A Smiling World Challenge: 10 Things About Me
Yes, Challenge Accepted!
It is the first ever challenge I am participating in on Medium. Speaking about myself is a mixed-feeling situation for me. I feel good about opening up and sharing some interesting facts, but at the same time, a shy person inside of me wants to stay hidden from the public eye.
Nonetheless, I see this challenge as an opportunity for self-development. I am going to stretch the boundaries and come out of my comfort zone. So here’s to talking about myself only…
- Hot Drinks are a No-No!
I am caffeine-sensitive and can’t drink tea or coffee. To be honest, I am not a fan of hot drinks either, as I do not enjoy drinking them as much as people do. An alien, right? My husband loves having company for tea, but I can’t do it. I used to occasionally drink hot drinks, but the final straw was when, 7 years ago, drinking a cup of Mocha in the morning from a Swiss café made me sick for 8 straight days.
2. Yes to games, Borderlands Anytime!
I have always loved playing games. I am not a gamer, but a leisurely and easy one. My most played games are strategy (Stronghold) and time management (Tower Defense)-based, even object finding games. Since I have motion sickness, first-person shooters and all 3D-type games just nauseate me. Yet, Borderlands is the one game that I used to play with my husband every weekend before I became a parent. Gaige the Mechromancer was my character :)
3. Yes, an Overthinker Here!
I am an overthinker. I would attribute it to overthinking that it took me this long to start writing. But I am actively working on it nowadays. I believe I am making progress, as I did not think over and over again about my morning encounter with a neighbour who was walking his dog, and the dog didn’t get scared of me today, and I couldn’t find the right words to convey this to them (shaking my head).
4. Subway Sandwiches are Love
Yes, I do love them, although I have rarely eaten them for the past 8 years or so. But I love the flavors, breads, and smells. The smell of the subway just makes me happy and wants me to eat one. I see people giving me weird looks when I tell them about my love for the subway, but I do not mind that because my love is stronger than any judgments, haha.
5. I cook delicious Pakistani Food (But I do Like Cooking)
From zero to now, an expert in cooking Pakistani cuisine, I learned to cook after my wedding. It is a cultural thing that women should be pro at cooking. I could not even name the spices, tell the difference between ginger and garlic, or recognize the vegetables correctly. Yet I learned all of that in a very short period of time. Now I am known as “the one who cooks tasty food” in the whole family. I even get suggestions to start a food business, but I do not like cooking!
6. I love Teaching
I love teaching, it feels so fulfilling. I never thought of becoming one while growing up or during my studies. But after my internship at KFC and a successful interview in the banking sector, I was offered permanent roles in both sectors, but the corporate world did not sit right with me; the vibes did not match. And I eventually became a lecturer and loved every bit of it.
7. Horror Movie? Anytime!
I love watching horror movies and have been watching them since I was a young kid. We (Me, my sisters, and my cousins) would rent a horror movie to watch on the VCR when we were younger. However, times changed and lives changed, but my love for horror movies never changed. A few of my favorites include A Nightmare on Elm Street, Tremors, The Exorcist, Orphan, Sinister, and Babadook.
8. I create Felt Fabric Designs
I love art and craft, and lately creating crafts and designs using felt fabric has been my favorite art and craft activity. I am already planning to turn this hobby into a business. It was initiated when I was expecting my first child, I created decorations using felt fabric for my son’s room. And did the same for my second child too. Now create designs in spare time to someday launch them as business :)
9. I am a Believer
I am spiritual, and I love to connect with God. I have faith, and I am a believer. I was born into a household that followed the religion prevalent in the culture and country we lived in. I understood it more growing up through my mother and never felt the need to dissociate myself from it because my life experiences only increased my faith in the divine and the practicality of following the religion. And I do not follow it the way the majority of people do; I truly believe in understanding the essence and needs that connect the religion to humanity and the universe.
10. I Love Food
I love food. This is my third point related to food in this writing, so you can imagine, haha. Food gives me pleasure. Buffets are my favorites because there is a lot of food and so much variety that I can enjoy at once. I love junk food, and I love healthy food. I love vegetarian food, and I love non-vegetarian food. I love home-cooked food, and I love on-the-go food. So yes, I love all the food ❤
Well, it felt good to open up to the community here. I hope you enjoyed reading it :)
P.S. This is my first writing for any publication on Medium :)
Thank you.
Madiha Sultan