When I first entered the world of blogging; I was not expecting this success and popularity, I was not even expecting that I will be so attached and addicted to this amazing expressive method; yet; here we are; almost a year later and I am still connecting everyone through this blog that has become a part of me as much as I am a part of it.

I have been away from blogging for a couple of weeks now and of course there is a good reason for that.

There comes a time in one’s life where he/she thinks and believes it is time to take a new step towards a new milestone in his/her life. Many reasons and events lead and prepare us for such a move and all of a sudden; you are faced with a decision to make and if you even hesitate for a bit; it will be made for you and sometimes not nicely.

So it is time to announce that I have moved on and I am no longer working with Jeeran. I have known Omar Koudsi; the co-founder of Jeeran for some years now and I think I can safely say that he is a friend of mine, but sometimes it is best not to mix friendship with business and it was not too late to separate. Omar was and will always be a good friend of mine and I wish him and Jeeran all the best; I would love to see this company grow because it has a very good concept and prospect; so best of luck guys.

Since this step was taken; I decided that I want to move my blog as well because I like to be independent and to be perceived as such. I also don’t want my own opinions and convictions no matter what they are to be associated with Jeeran or any other party as this might not be fair to them or to me. So, you are all welcome to visit my new blog here and if you have previously linked to my blog or any of my posts; I kindly ask you to modify your link as this post is my last one on this location and my official blog is http://www.anolitasmind.com

To comment on this post; please click here

See you in my new location; you are all welcome to drop by!

The last time we had a meet-up, it was in May and it was a small meeting if I recall well. In June and July; we got caught up with the World Cup and the days flew by without us noticing that. Right after the WC, we have been watching, observing and experiencing the war on Lebanon and Palestine and it just seemed every one was caught up in something and we just could not make it.

Last week; I had a discussion about this with my dear friend Roba and we suggested today for the August JP meet-up and so it was.

We met at the Paris Library again because we liked it in April. This was a big meeting and we met some new bloggers; this was their first meet-up like Moey, Samer, Adel , Ziyad and Rana.

We discussed lots of things and we tried to make it light to take our minds off of the current situation even if for a couple of hours, but in the middle of the meeting; a small political debate broke among me, Dar, Adel, Roba, 7ala and Moey and later on Ahmad joined at the end of it but by then, the conversation had shifted to something else but also somewhat related; it ended smoothly exactly as it started although I was accused of not listening although I really was !!

A very interesting chat started among us and it was about all our childhood cartoon shows and we even sang some of their start songs; it really felt like we were that young and that innocent again.

Samer was sitting across from me and I kept teasing him and he kept laughing and smiling; such a lighthearted fellow and I would like to thank him for his good sports.

This was one of the longest meetings I have attended and many people showed up; I was particularly glad that Wael came to this meeting as this was the first time he comes to a meeting I attended. Also; there was Ahmad and Zeid who added a special flavor to the whole thing; thank you for showing up guys; it really has been long.

I will leave you with some of the pictures I took and as you can see; everyone is blending and having fun.

Moey, Ibrahim, Jad & Salam


Abeer, Roba, Wael & Ziyad


Alaa & Samer


Isam & me (Thank you Samer for taking this photo)

We keep hearing companies repeating that one of their strengths is that they listen to their clients, but do they really hear what they are telling them? Do they care that sometimes what the client wants to buy is not exactly what they want to sell?

In all the management books I read; it is mentioned that to be a good leader you have to listen with empathy. I remember that during one of the courses that I have taken a couple of years ago, the instructor was this elderly guru who has developed many companies and helped others make it; he told us that God has given us two ears and one mouth because it is wiser to listen more than we talk; that’s called wisdom.

In sales courses I have learned that selling is not about talking and good salespeople are not those who talk a lot; great salespeople are those who listen to their clients and eventually give them what they need.

It is unfortunate that when people are listening to you, they are actually not listening to understand; they are listening to respond and that means they are thinking of their next response and not comprehending what you are saying; that’s why we get engaged in conversations that are unsatisfying and more often than not, they end with no result at all.

Have you ever thought about this? Could it be that people fail in negotiations because they fail to listen? Could it be that we keep losing clients because we don’t really listen to their needs? Are we obsessed with what we sell that we completely ignore what people are actually looking to buy?

These are all valid scenarios and maybe we are subconsciously screwing up our opportunities because we suck at this simple skill; listening. We believe that our way is ultimately the right way and no matter how others try to describe their way of thinking, they will never e able to convince us, because like us, they don’t listen.

Companies wonder why they are losing clients, managers are always shocked that they are losing employees because they think that they are the best managers and they give their employees everything they ask for, but do they really? How could that be the case if they are not even prepared to listen to their internal customers? When will they see that it is not “my way or the high way” any more; talents are very hard to find and it is even harder to retain them especially with the severe brain drain that our country is suffering from.

Why don’t we at least try to understand the other point of view? Why should there be a dominant opinion over others? Who said everyone must see the world from the same angle? When will we start listening to what others are trying to say?

If we think deeper, we will find that when spouses have problems, it is because they don’t listen to each other, and it is like a conflict where there should be a winner and a loser; if you ever read John Gray’s “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” you would understand what I a talking about here. Same applies between parents and children, professors (teachers) and students, managers and employees, leaders and followers, even between friends. The everlasting struggles that keep us thinking without any result, it causes fights and hot debates, when will people understand that it does not necessarily mean that I am against you if I don’t agree with what you believe in? could this happen one day???

We have a family relative that was diagnosed with breast cancer over nine years ago. At the time; she was told by doctors that she will not last six months but her desire to live and raise her young children was way stronger than cancer cells.

She went through all available treatments to lengthen her stay with her kids and she had undergone different surgeries, sacrificing many things for the greater cause that kept haunting her ideas; all she thought about was her youngest daughter that was less than one year old.

She kept fighting and struggling, but the cancer cells kept coming back in different forms and hitting new organs of her fragile body; yet she never lost hope, faith or determination to keep on living.

She was told that her cancer cells were one of the worst kinds out there and they will keep coming back. Her trips back and forth to the hospital have become so common to her and her kids who accompanied her and made sure they understood every word told to them by doctors; they wanted to be there for their mother as she is struggling to be there for them.

In the midst of all this turmoil, she loses her husband and she is left alone to struggle through life and sickness. The responsibility of kids’ welfare has doubled overnight and she is now terrified to die because then her kids would have no one in this world and she just could not let that happen.

She kept her brave fight and overcame cancer at one point only to be beaten by it at another; it won’t leave her alone and it kept coming back in different forms till it took over and there was no more energy to fight it or overcome it.

Nine years after the first diagnosis; she was finally sent home to spend her last days with her kids. She can no longer move or take care of herself; her legs are already dead, her arms are following and she cannot swallow. Her daughters move her and change her position in bed; they clean and apply medication on her burned skin and the only thing they hear coming from her mouth are her prayers to Allah to take her to him.

Tonight; I saw her daughter and she was in tears telling us how she and her brothers and sisters are watching their mother die every day. She faints for several hours and comes back thinking that she just blinked and they no longer can give her medication because she is unable to swallow and doctors tell her that food goes to the cancer cells and does not benefit her in any way.

The reason I am posting about this is to ask you to pray for her and ask Allah to bless her with his mercy and forgiveness. May Allah have mercy on all of us; it is true that you don’t know the value of health until you have lost it.  

It has been a very long time since I posted anything on my blog and I really miss my readers and fellow bloggers. I miss the action that some topics trigger among us, I miss debates and most of all; I miss writing.

Coming back to my blog bit by bit; I decided to give it a makeover and I felt like blue! You see; there is a special bond between yours truly and the blue color with its different shades; I just love it and connect with it on a psychological level, hence; my Mind has just turned blue!

Back to this post and why I felt the urge to write after all this time; there is a phenomenon that really annoys me and I really want to rant some about it and maybe you can help me understand and cope with it.

We all take walks in Amman's streets; we go into supermarkets, malls, bookshops, restaurants, stores … etc. Sometimes we take walks downtown where streets are full of people coming and going and you cannot help bumping into them as you go by. These are all normal things but what is it with people who ogle you and give you the look as if they are weighing you from head to toe and sometimes the other way? What is that look exactly?

Sometimes you cannot enjoy a meal at a restaurant because people stare at your direction and try to figure out what you have ordered. Other times you are walking down the street to notice that the person walking in your direction is staring at your shoes or clothes and then makes eye contact with you before he/she moves along or breaks the stare. What is that?

Some people change their face expressions to make sure that the message got through to you; they did not like you or how you look or what you are wearing and they want to make sure that you know it. They will only break the stare when they make eye contact with you and twist their mouths to convey to you: dude; I hate you, I hate the way you look, the way you walk, your clothes, your color, your features; I hate you!

I have to wonder; don't these people know that it is rude to stare? Didn't their mothers teach them not to do that because people don’t appreciate being ogled? When will they learn that it is a bad manner to gaze at someone with no reason?

The other day; I was going home with my dad after I went to see my doctor; I was feeling weak and very sick; it was only one week after my surgery and my wound was not healing; it got infected and I had to pass by the pharmacy to get the antibiotics the doctor prescribed. I went in and there were two pharmacists at the counter; they were busy with clients so I waited and did not give them my prescription.

The pharmacist closer to me noticed that I was not in my best state and told me to have a seat and relax while he fills the prescription and took it from me. I appreciated this kind gesture and was happy to take the seat but the guy who was being served at the time did not like it; he gave me "the look"! he stared at me and gave me the head to toe evaluation gaze; I tried to ignore it but he kept standing there and staring at me till he made eye contact with me; he twisted his mouth and shook his head as if to say that I did not deserve the good treatment that I got from the pharmacist, then he took the medication and went out without even saying: thank you!

What is that?

What is it that makes people who do not know you judge you and condemn you at the same time by giving you "the look"? Is it arrogance? Being judgmental? Feeling superior? Or feeling less?

I am one of those people who feel it when they are being watched or stared at, so you can imagine the dismay and discomfort I feel when it happens. Sometimes I stare back till they break the stare but I can't do that all the time as I don’t want to start an eye fight out of nothing; they hate me already!

I just want to say that if you ever catch yourself staring at someone for any reason, remember that they might not like it especially if they are not from those who crave attention. On the other hand; if you are being stared at, do your best to ignore it because it will not make any difference in your life or the current situation if you did not, and remember that it is their problem if they are staring at you and you don’t have to do anything about it!

Breaking habits is one of the most difficult things in life; it takes a lot of effort, energy, time and determination to break a habit you have. Habits become a second nature to us when we do them all the time and when one breaks them, there are withdrawal issues to deal with.

Sometimes; we are forced into adopting new habits and by default the old ones get out of the way given some time to pass. Other times; we are forced to stop doing something we are used to do because of circumstances and events of life. What is really interesting though; is the fact that when these circumstances are passed and over and you want to get back to your old routine, it is as difficult to get into a habit as it is to break one.

I haven't been functional in the blogosphere for the past couple of weeks because of my surgery. It is really funny how the human body is weak enough to make everything ache when one organ is hurt or wounded; as if this organ is getting all the support from other body parts to help it cope with the pain and heal faster. This is exactly what was happening to me the past couple of weeks; it seemed as if everything was put on hold till my wound is healed and here I am; although I am not 100% functional yet but I am at work and doing my best to get back into my real life one more time and I am telling you; this is not easy!

I thought I should start by writing a post on my blog to get things going again and maybe induce some refreshment in my daily routine. Needless to say; I would like to thank everyone that contacted me during my illness and wished me good health; thank you everyone!

I am almost back!

I have been away from the blogosphere and my favorite hobby of blogging for a whole week. The reason is that I have undergone a surgery on Saturday and I am home now; recovering!

Did I ever mention to you that I really do not like hospitals? I don’t like their smell, the staffs, the procedures, the medications, the needles … etc. But again; who does? But what I really don’t like the most is the obnoxious staffs and their mediocre or even below mediocre service, but I survived!

I will be back to my blog and readers soon; I just need some time to come back to life again. Right now; I am literally living on pain killers and sleeping most of the time, so ladies and gentlemen ... my friends; hang on and wait for more posts about this experience; I just felt like I needed to communicate with all of you because I really miss you!!

It seems to me that they hibernate right under your nose and at the first sign of warmth and heat, they go into feeding frenzy mode and they are all over you. No matter what you use from insecticides; they still find a way around it and get to your blood.

As mush as I hate these tiny pests; I am fascinated by their construction and persistence. As light and insignificant they are; they are more complicated than you think; just some of the strange facts about them; get this: mosquitoes are responsible for the most human deaths world-wide!

They prefer children to adults and blondes to brunettes; so the argument I used to get from my sisters was a valid one. You see, they have skin color that is way lighter than mine and you can say they tend to be blonde while I am a brunette, so it makes sense now.

Mosquitoes can detect a moving target that is 15 ft away! Can you imagine that? So if I was in a room and the mosquito was in the next room, it will detect my movement and come for my blood; talk about scary!

The average life span of the mosquito is 3 – 100 days and she is the blood sucker; on the other hand; her male peer has a life span of 10 – 20 days and does not suck blood; interesting, ha?

A mosquito can smell its live host (that is basically us humans or any live animals) from a distance of 20 – 35 m! Boy! We really don’t stand a chance with them.

Mosquitoes don't see very well, but they zoom in like a heat-seeking missile. In the spherical arrangement of their compound eyes, blind spots separate each eye from the next one. As a result, they can't see you until they are 30 feet (10 meters) away. Even then, they have trouble distinguishing you from any object of similar size and shape: tree stump, 55-gallon drum, etc. When they are 10 feet (3 meters) away they use extremely sensitive thermal receptors on the tip of their antennae to locate blood near the surface of the skin. The range of these receptors increases threefold when the humidity is high.

The most fascinating fact I learned about these creatures is that although they are into blood sucking; they do not transfer AIDS from someone infected to someone who is not. Studies with HIV clearly show that the virus responsible for the AIDS infection is regarded as food to the mosquito and is digested along with the blood meal.

Mosquitoes Do Not Ingest Enough HIV Particles to Transmit AIDS by Contamination.
An AIDS-free individual would have to be bitten by 10 million mosquitoes that had begun feeding on an AIDS carrier to receive a single unit of HIV from contaminated mosquito mouth parts. Most people have heard that mosquitoes regurgitate saliva before they feed, but are unaware that the food canal and salivary canal are separate passageways in the mosquito. The mosquito's feeding apparatus is an extremely complicated structure that is totally unlike the crude single-bore syringe. Unlike a syringe, the mosquito delivers salivary fluid through one passage and draws blood up another. As a result, the food canal is not flushed out like a used needle, and blood flow is always unidirectional. The mechanics involved in mosquito feeding are totally unlike the mechanisms employed by the drug user's needles. In short, mosquitoes are not flying hypodermic needles and a mosquito that disgorges saliva into your body is not flushing out the remnants of its last blood meal.

Ok! It is cool to learn more facts about these creatures that disrupt your sleep almost every night in the summer. They suck your blood and feed on it leaving you with a mark that can easily turn into a scar if you mess with it. To me; I would rather that the mosquito sucks my blood and leave me alone to go back to sleep than roam around my ear with this annoying wizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sound; what is it with mosquitoes and ears? Isn't it enough that they are feeding on us that they have to always rub it in? why do we have to be awake for them to get the job done? Damn! I really hate mosquitoes!!!

To read more about them; please click here and here

My least favorite season of the year is here and I am sweating already. I have always been a winter person; I love the rain and the cold weather. I have always said to myself that if you ever get cold, you can put on some warm clothes, you can sit near the heating source or you can tuck yourself under covers, but what can you do when you get hot? You cannot remove your own skin, now can you?

If my memory serves me; the weather was not always this hot! The summer was somewhat tolerable, but now it seems that noon is the minute we open our eyes in the morning and I am always inclined to say that I go out of the house at 7:30 noon time and not morning time because this is how it feels.

The moment I enter my car in the morning; it is boiling inside and I really need a few minutes to get used to the heated seat and steering wheel; sometimes I cannot even touch it because it is too hot. Thank God I have a conditioned car.

When I was a little girl; my dad used to take us to picnics in the summer. We used to choose spots under trees and spend the day playing games, singing and of course BBQ'ing. Sometimes we went to the sea or the hot springs where we swam almost all day long; what a refreshing feeling.

As grown ups now; we spend our weekdays behind desks in closed office rooms, some of which are not air conditioned and you are stuck with heat coming from the outside and the inside because of breath and heat generated by machines; not attractive.

What I like about summer though is the many fruits that fill the shelves of supermarkets. Summer fruits are juicy, sweet and full of useful fibers. Nothing compares to a slice of cold watermelon in a hot day, or a plate full of different kinds of fruits to allow you to pick and choose.

Cold drinks and juices are another great option to help you deal with the hot weather. Imagine yourself walking down the street in a very hot day; what is the first thing that comes to your mind? A glass of icy water or cold juice? Maybe a slush is the best choice here!

What about ice cream? I really love ice cream in all shapes, flavors and colors. I am prepared to have it any time, summer or winter. Whoever invented ice cream was a genius and applaud him for this great product. I am sad that we cannot get to Jerard's that easy these days, don’t you love their ice cream?

Swimming is another option but only when you have the time. Unfortunately; we don’t have a beach in Amman; I really wish we had because swimming would be a lot better than closed swimming pools scattered here and there. Not all of these pools are clean, not all of them are suitable and we don’t even have enough time in the day to have this luxury. That’s why when I was in Aqaba last August; I really did not want to get out of the water!

Thankfully; I have air conditioning in my car and in my office, yet I am ranting about the heat because I really can't take it. I really feel for people who are forced to conduct their work out in the open under the angry sun; these people really suffer from the heat and sometimes do not even have the time to do something about it; for example stop for a cold drink or sit in the shade.

The minute I saw Hajaj's caricature in the newspaper today; it inspired me to post about the heat and here I am sharing it with everyone. This guy really expresses my thoughts!