she who is brave, is free.

Marguerite Duras, from The Lover

my silence resonated in such a way

goyā har samt se javāb aa.e

that i got answers from all directions

wo jaa raha hai koi shab e gham guzaar k.

Raat yun dil mein teri, khoyi hui yaad aayi

Jaise viraane mein chupke se bahaar aa jaye

Jaise sahraon mein haule se chale baad-ae-naseem

Jaise bimaar ko be-wajaah quraar aa jaaye

Last night your faded memory came to me

As in the wilderness spring comes quietly,

As, slowly, in the desert, moves the breeze,

As, to a sick man, without cause, comes peace.

ضرورت کے مطابق ہم سہارے بانٹ لیتے ییں

Now let's do it like this, we share the stars. Share the comfort according to need.

محبت کرنے والوں کی تجارت بھی انوکھی ہے

منافع چھوڑ دیتے ہیں خسارے بانٹ لیتے ہیں

Lovers have unique way of trading. They leave the profit and share the loss.

اگر ملنا نہیں ممکن تو لہروں پر قدم رکھ کر

ابھی دریائے الفت کے کنارے بانٹ لیتے ہیں

If it's impossible for waves to meet then let's step on them. Share the banks of sea of love right now.

میری جھولی میں جتنے بھی وفا کے پھول ہیں ان کو

اکٹھے بیٹھ کر سارے کے سارے بانٹ لیتے ہیں

All the flowers of love in my satchel. Let's sit together and share them all.

محبت کے علاوہ پاس اپنے کچھ نہیں ہے فیض

اسی دولت کو ہم قسمت کے مارے بانٹ لیتے ہیں

I have nothing in my possession except love, Faiz. Here let's, we ill-fated, share this only treasure.

لعل البلاء الذي لا تُحبُّه، يقودك إلى قدرِِ جميلِِ لم تكُن تحلُم به

having enough sleep and a fixed sleeping and waking time ( at least on the weekdays)

starting my day with gratitude (things to be grateful for: being alive, having a body, a mind, a soul, health, family, friends, food and water, safety, a roof over your head, your education, your job, your free time... seriously there is so much to be grateful for) and praying for my family’s wellbeing

any type of movement - it can be as light or as intense as you’d like it to be: stretch in bed, hop on your yoga mat, go for a walk, go to the gym...

showering = instant rebirth

diligently doing your skincare routine

nourishing your body. no counting calories/ no restricting. feeding your body all the nutrients it needs to function

making a to-do list in the morning

journaling at night

reading before bed

doing a monthly habit tracker

having enough time to get ready in the morning and not rushing

checking in with your loved ones weekly

listening to podcasts - especially motivational and uplifting ones

learning something new everyday - never underestimate the power of those 4- 8 minutes educational videos on youtube

doing yoga

Riding the One-Eyed Ford, ‘Booze ‘N’ Loozing Blues,’ Diane Burns