- Do the dishes after finishing your Rice & Beans (فاصوليا و رز) lunch. I am the kind of person that can’t think if I have mess around me... Also if you wash your dish right away you won’t be tempted to pour another one.
- Support Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Jordan, even China in their quest for freedom. You can do so by dedicating a few words on your facebook status. As much as I appreciate you sharing the latest song of god knows which band with me, this is no time to think about ourselves. This is the time to make a difference and YES, you sharing and dedicating a few words can make a difference
- Become aware and raise awareness. Commit yourself to reading something about what goes on in the world and then share it with others. Of course, I don’t mean by ‘learning something about the world’ that you look up the latest news of your favorite Turkish actress or British band. I have nothing against those, but come on… You can start by reading at least one article in your university’s newspaper or on a news website.
- Learn how to say NO. And then learn to do something about it. We have been domesticated long enough. I am not calling for turning every situation into a revolution. But learn what your rights are and then ask for them. I can’t promise that you will get them. But how will you know, if you do not try and try again. Institutions, organizations, companies and governments will continue to take us for granted in this country, if we don’t shake off the “nothing will change” attitude ASAP.
- Limit your NEWS intake to a certain number of hours per day – preferably less than two. I urge you to be aware of your surroundings, but there is absolutely no need to allow your surroundings to consume you. You are no good to anyone, let alone the people you wish to help, if your soul is dragged down to the bottomless pit of despair, which newspapers and news channels want us to visit.
- Listen to music as much as you can, for as long as you can… nothing helps us maintain our sanity as much as music. If you are not into music… well find something else to do where you feel yourself the most.
- Keep a calendar and a To-Do list. You can keep it online, on your phone, or on a small notebook. Whatever works for you is fine, but write things down to better manage your day-to-day life and always remember to make time for yourself.
- Do at least 1 act of charity a month and 1 act of environmental friendliness a week. It doesn’t matter how important and big the act is. In fact start small, print 2 pages on one paper, do not ask for a plastic bag the next time you buy something small, give the poor kid carrying your grocery bags 2000 LBP instead of 1000, or drop that 500 LBP change in the charity box you find at Dunkin or Malik’s bookshop. Before you know it, you will make a habit out of these actions and you will become a role model for others as well.
- And lastly if you wish to make a real difference, make sure your current or future child has friends from every religious sect, and better yet from every nationality possible. You a see a child with such friends can only grow up to be a global citizen, one that cares about humanity and his fellow man more than he cares about his fellow man’s religion, political preferences or oil wells…
After all this planning, pour yourself another Rice & Beans (فاصوليا و رز) dish, I am starving… aren’t you?
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