ntshfiqwrites

[ntshfiqwrites]

How to Deal with Mistakes and Failures in Life

Remind yourself that:

1. This is not the end. You are going to survive. There’s no point in pretending that life is always great. Sometimes we trip and fall, or we make terrible mistakes. Allow yourself to heal, then get up and start again. Take one or two small steps … and know you’re going to survive!

2. Everybody makes mistakes along the way. You’re only a failure if you give up and don’t try. Accept that you are human … and move on with your life.

3. Positive thinking leads to positive results. If you think you can succeed then there’s a good chance that you will. The mind is very powerful. We create what we believe.

4. Success is closer than you think when you are down. Mistakes can be our teachers; they don’t mean all is lost. In fact, you’re one step closer to getting what you want.

5. You are not your mistakes. Don’t fall into the trap of defining who you are by different things you do – or by your failures and mistakes.

6. There are very few mistakes which are truly devastating. Mistakes are merely setbacks – a few clouds in the sky. Get up, keep pushing forwards and move towards your dreams.

7. A failure is sometimes a blessing in disguise. Not getting what you want can sometimes be a stroke of luck. It makes you reconsider and try some different things. And these can often lead to better opportunities.

8. You have the power to determine your own happiness. You can hold onto the pain and the failures of the past, or you can choose to let them go and fix your eyes on what’s ahead. It’s up to you to choose what will become your destiny.

[ntshfiqwrites]

On Isra' and Mikraj

At the start of this year, I made an intention to be more God- and religion-conscious in the things I do in life. Part of that includes taking note of significant religious events, beyond the ones that many of us are oh-too familiar with, such as fasting during Ramadan, and delving deeper to find out more about the importance of these events.

Yesterday was 27 Rejab, a significant date in the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that Isra' (journey) and Mikraj (ascension) occured on this very date.

I am fortunate to be a part of AA plus, a community of Muslimahs who probably have the same intention as me, to be closer to God and the religion. The videos that Aida (founder of AA plus) and her team produced on Isra' and Mikraj are truly superb (see below). The compelling storytelling makes it easy for the audience to follow the story. And it's not just the narration either. The visuals and even the quality of the audio contributes to the wonderful learning experience.

If you were to ask me what resonated with me about the Isra' and Mikraj, I would say that it reminds me that even Prophets face tremendous difficulties in their lives. In fact, their challenges can never compare to ours. To be rejected by those who refuse to accept Islam, and be ill-treated by them; that is not easy to go through. So, it is important to always keep this perspective in mind whenever I go through struggles in my life. Allah will never burden a soul beyond what he or she can bear, and there are people out there who are facing even greater struggles. I should feel grateful for what I have, and I should also seek help from Allah SWT when the going gets tough.

[ntshfiqwrites]

The start of my BMDP journey

Finally putting this space to good use.

Bismillah.

So a week ago, I received a phone call from an unknown number. Naturally, the introvert in me froze and I rejected the call. Turns out, it was an executive from the Bone Marrow Donor Programme.

Apparently, in 2013, I signed up to be a donor under the programme and I remember providing a sample of my cheek swab so that they can create a database of donors.

Fast forward to 2023, and I am a match for a patient who needs a stem cell transplant. If I am deemed healthy, I could proceed with the donation and help save a life.

Sounds good, right?

To be honest, when I received the news that I could be a viable donor for patient X, my first reaction was fear. I immediately thought about whether I could say no. You may be thinking, why would I react in such a way, especially since I volunteered to be a donor?

When I signed up for the programme, I did so 10 years ago, when I was a bright-eyed girl who wanted to do good. However, I think it’s quite reasonable to expect that feelings can change over time. The thought of the medical procedure I had to go through (even though I wasn’t fully informed of what it entails) naturally scared me.

Not only that, I also remember the rep who talked to me told me that they needed to build a database of donors, and should I be a potential match with a patient, I still have the option to say no. I also remember him/her saying that the probability of being matched with someone is quite low. All these gave me the assurance I needed back then to sign up.

When I got the message that I could be a potential donor, it took me a while to process the information, and naturally there was a lot of fear about what I have to go through. My mum, a natural worrier, fuelled my fears. My sister and husband, however, felt that this was a great opportunity for me to do something good. Absolutely, there is no doubt about that. 

To quell my fears, I did my research. I read the information booklet that I was provided, along with a video clip that they provided; an interview with a donor. The interview in particular helped to ease my fears. I also had a virtual meeting with my donor executive who explained the process that I had to go through. I was able to surface any concerns I had, and fortunately, my executive was able to address my concerns.

Eventually, I agreed to proceed. I could not deal with the thought that my fears would prevent someone from having a longer life. I had to muster the courage and do it!

After having the time to process my emotions, I’m feeling quite excited to go through the process. The entire journey will take a few months, which really helps in managing my fears about the entire process, haha.

Thus far, I’ve done the blood draw for the blood test. The donor executive will contact me in 1 to 6 months’ time, depending on the patient’s readiness for treatment and also the results of my blood test and health checkup. We’ll see how it goes from there.

I thought of documenting my journey as this is an experience that not everyone gets to go through. And who knows what I might discover about myself from this?

Till then, I’m wishing for the best, and I hope everything will move along smoothly according to plan. More updates soon!

[ntshfiqwrites]

Hello there.

Thought of giving blogging another shot. (I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said this before, aha). I’m excited about this new space. 

Plans for this space are sketchy but I’d like to keep it that way for now. Will write more soon.