My biggest regret during 2007 was being unable to spend as much time writing as I would like. Don’t get me wrong, I write. A lot. But I wish I could have spent more time writing about all the observations and thoughts I have from time to time. This year’s resolution is to stay true to what I love the most and post more often on my personal blog.
This year began with the world still in shock over the death of ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Then came the killings in Kenya. Since then, there’s just been more death and destruction. It’s a depressing situation when you wake up every morning to read stories about murders and death in places so close to home. Whether we like it or not, we live in a world that is increasingly focussed on the negatives and it’s additionally tougher to be positive and face the world with a smile. In times like these, I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book called “Three cups of Tea” written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
The book is based on a true story of a remarkable American man who set upon the task of building schools across Afghanistan and Pakistan. After raising funds under unimaginable circumstances, Mortenson builds schools in impoverished areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. By presenting a humane side to people who suffered so much, Mortenson and Relin manage to give this story a very real touch. Describing the cultural and religious barriers that he had to overcome, Mortenson also manages to teach a stranger about the hidden world of average people in a war-torn country. What I loved most about this book is that it breaks stereotypes in a sensitive world. It definitely gave me hope for a better tomorrow. It’s a must-read…