Pinky

Trivia: 

Flashback

The Year of Pink (Before Pink Was Cool)

Back in 2003, pink wasn’t the it color for teenagers—at least not where I grew up in the north. Even for babies, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Unlike today, finding anything cute and fancy in pink was like searching for a needle in a haystack. 

My parents went above and beyond to fuel my pink obsession. We combed through big malls from Kedah to Perlis just to find pink sports shoes and school bags. In the end, I scored three different pink school bags and obviously, I was beyond grateful!

And that year, I was in Form 4 and had just transferred to a standard co-ed high school from an all-girls’ school. 

Fun fact: I ended up hopping between three different schools throughout my high school years.

My reason for switching schools? I wanted to feel like a "normal" student for once. Since Standard 5, I’d been donning different colored uniforms for roles like school librarian, prefect or whatever position I held each year until Form 3. Then, I’d had enough. I wanted those last two years of high school to just be. No different colored uniforms. No extra responsibilities. Just me in a regular school uniform blending into the crowd. Well, trying to blend in, anyway. Hence at my final stop, I had one goal—to keep a low profile and enjoy being a “normal” student.

Here’s the twist: I was absolutely obsessed with pink. And when I say obsessed, I mean everything I owned was pink—stationery, sports shoes, school bag, you name it. I was a walking, talking pink explosion, head to toe.

And that's pretty much how Yat started to call me Pinky. To her—and probably everyone else—I must’ve seemed so bold for rocking pink in school. Me? I didn’t think much of it. I was just living my pink dream, blissfully unaware that it was turning heads. Typical me, being a little naïve but totally owning my vibe. 

Looking back, it’s funny to realize how that simple color made such a statement without me even trying—something I only just found out during my recent staycation with Yat. Cause it never crossed my mind that having all-pink stuff in high school back then might seem a little out of the ordinary.

And thankfully, such attention didn’t translate into making me a school prefect again! At least, I achieved my goal, though staying low-key might have been a stretch. 😁

When Pink Took a Backseat in My Wardrobe

By the end of my Degree years, I started phasing out my pink collection and exploring other colors. I shifted towards mustard and gold accessories, color-blocking styles, navy blue, army green and eventually earthy tones. Little did I realize, my wardrobe no longer had a single pink outfit. Not one. 

No kidding!

It only hit me when the girls started planning our staycation last year and suggested matching outfits in pink. I actually had to go out and buy something pink just for that reason! They couldn’t believe I didn’t already have at least one pink item in my closet. 

Well, I guess it’s just part of adulting.

As a mother of two daughters, I thought I’d pass on my pink obsession to them, but surprise, surprise, they’re not that into it. In fact, they don't have a strong attachment to any one color (yet). 

I showed a picture of my old bedroom at my parents' house and their immediate reaction was, "Wow, your room is so pink!" 😅

17-18 Dec 2023
When your kids meet the crew; Aya & Trah 😄

7-8 Dec 2024 
Girls' Staycation in Malacca
(Just Yat and I)

 

Even with only a sprinkle of pink in my life, my BFFs still stick to calling me Pinky— and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 😁

Taufan Al-Aqsa

My last post on Palestine was in 2012. An attack of air strike and ground operation for eight days which had killed 87 civilians including 35 children and 14 women. That wasn't the first or starting point to this whole barbaric massacre in the name of conflict. The oppression and occupation has started long time ago and still ongoing to this very day.

But nothing feels the same after last Oct 7th. 68 days. The death toll keep rising. The city has been razed to the ground. From the north to the south, there is literally no safe place to go. 

How could you call it a conflict when it is clearly and demonstrably an act of genocide that have been committed for over 75 years long now?

How much longer Palestinians need to endure this continuous assault?

How many Palestinians need to be killed to stop this ethnic cleansing?

How many tons of bombs need to be dropped in Palestine before the US agree for a ceasefire?

How many war crimes Zionist need to commit before they'll be dragged to the international criminal law?

I feel sick to my stomach to read and watch the updates everyday.

I can't believe that I'm living in today's world just to witness this unjust and inhumane catastrophe which caused mass casualties and the criminal is still living free with no consequences. 

Apparently, when it comes to Palestine all these resolutions of United Nations to protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, uphold international law and maintain international peace and security ain't applicable. Hence, the US alone could block almost all other UN Security Council members and dozens of other nations' demand for an immediate humanitarian Gaza ceasefire.

The hypocrisy is plainly unveil. 💀

Look at the data and tell me how could a normal person think this is a war when they are deliberately targeting civilians, NGOs, journalists and medical stuffs? This is by far the worst war crimes ever committed by a country and get full support from the US and UK. SHAMEFUL! We will never forget. They have blood on their hands!

Zionist is not just attacking and killing Palestinians but also cut off electricity, water and food supply - the basic human necessities! Gazans are dying from hunger and cold right now and we are part of this history to allow such evil and monstrous torture to happen in this modern world, a dystopian world indeed. 

"O Allah, aid our vulnerable brothers and sisters in Palestine and in all places. O Most Merciful of the Merciful, take them by their hand, protect them, be gentle with them and give them victory over disbelieving people, O Lord of Majesty and Bounty."

"From the river to the see, Palestine will be free"

Qalb

Watched Buya Hamka Vol 1 on 24th Aug. There is this one line - one of his infamous words of wisdom just hit me hard; 

“Salah satu pengkerdilan terkejam dalam hidup adalah membiarkan pikiran yang cemerlang menjadi budak bagi tubuh yang malas, yang mendahulukan istirahat sebelum lelah.”

It made me started to reflect upon my life again. Though it has become almost like a routine whenever I’m in my seclusion moment yet everything seems too blurry for me. I often questioned my purpose in this dunya. Is this all I could do? Is this all I meant to be? Am I too laid back? Do I really enjoy to be in this comfort zone? Not that I haven’t tried doing things differently. Not that I stop believing. But why does it seems I’m already at a dead end when I know I have so much to offer. 

Hence, Buya Hamka’s words shook me to the core. Question that stuck in my head; “Am I THAT person who he meant with didn’t cultivate and practice the knowledge that I have?”

Crestfallen.

Sometimes I do feel like giving up. I do feel like “ok whatever” and just wanted to go with the flow. But that is just not me. I keep telling myself, for whatever future holds for me, the only thing I shouldn’t stop doing is - to do my best whilst putting my whole faith in His plan for me.

Today, Eris Raissa came back from school with a prize that she won in one of competitions held in her school. But that’s not the point. I was so moved when she said, “This is for you Mommy” while she rubbing my back when I’m struggling to talk due to Laryngitis as a sign she knows what I’m trying to say - that I’m proud of her. Ahhh~ she’s so sweet like a little angel who knows what to say and do right thing at the right time. 

She also told me during her Agama class, Ustazah asked if there’s any student memorised surah An-Naas. And so, she with other one boy went to the front class to recite it. At this point, I’m beyond proud. It’s like Allah is on my side telling me I’m just doing good - that I should just continue doing the best I could.

We didn’t send our kids to KAFA. There are few factors that led to that decision and consequently, I begin teach them by myself.

At first I wasn’t too confident but teaching them one-on-one ensured me that this would be the best way as they will get full attention and I could track myself their progress and correct their lacks. It goes same with prayer where I demonstrate and show the steps so we could practice and pray together. Alhamdulillah, both of them; Eris and Elysia did so well for their age.

Having said that, being able to teach them by myself is indeed the moment that I treasure the most. And apart of that, I still have number of boxes yet to be checked in my own KPI list.

Now with these two delighted events in the latter would be sufficient for me to keep going. In shaa Allah, amin yra. 🤍