Happiness deep down within....

Originally uploaded by Rabujee

Couple of things/thoughts that made me smile today:

• Looking at Artistic Logic's photography over the past year,especially her first attempts at photography (see above picture) and knowing I was one of the first few that she came to for critique and an opinion.
• Summer tuition bill paid off!
• Knowing that I'm almost done with the summer semester. I only have one final exam left and it's the last class for my Teacher Education program before Student teaching. Alhamdullilah! Almost there!
• Going to the public library and seeing a dad reading to his daughter.
• Reading old emails from this exact date last year (08/11/2007) where I was asking my friends for pics for a slideshow that I was putting together for my Speech class. The theme of the speech was "Ceremonial" , i.e. wedding toasts, acceptance/presentation of an award, congratulatory speech, farewell presentation,etc. I chose to do a speech on the eve of our hypothetical graduation ceremony where I'm with my closest friends and I'm giving a toast to them. I think that's what it was.
• Watching two homeless men play an intensive game of chess
• One of my closest friends being back from Mexico.
• Going to work and not feeling the negative emotions I usually feel.
• Thinking about my resignation as supervisor. (Oh by the way, did I mention that I resigned as supervisor: one of the best decisions of my life)
• And also knowing that I'm quitting that job in December, God willing, helps too. Countdown has officially begun :)
• The three hours I spend at work going by pretty fast.
• Finally finding a book about the last Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) life, that I feel content with.
• Approach of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Also the month where Muslims observe fasting from dusk til dawn.
• Knowing that someone, somewhere, out there is making a special prayer for me. I can seriously feel it, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
• And lastly this poem that was originally uploaded with the picture above:

Happiness deep down within.
Serenity with each sunrise.
Success in each facet of your life.
Family besides you.
Close and caring friends.
Health, inside you.
Love that never ends.
Special memories of all your yesterdays.
A bright today with much to be thankful for.
A path that leads to a beautiful tomorrow.
Dreams that do their best to come true.
Appreciation of all the wonderful things about you.