Book Reflection: Longing for God's Closeness by Ayesha Syahira

Assalamualaikum and Salam Ramadan day 6 ^-^

Since it's the blessed month of Ramadan, I kinda want to write something more beneficial to us all so I decided to do a book review of a book that I recently finished reading. I actually started reading this book in November (if I'm not mistaken) but only get to finished the last chapter of the book a day before Ramadan. Thanks to my cousin Solehah who offered me her mysiswa coupon so I get three books worth RM100 for free and all she claimed back from me was just a cup of Chagee hehehehe <3

When I started reading this book I was at a state of finding peace. My work life during that time was heavy and lonely, I needed something that could sooth me, tender words from human that went through something similar I would say. This book helps me so much in terms of finding inner peace and comfort.

Through all the five chapters of this book, it does not feel like a chore at all, in fact, I needed to read it. Ayesha Syahira surely knows how to write while also still connects, do you get what I mean? The feeling when you read the book and finally you feel seen. We struggles the same, and trying all the same to be better. It's like a best friend you needed the most. 

The main essence of the book is discussing Salah. Yes, it's one of the Pillar of Islam, you would think it's too heavy to discuss casually right? But no, the author's writing truly captured the beauty of connection with Allah through Salah without over thinking it. What I mean here is that, it's great that we think of Salah seriously but not to the point it started to overwhelmed us because we keep thinking we are not kind or good enough to start. Instead, we should start doing it slowly. Consistently. Because Allah always knows your intentions and see you trying. That's it. Keep trying every day. That's what I have been holding on ever since I started reading this book. I learn to slow my pace down and took my time properly. 

Sometimes, simplicity is all that we need. It's true, live life in moderation, in every essence of life. Because we are all human, we tend to break too, so it's okay as long you did not go far from His path. Remember to reset your intention, to review your life goals. And I like to remind this again and again, take it slow. In a world of efficiency, do not rush your Salah. That's your actual break time to collect your thoughts and go face the world again. As long as you have put your life intentions towards Allah, there's nothing that can stop you :)

p/s: to those who have worked hard, I'm so proud of you! Keep going ^-^

Life has a way to surprise you

Hellooo-oooo-oooo~ (echoes) readers, probably just one person hahahaha

I'm back in one piece, safe and sound.

As per my postings on my social medias recently, yes I went to South Korea!!!!!!!! A dream come true moment #2. I do planned to write a full story version of the travelling but it's not today okies. Today I want to share how did I got there in the first place (by plane duhhh, but like the thoughts behind it) ok let's get to it.

Initially, I was supposed to go to Singapore mid January, however the trip has to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. My friend had an emergency so we have to cancelled it for now. Thankfully no bookings were made yet, so close though! But I did went to get my first ever passport early January to prepare for the trip. I absolutely did not have any other trip in mind after the trip to Singapore was cancelled. 

Surprisingly, my primary school friend Wirtz-iz Danial (:p) decided to ask me to join his trip to South Korea two weeks before the trip happened. Together with his sister and his degree friend, off we gooooo! Yes, it was such a last minute decision but it all went so smoothly alhamdulillah. I'm still in awe that I get to have my first trip abroad. The preparation of the trip? Quite a rush but I actually enjoyed every moment of anticipation and the nervousness for the trip to happen. I mean, I don't want another cancelled trip xD But if He wills, He wills.

Which leads to why I started to write here again, my grateful journey. I don't know how to properly worded it but I feel so amused with His timings. It fell into places, one by one, I'm not even planning or thinking about it at the first place...but if that's what meant for me? will find me. MasyaAllah.

And I'm so in need of the comfort of fate because I'm still waiting for my interview results after months of interviewing. So afraid of how the results would turns out, yes. But like I said, what's meant for me will find me, and just like that I feel at ease again. 

Because either way, I still win. I will.

p/s: Ramadan Mubarak to all :) let this blessed month be the reason you want to keep going and finding meaning to be a better version of yourself. Above all else, take it slow. ok? :))

it's giving Salam Perantauan

who are you (2026) iykyk~

It has been ten days since my last entry. Time sure fliessss huh :0  I'm preparing for my cousin's wedding maybe that's why.

Have you watch K-drama titled Who Are You School (2015)? It's one of my all time favourite!! Even though my entry's title today is similar to the drama's but today's story is definitely not about my long lost twin or whatever. I'm just running out of ideas for the title so I figured this would do :3 anyways I'm team Lee Eun-bi & Gong Tae-kwang!!!!!!!!! #secondleadsyndrome

Actually I wanna talk about my nicknames today hahahaha hence the title. For quite a short name, for some reason I do have quite a number of nicknames lolll. Let me list them all (piya, fiya, sya, syaf, fiyy) I would say my friends fully utilize the name of Syafiya xD The nicknames depends on the group of friends, for example netball friends during primary, secondary school & STPM friends would call me piya. Degree friends call me fiya, some would also call me syaf. Alesya calls me fiyy (the only special one hehe) and at one point of life there's also a friend that called me sya during secondary school. 

I don't mind whichever any of you wants to call me hahaha. Howeverrrr, my favourite is actually Syafiya... which actually leads me to writing this story because I bumped into my primary school friend just now hahah. Well, as far as I remember, my primary school friends always addressed me as Syafiya before if I look back, even if after I met them yearsss later they would still call me Syafiya. I know I said netball friends from primary school would call me piya but it's because that's how I got the nickname hahahahaha. My netball coach actually started calling me piya, because Syafiya is obviously too long to be called while you're running across the court back and forth lol. So that's that.

So the point of this entry is, I bumped into a primary school friend just now while buying for some groceries, he was with his son and he was like "Eh, Syafiya!". It was such a short encounter but it just reminded me of my other name which is Syafiya that's barely used hahhahaha. I was like, oh right I'm Syafiya like???? dygwim.

Okay but then I'm reminded of this one nickname from primary school that has been buried hsjshadhdhjagdsh. Did you know I was once called Messi :) yes, that Lionel Messi lollllll. So the story was, some of my primary school classmates parent's used to teach at the same school with my Abah. Sometimes when there was a Family Day for the school, we'd bumped into each other (of course). And then there was once when I joined a game during the family day which requires me to dribble a ball and I won, and then the said classmate (I still remember who, his name started with A) HAHAHA I would not mention though, he started calling me Messi in class the next day -__- (classic primary school behaviour hsshshs). Basically I joined almost all the games (duhh my Abah was the pk-koku of course I live up to the name bhahaha) So that's that lol fun times.

p/s: ummm I prefer Cristiano Ronaldo :p