A Blog by Jaslina Yassin: January 2015

The tagline on my pullover says it all for me to be mentally prepared for 2015. Yes, I am a sucker for putting on tops with huge taglines that shout in your face. This pullover is just one of them. On the contrary to what it says on my black top, I always feel that the past in every individual's life plays an important roll in one's growth and development. It is impossible to completely forget one's past and move on. Rather, for me, my past consistently haunts me. Sounds negative? Not really. It is my past that guides me to make choices for my future and Alhamdulillah, I have been guided by The Almighty to have made many choices that have positively contributed to my mindset and my goals in life.

Lil' Muhammad's Outfit

SNOOPY TEE FROM UNIQLO KIDS

SOFT JEANS FROM GAP

MICKEY MOUSE SOFT SHOES FROM KIDDY PALACE

FIREMAN HELMET FROM TOYS 'R' US

2014 was a hectic year for me. I was mentally exhausted from work and one could not count the number of times I had contemplated to quit my job and be a stay-at-home mum. But like many, I have responsibilities and quitting cannot be an option, not any time soon at least. I still have passion in my job but the flame is slowing burning out.

So what do I do then?

'So quit!' said Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada.

Nah...

I made a choice before the clock struck 12 a.m. to 2015 and the verse from

Bob Dylan's 'Let Me Die In My Footsteps'

played over and over again in my head like a broken record -

'I will not go down under the ground

'cause somebody tells me that death's comin' round

and I will not carry myself down to die

When I go to my grave my head will be high

Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground'

GET OVER IT GIRL!

Yeh!

I made that choice to get over the bumps and bends in 2014 and face 2015 with a new-found strength. But before I could do that, I knew I had to let go of the negativity and keep only the positives that I could possibly squeeze out from my challenges I had gone through.

InsyaAllah, I was not going to 'carry myself down to die' because 'when I go to my grave my head will be high',

This outfit is truly symbolic for the 2015 Me. The 'loud' tagline on my pullover I have explicitly shared with you. The stretch pants that spells the ability to be flexible, to think out of the box, to accept new challenges that come my way. The floral sneakers - comfort shoes that will take me to new horizons InsyaAllah but yet keep me grounded all the time so that I will remember that I am God's humble servant - that no matter where I aim to climb, at the end of the day, I submit to His Greatness and surrender to the decisions He Makes for me.

Black, a dull colour to many but a strong one for me. It symbolizes the dark me. I am cheerful and bubbly many have told me. But only God knows the secrets that dwell beneath my skin. Yet the crimson red scarf adds a touch of colour to that darkness and spells my vibrant love for life, for nature for God's works.

2014 and the years that have past will stay with me. But InsyaAllah, the experiences, the learning journeys and the cuts and bruises I have incurred along the way will make me stronger.

So...yes...KEEP CALM AND GET OVER IT.

After all...