Knock knock? September 15, 2009

Happy Eid!

Knock knock…..who’s there…Teacher Tamara’s wondering  ….Teacher Tamara’s wondering who?  Teacher Tamara’s wondering who’s out there reading this blog and what you all are planning on doing for the upcoming Eid celebration.

I can see we have many visitors from all over and I’d like to see how Eid is spent in different parts of the world.

A few simple lines:

1. Where are you?
2. What is the customary Eid celebration like?
3. What was your most memorable Eid?

Wherever you are and whatever you find yourself doing, enjoy it and make the most of it. Tomorrow is not promised!

Take care everyone!

Happy Early Eid!

Teacher Tamara

p.s.  SisterShine LifeCoaching is having a limited time FREE open membership! Sign up now only the first 50 subscribers are free!   Get your freebies this Eid!

(Back on track) The A train pt 2 July 18, 2009

In part 1 of “The A train” we read about our sisters Sana and Muslimah who were meeting each other at the train station. Sana was arriving on the A train and Sana knows this but decides to wait for Muslimah at the B train. This type of habitually inconsiderate behavior is typical for Sana and in her mind she thinks that her way is the right way and can’t understand why others don’t feel the same.

The point that I wanted to make was very simple. Sana no matter how hard she tries has difficulty meeting people where they are (literally and figuratively). Unfortunately for Sana and especially Muslimah, Sana seems to be suffering from some sort of psychological block. It may be as severe as narcissism (which requires a professional diagnosis) or a character flaw that makes Sana believe she is really helping her friends with her behavior.

I would like to know: How do you handle the Sana’s in your life? If you were Muslimah what would the rest of the conversation be like? Would you sweep it under the rug or confront her head on?

Commit to a lifetime of learning!
Teacher~Tamara
© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™. All rights reserved.

What kind of _______ are you? July 11, 2009

Here’s a quickie! It’s a writing prompt that can help students and writers get their creative juices flowing. It can be left open or you give it a theme. For example:

If you were an animal what kind of animal would you be and why? If you were a fruit what kind of fruit would you be? etc. Simple right? Great. All of you writers and students of life you ready? Get set and go!

#1. If you were a tree what kind of tree do you think you would be? Why does this tree describe you best?

I will post my answer tomorrow. Let’s see if you can guess it. (Look around my blog and you might get a hint).

Looking for some really creative answers here!

Commit to a lifetime of learning!
Teacher~Tamara
© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™. All rights reserved.

Glass Slippers July 11, 2009

AARRRGGHH!

That was the sound that Cinderella made as she raced against the clock striking 12 midnight. 

Her curfew was up, all of the smoke would disappear and  she would be found out. 

I know this sound well it’s the sound of the last ditch effort. The “I’m giving it all I’ve got sound no matter what the outcome”.

Well, my clock struck 12 at the end of a very long and exhausting 48 hrs and I didn’t get to post until 12:40 am the next day. So I missed my NaPoBloMo guideline…

But hey, this is real life.  I will continue to post daily (inshaAllah) and meet my intended goals. Part of growing is persisting.

GROWING =KEEP ON GOING!

Besides Cindy left her glass slipper behind and it lead to her happily- ever- after-all  so who knows…

 

Commit to a lifetime of learning!

Teacher~Tamara

© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.

July Weddings July 6, 2009

by J. Groff

Summertime is made for celebrations and family gatherings but there is just something special about a July wedding.

 There  have been 3 wedding celebrations in the past 3 days! MashaAllah I LOVE WEDDINGS!!! I can not express the beauty and joy of witnessing  a bride celebrate one of the most special days of her life. It’s a heartwarming experience and it always brings back lovely memories and joy of every wedding I have attended.  

My love affair with weddings officially began at age 6.  My mom’s best friend was getting married and I wore a  pink miniature cinderella wedding dress. It had little pink roses on the sash around the waist and down the front. Sewn into the hem were small bells that softly tinkled as I swished and danced around and around. If you ask me what my auntie was wearing that day I honestly could not tell you because on that day, in my mind, I was the bride.

Since then I have been swept off my feet by every love story-romantic-wedding movie there has been. Off the top of my head some of my favorites were: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, The Sound of Music (nice wedding scene at the end), The Best Man, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and my favorite to date -27 Dresses (who in their right mind could resist being in 27 weddings!!! ooooohhhh just the thought gives me goosebumps!!)

Family, friends and neighbors all come together to celebrate and welcome the new couple. The little girl in the princess dress who dreamed of being bride has finally had her moment to shine and become the Queen Bride. Beautiful.

May Allah bless and protect the newly formed couples! Don’t you just love weddings?

Committed to a lifetime of loving weddings

Teacher~Tamara

© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.

What’s your ripple like? June 26, 2009

by Adam Hart-Davis

 

 

 A stone skims over the top and lands centered in a body of water. The ripples extend with each passing moment until they reach the watery edge. Every creature within has been affected by the rippling water…affected by the stone…affected by the hand that threw it.

 Just like a body of water we have the capacity to be a medium. One stone thrown into our day can immediately affect not only us and our small circle of influence but it can immensely affect any and everyone around us. Creating a continuous momentum that can be lead back to one event.

The single hand throwing a stone is life. One can never be sure what life will throw at us. However we have the capacity to choose. We either allow the stone to cause a wonderful ripple effect of charity, happiness, love and good tidings or we use it as an excuse to perpetuate wrongs that have been done unto us, to seek revenge or to gloomily sulk around.

Focusing on the future and passing along a good or dwelling in the past and missing the opportunity at hand. Either path we choose we are a means of carrying a message. Our ripples have the ability to emit positivity and beauty, blessing others with their presence or they can simply be a disturbance unto others spreading negative energy. The choice is ours.

Teacher~Tamara

Commit to a lifetime of learning!

© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.

Shining In the Spotlight presents:Entrepreneur, Sister Khadiyja Y. Ali, CEO of Atqana and Associates (final part) June 6, 2009

 

Shining In the Spotlight presents the final part of the exclusive interview with
Entrepreneur Khadiyja Y. Ali  CEO, Atqana +Associates !

 

T~T: Many people use age as an excuse to why they can’t have the life they desire. How do you view age in relation to what you have to offer and gain in business and in life as a whole?

KYA: Age is nothing but a number. But I will say that with age comes wisdom, which is of benefit when it comes to executive decision-making. This is not to say that someone in their 20s cannot be successful in business, but having 10-20 years of business and life experience under your belt is a degree that isn’t bestowed at the age of 25.

T~T: You are currently pursuing your MBA while being a mom to two adolescents. What things inspire you to keep going?

KYA: Honestly, I think I was just built this way – to be diligent in going after my professional pursuits. Actually, I’m pretty driven personally as well.

T~T: How do you attain a sense of inner peace?

KYA: Prayer, supplication and talking to my best friend!
T~T: Three words you tell me what they mean to you? Tenacity, Purpose and Destiny.

KYA:Tenacity means not giving up even when you think everything is against you. Purpose is your mission in life. Destiny is the Qadr (pre-destination or decree of Allah); that which was pre-ordained for you in this life and that if meant for you, will not pass you by, and if meant to pass you by, will not be fall you. Period.

T~T: Please fill in the blanks: ….means the most to me in the work that I do because….

KYA:  Working with small, newly emerging companies because I am able to work with them from inception to market. Also, speaking with disenfranchised women and women’s groups about starting businesses and in turn, transforming their lives.

T~T: Do you have any specific advice for those who have been told that they are too… for their dreams to be possible?

KYA:Yes. As I’ve said before, “never let anyone take your gris-gris!”

T~T: What’s something that you want to leave as your legacy?

KYA:As it relates to my business, leaving my corporation and related entities for my future generations as well as being a socially responsible corporate citizen. As it relates to academics, I would like to fund an endowment for my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. It’s all about sustainability.

T~T: What’s next for Atqana +Associates? Any upcoming engagements or events you’d like to share with us?

KYA:Our blog, Innovation + Marketing View.0, has just launched! IM View.0 is a platform for discussing all aspects of innovation and marketing, whether from a traditional perspective, or inclusive of new media and marketing. The blog is located at http://imviewpoint0.wordpress.com.

I’m also pleased to say that Atqana + Associates has been selected to provide brand management and marketing services to the Man Up Movement, based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by songwriter/producer MC Spice, the Man Up Movement is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the conditions in communities and neighborhoods one block at a time. For more information, check out their website at www.manupmovement.org.

T~T:  My Goal is to use SIS to exemplify how we all can tap into our own personal strengths and use them to magnify Allah (swt). What are your final thoughts about achieving this lifelong challenge?

KYA: Basically, you have to always be true to yourself, know yourself. It’s true that success (whatever your definition may be) will usually come with doing that which you love.

Many thanks to Sister Khadiyja for the interview! May Allah swt continue to give her much success in all her endeavors!

Commit to a lifetime of learning !
Teacher~Tamara
© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.

Shining In the Spotlight presents: Executive Entrepreneur Extraordinaire! Sister Khadiyja Y. Ali, CEO of Atqana and Associates (pt.2) May 13, 2009

 

Shining In the Spotlight presents part 2 of the exclusive interview with
Executive Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Khadiyja Y. Ali!

Teacher Tamara (T~T): At some point we usually realize this is what I want to do. Sometimes it’s subtle and gradual others times it’s like a light bulb turning on overhead.  What were the defining points that helped you gain clarity about your passion?

Khadiyja Y. Ali (KYA): Although the entity officially launched two years ago, I have been acting as a consultant for years! A few years ago, it dawned on me that I should be doing this professionally. I believe I knew I possessed these capabilities back in undergraduate school, but because the talent was so innate, I didn’t think twice about it. However, the light bulb just “clicked” two years ago and Atqana + Associates was launched.

T~T: Exactly what it is that you do that expresses your talents and passion?

KYA: Nothing special really, except do what has been entrusted to me to fulfill, whether in a more traditional (consulting) or bohemian (creativity) way. Honestly, I’ve never been a conventional person. This is why I so enjoy what I do – it combines the consulting with entrepreneurship and marketing, two areas which are extremely dynamic and exciting. And as an entrepreneur, I’ve always had about 3-4 ideas floating in my head at any given time. Only other entrepreneurs truly understand that this is just how we’re constructed. The brain never rests – something’s always floating around. Yes, you do get those brilliant ideas that come to you at 4:30 in the morning and you have to either record them, either on paper, write them on your hand or record them on your Blackberry.

T~T:  As a life coach, I apply and teach success strategies to individuals helping in defining and supporting their ultimate vision to live their lives to the fullest potential. Have you had professional coaching or used success strategies to motivate yourself?

KYA: My success strategy has simply been to be diligent, believe in myself and keep negative people and thoughts away from me by any means necessary. Never let anyone take your gris-gris (your spirit, essence, that which is closest to your heart). And to sit back and regroup when necessary. It’s as simple as that.

T~T: It’s been said you may have to go through 1,000 “No’s” to finally get that 1 “YES” please explain how you would interpret that. What advice would you give others about persistence?

KYA: Believe in yourself and know that you will not receive unless you strive for it and unless it’s meant. And that rewards lie with the patient and persevering. You should know also yourself and your strengths as well as areas for growth. Always look at the big picture and like Stephen Covey says, “start with the end in mind”.

Come back soon for part 3!

Commit to a lifetime of learning !
Teacher~Tamara
© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™  All rights reserved.

Shining In the Spotlight Presents: Internationally Acclaimed Author Umm Zakiyyah!! pt 4/4 March 23, 2009

 

Final part of the series with internationally acclaimed author Umm Zakiyah!!!

by Umm Zakiyyah

  

 

 

What is the best feeling you’ve gotten from being a ________________. Please fill in and describe the situation.

Muslim.  I know it sounds cliché, but for me that’s the one thing that is most fulfilling for me.  I reflect often on how, perhaps, one day I will no longer be a writer or teacher.  Perhaps, one day there will be no children growing up under my care, and perhaps even my husband will have passed from this world.  So, to me, even today, my Islam is all I have, or ever will have, of worth in the end.  I feel this most intensely when I see another person accept Islam and my eyes flood with tears, or when I’m praying late at night when everyone is asleep and tears slip down my cheeks as I realize that I have the opportunity for the best gift anyone can be awarded—Paradise, and I think, SubhaanAllaah, can there be a better feeling than this?

What is your favorite book (besides the Quran J) ? What are you currently reading?

I don’t know that I have a favorite book per se, because my favorites fall into categories, but I would say that my favorite Islamic-learning book is Du’a the Weapon of the Believer by Abu Ammar Yasir Qadhi ; my favorite Islamic-themed book is From My Sisters’ Lips by Na’ima B. Robert; my favorite “secular” book is The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle; and my favorite novel is The Land by Mildred D. Taylor.  Currently, I’ve just finished reading Establish the Prayers and the Prize is Paradise by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim, and I’m currently reading so many other books that I need to narrow them down and focus on one, which is extremely difficult for me  J.   But one of the ones I’ve set my mind to finish is Life is an Open Secret: Think About It by Zabrina A. Bakar.

Many sisters have hidden talents, what’s your advice to them about pursuing their passions?

I’m constantly intrigued when I meet so many sisters who have amazing talents, and I’m often in awe as I sit and listen to them speak and reminisce.  However, there is a tinge of sadness in my heart as I witness how much of their talking is so past tense, as if their current life—due to Islam, marriage, or motherhood—is mutually exclusive to their ability, or right, to capitalize on the talents Allah has given them.  I don’t know that I have one piece of advice that would suffice for all of my talented Muslim sisters, but I advise this: Take your life by the reins, and cease being a passive passenger on its inevitably bumpy ride.  There is no “perfect life” or “perfect opportunity” wherein all the obstructions to your life goals miraculously fall away and an intense light illuminates your path to success, and you merely walk, unchallenged, down the road.  Anyone who has achieved anything in life achieved it because they found a way to keep going, to stay focused, even through the turbulent winds and torrential rains that characterize every life—not because they weathered no storms.   And know, too, that the grass is rarely greener on the other side—and even in the rare cases that it actually is greener, it’s only because someone watered their grass—and pulled weeds—more than you.   So be honest with yourself and look deep within to find the real reason you aren’t tapping into your “not-so-hidden” talents to benefit yourself and others. 

I know for some sisters the reason is simply that they haven’t found a way to recapture that talent and motivation in an Islamically appropriate context, or they have so many other burdens on their shoulders that they can’t see beyond the stress of daily life itself.  I know too that others have deeply personal issues that require a spiritual and practical makeover in their lives and the lives of their families.  However, in any case, it’s important to remember that Islam, as well as marriage and motherhood, is life itself, not separate from it.  So find your personal motivation within your Islamic and personal life, and ask Allah to help you find yourself and practical purpose in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and that does not in any way take away from your spiritual or family life, but that, in fact, enhances them both. 

What’s something that you want to leave as your legacy?

I hope that my legacy is established through the success of my novels in Muslim and non-Muslim circles as tangible evidence of a practicing Muslim of contemporary times having  capitalized on success in this world and the Next without sacrificing, but rather enhancing, my worldly and spiritual endeavors in the process.

What’s next?  Any upcoming engagements or events you’d like to share with us?

For now, I’m working on more novels, and prayers for their successful completion are certainly appreciatedJ.   Also, look out for a book trailer for my latest novel Realities of Submission in May, inshaaAllaah.

My Goal is to use SIS to exemplify how we all can tap into our own personal strengths and use them to magnify Allah (swt).  What are your final thoughts about achieving this lifelong challenge?

Focus on Allah, your prayer, and your soul…and you’ll find your personal strengths, as well as opportunities to capitalize on them, sprout from places you never imagined.

Lastly, Jazak Allahu Khair for your time and patienceJ!  May Allah continue to bless you and allow you to let your light be a shining example for others!

Wa iyyak, and may Allah bless you for being a means to show others that Islam broadens, not shrinks, our horizons, in this world and the Next…if pleasing Allah is truly our life’s goal.

 

Thanks for letting your light shine!

 

Teacher Tamara

© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.

Shining In the Spotlight Presents: Internationally Acclaimed Author Umm Zakiyyah!! pt2 March 8, 2009

 

 

by Umm Zakiyyah

 

 

Part 2 of a 4 part series with internationally acclaimed author Umm Zakiyyah!!!

Who or what helped you to realize your passion for writing?

If I were to pinpoint what helped me realize my passion for writing, aside from my childhood love for the pen, it would have to be my parents and my younger sister Najla.  My parents helped me realize this passion by constantly reminding me and my siblings to use our talents and gifts for the sake of Allah.  They never told us, “I want you to be a doctor” or “This family needs an engineer.”   They, rather, taught us that Allah will put in our hearts whatever we’re supposed to be professionally, but they had only one requirement of us: “Whatever you do, do it as a Muslim.”

 In particular, I remember my father reading from the Qur’an, where Allah describes the believers as those “…who spend out of what We have provided for them,” and I knew that because Allah provided me with the gift of writing, I should write for His cause.  This really instilled in me a determination to write.

My sister Najla was particularly inspirational to me because she was the one who listened intently to all my stories, even when I had no idea where they were going.  I’d tell her stories before we went to bed, and she’d constantly ask me, “And then what happened?”  When I’d tell her I didn’t know (because I hadn’t figured it out myself), she would grow upset with me, and the next morning, she’d ask me again, until I finished the story.  That really stuck with me because her intense interest made me realize that my stories could, with the help of Allah, intrigue others.

How is writing different from teaching?

Writing is different from teaching in that writing is intensely personal.   As I write, I feel that the pen and paper belong completely to me, but I know I will share it with others once I’m done.   Teaching, on the other hand, is entirely communal.  As I teach, I feel that the classroom belongs completely to the students, but I know I must find that personal voice as a teacher to make the lessons accessible to my students and true to myself.  However, in the end, these two professions come from the same desire within me, to, with the help of Allah, make the world a better and more spiritual place, one person at a time.

MashaAllah we’ve witnessed the worldwide success of your trilogy If I Should Speak, A Voice and Footsteps. Now there’s your latest release Realities of  Submisssion… (may Allah make it successful as well). Is there a typical amount of time that you take to develop a concept or story line?

In general, my time of development is simply Istikhaarah and du’aa.   Once it’s clear to me that this is a project I should take on, I make du’aa, and the general concept and storyline come to me in floods.  At this stage, timing is not an issue except to find a pen and paper or computer fast enough to keep track of the ideas.    Once I’ve jotted down the concepts and storyline, I have to set time aside to actual write the story chapter by chapter until its end.

Once a storyline is created how does it develop into the many twists and turns that keep us reading?

What’s amazing about writing is that even as you write you don’t always know all the twists and turns that will occur until you actually write them.  Naturally, some of the twists are developed in the preliminary stage (when I’m flooded with ideas); however, my experience is that many of the twists are actually surprises for me.  Often, I’m inspired to write them only as I sit typing a particular scene while I’m at the computer, even as I myself never expected the story to move in that direction.   For some of my books, I actually had no idea what was going to happen in each chapter, and Footsteps is one of those.  Thus, I experienced my own level of intrigue as I wrote the story, going through some of the same emotions that I imagined the readers would.  This level of story development I attribute to the mercy of Allah, as it is simply proof of His answering my du’aa for guidance while I write.

Instead of having your work published elsewhere you created your own publishing company, what inspired you to do this?

I founded Al-Walaa Publications because I felt that it is most beneficial long-term for Muslims to have a publication company focused on Islamic fiction alone.  At that time, there were no publishers specializing in Muslim novels, and I saw the establishment of a publishing company as the filling of a much needed void in the creative, Islamic voice.

Come back soon for more of Teacher~Tamara’s exclusive interview with internationally acclaimed author Umm Zakiyyah!

© 2009 Teacher~Tamara ™.  All rights reserved.