A. Rinum's Blog

When you’re too nice, people tend to take advantage of you. They use your kindness against you, and sometimes, they even make you feel guilty about circumstances that are not in your control or are not in your favor. When you try to think for yourself, these same people try to get into your head … Continue reading I am a people pleaser →

Accepting that you are gone leaves a puncture in my chest the hole is so big that I start bleeding when the thought of you skims through my soul. Why did the earth have to be so cruel to me? Was I not kind? Did I not pray enough? I’ve become immune to the pain now … Continue reading Why did you have to leave? →

I was nine or younger when a fourteen-year-old friend in my village was married off to a man much older than her.  I was twelve or younger when that male relative said, “Wives are free slaves,” as we, the women, were setting up the table for the men to eat first.  I was fifteen or … Continue reading CURSE OF THE FEMALE →

I don’t know if it was a dream because it was something, I couldn’t believe. I saw a boy with tears in his eyes and fire burning his hope alive. He quietly looked up and to God, he prayed “please kill me once and not every day.” I couldn’t watch so I ran and hugged … Continue reading the ten-year-old boy →

My pregnancy wasn’t all glitter and gold like you see on those Instagram posts. It was more of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and constant fatigue. I’m not complaining. My son is a blessing. He’s my little bundle of sunshine. My Noor. My reason to keep moving forward. Without him I don’t know how my life … Continue reading Anxiety with a dab of postpartum →

I guess it was a change of heart when that white girl with the blue eyes called out to me after class. I didn’t even know her name but she knew mine. Asia, she called me like the continent; completely butchering my name. “You’re amazing. I love what you write. It’s so raw and authentic … Continue reading A change of heart →

I gave you birthbut I did not give you life.You are not mine.You do not belong to me.I do not own you.You are nothing less than a miracle.A reason for me to celebrate. You are an amanat (gift) form Allah (SWT). An infinite, irreplaceable treasure that fills my soul with light every time your face … Continue reading A mothers letter →

People drink alcohol to get drunk, I drink chai (tea). I’m not the only one though. Chai has a very important significance in our culture. I’m from Pakistan by the way. Chai is a way of bonding. A way of letting go of grudges and anger. It’s a way of putting your heart and mind … Continue reading The importance of chai →

The blood slowly dripped from his gaping wound He yelled in pain as he fell to the ground He heard the screams of his brothers ahead “Go on without me was what he had said.” They were his people, he couldn’t let them die He felt those bullets rip him from the inside He slowly … Continue reading palestine →

Bleeding on the inside with no blood.Hurting badly but having no visible wounds.Aching like hell but there is no noticeable injury.You feel every excruciating second, but you don’t have time.You’ve done no physical work, but you feel so tired that all you want to do is sleep.Your thoughts move faster than photons and yet they … Continue reading Having anxiety is like: →