Pen & Paper

  Sometimes the hardest battle is not the work itself  but seeing your effort go unnoticed, and still choosing to keep going. When Inequality Follows You Everywhere: School, Family, Work “The hardest part isn’t just the struggle it’s the way unfairness keeps meeting you wherever you go.” Sometimes it feels like no matter how much you try, inequality is everywhere. At school, someone gets better grades just because the teacher likes them more. At home, one sibling is trusted or loved more, while your efforts are quietly ignored. At work, someone does half the work but still gets the same pay or even more respect. It hurts deeply. And yes — sometimes, it breaks your heart. Why does this happen everywhere? Often it’s because: People choose to see what they want to see, instead of what’s real. Some people stay close to power — to teachers, parents, bosses — and get special treatment. Many systems reward silence, comfort, or just “looking” busy, rather than real ho...

   The Loneliness Epidemic: Why We’re More Connected but Feel More Alone We scroll to feel connected, yet the more we scroll, the lonelier we become. True connection isn’t measured by likes or follows, but by moments shared beyond the screen. 🤳 More Connected Than Ever? We live in an age of instant messages, video calls, and global social networks. In theory, we’re the most connected generation in history. Yet surveys across continents—from the U.S. to Japan, the UK to Pakistan—show alarming rises in loneliness, anxiety, and depression. This paradox raises an unsettling question: How can billions of people be “online” together, yet feel so profoundly alone? 🏢 The Modern Work Culture Trap The modern work culture praises hustle, flexibility, and independence. But these ideals often isolate us: remote jobs blur the line between work and personal life, while long hours leave little energy for real social connection. In many cities, co-working spaces have replaced traditiona...

  Unfinished Wishes: The Silent Pages We Carry Into Adulthood Late at night, when everything is quiet, the memories return. The wishes I once scribbled into a childhood diary — half-finished, half-forgotten, but never fully erased. “I wish mama would smile at me…” “Maybe if I…” “One day, I will be…” These sentences trailed off, as if I couldn’t even let myself dream too loudly. Even as a child, I felt it was safer to keep my deepest desires unfinished. Why some wishes stayed unwritten Growing up, my world felt fragile. Love, if it existed, felt conditional. Every word I spoke was weighed in my mind before it ever left my mouth. So instead, I whispered to the pages — pages that never judged, never interrupted. But even then, fear found me. What if someone read them? What if I hoped for too much and lost again? It felt easier to leave those wishes unfinished than to face the heartbreak of knowing they might never come true. The quiet pain of unloved desires As an adult, those unfinis...

The Day I Truly Understood ‘Tawakkul’ By: Pen and Paper There are days in our lives that pass quietly, almost forgotten. But then, there are days that change something deep within us  not outwardly, not dramatically , but softly, like light entering a closed room. The day I truly understood Tawakkul was one such day. T he Breaking Point It was a season of uncertainty. Everything I was trying for  a job, a relationship, a goal  felt like sand slipping through my fingers. I had done my best. I had planned, prayed, pushed, and persisted. But nothing was moving. I felt stuck. Lost. I remember sitting in sujood one evening, silently crying. Not asking for anything new. Just saying: “Ya Allah, I’ve tried everything. If it’s not meant to be, take it from my heart.” That moment  that surrender  was the beginning of Tawakkul foutcfait   What Is Tawakkul, Really? We often hear that Tawakkul means “trusting Allah.” But it’s more than that. It’s: Doing yo...

What I’d Tell Someone Who Thinks They're “Not Enough” If I were sitting across from someone who quietly whispered, “I don’t feel like I’m enough,” I wouldn’t rush to correct them. I’d sit with that silence first. Because behind those words are stories, scars, and a heart that’s been trying—really trying. I’d look them in the eye and say gently, “I know that feeling. And I know it lies.” 1. You Were Never Meant to Be Perfect Somewhere along the way, we started believing that “enough” meant flawless. That to be worthy, we have to tick all the boxes, meet all expectations, look a certain way, achieve everything without failure, and be strong all the time. But here’s the truth: You were never meant to be perfect. You were meant to be real. And being real means having bad days, making mistakes, not always knowing the answers, and sometimes feeling like you’re falling apart. These things don’t make you “less.” They make you human. 2. You’re Not Meant to Be Everyone’s Everything Y...

From Shadows to Shine: My Journey from  Self-Doubt to Self-Belief We all have chapters in our lives that remain unread by others  silent battles, whispered fears, and the weight of doubt that no one else sees. For me, self-doubt was a familiar companion for years. It clung quietly to my thoughts, whispered in moments of decision, and made me question my worth, abilities, and dreams. But this is not a story of despair  it’s one of transformation, hope, and discovering the light within.  The Beginning: Living in the Shadows I used to think I wasn’t “good enough.” Not smart enough, not talented enough, not brave enough. Every time I faced a new opportunity, a small voice inside whispered, “You can’t do this.” That voice grew louder with each rejection, each failure, and each comparison to others. I watched people chase their goals while I stood frozen in fear — afraid to try, afraid to fail, afraid to be seen.  The Turning Point: Hitting Emotional Rock Bottom ...

"Recite, Reflect, Remember: The Dua of Ashura on 10th Muharram" The 10th of Muharram , known as Ashura , holds deep spiritual significance in Islam. It is a day of remembrance, sacrifice, and reflection — marked by the ultimate stand for truth in the Battle of Karbala , where Imam Hussain ibn Ali (A.S.) , the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his loyal companions were martyred. But Ashura is not only a day of mourning — it is also a day of spiritual opportunity . Among the recommended acts on this sacred day is the recitation of a powerful supplication known as the Dua of Ashura , attributed to Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (A.S.) , the son of Imam Hussainsincerity What is the Dua of Ashura? The Dua of Ashura is a special Islamic supplication (dua) recited on the 9th or 10th of Muharram , particularly during daylight hours , between sunrise and sunset . According to traditions, Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (A.S.) narrated: “Whoever recites or listens to this dua on t...