Today as soon as I woke up, I felt the need to write, but about what? I didn’t know. I went online to find different topics I could write about, as I was scrolling down to the different ideas people suggested, I came across “Write what’s on your mind”. After staring at the screen for God knows how long, I have concluded exactly what has been on my minds for not days, but months!

Living in London has changed my life in every way a person’s life can be changed.

After only a year here, I am closer to the person I’ve always wanted to become. I have changed my old ways and have adapted new ones. I no longer listen to music, and I have adapted a new habit of learning new things to broaden my knowledge of the religion I believe in.

Yes, you read it correctly… I no longer listen to music lol. I’m not saying I mute the TV when a song comes on, I mean I don’t intentionally listen to music anymore. I haven’t had a song in my phone for months now. I know for some of you thats just weird, but to be honest after doing so, I now am so much calmer, so much happier then I was when I knew every song that was released. If you ask me now to listen to any song, I’m 100% sure I wouldn’t enjoy it.

A person’s life can not change just because they’ve stopped doing something negative, a persons life changes once they’ve adapted something positive in their life instead. Though I stopped listening to music, I started listening to Islamic lectures, and the more I listened, the more I felt peace and happiness within me. I listened to stories of the prophets, from that I learnt how to treat others and to never give up on what it right. I learnt how important it is to love and respect people around me, starting with my family. I learnt how blessed I am, though I live a simple life I feel as though I am the happiest person in the world.

<3 <3 <3

*Insert ONLY TWO pictures highlighting your first year in London below*

Travelled to Barcelona with my best friend (Mina Al-Hawayi) and what an incredible holiday it was! This picture was taken in Camp Nou just a day before the El Clasico! We were very proud of our shirts as you can see lol. (A little tip for anyone who's planning to travel with a friend, if he/she is studying architecture don't be surprised if they drag you to every single "awesome" building in the city. It may seem like an ordinary building to you but take my advice and just keep your opinion to yourself and just smile and act impressed! (love you mina hahahaha)