Thank you...

I think this just happened to me...thanks to my new "crush"...hahaha

"I had a job I loathed, a boss who made me feel one foot tall -- and a giant crush on the new guy," says Gina, 36, of Los Angeles, even though he was taken and not her normal type. "All of a sudden I'm getting excited when I'm getting ready for work -- What to wear? Which necklace? Hair curly or straight? -- and feeling that 'bloop' in my stomach when he looks at me. I wasn't trying to seduce him at all. It was plain and simple an ego boost, one that made me feel powerful and confident and at ease with myself. It helped put me in a much more positive mindset when I started sending out my resumes."

I feel like my crush did serve a purpose in my life...to revitalize me and make me feel alive...thank you RP...and you will never even know how much you changed me :)

A guy

What do you say if a guy was really flirty the first two times you met him, asked you out for dinner, and then when dinner finally comes...he's tired (work, travel, funeral). He's frustrated that he cant find the house and you are no help in the direction department because you're directionally challenged. At dinner there is none of the first time flirtiness and energy level is really down. No compliments like the first time. Is he really tired or not interested any more?

What does he really mean when he says "Call me sometime"? What if I call him and he says "No, sorry too busy to hang out". Is it a power thing? Is it the if-you-call-I-have-power-to-say-no deal?

AArrrggghhh...finally when you think a nice guy comes along...all of a sudden you feel communicationally challenged.

My heart's desire

"My heart has become capable of every form; it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks, and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Ka'ba, and the tablets of the Torah and the book of the Koran. I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love's camels take, that is my religion and my faith."- Ibn al-Arabi

Taking the steps...to freedom

I finally started to take steps towards getting out of "organized religion" and sent an email to the ladies department head (yes, there is a separate ladies department at the musjid). They have me on an email list serve about all the religious programs and news (which I delete before I read anyway) so I told them to take me off. I emailed three different people saying "please remove me from the list" and I got the response "I am sending your request to Sadr Sahiba (the department head), she will held the necessary details". Then I got the response from the Sadr Sahiba "Should our lajna (ladies department) not have you on its membership? Please confirm before we take you off." I replied "Yes, I want to be taken off for personal reasons". For God's sake, it pretty damn clear I want to be taken off the list! Lets see what they say now.

I think I know whats going to happen. Someone will contact my mom asking her for clarification (when all they need to do is talk to me). She is going to have a very hard time accepting it. Then they will probably contact the Caliph himself (the ultimate head of the cult-like group; no disrespect intended) and a stern letter might be sent my way which will probably send me even further away. I refuse to live in fear of anything.

Lets see what happens now. Let the games begin :)

Religion and God

Religion and God.

I think they are two different things.

I’m sick of organized religion. I don’t fit in. Intellectually and spiritually I feel unfulfilled so I’m turning inwards. I’m learning to separate what is man made and what is God made. Things you can’t eat, drink, or do are man made. Things you feel like tranquility and love, faith and acceptance, humility and truth that comes from God. I’ve spent my life using religion as a cover, fearing it and in doing so I never let myself be free. Guilt and a deep seated mistrust swept my heart. Now I want to be free. Free to love, free to live as I see fit with my conscience. I’m not afraid to question and I love Allah at the same time. I’m proud of my muslim heritage with its rich art, history, and culture. But I think change needs to come. Integration, assimilation with the west will happen as it always has. I’m not afraid of it anymore. I’m willing to accept my western identity as well.

The truth is I have never lived like a true muslim. I choose not to. God gave me the freedom. I don’t eat pork because it disgusts me; not because the Quran says not to. I don’t drink because I don’t like being drunk; not because the Quran says not to. I think sex is a beautiful expression in a committed relationship between two consenting and truthful adults.

I think hell is for those who don’t live honestly and truthfully by basic moral values that all religions endorse. The rest is up to God and Him alone.