“We were driving home. I was sitting in the back left seat of the car. Absentmindedly, I was listening to the coversation my mom was having with a family friend. She was also in the car with us, right next to me.

I don’t even remember what it was about. But the car in the right lane, slightly in front of us, caught my eye. It was night time but for some reason the driver just caught my attention. He had blond hair, and kept on running his hand through his hair aggressively. As we slowly passed him I watched as he kept wiping his face, switching arms while driving and then running his hand through his hair again.

He looked extremely stressed out. So stressed out that it seemed like something terrible just happened or was about to happen. And I couldn’t help but watch him as our car drove by. He even caught the attention of my family friend who paused in the middle of her conversation as she glanced at him.

It just got me thinking. About what he might be going through and the weird thing is, it felt like such a common sight. With the recession and everything going on, from commercials to people we know, those actions showing frustration have become a common almost like symbol.
A symbol of the times the world is going through, families are going through, what our economy was going through.

We all know that’s how people express frustration but I feel as though it’s become something common in most households. Or at least in many households.

The first thing that popped into my head while watching him was that he probably lost his job. I just felt bad for this random guy driving his car looking as though he had no idea what to do. Couple minutes later I had forgotten about him and went on thinking about my own problems.

And he might have gone on to screaming in his car or driving to his friend’s house or tried avoiding the problem. Or he might have gone on and started crying or even gotten into an accident.(insh’Allah not)

I’ll never find out.

I guess there really isn’t a point to this post. But thinking back the experience did make me feel insignificant.
To somebody else I’m that guy with the blond hair stressing about my problems and wishing the world would stop and help.
Okay so instead of blond hair I have a scarf. And I’m a girl…despite screaming and sneezing like a guy.

But do you get what I mean?

In those 30 seconds I saw into a stranger’s life. I didn’t see much but it didn’t seem much different from mine. I don’t know how his story will end and most of you out there will never know how my story ends.

We’ve all got our own stories to worry about.
But there’s 6.7 billion other stories going on at the same time. Some starting and others ending.

While I feel insignificant and even feel bad for those that need help but can’t find any, it feels good to know that each of these stories is at least significant to God. Because they are.”

So I came across this video of  the Today’s show.

It’s a video of speed dating hosted by a company called Pocket Change.

Watching the video I went from curiosity, to mild amusement, to annoyance.

They’re basically matching rich guys with beautiful women.

…..And apparently it’s a successful concept and not shallow at all. I mean I get how you can argue it’s not about being shallow. I promise, I do…..I think.

But isn’t the point of dating to find someone you love? Not just to play around?

I don’t date…so I don’t really get it.

I think what bothers me is that it has this whole ‘for money get a hot lady’ theme going on.  Not saying it’s prostitution or anything, so don’t get me wrong but along with the CLEAR differences between the two concepts there were some smaller similarities that kinda rang a bell.

And more than that what bothered me the most is that they screened the applicants SOLELY based on looks and money.

AND THAT’S IT?
REALLY?

Forget that the world has psychos… idiots…creepy stalkers…jerks….and just overall nasty personalities with issues.

I mean, why is that a big deal?

It’s a way to meet someone amazing. So amazing. Like it could be a guy working for the mafia. Every girl’s dream.

And who gets to decide if YOU are beautiful enough?

Are you joking with me?

I am not even going to point out what’s wrong with that concept.

And did you notice how they say in the video that nothing about love is mentioned at all?

Once again, I don’t date, but don’t you date to MARRY SOMEONE?

OR at least it used to be. Did something change???

I’m glad msnbc did a video on them. These people are idiots.

Ever notice a trend in semesters?

Like if you’re having the hardest semester of your life, for some reason so is everyone else?

Or both you and you’re friends are having a semester in which you just seem to have a lot of ‘chilling’ time.

Or those semesters where it seems like everyone is taking evening classes.

It’s kinda weird but I’ve definitely noticed some randomn trends when it comes to students and their college semesters.

Okay you don’t need to sit there and point out why I’m wrong.

There’s exceptions everywhere.

Point being I feel like this is the semester of papers. Everywhere I ask, people are working on papers. Whether its for classes, applications, or for graduation.

Papers, papers, everywhere.

Something something something.

I had a much better song in my head somewhere.

Moving on.

Has anyone tried getting a swine flu shot?

All HIN1 vaccines seem to be running out fast. I’ve been calling places to see if they offer the vaccine. We’re concerned about my mom. But it seems like everywhere I call is basically out. There’s a frenzy going on for the vaccine. I have a friend who works at a clinic and apparently the only thing she’s hearing is H1n1.

The Oakland County Health department offers some time to time at places like the Palace Of Auburn Hills. But you have to keep checking.

This is the site for any interested Oakland county residents: http://www.oakgov.com/health/info_pub/main_flu_info.html

Wayne County seems to be doing a bit better. But obviously I wouldn’t know best.  For those of you interested, free vaccinations are being offered for Wayne residents,

Locations and mass clinics schedule http://www.waynecounty.com/mygovt/hhs/publichealth/docs/H1N1%20Clinic%20Schedule.pdf

There’s a limited supply of vaccinations available nationwide. The Center for Disease Control has identified a target population. Such as pregnant women, caregivers for children under 6 months of age, people from the ages of 6 months to 24 years, people from 24-64 with health conditions and EMS and health care workers.

I do recommend people who are at a risk to go and get the vaccine.

Before it really does run out.

Life is full of questions and doubts.

And we all reach points in our life where we have no idea why we feel so lonely all of a sudden, or why it seems like nothing is working out or even what decision we need to make.

Sometimes it seems like world the is working against you. But it really isn’t.

Life sometimes holds a series of mistakes or fails for you.

Sometimes you get dizzy with everything going around you. And sometimes you’re quietly screaming and other times you’re silently begging.

It’s easy to be brought down in times like these. It’s easy to become afraid because you think you’re going to fail.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not painful.

It’s hard to keep an optimistic outlook at times like these. It’s hard to keep fighting.

Or at least it is for most of us.

But does anyone realize how much easier everything is when there is just one thing supporting you? Some of us are blessed enough to have an entire family and good friends and even a pet cat supporting us.

For others, faith alone is enough to keep them going.

I wonder what separates those who do eventually give up from those who keep moving forward even if they seem almost dead.

I’m not an optimist. But I’m not really a pessimist.

I’m more like a fighter. Who loves the fights, but loves complaining all the same. I feel like my life is sometimes a series of mistakes. And sometimes, I get terrified because I feel helpless. And I hate feeling helpless. And I start feeling lonely, because I don’t know if there is anyone who understands my feelings.

But when I’m down, I pick myself up. And I don’t know if anyone can pick me up as well I can for myself.  Because I know, that my life’s stresses are not that bad. It doesn’t take much to convince myself that others have bigger problems and that I’m acting dramatic.

Don’t worry I’m not emo.
I secretly love life.

I love water. I love food. I love having a good time. I love realizing when I succeed in something. I love feeling independent.

Sometimes, I don’t understand how people can be so down and depressed all the time. For me it takes something as simple as watching a flock of birds to make me smile and feel happy again.

I make it a habit to look at the sky everytime I step out at night. And then become enveloped with the beauty of the sky.

I like acting like an idiot, just to make people laugh.

I like walking by myself at Wayne State’s campus at night.

I like believing I can make a difference.

I believe that everything I experience or see is important to learning to become a better person.

And if I need help I’ll ask for it. Just a call away. A friend. A cousin. My mom. Or a room away. My cat.

You might believe that it’s easy for someone to speak of being happy because they are not going through what you are going though.

And I agree.

I only have a small idea of the pain people are going through. But I think it must be so much harder to not see the things around you that make you happy.

I like to make myself believe that God has something special for me.

For those of us, living here in America, safe, going to college or school or work or whatever, life is never as bad as we make it seem.

It’s hard at times. Whether it be something like an exam or watching your parent become more sick every day.

Go ahead, feel sad or overwhelmed. But don’t get caught in that downward spiral.

It’s even sadder if you’re missing all the great things around you.