Express. Exude. Radiate.

How can I not feel grateful and blessed?

There are a number of happy updates going on in my life that make other worries, well.. seem petty.

I may have this picture set in mind with a plan but without a doubt Allah truly is the best of all planners.

I needed an outlet to express, where else would be better if it's not here, right?

I can't say word by word, in detailed information what some of the updates are really about- I may have told a handful of close loved ones - but I won't disclose them here and keep those private.

However, one of the updates I can say out loud is..

I finally could cross out a mission completed off of my Life List!
 
I can finally drive, you guysss! 

I've been driving legally for a whole week out in the real world and it's a whole new life experience! I feel so in charge being able to drive myself around. Really am thankful for my papa <3 for being the one who drives me around the most, our former family drivers, big bro Shaz, relatives, friends, taxi drivers and other drivers of all public transportation who have brought me around to places in the past. It is such a great relief to be able to drive - especially in this big city called Kuala Lumpur. I would need to be able to drive to live here.

6 long months in driving school was no joke! I had to put up with a lot of different characters -side eye- and kept reminding myself to focus on getting my licence.

I truly would like to thank my instructor, Cikgu Noor Azri of IMKL, for his detailed answers to my million of questions as well as his patience for having me as his student. Also, not forgetting to thank my family/relatives and friends <3 for their encouragement and support.

I am thankul. Really am.

xo,
Tiff

Work and personal errands are consuming my days, I would really love to have more of my 'me time' to just do whatever.

Dear readers, will you pray for me and my family? I am expecting a few calls of great news, starting with tomorrow, can't wait to get a positive response. Also, hoping for better news from my papa and my brothers. Aamiin.

In the midst of my busy times, I still find some few minutes to find my alone time to just sing.

Find me on snapchat: @tiff_ag

Whoever who knows this song, I love you!

A video posted by Tiff AG (@tiff_ag) on Aug 19, 2015 at 7:38am PDT

Selamat Hari Raya to all of my loved ones and all of those who are celebrating Raya/Eid this year. Eid Mubarak!!

I was supposed to balik kampung to SG but had to cancel plans! I blame the country's economy - the sudden decrease in currency, rise in gas prices and GST!

I got SO pissed last week, someone hacked into my credit card and spent USD150 on damn flowers, immediately without any delay, I called my bank and terminated my card. Why can some people be so EVIL? Sigh!

However, I had a chilled, laid back Raya break <3 Cooked 9 different Raya dishes for the family which was my first time EVER. It was a success! Truly hits home. Sighsss.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say my deepest apologies to those that I've caused any hurt, just believe that none of them were intentional. We're only human. Let's start anew and bring in happier memories. I wish you well and to continue living a life filled with the sweetest most wonderful moments~!

To my dearest family, relatives, best friends, friends and my wonderful readers near and far,

I love you and I am utterly grateful for each of you!

In shaa Allah, we'll get to see each other soon.

xo,
Tiff

My first practical lesson starts August 1st, THAT's after the whole festive days of celebrating Raya (Eid). Now that I brought that up, can you believe that a whole Ramadhan month has gone by? I can't believe it cos it felt like it jusssst started!!  

Alhamdulillah, my fast this year has been peaceful.

Syawal is just around the corner. It makes me sad that I won't be able to go home, our currency has gotten so bad- the decrease in currency has affected a lot of people when the news was announced last month. Then, the rise of gas prices last week has been atrocious, how can anyone be so evil to do that during the festive holidays here!? ON TOP OF THAT, the newly implemented GST has changed the society's mind when it comes to spending.

I am sad about our economy.

Other than that, I'm pleased with the progresses I've been putting in action so far.

Till the next post :)

Have a good week everyone!

xo,
Tiff

Alhamdulillah!

Happy that we finally have an Auto driving class in Malaysia now. I'm a lot more confident and motivated to get my licence.

(^__^  )v

x,
Tiff

So, I survived the brutal 7 hours of trying to absorb every single chapter of the textbook into my brain.

Did that while I fast isn't a joke at all!

Talking about fasting..

I would like to wish every one of my readers who are fasting a Salaam Ramadhan 2015!

Next up, computer test!

Study mode on!

x,
Tiff

I want and dream to be an established and successful woman one day.

I'm making little steps day by day by gaining knowledge (the street smart way, of course!) and by experiencing it first hand in the real world.

Will you pray for me that my efforts don't go in vain?

Thank you and I love you all!

xo,
Tiff

So much has been going on lately and 2015 has kicked off with a positive start!

What have I been up to?

Well, let's see:

• Moved to a new pad (in time for  Ramadhan, Raya and a Special Day)
• Painted rooms
• Built pillars and partitions
• Been tidying and organizing the house
• Been decorating the house
• Been organizing family events and get-togethers
• Did my marriage course 
• Received my marriage course certificate
• Will be enrolling into driving school next month
• Been scheduling driving classes
• Been balancing work and personal errands altogether
• Been re-branding and jump-starting a business
• Being a pet owner of 2 silly kitties has been adventurous (been pooped on, clawed and scratched at, but I adore them!)

Oh life, you are a funny one. This road may not always be smooth but I've always set my mind to focus on the good things!

Errands keep piling up from one thing to another. This growing up thing is one hard work but I always learn to manage it. I love how days have not gone to waste, there is always something for me to do, be it something new or in routine, I continue to grow and learn more about the many aspects in life.

I have a few dreams I've been working on to become a reality, I just wish I had another me to continue the work for me while I'm on idle mode or for when I am asleep.

In this beautiful country, there is a whole stretch of land, so many opportunities and so many things to do. I hope opportunities will come forwards and give me a chance to show my true capabilities after all the efforts I've put in and the things that I've learned from over the years. I don't want to stop believing. I want to try harder!

Bismillah.

Hopeless dreamer, but a realistic go-getter,
Tiff

So, after allllll these years, I found out that my body isn't able to identify or digest certain foods! I am so glad to know that but in a way it will be difficult to adjust because these are the foods that are common in every dish here.

• Refined white sugar
• Gluten (white carbohydrates like rice, bread and noodles)
• Red meat
• Processed meats (
• Instant foods
• Food in cans
• Wheat
• Soy products
• Beans
• Coffee

I have to avoid them at all times and continue to be cautious about what I eat or I will face many complications with my health.

Alhamdulillah, I found out sooner.

xo.

I came across a few articles about grown ups who have experienced the initial stages of their own parents' separation or divorce. While there are at least some, there are not many. A lot of the other articles focused on the effects that could happen to a young child, so, here I am contributing a piece of what I have experienced as an adult child to my recently separated parents.

It is true that a young child could be miserably affected growing up with two parents separated while they are still very young, but it is still just as tough as a grown up to face the fact that my own parents are separated. I have gotten used to them being so close together for so long since I was very young. They have been married for 32 years last September 25th of this year. I've never seen them apart, no matter where we were or which country we've lived in.

We were always together.

I have moved to several countries near and far from where I was born, but wherever I was, I knew I had my papa, mama, big brother and my younger brother with me. I am the only daughter and sister in my family.

They were the only ones who stayed when I had to make new friends in each new school and each new neighborhood. They have seen me change over time, seen me go through phases in life and seen me as a bubbly baby to a silly kid and now to a working adult. They have always been there when everything else was new. I never knew where home is till this very day, but knowing the ones I love were near me was already enough to make it feel like home.

My clear advice to those who are facing what I am going through right now is for you to sit back and reflect on your situation deeply. Give yourself time to grief but don't go over the limits of over-dwelling and letting it affect yourself too much.

Here are some of the things you can do:

• Express! Let your emotions go, find a positive outlet that you can do to release any suppressed emotion out. Be it in the form of working out, writing, music, drawing, painting or anything that could positively distract you from thinking about problems all the time.
• You Are Never Alone! Don't hide the fact that you are facing a life-changing issue, let those who matter know that you are going through this in order for them to understand you better as a person. Pep talks help a lot! I'm thankful for my best friends, great friends, boyfriend, bosses, ex colleagues/colleagues who are like friends and relatives that do show concern.
• Have Your Own Me Time! This does not mean you can run away! This is for you to find a different setting for you to self reflect and give yourself time to pamper yourself at a spa, find books to read at the library, treat yourself a freshly brewed coffee with a slice of cheesecake at a cafe or anything that can make you feel relaxed.
• Plan A Quick Getaway! Take a short trip up to the mountains or by the beach to help ease your stresses away.
• Join a Volunteering Group! Go to an old folks home, an orphanage or a non-profit organization to do something useful and selfless! See how others are facing worse situations than you. By helping them, you are helping yourself too!
• Create a Bucket List! Jot down a list of things you want to accomplish in life or within a period of time. Try to set a due date and work actively into striving your goals.

• Re-acquaint or Strengthen Bonds! With your family members, relatives, friends and those who matter a great deal to you. Host a get-together with your family and friends like a simple BBQ on a sunny day or go on a friendly, fun night out with your best friends and close friends.
• Self-Love! Being conceited and self loving are two completely different things! You need to find love in yourself first before anything. Do a total transformation, find ways to make yourself be a better version of you. Change your lifestyle to a positive and healthy one.

• Have Faith! Be Strong! This may be a very common thing to say, but it surely helps! If you are a person who believes in God. Talk to Him and confide in Him. Cry and let your every emotion be felt when you are making your prayers to Him. Perhaps, this is a test/challenge in life that will help you become a stronger person. This will help you understand that strengthening your faith is not only when issues arise but to remember Him during times of happiness too.

• Don't Ever Get into Medications! Anti-depressants are a no go! I can't stress this enough of how this will affect you in the long run. You'll be so used to feeling numb that reality in itself will be too painful for you to handle. You need to overcome and face reality as a strong, positive person.
• Don't Ever Succumb to the Dark Side! Drugs, alcohol and not caring about how you carry yourself are just temporary highs. Don't fall into these things that could be dangerous to you. These can be a death trap. You can put yourself in many situations where you will be in so much trouble. Your life will be at tremendous risk. Please take care of yourself.
• Don't Run Away! You will only make it worse. Problems will be never-ending. You will make loved ones feel worried and have high blood pressure all because of you. People will resent you, YOU WILL RESENT YOURSELF and you will have regrets. Deaths could happen. You will miss moments in life with family. You really don't want to regret anything.
• Don't Be Dependent! When your family is having a crisis, do your best to lessen the burdens of your family members. Be independent! Do your own chores at home, settle your own self issues and find ways to pay your own bills and monthly expenses. Do not depend on your parents. You are growing up as an adult, start depending on yourself. Separation/divorce cases are already so costly, you would not want to be a big burden to any one of your parents.
• Don't Think of Suicide! You HAVE a whole long life ahead of you to discover many bittersweet moments in life. There are SO many chapters of  your life that you have yet to open, that's up to you to try to make the contents of your book a beautiful story. So, please continue to make your life filled with colors and joy. Keep a healthy and positive mind, okay!

I do have dreams of being a successful entrepreneur one day and wanting to create music all day every day. I dream to be in school again and be in a course that I personally want to do. I dream to be around artistic folks alike and be a part of something that will make me feel accomplished in life. But I have to secure myself completely as I am pretty much alone in this country, so I have to keep my priorities in check and survive myself in this rat-race city.

But hey! I am still here and I am always trying to improve myself as a person.

At the end of the day, you need to find peace in everything and find balance in every aspect of your life. Every single thing that has happened in life happen for a reason, just keep going into the direction that you want to be and move towards finding a purpose to make YOUR life a meaningful one. You will find out why such negative turmoil in life happened in the past, you will be a person who is consciously aware of your own surroundings if you overcome this issue positively.

One day, you will come out of this feeling like a renewed person and understand everything in life way, wayyyyyyyyy better.

If you have anything to share, feel free to email me or ask me questions. I will try to answer what I know and hopefully it will help you too.

Please remember to smile and keep that chin up, okay? (^_^)v

Thank you for reading!

xo,
Tiff