"Alive"

"ALIVE"..

By ~Ifra

The depth was too profound 

A much elevated healing

The words weren't enough

and the eyes indulged

Little was said but all was heard

Trifling ways ....delivered much

Compelling and assuring, magnetic pool

It all fit in perfect.... too good too soon 

Fairy tales and magic

The crystal ball...

Happy moments 

And dancing thoughts ...

Laughter ringing .. echoing the soul

Rearing and pristine.. feeding the whole

smiles exchanged touching the hearts

Plastering the deepest tarnished parts

This was complete, enough and desired

 flawless, simple and forever aspired

A need.. furnishing, adorning the fort 

Cloaking in lights with flickering hope

Purity seen, the chasm filled

Sunlight beaming from every inch

Without looking... all glistened and gleed 

She was the flame and he, the flea

They cradled each other in highest esteem

Physical boundaries didn't pay any heed

With a twinkling snap they both were there

Time stood still in their stance 

Supremacy surrounded, zenith reached 

Skies lowered their gaze with ease

All was hushed in a silent prayer

In respect for the story so unique and rare

Nothing was done to break and tear

Delicate bond, a wreath of flare

Such was their combined strength 

Without realizing they held each's hands

Twining in each others thoughts 

Spinning the moments with mighty knots 

None was shared yet sheerly felt

The hue hung over with invisible breadth

Some called it ravings

Others an array of dreams

It was a mystery

Only they perceived

Promises made with unspoken serenity 

Staged hearts with bride's amenity 

Let it all shape with withering time

For better or forgotten 

This moment's ALIVE

By -Ifra

"Perfect Revolution"

Global Friendship

Sowing Seeds for a "Perfect Revolution"

Power of Speech comes with a much greater responsibility. It should be exercised keeping in mind the greater good for all rather than individual interests. Opinions should be rooted towards advancements not finger pointing

Ifra Khoso, Yahoo Contributor Network
Apr 13, 2014

As a Proud Pakistani American I was all up for the Irvine Friendship Cities Program, initiated with all good intentions . The core and solitary idea behind it was to extend hand in Friendship with various cities of the world and to promote and maintain healthy ties between them in order for the global progression. This simple thought was not conjured for any political, religious reasons or for personal fulfillment in the city office.
Irvine is fairly a newly developed city from amongst the many in Orange County of Southern California. It blankets people from various different communities. What makes this particular city segment out, is not merely its diversified nature but more so the attitude of its citizens towards each other. The exuberance and the active partaking, the people of Irvine exhibits from the Global village festival held yearly to supporting their local schools to exercising their freedom of speech at the City Council. Just recently the city has been ranked as one of the top best cities of United States in terms of safety, education and merely living in. And so the Friendship Cities Proposal, was a small stride initiated to keep harmonious relations not only amongst the residents of Irvine but to recognize their place of origin and form enthusiastic bonds in all good spirit.
I, with many others very naïvely and eagerly assembled at the city council on the 8^th of April 2014, to speak in support of this thought. As a proud Pakistani American, I was enthralled by the idea of Karachi, my birth place being in the nominations.
One could only imagine the simple truth of the term, "Dirty Politics", when one has a chance of witnessing it. As an educator it was an eye opener for me to witness a sea of people readily speaking and corroborating against the modest, straightforward agenda.
People representing other ethical groups came across as rigid and proved themselves as dwellers of the problems. In the words of my friend, "If we start extending friendships towards other nations keeping in mind their human rights policies and records this world would be an EVEN colder place".
The simple hand in friendship can essentially work towards cultivating the current situations of many cities around the world. It would only be an optimistic step, a small one rather than the political foreign affairs agenda discussed by the Great Giants ruling. In those anyhow the essence of establishing any positive relations is lost in the political rant safe guarding their office posts.
What was more disappointing was the reaction from the Mayor. The city council was no less than a fish market or rather an exposed capacity for a pimp who very viciously and tactfully sells its product to the highest bidder, bidding. Here, inside the city chambers the innocent idea was cunningly and insight-fully sold out to those who are the champions in upholding their office posts from time to time.
To kill two birds with one stone, was very proudly put in practical practice by the Mayor and city council members making the meek residents as their bait.
The Friendship Cities Program was a positive reflection on how a democracy should function not primarily within its geographical boundaries but on a transnational level, educating citizens of the world about the varied nature of this precise world we reside in. Only such a step would engage humans globally together for the greater good of all. Only such a step would help in spanning the gap between nations of different realms in respect to each of their supreme cultures, religions and even politics. It is this Friendship step which would attest as a common ground for humble inhabitants, whoever they maybe and from where ever they may be.
What the mayor was not aware of before labeling Karachi as a "Taliban City", that it houses people like Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Ameen Gulgee, Saba Ikram to name a few. It serves as one of the largest Democratic Metropolitan cities in Asia. What the mayor unfortunately was ignorant of was the simple fact that Junoon ( one of the largest rock music bands of Asia) performed LIVE at UN General Assembly Hall on Oct 24, 2001 on United Nations Day in NY. The city itself is the Mecca Hub of Pakistan in terms of foreign businesses. The mayor didn't have his facts in place that in 2007, the World Bank identified Karachi as the most business-friendly city in Pakistan. In 2010, It was researched by Mercer to be the most inexpensive cities in the world. It is home to some of the best world-renowned universities and the foreign boards of education including that in the United States recognizes the caliber of these educational institutions.
Perfection is a dictionary term which should NOT be used when blathering about nations, rather working towards in harmony with each other is a very meager step towards attaining it.
Lets keep aside "us" for a moment and create a better world for those yet to come.
Lets leave behind a legacy of positivity and sow seeds of love, friendship and harmony at a global level, so that our generations reap and follow on our benchmark.
Lets for once think of a revolution outside of archery, weapons, nuclear weapons and manslaughter. Lets for once scratch in history a revolution on "Friendship".
Lets use the freedom of speech towards betterment rather than personal judgment.
let Martin Luther King's Dream takes its wings further beyond the horizons of the ' Land of the Free and Home of the Brave"…
.

Published by Ifra Khoso

(A Walk to Remember)

A Grandeur Walk on the Sky

Skywalk on the Canyon, (A Walk to Remember)

The Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world. It is magnificent and magical. An experience of a life time

Ifra Khoso, Yahoo Contributor Network
Apr 27, 2012
 

I decided to head towards the mountains of Arizona after watching the famous Bellagio water show from top of the Replica Eiffel Tower of the sin city and tipping the gondolier for the song on the Gondola ride at the Venetian. Its 2 &1/2 to 3 hours' from the shimmering strip, if you take the I-93 South. As the Vegas sky scrapers start to diminish from the view, I entered the natural grandeur of the desert and the blackish mountains marveled my eyes. The drive was placid and I was engulfed with the majestic imperceptible magic unmasked by the "Concealed Illusionist". The entire desert was adorned by the Joshua trees and perfect layering of the rocks, some reddish brown in various regions. The route took the turn to Pierce Ferry road and I drove some 30 miles on it, welcomed by bulls, tepees, horse ranches and sharp curves that reminded me of the speedy roller coaster rides.
From there the drive was further 30 miles on the Diamond bar road and signs of the Grand Canyon skywalk added ambiance to the environs. The road was unpaved for at least the last 10 miles and finally I arrived at the Grand Canyon airport. Here the bus further took us into the canyon and the memorable skywalk was just within five minutes away.
Already at some 4000ft, the air was chilly and crisp. It had rained a day earlier so the weather was acceptably cold. The bus driver gave us a short epilogue about the history of the surroundings and the wait time.
Homes of the Hualapai tribe stretch from this Canyon and goes as far as San Francisco. After about two minutes, my eyes popped. The sight behold was nothing to what I had just a few hours seen in Las Vegas. After going through the birth process of my babies, this will take second place in my wow list.
My eyes have previously saluted the masterminds behind many beautiful sky scrapers, bridges and buildings in several places. My taste buds have been refined and elated by delicacies of diverse chefs and bakers. I have had opportunities to be in the company of accomplished individuals. But never my mind has been so baffled and unbolted its fragile chambers at the same time, as did the majestic Grand Canyon. Grand by its entire definition, as I looked down as much as could muster, the perfect showcase of mainly the layered sedimentary rocks and the Colorado River. The Canyon had its own language. If gods were send down again, this place would be no doubt their regal dwelling. It seemed to be cloaking walloping enigmas within its arms and at the same time illuminating the abundance of Mother Nature.


At the entrance, my carefully enclosed shoes with plastic touched the approximately 4 inch glass. Yes, this was the pathway made up of glass slabs in a "U" shape. The railings were also of glass and once you walk on it, it undeniably feels like walking in the sky. I was told that the entire structure could sustain an 8.0 magnitude earth quake.
To see below 4000ft straight into the Canyon is simply pure magic. As I started walking with butterflies in my stomach, gaze fixed down at the Canyon, my mind was completely blown away from its depth. The stepped layers and the spiked reddish, blackish rocks neatly and symmetrically piled together. The perfect architectural natural wonder of the world which no modern sky scrapers can ever replace. A walk which I will remember for a very long time.

Published by Ifra Khoso
 

 

 

Parenting: What it truly is?

The "i" Society

By
Ifra Khoso (Arborland Montessori)

 

 | Parenting – Wed, Apr 4, 2012

 

 "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination"
Albert Einstein
While passing a table of four at a local restaurant, my eyes couldn't escape the funny sight. Two children under the age of five each heavily engrossed with their personal i pads. Their dad busy with his own i device. I chuckled as the lady at the table shifted her gaze from one to the next. The perfect "i "family.
True, with advancements in technology life has become easier and globally we are just a click, an app or a tab away from each other.
"It is a small world", phrase describes the "i" gadgets strikingly. The entire world, well almost, is summed up in mini sized icons on the screen of this device.
Apart from making calls, its prime function; it is helpful in doing homework, makes shopping hell easy and is a convenient baby sitter. It is even your buddy when boredom and loneliness raids and cracks you up with its creative answers to your monologue questions.
The fourth grade state testing requires children to know how to use a manual dictionary and which source to look into to locate a place. No, the answer is definitely not a website or an app.
Today, times have surely changed. Our children use sophisticated tools to look up for a meaning, do research online and instead of working on their penmanship and creativity, they polish their skills of, "copy and paste".
We need to ponder hard that whether usage of these mechanisms is beneficial in the long run.
Usually we proudly complement our little ones saying that how genius they are in grasping the latest moving technologies but become defensive when it comes to acquiring basic social surviving skills such as self-feeding and toilet training. What we have forgotten is the simple fact, young minds are extremely absorbent. They mould accordingly to their environment.
Technology has to be for the betterment of the society with correct usage at the correct time is essential as it can only go so far and then comes the human mind.

              

Special Poem for my Son on his 9th Birthday.

 

 

A Special Poem Composed Only for My Son, Mir Essa Khoso on His 9th Birthday. April 06, 2012

 

 By Ifra Khoso (Arborland Montessori) | At Home – Fri, Apr 6, 2012

 

 

 

For the man in my life who revealed the truth about it all
His little fingers entwined with mine and forever we began to fall
In this lasting journey of reliance, amity and love
With reverence tailing our paths, above
He is my forte, dream and pride
He says for him, I am the best alright
I still vividly remember when I held him first in my arms
His captivating smile,
His twinkling eyes,
His coos and cries
With each passing year he grew and prospered
And kept nurturing me when my strength wouldn't muster
He is nine now and I wonder where time went...
When my little baby became the boy he is today
I pray to Almighty that may he continually be blessed
With the kind personality that he possess
May he always be respectful to all
And burning fire to learn never fall
May he climb with humility the ladder of success
And rise with dignity with each tumbling step
May he become the source of inspiration for all
And may he be the candle which others want
He says I am the best cook
And hugs me tight
To me he will always be my little guy
Who showed me what it truly means to "Fly High". By: Ifra Khoso

Happy 9th birthday Essa :-)

Parents define their children: LITERALLY.

For happy children who are able to transition themselves effortlessly in an environment heavily matters on their “Parents’ attitude” towards it. Children from their conception time till five years of age are highly receptive and sensitive to sensations and reactions. It is their natural defense mechanism gifted to them by nature and it is because of their E.Q ( Emotional Intelligence) and not I.Q ( Intelligent Quotient) that they develop their mental health.  Mental health plays a significant protagonist in their emotions, character building, stability in behaviour and positive developments in personality traits. While some of us may be of the view that individual mannerisms are purely genes being passed down from generation to generation, it is of utmost observation that constructive enhancement  and furtherance of personalities only comes when a child feels safe and accepted.

 Although safety is a simple word, its meaning in comparison is very drastic. A child not only needs to be physically safe in his whereabouts but also emotionally secured.  He should not only expect his well-being from the environment but also be AWARE that he is equally an important part of making sure that his movements, mannerisms and words need to be of apt and adequate. The responsibility of bringing such awareness lies with the adults.

"The foremost job of a parent is to be a parent first".
In all good honesty and love we, as parents primarily forget that raising a child means raising a human being who will interact with not solely them but with the community at large.

Sometimes we love NOT to actually “LOVE” in the true, sincere sense. And more than anything it is this “LOVE” that eventually takes its toll and becomes the ONLY hindrance in a child’s development and progression.

What is acceptance? Some of the parents over the years I have encountered feel it is the golden birth right of their child to be accepted by everyone he or she encounters with. The simple truth, NO, it’s not.  Just like your child may or may not like his cousins, neighbour’s children and peers at school. May think that uncle John is the meanest person in the family. Guess what, so may others about your child.  And it’s fine.

Parents who constantly try to in foster in their children that he or she is the best, are actually in reverse laying foundation of an insecure personality trait.  

. Confident people accept their drawbacks and work towards improvements. They don’t rely on simply “Being known as the BEST”.          

. The adjective “BEST” has no substantial meaning in the “REAL” world. We may strive to achieve what is the “BEST”, but at the same time the term itself is so subjective that its literal meaning is well suited solitary in fairy tales just like the term, “HAPPILY EVER AFTER”.

Parents who are always chanting the slogan of “My child is always right” are prime examples of shaken rationalism.  It is this undercover, unseen anxiety that the child is highly receptive of and able to sense rather than the practical act of insistence of the "Slogan".  Therefore it is this anxiety trait which lingers on in the child and such children in return become negative ambassadors of the society. They develop characteristics of bullies without the realization because that is the abyss, they were brought up into. These children hide inside their feebly knitted webs which were early on spun by their own parents.

As parents we should always attempt to emphasis on the E.Q rather than the I.Q. An emotionally stable child will be eager to absorb, enthusiast to acquire and open to criticism which is the key for advancement and evolution. Without necessary criticism learning loses its wings and acuity takes a back seat instead the path to sapped vision is paved and fertilized.

But before we sow the seeds of confidence in our growing little children we should be certain of our serenity first.

. Happy confident people do not rely on others to bring the best out in them. Nobody needs anybody for that. Positive individuals may be an inspiration but neither them nor the negative ones can be held responsible for one’s actions. One should SOLELY rely on his morals and strengths. Peers, friends, relatives and other social entities may array from good to best and from best to worse, they should not become our " Personality Definitions".

. People, who are content within, take responsibility of their own actions, words and mannerisms. On the contrary those who struggle with their inner harmony, always wind up holding others responsible for their deeds.

. People who are in constant need of attention are usually prey to imbalance emotional strength.  They feel they are entitled to be acknowledged for their every effort.

. As human beings we need to come to an understanding that we are part of a cosmos where everyone is required to play their individual role in synchronization with others around not SOLELY to himself.

Let’s as parents brood over on our complexities and look within ourselves for amendments before we think ourselves to be the ace of our own child’s growth and development. Let’s look from a broader perspective for all children not just our own. It is definitely not ENTIRELY them, forming the society; they are, but mere specks on a lens which magnifies the whole.

 BY: Ifra  N.Khoso

 

 

 

 

"NAYA PAKISTAN " ( HOPE WITH IMRAN KHAN).

As a first generation immigrant from Pakistan, I have always been gratified to associate myself with my birth place although find it very heart wrenching when people around me ask, where are you from , socket out my heavy Paki, British accent  and obviously my so identified popularity of being a Muslim. It’s even more astonishing when after told that I am originally from Pakistan, the queries begin, where is that? Or what country is that?  Apparently it was my bias mind set of people’s general knowledge and for the longest of time I laughed at their so- created bubble in which they resided.

 Until of course the Bin Laden façade and his hidden place, a region in Pakistan. Until  Of course the so known popular religion which has suddenly become the talk of the town thanks to some psychopaths who feel the necessity of associating themselves  with this beautiful  religion. The religion whose greeting in translation means, “May Peace be with you”.

All of a sudden I find myself, being looked with a very questioning, inquisitive and mocking eye, Oh so you are from Pakistan, is it where the women are bound to cover their faces? and isn’t it  “The Muslim” country.

My answer to such negligence has always been with a polite smile no, women are not restricted and yes, it is Islamic Republic of Pakistan. With History legends from Founders such as Quaid-e-Azam, Poets like, Allama Iqbal and Faiz, social workers like Abdul Sattar Edhi, Oscar winner and Film maker, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Yes, she is a Pakistani woman. There is always two sides of a coin. With great sportsmen from Jahanghir Khan ranking the top Squash players of his time to all- rounder world cricketer, Chancellor of the University of Bradford and founder of the  Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Imran Khan.

Yes, these are the true faces of Pakistan.

 I deeply wondered how come the popularity of the country is not centered on them. A haunting question for all Pakistanis. Especially for the ones living abroad. What have we given the world to think about Pakistan?

 

With the up- coming elections and facebook, twitter pouring over with the “ Naya Pakistan” ( New and Refined Pakistan) ideology, the hope has not, yet been lost in the darkness. In an argument with a very close friend of mine who is also an immigrant, I came to the conclusion that even when one has nothing, hope is still there. It still resides with triumph and has the innate ability to conquer fear. 

I was never into politics or for that matter enthralled by any Politian’s ideas. To me it’s a game of thorns. A sour candy with sugar coating until one bites it, he wouldn’t really know what the actual flavor is. With everyone raving about how great a Politian the King Khan is, I  listened, heard, read all of the slogans supporting him and thought to myself, an all-rounder in cricket, what does he know how to move about in the game board with players who have been champions in fooling the nation over and over again. You see, to me it was all a pun. For all I knew Imran Khan is just a great Legendary player in the world of Cricket until my friend pointed out his driven, persistent work which he has been doing since he became the chairman of the Political Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf ( Movement for Justice) in 1996.

I was already conscious of the Khan’s enigmatic personality and still proudly have recollection of my first meeting with him as a seventh or eighth grader in a fund raising event for the Cancer Hospital. I knew he has the power to mesmerize, a certain rare caliber which he has been gifted with. The tireless personality and believe in the righteous act, is what Imran is all about.

I argued with a friend of mine what good can one do if one is surrounded by vultures all around. Isn’t it better to be mad with the rest of the world than to be wise alone? And for that matter how long one can hold on to sanity? For me it’s all in the actions. Words are just a bunch of letters framed with great mastery, used as perfect veils to mask the true intentions.

 Imran proved me wrong.

 He is the first Pakistani Politian who conducted intra-party elections and 35 % of the tickets went to the individuals under the age of forty. His action spoke loudly, very evidently and strikingly impressive ….more than his words.

Naya Pakistan (New and Refined Pakistan) doesn’t look like a bemused dream when I look at Imran. To me it seems very possible, very real, very to the core. A cricketer who has the ability to move the entire nation over a game of bat and ball, an individual who has the stature for founding the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Center, undeniably has more  than that as a Pakistani who is willingly, sanguinely taking the charge of a country with so many handicapped records.  For me as a Paki immigrant in a foreign country, he is not only the hope for a “Naya Pakistan “but also a Pakistani who can give our future generations, a country to brag about by all positive means.

On May 11, 2013…Let’s not just give him a chance, let’s give him the charge.

By: Ifra N. Khoso