Exams finished on Wednesday and I don’t think I would have been able to do them without the help of the General, Little Miss Sunshine and Dummer. It was Dummer who made me start revising for the ‘immunity and infection’ module by sending me a word document full of so many words underlined in red. Without Little Miss Sunshine’s emails I very much doubt I would have been able to do much of the ‘Therapeutics: Protein to Patient’ exam. The General was just the General, helping here, there and everywhere. Thank you to all 3 of you and to everyone for your support, well wishes and early morning texts.
Before exams started, apart from revision there was the dissertation to do. It was titled, ‘sphingosine-1-phosphate induced reactive oxygen species production in microglia’ and the final book, 46 pages long, looked rather nice if I may say so myself. It was bound with red leather (knowing me are you surprised I picked that colour?) and I was quite happy with it in the end. I couldn’t stop opening it and flicking through the pages every few minutes.
*****
Yesterday I spent most of the day gardening. It was a chance for me to de-stress and get my mind off things. While mowing the grass, taking out weeds from the flower beds and watching the bees and other insects fly and crawl, I was made to think about life and people. I’d like to share some photos I took on my phone and the thoughts that accompanied them.
Life is full of doors; some have behind them countless opportunities to excel and others are opened or closed depending on the decisions we make. Whenever life offers you a door take a peep through because you never know, you may be kings or queens of your very own Narnia on the other side. Be careful you look properly before you walk in though, because it may just be an empty drop into nothingness.
Every gardener knows just how much of a problem weeds can be. They deprive flowers and other plants that you want to grow of nutrients, sunlight and space. If you rip off the shoots above the ground they disappear, yes, but only temporarily. They’ll keep growing back, again and again and again, year after year. It’s the same with problems each one of us faces in our day to day lives. If we shove them under the carpet, away from the view of the world, yes they’ll not be visible, but they’ll always be there. And as long as they’re there, well they will cause problems. To deal effectively with weeds you have to find the roots, yank them out and dispose of them. In the same way, when faced with a problem it’s best to deal with them at the root level (for that is the cause) and not the shoot level (for that is just what the root is exhibited as).
While clearing out the flower beds I noticed bees flying onto the flowers dancing from one to the other. Some would also come to these blue flowers (above), land on them but quickly fly away. It reminded me of people who hide behind a pretty face. When you get to know them properly however, you realise deep down inside they’re nothing but prickly buggers and if you get too close things can get messy.
In our garden we have had a rose arch. The top of the arch broke yesterday and after moving some of the branches around (and desi engineering) I managed to make it stand by itself. It made me realise the importance of support in our lives without which we too would fall. But more importantly it made me realise that once we have been helped on to our feet, we all have the strength to stand on our own without support.
At the base of the rose arch I noticed that many weeds had grown. In the same way as these plants were stealing nutrients and minerals from the rose plant, with little care for the latter, people also do the same. Some people come to you pretending to be friends bringing nice gifts and happiness. But when faced with the choice of you or both of you, they wouldn’t hesitate in leaving you behind.
It is for this reason that roses protect their beauty with thorns. That doesn’t necessarily mean people and other animals will stop touching them or stop causing them harm, but it does make the person think of their own safety before they do so. In the same way a Muslim lady protects her beauty by wearing a veil.
All throughout the day I was desperately trying to take a picture of a busy bee, as they flew around me. By the time my phone’s camera turned on, the bee would already have already buzzed off. Just as I was about to give up and go inside for lunch, another opportunity presented itself. You can see the result of it above.
*****
I wish you all a very happy, relaxing and enjoyable weekend wherever in the world you are.
________________________________
Title: Mary Mary quite contrary – Nursery Rhyme
All photographs in this post are from my personal photography
Posts
13 May 2011 at 22:30
Loook who's back :D!
The pictures are reallly pretty! such a fresh and cooling sight, and your analogies are just WOW. [you already know how much I love/hate them]
The leather binding looks nice! Correction: The RED leather binding looks niceee! You must have been tired out when you went to hand it in, looking all rough and messy-ish no?
Welcome back Dr. Nas :)x
14 May 2011 at 00:53
Assalaam Alaikum Nas,
Beautiful post & lovely pictures! I also loved your analogies, especially the one relating opportunities presented in life to the opening and closing of certain doors, as well as comparing the rose arch to the loved ones who support us. Well expressed, mA.
It must be a relief to have your dissertation finally in! Insha'Allah, you do well on it. =)
14 May 2011 at 01:36
Woot! Woot! i'm so glad you're finally back!!! vewi pweety pictures and you're so smart to be able to hand out life lessons from pictures of flowers :p
I missed ya!
14 May 2011 at 09:15
You're finally back!!! The pictures look really nice I didn't know you liked gardening o.0 but that's awesome!
14 May 2011 at 10:30
@ Yours Truly: Thanks! Haha yes, I looked a mess on the hand-in day. x
14 May 2011 at 10:33
@ Sara: Walaikum Salaam! Jazakallah, and you're right, it was a nice feeling to finally give it in.
I hope so too.
14 May 2011 at 10:34
@ Kitkat: I'm glad to be back :). Thanks. You can learn something from everything if you look at it the right way. ;). I hope you're relaxing after exams too!
14 May 2011 at 10:36
@ normal.is.overrated: :D. I am, I am. Gardening can be fun and quite refreshing. :)
14 May 2011 at 14:05
YOU'RE BACK AND I AM SO EXCITED, HIIIIIIII
I MISSED YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
pretty flowers :D glad your exams are over!
14 May 2011 at 20:10
Hey grt post.. I like the pictures the most.. especially congratulations for catching the bee at the end. thats my fav. Have a relaxed and wonderful weekend after the exams...tc..
14 May 2011 at 21:22
Welcome back! :D
You has been missed mann!
Thats a very beautiful and thoughful photo essay. Who knew gardening could be so thought provoking aye.
As for the red, how is it possible to be you, and not be surrounded by red.
x
15 May 2011 at 00:21
Hi dear
was gonna ask you about your gardening but you posted this & I'm liking the pictures- you have a eye for details.
& hope you're not just gonna do all the retired pursuits ;p like bird watching, fishing, golfing
& bless you for looking through your red leather bound disso- first book I guess
take it easy dude xx
15 May 2011 at 00:44
*hugs*
Love it. Nuff said
x
15 May 2011 at 13:57
@ Fureee Katt: HEEEEEEEEY! I'm glad to be back. And what makes you so excited?
15 May 2011 at 13:58
@AK: Thanks AK. Yeah that picture was really hard to take.
15 May 2011 at 14:01
@ Smiley: Thanks man :D. Haha yeah, red is my colour ;)
x
15 May 2011 at 14:05
@ Humpty Dumpty: lol, I don't think I'm going to retire already. Never played golf except on miniclips, I went fishing once. Ended up in the water. And ummm that's it :P
You too! Take it easy, and remember to breathe.
x
15 May 2011 at 14:08
@ Sunshine Bubble: *hugs* The first picture, reminded me of you. That's why I put it on :)
x
15 May 2011 at 16:56
Aww!! YOU'RE BACK!!! hehe... :)
You do gardening? NICE! I have a small flower garden too, and a veggie garden. Oh and the pictures are lovely. I love the last one, with the bee. You really caught it red-handed, while "stealing" that flower's nectar, huh. LOL.
Anyway, I could relate to this line.. "Some people come to you pretending to be friends bringing nice gifts and happiness. But when faced with the choice of you or both of you, they wouldn’t hesitate in leaving you behind." Had a little spat with a friend recently.. A friend I trusted who turned out to be untrustworthy. Not going into details... hehe..
nice to have you back.
15 May 2011 at 19:46
Gardening is a wonderful pastime :)
Loved all the analogies that you gave, and especially liked the one about the roses - that we need to protect ourselves.
Actually- the one about dealing with the 'root' of problems are the ones which I ACTUALLY liked the best, but that is a little harder to implement!
16 May 2011 at 08:11
I really liked this post.
You write very well. Somehow, your style is...soothing.
I have no idea how you do it.
16 May 2011 at 12:43
@ Leah: Hey Leah, yes I am back :D. Gardening is quite fun! I am very sorry to hear that. A breach of trust always hurts a lot, especially when it done by someone close. I hope things get better for you soon.
Take care!
16 May 2011 at 12:44
@ Smokey_Cat: You're right, it is really good. Getting to the roots of a problem is the best way of dealing with them, however as you have mentioned, it is very difficult to do.
16 May 2011 at 12:45
@ Lemons Don't Make Lemonade: Hi there! Thank you for visiting :). And thank you very much for your lovely comment. I like your name by the way! :D.
16 May 2011 at 13:19
wow, you're a brilliant photographer. I don't usually like flower pictures, i don't know why, but i loved these. especially the first and last ones. you're a really good writer.
‘sphingosine-1-phosphate induced reactive oxygen species production in microglia’
Im not sure what that ^ is or what a dissertation is, but i hope you'll get good grades in your exams! :)
16 May 2011 at 15:43
Salam!
Your flowers are gorgeous, mA. :)
And I loved the analogy with thorns protecting a rose and hijab. That was beautiful. :)
16 May 2011 at 19:51
@ Vice Versa: Thank you very much. I don't normally take pictures of flowers, I was gardening and so thought I would. 8-).
Thanks!
16 May 2011 at 19:52
@ PeaceLoveandSharpies: Walaikum Salaam! Thank you, and you know what else is awesome? Your name ;).
16 May 2011 at 22:46
Oh my God. The Muslim veil thing? Sigh...your words are dreamy...
17 May 2011 at 00:13
I love gardening to de-stress! Great pictures!
17 May 2011 at 12:52
Wow! Who knew you were a photographer! I love gardens, but I don't even own a yard lol. I'll just live through you in the meantime!
18 May 2011 at 17:53
It must be a relief that your exams are over...
And I must say, that you look more than qualified to tend to our garden - since we don't have much time for it :D
Beautiful photos...
19 May 2011 at 18:46
Congrats on getting done with your dissertation! Must be a huge sigh of relief, yet accomplishment...I remember I had mine bound in red leather also, and it does look nice.. =) Best of luck with the results! Lovely post and beautiful pictures!
20 May 2011 at 08:52
Just came across the new post. I loved the way you compared plants and flowers to life and to people. It made me smile.
On another note, the flowers look lovely.
Hope you shall be writing more. Will look forward to your posts! :)
20 May 2011 at 12:12
@ Eeshie: Thanks :)
20 May 2011 at 12:13
@ Sarah: It is really relaxing, and thank you very much.
20 May 2011 at 12:14
@ E: Haha, don't worry I'll try and keep you updated on the gardenings. :P
20 May 2011 at 12:16
@ Azra: A very big relief! Haha :P. Is yours an untamed jungle? And thanks :)
20 May 2011 at 12:16
@ Surreallist: Red is awesome! And thank you very much.
20 May 2011 at 12:17
@ Tazeen: I will do! Thanks.
27 May 2011 at 11:50
awww nyc pictures i loved them <3
28 May 2011 at 02:33
Wonderful photos.