Saturday, January 2, 2010

A New Beginning

" To make an end is to make a Beginning." -T. S. Eliot .
My first post of 2010. Wow. What a year/decade this has been for me. I remember New Year 2000 very well. I was in grade 9 and I had a math exam the next day, so I spent the entire evening studying and trying to stay awake for the Millenium. I finally did make it, and was blessed to see 1999 become 2000. Ten years have passed and I took time out on Thursday to reflect on all the major events in my life. I finished middle school, started high school, started painting, received a scholarship, went to university, studied like mad, expanded my horizons, fell in love with learning all over again, travelled a lot, graduated, got my drivers' license, bought my first car, started work, studied more, and this year I started my blog.
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A lot of other things happened obviously, but I can't blog about them. I feel blessed and at peace with myself and with the world. I sat on the beach with a friend on New Year's Eve. It was a full beautiful moon (lucky me!) so I did manage to get a photo of it. It was so perfect that New Year's was on a weekend, with a full moon (Dhofaris love full moons). There were hundreds of people on the beach relaxing and waiting to welcome the new year in a peaceful way.
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Blog-wise, it has been a wonderful year for me. I can't remember why I suddenly decided to start blogging. I remember thinking to myself 'Who's going to read my thoughts?', and was blown away by the number of readers, comments, and emails I have received since I started blogging in April. It has been quite over-whelming at times, and I apologize to anyone who wrote to me and hasn't received a response yet. I try my best to keep up with the emails, but if you knew how many emails I receive a day you'd forgive me. However, I do remember receiving an email from a young expat wife who was moving to Salalah and she wanted to know about life here, etc. I searched my entire inbox for her email and couldn't find it. So, if you're reading this, please write me again and I'll provide as many details as you want. Special thanks to my FIRST TWO READERS! Faith & Sting. I still have no idea how they found my blog, but they did and they inspired me to keep writing.
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Ok, enough sentimental thoughts. I wanted to let you all know that I was privileged enough to have dinner with fellow blogger Reality in Oman last week. Our meeting was not planned but it all worked out well and we ended up spending 4 hours together. She is a fascinating & enlightened young woman, and I was very lucky to meet her. The topics she blogs about are always intriguing and thought-provoking. She is quite intense, but also has a quiet sense of humor. Meeting fellow writers has been one of 2009's greatest gifts to me. I have met some very interesting and enlightened bloggers over the past few months. We inspire one another to continue writing & I don't feel the pressure and fear of them exposing who I am because we're all in the same boat together.
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Do you believe in New Year resolutions? Do you believe in opening a new page and giving yourself the chance to start over? If yes, what kind of resolutions and plans have you come up with?

18 comments:

  1. I really enjoy Reality's blog. I'm glad you guys met. Happy New Year!

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  2. LoL, I was your first reader, not Faith! I was searching Google for something and found your link. I don't remember the post, but when I read it, I felt I had to read other posts.

    Your blunt and sarcastic style really attracted me. Later, I sent your blog's link to Faith.

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  3. Hi Nadia
    Happy New year
    I think it is very important to open a new page with yourself any time but not necessarily when the year finishs or the other one starts.
    ذكرتيني بالامتحانات
    إذا كان الجواب نعم فاذكر خصائص...إلخ

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  4. LoL Sting, she said Faith & Sting, chillax :p

    Thanks for the dedication Nadia.

    As for your question: No I don't believe in New Year resolutions, however, I strongly believe in daily resolutions :)

    Happy New Year dear.

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  5. Hey Nadia
    Its been a while i hope this year you will finally dust off that sewing machine of yours and join me in some crafty creations!

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  6. btw did you take that photo? If yes, unleash your hidden talent!

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  7. ^ Ditto. Show us your photography skills now, don't be shy :P

    Happy new year, Nadia. Never stop updating your blog.

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  8. is realityinoman not from muscat??

    Howcome u both met, is any one of you visitin the other place or what??

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  9. Hey Nadia

    Actually your blog is so inspiring.. you've become so famous in less than a year, and you're writing is acceptable to everyone.. so really, keep it up and never stop! I'm learning from you :)

    But yeah, I don't believe in new year's resolutions either. Resolutions begin when the need arises. Nevertheless, have a wonderful new year!

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  10. Hey Nadia, I had lots of fun hanging out with you too! I hope we get to meet again.

    Anan, I am from muscat..

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  11. Gosh I was in 9th Grade preparing for a math final in 2000 as well..!

    Happy TWENTY TEN Nadia

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  12. Nadia you've become so active meeting fellow bloggers, that is cool, my new year resolution is to have a really active positive life so no more sleeping till 11 on weekends.

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  13. IHMD, these girls were very interesting so I had to meet them. You and Ma7feef should meet on the beach with grilled shades. Or maybe in Al Dahareez :)

    Sleeping till 11 on weekends is not a crime

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  14. Nadia, Yeah may be Mahfef and I can meet sometime but no grilled shades lol. Sleeping till 11am is a waste of time, there are so many things that can be done in the morning and I think it is a waste of time to just sleep but I'm guilty of sometimes sleeping till 11 or even 12, I really want to have a really active lifestyle.

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  15. It's useful to wake up early and not waste time. But seriously sometimes I accomplish more at night. For example, I only enjoy doing housework and cleaning at midnight :)

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  16. Nadia house cleaning at midnight lol, I guess if Dracula lived here you'd be a perfect a bride, and you call me weird :P

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  17. Hi Nadia! Happy new year!

    Milleninium..year 2000! It seems like yesterday, I was at baskin robbins and I thought I saw the lights flick ..hehe. Y2k. Everyone was worried.

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