A Look Back On My 2014.

Not so long ago on an evening out with my brothers, I had a moment of reflection upon everything that happened in the course of 2014. This took me to the years where my girl Shar and I would promise each other on new years eve- the new year was our year. We did this for a couple of years until we both realized ‘our’ year was yet to come.
I smiled to myself as it occurred to me that 2014 was the year we were both waiting for; the one God had ordained. So much has happened in this year than in all the previous years we used to hang our hopes on. A dream I had stopped dreaming finally came true. I am gainfully employed and so is my girl. Knowing that we are going through this at the same point in our lives means everything to me. To be able to share experiences and hurts with each other as we navigate this new journey is more than one could ask for.
The road to financial independence is quite challenging for both of us. However, I am glad to be back on a scheduled and focused point in life. There is a lot of comfort in knowing where you must be at a particular time and what you should do than trying to figure out how to spend the day and make the time fruitful.
Also, artistic inspiration has been on a high this year than any other. I draw on and off every year which is nothing new but trying my hand at creating jewellery and carrying it off is something I never saw coming. Nurturing the talent has been quite the ride. The ideas are endless yet the time is rarely there. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Being a jewellery designer is one of my biggest dreams. It is what I want to be in the years to come. God willing. And taking these baby steps in the right direction are everything.
Best of all this year; is having my brother around. Sad’s being here has made the work experience a little bit easier. There are times when I don’t think he understands me at all yet he does. Having him around at this moment in time is more than I could have ever imagined because at the end of the day; he is my confidant, my sense of humor and most of all my brother.I shall miss him immensely when the time for him to leave dawns. I pray for nothing but the best for him.
Enough of the mushiness. LOL. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything that’s been 2014. The friends I have made both old and new, the experiences, gift of life to see most of it come true and the new dreams.
Happy New Year people. May all your wishes and dreams come true in the coming year.

My 2014 Highlights – A continuation.

From L-R: Eid, manning front office, workshop lunch, lunch with Joy and Birthday Surprise

31/05/2014 – Surprise birthday celebration at home with two of my best friends, Clare & Malcolm. I looked like a hot mess while they were all spiffy. 
04/06/2014 – God will surely punish me for the lies I tell about being married to guys I don’t want to encourage.
- Meeting Mark put a whole different spin on disability awareness.
05/06/2014 – Helped a blind man edit his work. I’m glad we had a chat about what I’d really love to do and where my interests lay.
11/06/2014 – Sad’s birthday.
- Movie plans involving boys never materialise. I should stop making them.
- 30 day blogging challenge, can I hack such an undertaking?
15/06/2014 – Spending time with the keeper of my secrets. I love her.
16/06/2014 – I hate to see her sad; I hope she mends fences with her mum and not let the boy rule her life.
21/06/2014 – One of those days where I wish other people’s good fortune would rub off on me. It is hard being your own hero when you hardly know where to start.
08/07/2014 – 135 views on Simply Shanah.
14/07/2014 – The prospect of seeing an old friend and catching up.
- That sense of accomplishment you feel after finishing the set tasks of the day.
15/07/2014 – Finally finished my braided necklace and thanked God for my creative skills.
16/07/2014 – The compliments on the necklace are overwhelming and heart warming.
24/07/2014 – Unexpected opportunity at work. May it happen as God intended.
- Visit from my girl Belle.
28/07/2014 – Eid. Having one of my oldest friends spend it with me makes it more special.
29/07/2014 – 6 AM inspiration. Another design to add onto my ‘heart’ series.
- An SMS in lieu of the dreaded phone call. Pending interview.
30/07/2014 – Job interview! I’m glad it went better than expected.
- 22OOHRS inspiration visit and going with it.
31/07/2014 – Lunch with OR. It had been long overdue.
03/08/2014 – I feel like I am on the cusp of a yet-to-be written chapter in my life.
06/08/2014 – Utterly frustrating day but a bad beginning made for a good ending.
- My mum and Sad’s excitement on my behalf. It is all so hard to take in.
08/08/2014 – Another design to add onto my ‘heart’ series.
15/08/2014 – Seeing my aunt Asia made me miss seeing her and my ride or die girl on the regular.
17/08/2014 – Check up from the one who started this work journey in my life and his kind wishes made me so happy. I hope it all goes well.
22/08/2014 – Treated myself to a solitary meal at an eatery. I missed these moments of eating by myself in a fancy place.
29/08/2014 – Volunteer workshop at Africana and the meal that followed. A good way to end my volunteer experience.
30/08/2014 – Thoughts of the coming chapter in my life. Absolutely scared and excited at the same time.
01/09/2014 – First day of the rest of my work life. Several things not to like but the work is alright.
02/09/2014 – Chat with my bestfriend from Primary School changed my perspective about work and its challenges.
12/09/2014 – The fact that my crappy handwriting and signature now appear on a few official documents.
15/09/2014 – Got my first work I.D.
17/09/2014 – Gentlemen still exist.
22/09/2014 – If you don’t teach people how to treat you right, they never will.
24/09/2014 – The keeper of my secrets is having a baby!
01/10/2014 – Birthday of the Keeper of my secrets. I think of her as my baby yet here she is having a baby of her own on the way.
- Completed my first month of gainful employment.
21/11/2014 – Celebrating employment with the boys.
23/11/2014 – Artistic inspiration struck yet I’d been in search of writing inspiration.
03/12/2014 – When you’re down in the doldrums, the last thing you need is abuse from a page you go to to chill.
04/12/2014 – So moody lately.
05/12/2014 – Coincidental meeting with a Facebook page mate.
06/12/2014 – Lunch plans with Baby J fell through and I came off looking like an ill-mannered brat because of my mood swings.
07/12/2014 – The knowledge that there is such a thing as Plate Theory.
11/12/2014 – Mariam Nan has been of great help lately yet we have never met. She’s like my sounding board when I need an impartial voice of reason.
12/12/2014 – Waking up to potentially good news and the promise of it coming true. I couldn’t be more happier for Sad.
14/12/2014 – Plumbing with my daddy although I just held the tools and gave orders like a general while he worked.
- Discovered a reader of Simply Shanah. Funny how people come into your life.
15/12/2014 – Contemplating the purchase of Art supplies for my office.
- Celebration with the boys over Sad’s good news.
 16/12/2014 – I succumbed and bought Art supplies for my office. The creative release marginally improved my mood and the piece looks beautiful.
- Catch up session with my friend Captain Jack Sparrow.
18/12/2014 – My mum saying I look thinner due to work.
19/12/2014 – Being provided the opportunity to get to know someone you have been keeping on the peripheral of your brain.
- Counting days to break off time from work.
20/12/2014 – Last day of work until the 5th of January.
21/12/2014 – Finished a design to one of my Works-In-Progress drawings.
- Taking an afternoon nap after several months of work. I had forgotten how taking and waking up from one actually felt like.
26/12/2014 -  Art grind in the wee hours of the night.
27/12/2014 - Created a tribal necklace in a day! Woot!
-Alhamdulilah for creative inspiration.
29/12/2014 - Jewellery editing is hell on my nails but the outcome is always superb.
- I miss my nose piercing a lot, lately. I should man up and see to it because it's been 3 years without it.
30/12/2014 - Getting my hair done. Wonderful way to prepare for the new year. If you look good, you feel good no matter what!

There was so much to be grateful for in 2014 because it has been very good to me. I hope it marks the beginning of many more wonderful opportunities. And that everything happens as it was meant to. Ameen.

My 2014 Highlights.

Wondering what to do with myself

“Everyday might not be good. But there is something good in every day.” - Unknown

2014 has been more than surprising. I drew more in this year alone than I ever did after University and a dream I had long stopped dreaming finally came true. On that note: it is finally time to share all that I am grateful and have been for, over the course of the year. This time round, I am not only sharing the good but some of my noteworthy thoughts and the things that made me smile. To reiterate what the above quote says; we do have a bit of good even in a bad day.

01/01/2014 – Unremarkable New Year’s eve but a surprising first of the year.
- Snake sighting had the house in an uproar.
- Glued my little finger onto a ring in an attempt to fix it.
03/01/2014 – Off for a few days to see the keeper of my secrets and Baby Jara.
07/01/2014 – Receiving medication and ointment from Baby Jara.
08/01/2014 – Returned home due to poor health. Loved the time I spent with my cousins.
12/01/2014 – When a family visit brings something you never anticipated nor expected.
- Looming interview.
14/01/2014 – Interview day. Hope it is the beginning of many.
23/01/2014 – Catch up session with my girl Emma.
- Promising news.
08/02/2014 – Artistic inspiration = happiness.
13/03/2014 – Frightful night! A visit from my girl Clare was the reward I needed.
20/03/2014 – Made my first pair of earrings.
23/03/2014 – Woke up on the right side of inspiration and made a few bracelets.
30/03/2014 – A twitter follow from someone I admire so much in the fashion industry.
31/03/2014 – March has been a good month for creative inspiration.
01/04/2014 – 419 views on beautifully fierce.
03/04/2014 – Discovered a lighter patch of skin beneath my lower lip. The beginnings of vitilago.
04/04/2014 – Had my hair weaved.
05/04/2014 – Took out my hair after a night. It looked like a red mop on my head.
06/04/2014 – Got my hair weaved again. This looks more like me.
07/04/2014 – Time I got my life in order. This isn’t the way I wish to live it.
09/04/2014 – Promises are being made and I couldn’t be more sceptical.
10/04/2014 – Discovered Simply Shanah had it’s highest views on 06/04/2014
11/04/2014 – You may not be rich enough to buy your dreams but you can be rich enough to buy the basics. – Shanah
13/04/2014 – Knowing you’re so well loved and that everyone cares.
- Anxious, excited and a little sceptical.
16/04/2014 – Turned up for my first volunteer experience EVER!
- Saw my first ever male little person and it brought a smile to my face.
- Dad’s inquisition over my whereabouts. I am the only child he counts on to be home at all hours.
17/04/2014 – Seeing a deaf couple interact is fascinating.
- Manned the front office for awhile and I loved it.
- Saw the little man once again and I smiled. At this point he probably thinks I am into him.
19/04/2014 – The most important people ask all the right questions. – Shanah
- The decision to let go of the one who made the cookie crumble.
21/-4/2014 – 208 views on Simply Shanah. Happy the blogs are getting hits.
28/04/2014 – When someone tells you how special you are then proceeds to take away the warm and fuzzy feeling in one fell swoop of nastiness and cruelty.
01/05/2014 – Birthday month and I am as sick as a dog.
10/05/2014 – Tears!
- When the one person you thought was the exception to the rule turns out to be one of them.
- A decision to not give future little Shanah siblings. She will be an only child. God willing.
15/05/2014 – Nothing beats the knowledge and feeling of knowing that someone is into you.
16/05/2014 – Design inspiration.
18/05/2014 – Tentative plans with my best friend from Primary School.
- Beginning of birthday week.
22/05/2014 – Birthday!
- Birthday song from my ride or die girl.
- Conversing with someone you know wants you is extremely awkward.
24/05/2014 – Lunch date with my bestie from Primary School. I’m glad to have maintained this friendship.



The highlights continue...