20 Random Facts about ME!

Originally written on 26/04/2017.

This is sort of a "Know the Author" article but in a random way, shall we?

1. I hate touching food with my bare hands (expect for, like, bread or something dry and not sticky or oily). I know it's weird, but the sensation of food on my fingers is just disgusting to me. And some smelly foods like seafood hardly leave one's hands like before, and yes even when you guys wash your hands they still stink, sorry not sorry! As for cooking, I try not to touch anything and if I do, I instantly wash my hands and pray I won't throw up.

2. I'm obsessed with mermaids. Especially Disney's Ariel. I have an Ariel t-shirt, pyjama, towel, multiple miniatures, pins, mechanical pencil, water bottle and keychain. 

3. I stopped eating McDonald's a year or two before leaving for college but then I ate it a few times in Paris (it's the cheapest option here, that's why). Until, one time, the fish of the Fillet-O-Fish sandwich was blueish, so I had to stop eating there ever again.

4. I hate tea. I tried a bunch of types, but it's really not for me. I'm a shame on the Middle-East, I know.

5. I was born in Kuwait and no I don't have the Kuwaiti citizenship/ passport. They don't grant you the citizenship unless one of your parents is Kuwaiti. This is always an issue when I'm filling official forms, people always get confused and some online forms have the "nationality" and "place of birth" as the same country, automatically.

6. I try to be as eco-friendly as possible; I care a lot about the environment. I do recycling, reuse plastic bags and containers, don't use plastic straws (trying to give up the plastic cutlery too) and rarely waste electricity, water or food.

7. I had a phase where I believed in astrology, I know right! Stupidest two months of my life.

8. I was in the swimming team for so many years even though I didn't like the sport. I loved basketball though.

9. My favourite language is French, no Arabic, French, not sure. Just kidding, it's Arabic. But for real, I used to prefer French.

10. I hate politics. But during the Arab Spring I was always following the events and I had some views and discussed them with others. Now, I try to ignore it on social media as much as I can and I don't follow a certain party.

11. I've been wearing my glasses for nine years now and I can't wait to get rid of them. Probably I will write a whole article on my hate for glasses.

12. I never sugarcoat. If you ask me my opinion I won't go around the bush and I'll be straightforward. I think it's best to give authentic feedback, only when asked, otherwise you'd be a rude person sharing his unwanted opinions.

13. I can ride a bike and skateboard and wear skaters (ice and regular ones).

14. I don't like romantic movies. My favorite genre is comedy. I also love horror and drama. Bollywood movies have a special place in my heart. I don't watch a lot of movies though. I prefer TV shows.

15. I'm a burger person. I could eat a burger at a fancy restaurant with no shame, as long as it's not frozen meat.

16. Coffee and music addict. Chocolate too.

17. I used to draw a lot six years ago. But high school kept me busy so I stopped.

18. I'm a "don't tell me what to do!" type of person. Sometimes.

19. I love singing and dancing. I have a terrible voice but that isn't stopping me.

20. My favorite animals are dolphins and dogs.

BONUS: I had braces for seven years.

How many of these did you know, though?

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The Fit Life!

Few years after leaving the swimming team, I started gaining weight. Tragic.

2007. Credits: Nada Al-Nahass.

It's all because swimmers eat so much as we require a lot of calories to be able to swim kilometres everyday and do fitness a couple of times a week. But when we quit, we remain programmed to eat the same amount but it doesn't get burned so, eventually and gradually, we gain weight. For the first time of our life.

So many months of my life were wasted in unhappiness.. 

It took me some time to realize this. I did eat a lot, to be honest. Even if it was mostly healthy food, but still. I knew I had to start exercising as soon as possible. I knew what needed to be done.

So like many sports beginners, I went to the gym, but failed to commit. It was like torture to me. Zero motivation. Not fun nor exciting at all. Recently, I found out that it was because I hate the gym and that's actually common and pretty normal. You don't have to hate exercise to hate the gym. And I know it's weird to figure this years later but it's also confusing. There are tons of exercise options and people often limit them to a handful and that is unfair and not creative as well.

There was a phase where I did pilates at home everyday and ate better. I started seeing results and it was as rewarding as it should be. Everyone told me I lost weight and I couldn't help but be proud of myself. I felt that finally I would be happier looking in the mirror. But then for reasons beyond me, I gained all the weight back again.

Fast forward to now, I know what types of exercise I like. They even excite me. And I understand that I need to do some which I hate in order to get in shape, AKA abs workouts. (and then probably I'll stop the moment I achieve my goal because I hate them). I cook (mostly) light and healthy meals. I tremendously reduced my portions. I drink lots of water. I limit soda and desserts as much as I can. Fruits became my snacks instead of cake or cookies. I discovered that may be being healthy is harder than leading a regular lifestyle, but it's not that hard and is totally worth it.

When I go for a run, I usually see old couples running together, and they actually beat me. But I also see old people struggling to walk 0.2 km with a walking frame. And this is one of the reasons why I chose the fit life.

And just like my close friend said "I've tried both and I'd choose the fit life over the fat life any day."

I have to admit that some times I fall off the wagon and stop exercising for a month or two and eat garbage, but I get up again and again and again.

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Make a Wish

When I was a kid, apart from not making a wish while blowing my birthday candles, I wished for very different things in life.

School achievements were my priority. And maybe even my sole goal back then. Graduating school with good grades, going to a top university and then getting a well-paid job were my only long-term goals.

My older cousin, Nada, has been telling me my whole life that her goal was just to be happy no matter what she's doing in her life. She thinks happiness is a choice and that it has nothing to do with what you've been through. Since I believed back then that I needed success to be happy, I was never convinced of her philosophy.

The "happiness is a choice" part is debatable, I'll discuss it in another article. Back to the main point.

But now I do. All I wish for in life is happiness.

Happiness is a broad wish, which is really beautiful in my opinion. When I wish (or ask God) for happiness, each time it means something very different that fits my current life phase. Happiness at some point could be doing well in a college presentation despite my fear of public speaking (and yes I've recently concluded that). Other times it might be achieving a new workout milestone like running an extra kilometre or finally being able to do push-ups (one day I will, I'm sure!).

If you liked or related to this article somehow, give it a thumbs up and don't be so shy to leave a comment, I won't bite, I swear! 

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