The world is changing fast. For us living in Pakistan, and news of blasts, attacks, fires and death remind us of the physical changes taking place all around us. Constantly. Even otherwise, and for others, the world is changing rapidly.

I was reminded of this in the heart of the silicon valley recently: Stanford University. I was aware that the world as we know is being updated minute by minute, and that there are blogs, and sites, and interactive portals. Yet I did not know that the degree of it all. People, its bigger than we know it to be. And for all those like me, aware of the this new world, on the edges of it, but not yet deep enough, there is stuff to be learnt. Will add a couple of interesting interactions and newer websites right here in days to come. Perhaps some of you might be able to benefit from it. 

One thing is clear, my blog and my updates in it have been quite a disgrace in terms of the blogging world. And after having been to stanford, and realizing the degree of twittering, facebooking, location sensitive services, and information congregation, I am vowing to be better at it, to become a part of it. See ya!

Pakistan, its politics, its people, and its system is slipping into despair. Most Pakistanis are appalled and embarrassed by the attack on the Sri Lankan team. Eye-witnesses, traders, and citizens are upset. But what can they do? While we all cringe at Indian media’s onslaught against Pakistan, and our sense of hospitality gets a harsh blow by comments from Chris Broad, what is it that we can do and say to make the world realize? Realize that we are not the fanatics the world is thinking we are, that our country has a great deal to offer even now, and that we really really appreciated the Sri Lankans who stood by us, and we wanted them protected. But its not the world’s fault. When elected representatives of the people cannot realise what the people want, how can the world know it? It is simply not possible.

Then why is it that Pakistanis continue to choose or allow one non-representing representative after another? For one thing, education has never been allowed to breathe in Pakistan, let alone be given the chance and time to develop into sense. But another major lacking seems to be a continuous identity crisis. Who is a Pakistani, what does it mean to be a Pakistani. Does anyone have any idea? Perhaps at the time Pakistan was created we relied on an identity so inherently alien to daily lives that we were not able to connect it to our inner personalities. After that, its all been downhill. With an obligation to uphold certain sensibilities in order to secure a place in the after life, people of Pakistan have been buffeted from one side to other. Utterly confused, with a vacuum where it really matters. And whenever there is a vacuum, an empty vessel jittery and unstable, it easily and forcefully fills with whatever comes its way. 

Confused, cast away, and castrated, the Pakistani wanders. What will come next, he seemingly has no power to understand, prevent or change. 

Is it too late to change this?

When you live in world ruled by traffic, last minute plans, large loving families, and six day work weeks, count on it that you will slowly go insane. I am no psychologist, but believing one plus one to be two, this is the very reason why people living, working and moving in sprawling cities are often well known for their bad tempers and relentless attitude. And it doesn’t happen overnight either, it happens, bit by bit, as Emily Dickinson put it, bone by bone. And then one day if you have the time to just look at yourself in the mirror, perhaps you will realize how much you have changed.

The feeling of constantly being rushed does sap you of your creative spirit. The passion to not just get the job done, but to go the extra few steps to making it more of what you are capable. To constantly take your ability and take it to higher levels by challenging yourself. To have time to remove all that is polluting the insides, and maintain all the good. This might sound like a lot of wasted time to many, but is it really? At the end of the day, your success and the satisfaction attached with it, is connected to how well you are performing at life. What your contribution is. So I would say, one should never be ashamed to take that little bit of time just for oneself….to unwind in a way which is natural to you, to sip tea while watching a show which makes you laugh, or penning down thoughts that help you sort out your brain. 

Many times those responsible for “time” in our lives do not understand the significance of this. I wish they would. Until they dont, we must strive to get what we still can, to make sure our inner spirit does not get lost.

The world is changing fast. I remember a time when I had to ask someone what blogging is. Since then, I have understood somewhat the significance, and the beauty, behind this strange word. So much so that I am motivated to put my thoughts to keyboard as well. When so much connection is literally available on my fingertips, I feel its a grave mistake to not learn from it. So I decided to try and become a part of it. But do I know what it takes to become a responsible, reliable blogger? Probably not, but as long as I have started, I am sure many of you out there will help me take the first steps. So without further delay, I will click and post my first entry and wait and see how words and thoughts overtake me from this point onwards.