What is identity to you?

Growing up, I have been challenged to think more about my identity, what it means to me and how I relate to it.

In my younger years living as a minority, I adapted to living in a majority white society, being the only non white  in my primary school.

However, as I got older I started to feel the labels being placed on me, were purely judged for how I looked. My ethnic appearance, gender and age being the first thing I was judged on with pre-conceived ideas of what I was about.

The struggle to disapprove these ideas received  surprise as it was out of the norm of what someone ‘like me’ should behave like opposing the ‘labels’ ‘representation’ and ‘standards’. I was showing myself for the individual that I am, in human flesh away from a tick box.

Sometimes, ‘diversity’ on the screen and media can feel like it is just a coloured face as part of an inclusion exercise,  with no substance that strips the real individual away. It is as though the background has to be concealed and all aspects of the individual has to conform to be accepted.

As a result, I feel torn with my identity, but realised it is not simple and is changing for all the different things I represent. I can only be true to myself, and  fight against expectations of what someone like me should be like, finding my own identity.

I  fall into many categories that have shaped my personality, thoughts and way of life just like everyone else.  I present an image for those that have presumed ideas on what people like me should be like.

I am a patchwork of beliefs, cultures, interests and I stand for more than just to be defined by the heritage of my appearance.

I  fight to break barriers and defy expectations that are put on by others, standing for everything that I am!  My identity is that I am ME-whatever that may be!

From this, please realise that: You cannot  conform. Your ‘identity’ is what makes you, You-and thats the beauty!

Leave your comments below, I would love to hear what identity means to you? #BBCIdentity

🙂

Why has March been a bad month?

This March 2016, has seen horrific attacks and killings spreading from the East to the West in a short space of time of 3 weeks. My thoughts to the world and in particular the countries in recent pain Turkey, Belgium, and Pakistan.

It is upsetting to see and to be immune to attacks like these occurring so frequently. When there is pain in the world, we hurt together and unite as humans. This is a mention to not forget the innocent lives lost and to the loved ones affected from the horrible aftermath.

Turkey was the first to receive an explosion on 13th March where it was reported a car bomb exploded in the Turkish city of Ankara killing 32 people and wounding more than 100. And not to forget- this is was the second recent attack in Turkey in the same city of Ankara as in February a bomb attack killed 28 people, and leaving dozens wounded.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35798517

Brussels was next targeted on 22nd March where it is recorded two bomb explosions took place at the international airport, and another blast occurred at a metro station in the city centre. This saw at least 28 people killed and 340 injured.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35869985

Pakistan is the most recent to experience an explosion on 27th March where 69 people have been killed and 193 at current injured at a public Park in Lahore in Punjab-Pakistan’s largest and wealthiest province.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35908512

 

These sporadic attacks are disgusting acts designed to divide and conquer to instill fear and instability worldwide.

They clearly show that there are no borders in evil and hate spreads across all countries. We stand up to fight, together as humans all for peace.

To all the innocent lives lost you are not forgotten, we stand for you!

I admire those who carry on with life the next day as normal, and to those that react in these situations without hesitation from the firefighters, police, doctors and general public whose positive spirit has not allowed the darkness to overcome the light.

-Keep the flame burning bright X

Leave your comments whats your thoughts? Share along 🙂

Aitzaz Hasan…The Hero

Too often we remember the names of the villains in the world from the choas they leave behind.

When we are forgetting about the individuals who have shown that one person can have a positive impact on those around..
They need to be praised and not forgotten for their courageous acts are not easily done

 
I am writing this blog to make sure he is remembered for the hero he is and the bravery he left behind…

Aitzaz Hasan was a 15 year old boy from the North-Western region of Pakistan, which has strong Taliban and al-Qaeda presence, where the area is known for sectarian violence against Shia Muslims.

On the 10th January, Aitzaz saw a suicide bomber approaching his school and made the decision of tackling him and intercepting his path.
His own life was caught in the cross fire for the heroic sacrifice he made- to protect his school and the 2000 people inside.

It is a shame to see his noble heart cost his life
But, he made a conscious decision to act-which only a few are brave enough to do, and faced evil in the flesh to put an end to lives being destroyed.

I truly respect this young courageous boy, who had strength and a big, open lion heart.
I wish his soul lives on in peace

As a HERO is never forgotten….<3
  

“Follow Your Rhythm”

…Transform like a butterfly, find your wings

Philosophy, religion, history, arts, debates, ideas and so on, is interesting to me as it highlights the fact, that there are many ways of thinking and nothing is purely black and white. To me personally, I enjoy the idea of learning for my own pleasure, and not for the purpose of passing an exam for an outcome. Put bluntly, I think exams are memory tests, with the end result of a letter next to your name.

I remember sitting there on my exam thinking these thoughts over and over in my mind, the meaning of sitting this exam. I observed how others same age to me would frantically write down everything they were told to think as fast as they could, without a mind of their own.  Or ever question ‘why’, and not just the why to answer for uni or to get a good grade but the real ‘why’ am I doing this?

It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the subject, I enjoyed it very much and to me the book meant a lot. I could articulate my deep thoughts when talking amongst my peers who would force me into revising because I resisted. It shocked them when I actually knew what they were talking about, as I felt passionate talking about it, allowing the expression and my personal interpretation of the book to ooze out.

Studying hard and getting an education to compete against others gives the impression that is where happiness is met. It’s presented as the right solution to everyone’s problems, from all backgrounds and differences, and is used to maintain order, a platform for social change and the means to provide fulfilment and satisfaction in a materialistic world. This ideal stops people thinking, and enters them in an endless race to prove their place. 

But what if you’re not in this race, and don’t want to compete with others? Does that mean then you are a failure, or that you are not intelligent or free thinking or inspirational?

To me, I think it’s far more important to educate yourself in many areas, to create a well-rounded human than to do it to seek rewards. It is about finding inner peace within yourself!

I made a point not to follow the system, as it did not agree with my personal thoughts and beliefs. This may limit my success in the future, but that again depends how you define success.  🙂

As people we are all learning and growing on our own journeys.  I realised that I was in a situation which was meaningless to me and didn’t make sense, where I was surrounded by programmed minds that obeyed because it was ‘told’ to them as the ‘ONLY right’ thing to do. This scared me and woke me up, as I was constantly looked down on by others with the same mind-set, and was told I would be labelled uneducated by the eyes of society. This suddenly made me realise, I would have to be something that I’m not in order to feel successful.

And why should I justify myself of who I am to fit a mould I’m accepted to, I felt as though my mind and free thoughts were being suffocated.  I was a triangle being forced to fit a square world-and I’m glad I don’t.

I am going at my own pace, finding my identity and voicing my individuality.

 Don’t put an age limit on what you want to achieve, and don’t be led astray of society’s thinking or give in to the expected thing to do.  Change comes from free thinking and doing what you believe in, not doing what you are told.

I took a step back; ignored others, listened to myself and realised I needed to “follow my own rhythm” 🙂

Wipe the Bloodshed

Our knowledge of countries is limited to what we are shown through the television and reported on the news,
which becomes how we associate and remember that part of the world.
For example, if I asked some people randomly what do they know about lets say Iraq/Afghanistan
I will probably be hit with phrases such as war, American troops, UK soldiers, weapons of mass destruction and so on…

When, we are forgetting that there is a lot more to these countries than the chaos, that are rich in culture, history and hold a diverse range of ethnic groups.
For instance, did you know that Iraq was home to the oldest civilisations in the world or that Afghanistan has more than 13 ethnic groups?

Discover for yourself what these countries are all about…
Research. Learn . Read

Lets not destroy the identity of millions

Don’t let the bloodshed wipe away the beauty