There are many reasons I like blogging, the joys including, but not limited to ability of creative expression, learning, growth, research that goes behind the writeups, “big reveals” that sometimes make me turn on my proverbial heal 180 degrees, standing exactly opposite to the point of view that I was favoring to pen down. Then there is this amazing benefit of connecting with my readers, learning from the audience who always gives me interesting ideas to write. And additionally, like any other thing, you find more benefits of blogging as you blog more. Which brings me to the cream of the bonuses of blogging, which is connecting with other writers, making beautiful friends, finding a camaraderie, and getting help in making the difference I am wanting to through this blog. As I work towards getting the blog up and running with Sofia and Nadia on board, I now have another amazing news that is making me super excited! So here it is, another celebratory post in which I introduce to you all to two more awesome ladies who have agreed to collaborate with me Life and Other Thoughts ~ Hunniya and Raheela.
I have known Hunniya for as long as I have been married which is 26 years ago and yes you guessed right, that is when we became relatives. Since we live oceans apart, I have had the pleasure of meeting her only once few years ago when she travelled from England to the US at a family wedding. She had come across as an intelligent and humble person, someone who is bold and believes in embracing change. I love people who love to grow themselves as well as uplift others in their journey by being an inspiration. And that is what she is! And of course we are fb friends. Her fun posts always bring energy and inspiration. To be precise, this is the post that started all this:
After I wrote the comment “Join a book club”, came the light bulb moment! I went ahead and sent her a note on messenger asking her if she would consider writing for the blog and share her life, ideas from across the pond and she replied yes without hesitation! And here we are and here is a little bit about her:
My name is Dr Hunniya Waseem and I am an Emergency Medicine Consultant in the United Kingdom. I am a single mum of 2, one son and one black cat called Ivy. I was born in a military family in Pakistan so my whole childhood was spend moving around the country – thus ‘ HOME ‘ was everywhere and also nowhere. And the quest for belonging continues to this day. After completing my medical school in Pakistan – my wandering feet led me to lots of different places and experiences. I finally decided to choose Emergency Medicine because it would suit the nomadic lifestyle plus give me much needed adrenaline. I married pretty late for Pakistani standards and sadly it was short lived . However I harbour no regrets because my marriage gave me the gift of motherhood and I won’t change that for the world. I have always wanted to write and there are a few half baked books which have taken permanent residence in my brain. That’s why I am so grateful to Riffat for inviting me to write for her blog – at least I may be able get a few of my ideas on paper. My current obsessions include : Minimalism , Frugality , FIRE , decluttering , life hacks and lifestyle modifications- so be prepared : I will be writing lots about these and may end up getting on nerves . Though I promise you I am not a boring goody two shoes at all. My other interests when not saving lives and trying to keep afloat my own are yoga, meditation, listening to podcasts and reading
Raheela was introduced to me by my dear friend, Shireen. The first time I met Raheela was when I misread my calendar and arrived at her home with my son (we wanted to consult Raheela for SAT prep and college admission) early Saturday morning (the actual appointment was on Sunday at a later hour!) and my doorbell literally woke her up after she had a very busy night at her school event. Of course, it was very awkward for me, but her smile, patience and hospitality put me at ease. Without any hesitation, she gave us our time and advice. I instantly liked the person who could smile and still dispense information selflessly after a tiring night, with unexpected company appearing on her door. I have met her on different occasions since then and we always have a good time and great discussions whenever we meet. I am so excited that she will be writing for the blog and bringing her unique perspective to the readers. Here is a little bit about her:
Hi, my name is Raheela Shaikh! Born in California, I’ve lived in the US most of my life and spent 7 years in Dubai as a curriculum coordinator at an American school. As a single mom to a beautiful teenager, I’ve taken my experiences as both a high school administrator and a mother to share insights on teen mental health, drug usage, and cyber safety. I enjoy reading classic literature, learning new trends in education, and exploring topics that deal with raising teens with social-emotional awareness. Currently, I work as a Product Manager at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where I’ve aligned curricula with state standards and developed both synchronous and asynchronous curriculums. I hold an Executive MBA, a Master’s in Education, and a Bachelor’s in English. Writing has always been my passion. I have to my credit poems, short stories, initiation of a novel and a blog I ran in my twenties. Currently, I maintain a blog about education and college acceptance for my educational consulting company. When Riffat invited me to join her blog, I was thrilled. Writing about shared passions like family, parenting, and chai was something I missed. I’m excited to rekindle the joy of writing in my life.
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As I am writing this introduction for the new members, all our team is putting together ideas for our upcoming posts with the same goal in all our minds: to bring you stories that resonate with you, are inspiring to you and last but not least, spark joy in your day! So here is to more tea, books, life and other thoughts!
[…] on our blog, Hunniya from UK and Raheela who is local. If you have not already read the post, here is the link! We are all bunch of busy women but we love writing and always take some time out to […]