To Noor & Huda: Letter 3

 In reply to your letters: Noor & Huda

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My Favorite Twins,

It wasn't my birthday and we laughed about it..and no, I'm not going to mention this in my letter ;p. I really loved the idea and I don't mind celebrating my birthday twice a year.

I love how your lives have been evolving in the last four years and I'm so excited for the new chapter in your lives in the specialty training and for the fact that you are finally united in one place. I was planning to pay you both a visit this year, but I guess Corona had the final say..

It's now 12:20 a.m. Muscat time, I really want to sleep but my brain can't stop talking to itself. It's been a busy time at work, and for some reason it seems that I always give people the impression that I'm constantly chill. I truly need to learn to look and sound busy. Let me know if you have ideas?

I was reading an article a few days ago on Psychology Today that talks about emotions and how essential they are for our survival as a human race. This part specifically caught my attention: "..the other reason why we develop emotion is that emotion helps build relationships and bind communities. We would not be able to coordinate our goals so well if we did not love and fear and trust and feel a sense of pride."

Now for this blog's activity or ask: if you could remove one emotion from your body (or soul, idk), what would it be? And why?

You have been you...and I have been this person:

Love,

Salima

To Noor & Huda: Letter 2

In reply to your letters: Noor and Huda

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Dear N&H,

I’m writing to you from my new couch that I got in exchange of my lazy boy, a deal I had with my brother. I always thought that I needed my own personal space, but I guess with the lock-down I realized that I need more social space. So I turned my bedroom into one. 

Do you miss home? I’m sure you do. I was going through old photos on my phone and I saw a photo from one of our catch-ups at a cafe in a mall. I was an emotional mess walking into the cafe to meet you and I left feeling so much lighter, happier and with a large bouquet of flowers. You guys are two of my greatest gifts. 

Mid blog P.S: I’m writing this and realizing that I tend to share random stories with people I’m so comfortable with.

Now taking on the task that Noor has given us, here's a list of five things I appreciate about myself:

1. I believe I'm loyal, I would do anything and everything in my will to make the people that matter to me feel that I got their back and that I'm there for them..constantly. 

2. I'm seasoned in taking things easy and chilling when need be (I could be the opposite too if needed) ;)

3. I love so deeply and forgive too easily. Just gonna leave this here..

4. I have a thing for art; appreciating art, trying art, appreciating the beauty of nature...appreciating beauty in all forms really..

5. I have an effin sophisticated taste in music, it's hard to keep up with. If I like a song, you better believe that it will be on repeat for a while until I get sick of it. Did I mention that I can dance to a song as easy as I can cry to it? 

Excited to see your lists! :)

You have been you, and I have been this person:

Yours,

Salima

To Noor & Huda: Letter 1

Dearest Noor & Huda,

Writing to you from my make-shift office that I prepared since this whole quarantine started. It's 8:46 PM, it's second day of Ramadan.

First things first. I miss you dearly. I think you could tell by the very thought of me starting this series of letters. Sometimes things are easier said in letters (or blogs in this case). I'm going to share some of the thoughts and reflections that constantly keep me awake.

A while ago, I lost one of my bestest friend. Since that day, there was one thought that never left me: she deserved a better life. It makes me upset, cause think about it, I could've done something about it.  I could've contributed to the life she deserved. Do you know the feeling?

Also, ever felt like you don't know your worth? Or that people around you don't know your worth? Just a random thought.

Now enough about me. Tell me how you two are doing? What are your sleep depriving thoughts?

Yours,

Salima

On March

I don't feel like saying much and so I thought I'd share photos instead! :)

Cheers!

I like sniffing these and then sneezing my heart off.

March casualties..

Little sister love <3

Happiest day in March :)

Aleph is back! 

Corporate Philanthropy vs. Corporate Social Responsibility

Alright, so here's the deal: an Omani newspaper published a controversial article today accusing big corporations and companies in Oman of “misusing” their CSR initiatives for publicity and commercial purposes.

So I thought I would try and put things in perspective. First of all, let’s talk about the difference between corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Let’s all imagine that there’s this huge pie placed in front of you and let’s call this pie CSR. Take a slice of the pie and call it corporate philanthropy. Giving back to the community in the form of financial donations or non-cash contributions such as time, expertise and tangible stuff is what makes that small slice. Everything else in addition to philanthropy fall under CSR. In practice, corporate social responsibility deals with the greater good of the world at large: issues that affect the environment, consumers, human rights, energy sustainability and many other topics.

Now back to the main point the article is talking about. Is it considered a horrible thing for corporates to actually walk around and show off their donations and contribution to the community? Well this is debatable. Let’s consider the following points:

1.  Your company/corporation might be a listed company in the stocks market. In this case, you will have hundreds (if not thousands) of shareholders and a board of directors representing these shareholders who are genuinely interested in what you’re doing to the community.
2.  You want to show your customers and potential customers that you are a responsible company. Publishing news about your contribution to the community within reason shouldn’t harm your reputation or give people the impression that you’re “overdoing” it.

There’s no easy fix for publicizing any news about CSR and philanthropy activities to be specific. It’s a case by case decision that the company has to make. Many factors have to be considered: Is it important? Is the other party receiving the donations/support even considered or consulted before publishing the news? Is it so significant and news worthy that people are REALLY keen to know about?

We sure don’t want to read about a OR 100 donation that takes half of a front page on a Sunday morning!

Peace..

Things I appreciate - Part III

It isn't difficult thinking of things we appreciate or should appreciate more. Yet, I struggled in prioritizing them and talking around them, and hence this post came LONG overdue.

I was going to write something else but then I paused, deleted a sentence or two and started re-writing again. This weekend (it's sunday evening as I write), many events happened on my personal space. I was immensely inspired twice yesterday, received great news in the morning and got an unexpected call from a friend I care for. And so I recognized the precious gift of life! The life I was given and the decision I was allowed to take (and chose to take) in it along the way!

If life was a person, it would look something like this. We choose how it looks like  - sorry Mc. Fly :)

(Photo credit: Love Is on The Radio music video by McFly)

Things I appreciate - Part II

One of the things I really appreciate in my life - and I've been appreciating since 2008 when I started this blog is blogs or blogging.

I'm pretty sure that most of you reading this will find this applicable to you, too. I love the whole blogging concept for it connects you and me with other like-minded and even different-minded people all over the world.

I love the feeling when a blog I follow has a new post. I enjoy going through the bookmarks folder I have for my favorite bloggers. It's a pure joy that I can't possibly describe in a few words. For me, the love of blogging, and what it means to me and my fellow bloggers, is why I’ve been in the game so long. It’s how I’ve met many of my current friends. The finest of them, I dare say.

I don't care about how old blogging has became and how less people are paying attention to it by the day. It's one of the things I will try to keep doing for years and years to come. I know one day I will look back and say "huh, I'm glad I kept writing" :)

On this note, I'm thrilled to announce that I now have my own domain for this blog: http://www.salimamasrouri.com/ YAY!