How writing helps in curing depression

Me, I started writing when I was in grade 6. I had so many troubles at home, that I always needed a way out, always looking for a way to escape the horrible tapestries on my bedroom wall and all the things around it. I wanted to change, yet I wanted to stay inside my comfort zone. My parents got divorced when I was a kid, I hated living in a house where you would listen to screams at 3 a.m. in the morning all the way to 7 a.m. in the beginning, it was just me writing concise sentences at the back of my school notebooks and it gradually turned into getting a spare notebook and keeping it with me at all times.

I later found out that there are things called diaries with beautiful covers that you can use to write in, all your thoughts, complaints about the things you don’t have and whining about the things you do have. I asked my mom, who happens to write in Urdu, to buy me one and she did next month. I started writing anything and everything about my life, my thoughts and my life at school and with the relatives at home in that little diary. I’ve been keeping a journal ever since. I have 15 diaries at the moment, and I just turned 26. I intend to get another one soon.

I’ve been fighting depression for as long as I can remember. I started getting migraines when I was 18 and till now, I feel like half of my productivity and creativity died because of the constant pain and agony. My writing habit is what helped me cope with it. I used to worry about the most trivial of things and now, I feel more in control of my life. I compiled all that I have written in a poetic manner and published my first book by the name ‘Psychaotic’. The reason why I’m telling you this is because it was something that I could call my own, something that made me feel like all my diaries are in the book and I can read and learn through my own experiences. I helped countless people fighting depression and bipolar disorder through that. Maybe you can too. Writing isn’t easy. Sometimes the words flow through you, sometimes, they break your back with pain. But when they do come, you can see what you wrote and you can feel it. You can find it in your heart that you need to forgive yourself and know that whatever happened isn’t your fault. The World works in strange ways. You just need to be able to understand and see where it takes you.

Today, when I write, after all that time, I feel a tingle in my hands that tells me that I need to take out my journal and my black pen. I write, for myself and for the people who will read it ages later and I pray and I hope that it makes them feel better. Somehow, someday. If you are fighting depression, I assure you that keeping a journal will make you feel better. You will be able to look at what you’ve been through and make yourself stronger and better. You’ll be able to fight distress and anxiety. I bet those panic and anxiety attacks keep you up at night. That’s okay. I have them too. More often than you think. But my writing habit helps, it really does. You should get a diary too, write the littlest of things that bother you and cram them up in your writing. You’ll feel the difference in your mood, your anxiety and your depression after that.

There is no keeping it inside. You have to channelize it. Best thing is to pour it out on paper. It will change your life, as it changed mine.

'Sitaron K Darmian' Collaboration and The Future of Street Children

Sadequain Art Society has launched the first phase of its project “Sitaron K Darmiyan”. This is an educational project which is based on street children’s education and those children which belong to underprivileged families that cannot afford the educational expenses of their children and let them work and earn for the survival of their families. The main focus of this project is to teach drawing techniques and make a skillful environment for our future generations.

In the first phase of project team of Sadequain Art Society along with many youth organizations and university students visited Master Ayyub School yesterday. Master Ayyub School is an open air school which is situated in F-6 Sector of Islamabad where Master Ayyub is teaching those street children for decades. Sadequain Art Society has provided the stationary to the students and team of Senior Artists like Younis Roomi(General Secretory Sadequain Art Society) and Asrar Farooqi(Freelance Artist) have delivered a workshop on basics of Drawing Techniques. This training included skills of writing and drawing in which children have shown great interest.

Many healthy activities like poems telling and singing National Songs like Dil Dil Pakistan was also part of this project. Team of Sadequain Art Society has engaged children in many extra-curricular activities as well asked them many questions about their homeland Pakistan. And at the end, all the children were provided with chocolates and juices to make them motivated towards education.

Founder of Sadequain Art Society Syed Hassaan Ali Shah concluded the session with his remarks and told that this “Sitaron K Darmiyan” is an ongoing project which will be continued and our mission is very clear outcomes of which will be seen in society very soon. Our objective of bringing change through education will be fulfilled very soon. Today we have just started this project and in future, we might be targeting any other place within the country. After the end of the workshop on drawing techniques, we will evaluate the work of children and then will focus on those children which are showing good interest in the field of drawing and designing. He added that our team belongs to young and dynamic youth like Usman Khalid, Kashif Ullah, Syed Maryah, Shoaib Malick and Haris Mustafa, and Nida Yousaf which have great potential and working hard for the promotion of Art, Culture, and Education.

Master Ayyub was thankful to team Sadequain Art Society and has said in his remarks that this type of initiatives make me more motivated towards the betterment of Pakistan and bring change through education.

Many organizations like Dil Say Pakistan, Hamaray Log, Chal Chalen, Beyond Sanity Publishing and Acts of Kindness came in to support “Sitaron K Darmiyan”. Many University Students belonging International Islamic University, Islamabad, National University of Science and Technology and Bahria University also contributed to the project.

Mushaihid Shah our grooming star and Gold Medalist in rock climbing also supported and joined the first phase of project “Sitaron K Darmiyan”

You can find the event details here.

Weekend, Coffee and Rain- The Grand Launch Of Gloria Centaurus

4rth February 2017 was eventful in a way winters knock on your door and force you to step out to savor the cold and the fresh air outside.

I didn't want to get out either, but I adore rain more than anything in this world. So I got out. I was on my way while it rained and everyone was looking for cool new places to hang out in. I was scrolling on my Facebook feed and I noticed an event notification from 360 Affairs, a leading event management and PR company based in Islamabad. and I decided to give in to the temptations of the best coffee in Islamabad. 

Yes, It was the Grand launch of Gloria Centaurus. Rain? Coffee? Eye Candy?

All around check.

I got there just in time to see the Bosnian Ambassador Mr. Nedim Makarevic, one of the friendliest ambassadors we have, arriving with his adorable family. He was giving an interview to a local Television channel.

The place was happening! There were gorgeous cut outs around the place and everyone was fascinated by the decor and the environment. I could see actors, socialites, students and dignitaries all enjoying the best coffee with the gorgeous view of Islamabad.

Dr. Zhang Diojian, Head of Confucious Institute at NUML  was there too. I overheard him saying such nice things about the beautiful place and the efforts done by the team in order to make the event a great success.  It is always nice when you are surrounded by educated people who are mannered and are opinionated. You can always come have coffee while fulfilling the desires of your sweet tooth by the scrumptious desserts.

These are the cutouts I was talking about:

The best part about events in Islamabad now is the way people have stopped judging and forming cliques. Instead, everyone knows everyone in Islamabad and that brings a great deal of change in the foreign world. It tells people that we are welcoming, we love music and we love coffee.

Events like these make our weekends a whole lot better. Plus I got free Latte at the end of the event so YAYYY.

Anyway, grab your bag and whenever you go shopping in Centaurus, drop by Gloria. Sit outside to feast your eyes on the breathtaking view of Islamabad and order the best sandwiches offered there. Have a great weekend!

Here are some highlights from the event.

For more details, visit Gloria Jeans Centaurus

And for details about PR and Event Management, Contact 360 Affairs

Interview with Dr. Samiha Zubair, Poet, and a doctor.

• Tell us about yourself?

I think it's the most difficult question as still, I need to know a lot about myself. I belong to a middle-class family brought up by decent parents and I am great full to them. I completed my primary from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At a young age left for Pakistan and completed my Medical training as a doctor.  My first write-up was rather an opinion for how to keep city clean which came out in Dawn's Young World. After that was busy in studies. I started writing again though with fits and starts from 2013

• Why did you choose to write poetry?

I think it's like poetry chose me, this genre of writing was new for me too and u will be surprised to know that I have lots of books which adorn my shelf and borrowed from friends too but none is the book of poetry. Though if I was reading poetry as part of my grade course I would be mesmerized with words.

• When did you start working on your book?

I was writing mainly for relaxation just to vent out my feelings but credit for it goes to some of my colleagues who after reading my poems so much liked it that they encouraged me to go for a compilation of my writings and that's how it came in my mind. I submitted poems in two competitions for one I was selected among commendable writers. I then compiled and sent a rough draft around April 2016 and there was no looking back.

• Who are you currently reading?

I am currently reading the book version of  Miss Peregrine's Home for The Peculiar Children penned by Ransom Riggs. It's a light fantasy read.

• How do you manage to write with your profession keeping you busy?

I think it's a lot about prioritizing. As my profession takes up a lot of my time. I feel for some poetry is practiced and learned but for me, its borne out of situations I see, feel or experience so I cannot particularly slot time that this time is for writing poetry. It depends on my mood.

• Tell us about your upcoming book?

My upcoming book is Reneging Quiescence, the concoction of different experiences and common message in one way or other and that is a refusal to be silenced by wrong things. Sometimes we are aggressive in certain situations to criticize but where we can really help we just turn a blind eye.

• What are your plans for this book?

I hope this book is able to reach out to maximum readers out there and also help those who are not voracious readers but can read it to get an inspiration. It will be released on Amazon first and then as a paperback.

• Why do you think the culture of book reading declining in Pakistan?

There are obvious reasons like education being too much expensive so increase in illiteracy, from childhood not encouraged to read books, different aspects of social media like the net ,- television to keep families occupied so no one interested. Books fairs are being arranged in Karachi where a lot of old books exchanged but usually fewer crowds are willing to stand beneath the sun to buy books.

• Do you prefer Ebook or Paperback?

For me, the magic of Paper book cannot be compared with an Ebook ever. At Least for now and maybe in the future. Sitting on the computer for a long time is also damaging for eyes, your posture also.

• As a writer and a poet, what is your message to the world?

My message to the world is happy it's your right as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. Don't stop dreaming. Be good where everywhere there seems to be so much rush its like time has bought us.

N remember as I said before AS WE LABEL THE SKY SO WE SET ITS LIMITS.

I want to thank Irum CEO of the publishing house and an  author in her write for asking me for her blog interview.

You can buy her book by placing an order here: beyondsanitybooks@gmail.com

Know more about her Here.

Know about Beyond Sanity Publishing 

"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"

Do me wrong, do me right. Tell me lies but hold me tight.
Save your good-byes for the morning light, but don't let me be lonely tonight.

Say goodbye and say hello. Sure enough good to see you, but it's time to go.
Don't say yes but please don't say no, I don't want to be lonely tonight.

Go away then, damn you, go on and do as you please,
You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees.
I'm undecided, and your heart's been divided, you've been turning my world upside down.

Do me wrong, do me right, right now, baby. Go on and tell me lies but hold me tight.
Save your good-byes for the morning light, morning light,
but don't let me be lonely tonight.
I don't want to be lonely tonight, no, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight.

I don't want to be lonely tonight.

James Taylor, 1972

Don't let your loved one's feel alone, sad or cold this New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year!

John Lennon’s ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’; Piano, Bob Dylan Lyric Sheets Head to Auction

John Lennon's Sgt. Peppers era home piano, used by the Beatles legend to compose "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "A Day in the Life," among others, is set to hit the auction block December 10th as the marquee item in Sotheby's "A Rock & Roll Anthology: From Folk to Fury."

The red-and-black John Broadwood and Sons cottage upright piano, which was housed in Lennon's Kenwood home when he was writing songs for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, is estimated to sell for between $1.2 and $1.8 million; Lennon's "Imagine" piano, featured on the 1970 classic, sold at auction for $2.1 million in 2000.

Lennon's Sgt. Pepper's piano comes with a plaque, installed by Lennon in 1971, denoting that the instrument was used to pen "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "A Day in the Life," "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" and "Good Morning Good Morning."

Courtesy of Sothebys

 The "From Folk to Fury" auction also includes unique Bob Dylan items like the singer's autographed final manuscript for "Blowin' in the Wind," featuring Dylan's handwritten corrections and signature "Bob Dylan 1962."

Four handwritten versions of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" are known to exist; the one hitting the block at Sotheby's, estimated to sell for between $300,000 and $500,000, is the July 1962 version used by Dylan to record The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan track.

Dylan and the Band's Rick Danko's typed manuscript for "This Wheel's on Fire," with handwritten edits presumably by Danko, will also hit the auction block with a $60,000 estimate. Sketches that Dylan drew of Joan Baez, as well as sketches Baez made of Dylan, are also available at the auction.

Courtesy of Sothebys

Other notable items include the Eagles' original, handwritten manuscript for "Hotel California," featuring lyrics penned by both Don Henley and Glenn Frey and estimated to sell for between $500,000 and $700,000.

Original paintings by David Bowie, a cache of Lou Reed's Velvet Underground lyrics, Jim Morrison's 1971 handwritten notebook, John Lennon's Help! jacket and Johnny Rotten's lyrics for the Sex Pistols' "Problems," penned on Malcolm McLaren's office stationary, will also be auctioned off.

Read the original article here on Yahoo Music

'Going Bananas over Bananistan'

Here is what they said on their official Facebook Event Page.:

"It's the year 2030, and the country is under a full martial law. Things are at peace and prosperous, political players are all in different professions, and the media is on complete lock-down and only theater is allowed now as a means of entertainment. When a production loses its entire cast in a tragic accident ten days before opening night, they have to take drastic measures to recast the show. Watch the mayhem unfold as the worlds of theater and politics collide in this new comedy, as everyone scrambles to make the show a success - a relative term for those involved. After all, what impact can a play actually have?"

So what happens in Bananistan?

Tell you what, I was expecting a play that has lame punch lines over politics jokes that we've been hearing for years with actors we repeatedly see on TV. But No.

I was surprised by the  uncanny resembling costumes and makeup and hilarious impressions. This play made me think why our politics is on a repeat mode. Everyone gets a share, everyone gets their part in making or breaking the country. They retire and then they come back to ruin us some more. 

Bananistan shows exactly what happens to us every day in the politics of our country and brings out the tidbits of fun and humor all mixed in one. Mustapha Chaudhry was outstanding. I couldn't keep my face straight!

In the press conference, Saqib Sumeer said that it was difficult for them to write down Bananistan as they had to make it resemble people we know while making them entirely new. It took them 3-4 months to perfect the script.

Another exciting fact about this play is the way it has included Ahsan Bari's genius music mind in the presentation. And that's not it, this play will be the longest running play in Pakistan as this year, Kopykats has aimed to grace Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot as well as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with their performance.

"Our sole purpose is Entertainment", said Dawar, the creative genius and the person behind Bananistan. He also stated that in the next 2 years, they launch 5 plays in collaboration with Telenor.

The element of grace came when Iman Shahid hit a note so beautiful, that everyone in the audience paused for good 15 Seconds and then burst into an applause. Dawar has indeed picked the best for the play. 

Every actor in the theater play represented the best of their expertise and It was enlightening to see the revival of Theater and art. Tickets are going all out as everyone wants to see the marvel of comedy presented at National Library of Pakistan. The show will continue till 4th December 2016.

I'm proud to tell you that Beyond Sanity Publishing is one of the media partners and will be publishing interviews with the cast soon!

To know the details, call or text 0321-2049423 or visit Facebook.