#then again our communities are still very stigmatised and judgy so idk how applicable it is

[kindred-spirit-93]

i forgot my birthdays next week thursday

GIVE ME ADVICE PLEASE I DONT WANNA TURN 13 *SOBS*

aw happy birfday in advance! have some cheesecake(s) :3

crying with u bbg. sadly i dont have time slowing or stopping powers (adulthood be like that fr :')) so i cant do anything to wither the passage of time. i can however make lots of dua for u <3

ill be chilling here for a long time to come lol ur always welcome to drop by for some tea and molokhiyeh and other shenanigans :D

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my advice is to really stop and take of yourself when you need it & never apologise for it. 13 was my least favorite chapter of life so far so take it from me lol; your well being is extremely important and doing the things you like will keep u sane and safe inshallah

find a balance between studies and family life (if applicable lol both can be overwhelming sometimes ik) and sleep well. sleep. sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. no all nighters or im personally travelling w my shibshib to bonk u on the head. sleep deprivation is the freakin worst im still recovering 3 year later from the damage i inflicted on myself lol in uni.

on that note pls minimise (or ditch altogether) energy drinks and coffee. idk what the kids are up to these days and whats cool or whatever, but i implore u to not go anywhere near them at least till u graduate (coffee is inevitable ik its a big part of the culture, but energy drinks pls never ever its not cool i promise).

drink water!! idk how my kidneys are still functioning lol, they deserve nobel peace prizes fr. drink as much liquids as u can (esp during the summer) and lots of water. no tea and juice dont count (sadly)

cant emphasise enough how much الصحبة الصالحة (good companionship) makes a world of difference and takes so much weight off ur shoulders. peer pressure is awful and really messed me up in hs so if u can find some good friends stick with them and help each other out. its really rewarding to have people who got ur back yk?

and if if if god forbid everyone sucks (it can happen) being alone as hard as it can be will ultimately be much better for ur mental health and peace of mind than any fake friendships could ever hope to be.

but worry not there is still lots to enjoy in life, esp the little things like flowers on the side walk or a nice cool breeze or a big glass of fresh mango juice lol. a kitty in the corner shop, someones smile, a new book u started, cool rocks u found in the park, and so much more.

being up to date with the news and keeping vigilant is important yes but so is ur mental health. take breaks when u need it. dont forget to boycott stuff and stick to local/ alternative products

ramadan kareem in advance too lol! wishing u and ur family all the best, lots of qatayef and barakah inshallah as well XD

thats all i can think of for now lol if i remember stuff ill add :3

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also also, read somewhere that ibuprofen is a girls best friend lol: having a lil first aid/ essentials kit for ur school bag is great; plasters (band aids), pads, paracetamol (bc u can take it on an empty stomach not ibuprofen tho) was my go to, as well as pocket tissues (allergies amirite) and a packet of wipes bc things can get sticky lol. emergency snack(s) was the most important part lol. usually a piece of chocolate or something small and quiet i could smuggle under my desk XD

first aid tip: if u ever feel light headed have some dates on hand (like in a smol tupperware or sum) and nibble on it; the sugar elevates blood glucose and keeps u alert till u can get help. drink water pls

go kick ass bestie and make the most of it <3