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Life Lessons

Posted in Life Lessons

Prisoner Of My Thoughts

It can be comfortable being stuck in one perspective. Believing something to be exactly as I see it, affirming that…

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Posted in Life Lessons, Motherhood

5 Awesome Lessons from @LeadingMoms #LMinspire

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to sit in a room of about 200 women and listen to the stories…

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Posted in Life Lessons, Motherhood

The Last Seven Years

Exactly 7 years ago today, I became a mother. Wait, what?! It’s only been 7 years? How is that possible when…

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Posted in Giving Back, Life Lessons, Motherhood

The Classic Lemonade Stand Gets A Twist #Stir4ACure

With Summer officially here, there’s nothing more reminiscent of our childhood, or more symbolic of a young child’s inner entrepreneur,…

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Posted in Life Lessons

I Am Not Too Different From Beyonce

“You have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyonce” a coffee mug shouted at me from the…

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Posted in Life Lessons, Motherhood

I Made My Grandma Cry

When people victimize themselves, it really bothers me. Like, really, really bothers me. I want to bang my head on…

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Posted in I Love Myself Campaign, Life Lessons

My Name Is Submission: Take 2

This post was originally published on April 27, 2012. I am re-posting it today because I’ve been thinking a lot…

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Posted in Life Lessons

Not A Bad Way To Turn 36

I’m taking a break from cleaning up last night’s dishes to write this post; I can hear the baby sucking…

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Posted in Life Lessons, Motherhood

A Letter To The ‘Me’ Sitting On My Parents’ Deck Six Years Ago

The early mornings sometimes remind me of the huge gulf that exists between the ‘me’ of today and the ‘me’…

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Posted in Life Lessons

A Tribute To Dr. Roshan Thomas: From The Hurt Comes Inspiration

It’s 6:47 am and I have been up since the baby’s 5 am feed. As the early morning light pushes…

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Posted in Life Lessons, Motherhood

When Anxiety Sneaks Back In: What I’ve Learned From This Clumsy Dance

I know that my voice on this blog comes across as calm, zen-y and positive, but that doesn’t mean it’s…

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Posted in Life Lessons

Am I Jinxing Myself Through Social Media?

The other day, someone asked me, “Do you ever feel that you’re jinxing things when you write what you’re doing…

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Posted in Life Lessons

My Miscarriage Came With Messages

I have started and re-started this entry so many times over the past couple of months – mostly in my…

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Posted in Life Lessons

When Things Start To Tip

Have you ever experienced that slip-slidey feeling of not being able to dig your heels into the ground hard enough? …

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Posted in Life Lessons

What’s On Your ‘Live A Life You Love’ Resume?

  Switching career paths spurs the need to create a new resume.  So, that’s been on my mind the last…

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Posted in Life Lessons

Not 5, But 6 Lessons I Learned About Life From Designing A New Website

This post is dedicated to my fabulous web design team, Hyedie and Malena, who held my hand through this exciting…

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Hi, I'm Taslim! Freelance writer, writing instructor and mom of 3. Also: Taurus, INFJ, bookworm, and chronic nostalgic. Give me slow Sundays, deep conversations, Spanish music and time to daydream. I'm a Pacific Northwest girl with the itch to explore my backyard and beyond.

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Also Published In

Recent Posts

Posted in Journalling

Writing Through Grief

Posted in Inspired Living

A Closet Full Of Joy: My Experience With A Personal Stylist

Posted in Giving Back

One Girl Can: Give These Girls A Home On Giving Tuesday!

Posted in The Arts Scene

Diwali In B.C. Expands To Three New Cities In 2018!

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Posted in Journalling

Writing Through Grief

What I’m Reading Now

Instagram

  • Do you have a certain cuisine that you consider ‘homecooking’? Flavours that remind you of your childhood? Dishes that comfort your soul? 
For me, it’s East African-Indian food that does all those things. When I was a kid, I just called this ‘Indian’ food. But then I became friends with other Indians from Fiji and Punjab, and I realized there is a lot more to ‘Indian’ food than what was on my own plate. 
This dish is a classic where I am from: nyama choma (grilled meat in Kiswahili). Here we have some kuku (chicken), mishkaki (cubed beef) and ribs. Masala potatoes make the perfect side. 
I shared this platter with my mom’s cousin and his wife as we talked about our family’s migration from Gujarat to Zanzibar. It was a tasty way to research some context for my current literary project. 
I’d love to hear what cuisine you associate with home - what are some of your favourite dishes? #indianfood #eastafrica #gharkakhana
  • At California Adventure Park, we spent some time at Plaza de la Familia where they had a lovely hands-on exhibit about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). I love this tradition of honouring the dead and staying connected to those who have passed before us. We have something similar in my own tradition where we offer food and prayers in the memory of loved ones around the anniversary of their passing.
At the exhibit, we had the opportunity to write and hang memories - I mean, was this made for me or what? I could have stayed there all day! I chose to write about 3 women: my mom, my paternal grandma and my paternal great-grandma. 
The timing is crazy because, as I shared in my IG stories today, the ONLY thing I feel inspired to write about right now is my family stories and my memoirs. I am just entering the trenches of this research with the help of some family members, and I hope you don’t mind if I occasionally share some of that journey with you. 
Do you observe Día de los Muertos? Or something similar? Also, if you’ve written your family stories, what/who were your best  sources?
#diadelosmuertos #californiaadventurepark #plazadelafamilia #coco
  • My day was made when @onegirlcansociety sent me the latest updates from our girls in Kenya: Faith, Esther and Beatrice. We have partnered with these hard-working, ambitious and passionate students to secure for them a high school education and a huge leap forward in their career goals. Their gorgeous photos warmed my heart and I was sobbing reading their letters.
I had written to each of them this past summer, knowing Lotte and her team would ensure my messages got to them on their pending visit to the schools. Of course, my trip to Mombasa was fresh on my mind then so I told them all about the emotions that came with it (and the food I ate!) And it was so nice to read their personal responses that included their goals and current grades. 
Like one of the girls said in her letter, it feels like we have family clear on the other side of the world. 
Imagine if we saw everyone that way, as family that we just haven’t happened to meet yet but whose lives we can deeply impact and who can do the very same for us. 
#onegirlcan
  • Look who caught a Tinkerbell! We are back from Disneyland and easing our way into real life (ok, everyone else was back at school and work first thing this morning, and I am honestly just enjoying my quiet home!) Have you been to Disneyland in October before? 🎃 🎢 
#disneyland #californiaadventure
  • This fall has just been GLORIOUS!! 🍁 #autumncolours #newseason
  • Oh yes, she can! 
If you’ve been around here for awhile, you know that I am a supporter of @onegirlcansociety and what they stand for. I believe that every girl deserves an education, and that a community with educated women has healthier families and a brighter future. 
On Friday, October 11, Canadian registered charity One Girl Can is partnering with @aghair and @brunettethelabel to support International Day of the Girl, a global campaign that champions girls' rights while raising awareness of continued gender inequality.

You can take a stand, too, by signing their online pledge (the first 50 pledgers get an awesome gift from AG Hair). And while you’re at it, you can grab a T shirt like mine so you can tell the world that yes, one girl can!

Visit dayofthegirl.onegirlcan.com 
#onegirlcan

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