Month: July 2010

Knowing the Past to Understand the Present and Plan for the Future

Afif Tabsh23 Comments

Sometimes we miss out on that simple thing we call the “Past”, in fact I’ve realised many don’t even give it any attention neither feel like its important to know about it…we’re all so obsessed with whats going on now and what next?

What we don’t realize is that it holds so much information, so much wisdom and so much experiences that we can not ever accumulate in our life time. Yet, knowing all that, many don’t dig enough into it…and I’m not talking here in terms of one’s own past, but rather the past of a whole country, nation, and civilization in general.

Go back to the history books and you will realize that human civilisation is a “de-ja vu” happening over and over again. Different times, different places, different people…same story with a small twist. It gets me wondering sometimes, if those people actually read, understood and analysed what happened in the past, would they change or would they still have done what they previously planned to do?

Wouldn’t it be much more useful if when I’m facing any issue in my life (whether career or personal or political or national or …) I do know what happened in the past in such cases and decided accordingly? Rather than just contemplating in the way I feel and like and what people around me say and all those unknowns?

Infact aside from this simple example, think of where we stand today…in the present…and you’ll realise it is simply the accumulation of events, plans and decisions done in the past…and so to really understand where we are in life…it is crucial to actually know what our predecessors did and why.

Taking it a step further(hypothetically), now that we thought and reflected on the past and got a better understanding of the present (hopefully that is) it is much easier to see the big picture and many of the underlying details of the previously foggy future. At least now we understand better were we stand in this world, how are others related to us and how do we relate to the overall progress of civilisation and where might it all probably lead next.

I can sit here, contemplate and right for hours…but I do not want to bore you but rather instigate you to ponder and give me your feedback…

In the end I’ll leave you with this quote/drawing….

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Appreciating the Value of Friends and Loved Ones…

Afif Tabsh15 Comments

Throughout yesterday and the past few days I realized how essential it is to have a small group of close people you call family, friends and loved ones.

On days when you feel you’re on top of the world and others when you’re hitting rock bottom…without those handful of people who give you their care, attention, and love…it wont really be worth. Even though the numerous people you call friends, coworkers, colleagues …support you and stay posted with you…sometimes this is not enough.

During my birthday yesterday I realized how attached I am to those handful, how grateful I am to have them and how sad I feel when we don’t stay in touch as often as we wish…

I truly appreciate all my friends, coworkers, colleagues, loved ones and all those I meet day in and day out…without those life wont be the same. It’s true what they say that humans are social creatures, and as the old Arabic proverb says “A heaven with no people is not worth being in” … and in this context it doesn’t mean no people at all, but rather no people to spend your time with, care about and that care about you in return.

On a final note, as the days go by I am getting to appreciate all the good people I know, all the support I’m getting and all the support I’m being able to give….

With much love and appreciation.

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