Category: Feminism (Page 1 of 3)
“Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being’s suffering. Nothing. Not a career, not wealth, not intelligence, certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we’re going to survive with dignity.”
Audrey Hepburn
Empathy, in healthy amounts, is a person’s greatest asset. To be able to connect with a person on such a deep level is a skill that can profoundly improve human relationships, in my opinion.
My relationship with my best friend, Rehana, has always been close. But when life threw me a curveball (that hit me square in the face), Rehana was able to empathise. Our friendship grew very close and strong through this experience. She was able to get it, really get it. It wasn’t just a token “I know, I understand”, it was an “I feel your pain”. That distinction was the catalyst that took us to the next level, where she moved from “hey Rey, this is what happened today”, “I tried this new lipstick shade”, “this guy is cute” to “this is who you are”, “you can work on this”, “I’m always here for you” and “I completely understand”. From a (relatively) superficial (yet extremely close) friendship, she became an integral part of me – a best friend, sister and soulmate. I mean that in a very raw and honest way, and not just token words that I’m throwing around.
That’s the power of empathy.
Democracy is the best revenge
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister of a Muslim nation. On December 27, 2007, at the age of 54, she was tragically assassinated. Her message was clear, she refused to be quiet and allow extremism to continue to destroy her country.
I watched a great documentary on Channel 4 yesterday that explored the possibility that Trump could realistically be the next president. How ironic that a decade after Bhutto’s assassination, a president could be sworn in who is marginalising the entire religion of Islam in the name of extremism.
What a shame that democracy has come to this – where people are backing a bigoted, misogynistic, racist and blatantly narcissistic man to be the “Leader of the Free World”. It’s entirely possible that the White House’s next resident may be someone who is a pathological liar, whose only consistency is that he’s inconsistent, who encourages violence and who is completely unable to accept any form of criticism.
Democracy may be the best revenge – but it’s not to be (ab)used to avenge.
There have been many instances where people like Trump have held high political positions, and unfortunately, history has proven that they are catastrophic for the people, the country and the world. Trevor Noah lightheartedly draws a few parallels 🙂
What a shame that millions have struggled and died in the name of democracy and yet there’s still a potential that a person with the dangerous characteristics of a dictator may be elected into power.
Perhaps instead, a decade on from Bhutto’s assassination, America may elect its first female president.
Please, America, don’t let history repeat itself.
Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Christmas: My favourite time of the year. Growing up in a Christian country, my sweetest childhood memories are singing christmas carols, Father Christmas visiting school and giving us gifts, the christmas card postbox at school, christmas lunch, seeing the christmas tree, pantomimes and many, many others.
The sweetest memories of all are those of my grandmother. This will be my first Christmas without her. Days are filled with activities that remind me of her – Christmas was her favorite time of the year, where she spoiled us even more than she did year-round (which was hard to do!) There are so many Christmas memories with Nanny – her taking us to see Father Christmas at Harrods, christmas lunch in Kensington and of course, spending christmas day with her . In the last few years, I would take Nanny to buy christmas presents for the family and help her wrap them, a shopping trip that she would look forward to for weeks.
A lump forms in my throat when I realize that this will be my first christmas without her – no shopping trip, no christmas card with her familiar writing and no seeing her and hearing her brighten up when she saw us and wished us a merry christmas. A large part of Christmas will be missing this year, and my heart fills with sadness when I realize that this is the first of many more Christmas’ to come without her.
Until I see her again, I’ll continue to remember her – year round – but especially at Christmas.
Season’s greetings Nanny, wherever you are. x.