Do you ever feel that time is running out in regards to figuring ...

It is so wonderful to come back to the known territories, to talk, to share how it’s been. It is almost a week since I wrote my last post and I apologize for creating confusion with my earlier post. I thank all of you for your concerns that you have dearly shown in your emails, messages and comments. The intention was not to create confusion but to express myself but at the same time not reveal too much of the matter, save to say that it was concerning my work and when the right time would come I might perhaps discuss everything more openly. Rain has finally reached our soils and the heat & humidity are now allowed to give all of us a break. Although it has not been an intense rainfall but the way climate is shaping up I am sure for there shall be heavy rains. Has anybody ever the words Quarter-life crisis, well I did today, it’s a crisis young adults go through when they are in their mid-twenties and early thirties and following are some of its characteristics:- • feeling ...

Emotional attachment or attachment of any kind with either material things or humans are many times cause of pain and the biggest impediments in taking rational and just decisions. These decisions in themselves are not tough but our attachment to their content makes it difficult for us to decide. I too have taken a major decision, at first it appeared rather impossible but on close inspection when a certain threshold of apprehension and attachment was reached fear immediately subsided and everything fell into its place and emerged therefrom a peaceful and focused answer. What shall be the modus operandi when one has exhausted all mortal resources to manifest few things in life, should we continue to fight, be in a rut and resist the reality or should we surrender and do whatever this moment requires us to do? I don’t have answers to any of these questions because our mortal mind is so limited in its capacity to see the reality (reality with the capital R) of everything that even ...

Thank you Naved for your suggestions I shall read David Copperfield, as for Runaway Jury I have read it and must I say what an incredible book it is, a very fine thriller indeed. Mornings are always bright, beautiful and beckoning hope; I am the best in mind, body & spirit in the earliest hours of the day however as the time passes further ahead things do begin to slow down a bit. But never mind at this very moment it is morning and this is what all there is. Patience begins with tolerance and understanding for others’ behaviour and bearing everything with grace; nevertheless, there are instances when one would like to explode due to rage. These are the times when all spiritual data should come into force and result in peace, forbearance and compassion not only for others but also for ourselves but the point is that do we really want peace and do we really want to come out of our miseries, the answer is NO. We are addicted to our suffering, our pain, our fears, our stress, our an...

I have sent quite a few emails today mostly professional but somehow I feel more real with hand written letters formally on paper, envelopes and postage stamps, there is a sense of tradition there. However the kind of techno developments we have in this age it is not possible for us to ignore them anymore; everything has become very swift, sophisticated and impersonal. The allegedly dark clouds which were hovering over my skies yesterday have given way to a brighter and open day. Things are after all settled so now I am glad to have a better perspective and a clearer mind. Almost for a week I have been reading or at least trying my best to read Bleak House by Charles Dickens, it’s a long novel and I give up reading after six pages into the book and then began again. He is such a renowned author that having such an attitude towards his work makes me feel somewhat impolite. Occasionally it is fine to read spiritual material or books of insights into human nature but not always, every s...

Language when fails you, when thoughts disagree to materialize and the emotions get stuck up at a singular place then this I would say is my current state of mind. Reasons for the condition might not be acknowledged or appreciated by others because how I perceive something is entirely different as to how others look at it; something which is a triviality for others might be substantial for me. Of all the skills that I have learned during my life one is left and that would be my ability to deal with the emotions of others, I just cannot desensitize myself I have to feel whatever is there for me to feel which at times is totally unnecessary. It’s fine when one is sensitive but being highly sensitive is a curse. In the latter case one goes through needless and avoidable suffering but what to do if one is manufactured in this way. Prayers for a miracle to alter this inherent trait is the only possible solution that I could think of. By the way I had two out of the blue anti-tetanus vacc...

It’s a beautiful evening here in Karachi, light breezes, bright and sunny yet not too warm, just perfect. The rain hasn’t fallen onto our land till now; however, the way wind is blowing it appears that monsoon is just around the corner. Monsoon is a blessing for the children here and not so much of a favourite amongst the adults. Karachi although has inherent beauty and grace but like human face it requires constant maintenance and care. Albeit there have been a flood of overheads and underpasses, thousands of tree plantations within this metropolitan however these are merely cosmetic changes; they are similar to several cosmetic surgeries done on a 60 year old person’s face who has unhealthy eating habits, who is a chain smoker and an alcoholic so whatever beauty procedures you would do on such face would not last for long, and sooner than later the ugliness, the scars and marks of such surgeries would appear. And one of such scars become evident in Karachi when the monsoon season ...