Your own personal-- happiness

I really enjoyed this clip.

I agree with much of it, for example, that after a certain level more money plays little role in one's happiness. I also agree, that the American Dream isn't necessarily the formula for success, if that success includes happiness.

That being said, there is much that keeps me from believing that there really is any place "happier" than America.

Why is that? Well, for me, it begins and ends with one word, freedom. I believe that the Danish, are the happiest in Denmark. But I believe that America allows at least the opportunity for anybody and everybody from anywhere to be happy, to be free -- and there is something to be said for that.

The basis upon which I speak is from my own background as a Bangladeshi Muslim American Young Middle-class Woman. I pointed out all these of my personal identities, because it is the freedom that America grants me to express each of these identities safely and freely that would ever allow me to build my happiness. In France, Muslim French Women are banned from donning the "hijab" or head scarf, and in Sweden, minarets are soon to be banned. The injustice behind these propositions bewilders me and makes me wonder not only how unhappy this lack of freedom would make those affected, but for those unaffected directly, how unsettling the thought would be that something so unfounded could happen to your neighbors.

In any case, I plead my case for America, because this country came as a result of the will and the want for religious freedom for Protestants, which has now come to mean freedom in probably the widest realm one could find anywhere in the cosmopolitan world. I'm not sure I agree with the statement as Denmark being the happiest country in the world, as much as it would be more correct to say that the Danish are the happiest people in the world. Though we may plague ourselves every night with the American Dream, at least I go to sleep knowing that here I have the freedom to reject that dream if I wanted, and someone that looked nothing like me and believed in nothing like me could make that dream a reality if he or she wanted-- and that, is what makes me truly happy.

It's never too late

to make a resolution

I found this on swissmiss-- an absolutely darling New Year's Resolution Generator. And all the ones found on here so far are something worth doing-- any time of the year! Check it out

New Year's Resolution Generator by Monina Velarde

In any case, my resolutions:

1. Take more risks
2. Not be embarrassed at myself for anything
3. Love God more (and show it)
4. Quit junk food
5. Be brave (enough to do #1)
6. Be excited for each day-- yes, that will include going to class and learning

(Go ahead and tell me yours-- the buddy system works WONDERS)

Oh yeah--

7. Study with buddies for at least 2 of my classes ;p

and last but not least, courtesy of Kanye West:

8. Have stuck my dick inside that bitch until that bitch came. (Medical school applications)

Things that came up today:

• New Year's Resolutions
• Isabelli Fontana
• Hunger
• vacuuming
• Denmark

Answer me this: Besides "thinking" what's ur fave thang to do in L.A.?

The following was another question posted to me on my formspring.me account

Given that you were either being "meta" or that you later found an especially cunning loophole for errogneous spelling (couldn't help myself), answer me this: Besides "thinking" what's ur fave thang to do in L.A. gurrrrllllll?! :)

My favorite thing to do in L.A. is to... not be by myself.

Hahaha it does get much more specific than that. But that is the beginning of it-- I don't think I enjoy much of LA without having my best friends around to join in.

My favorite thing to do mostly includes checking out art exhibits/museums. My friend and her boyfriend brought me to a Gala type event that took place in the evening, and it was just the best thing ever.

I also like doing things that seem to be exclusively LA, although they might not really be, such as eating at certain bakeries or restaurants and just really reveling in what makes
LA.

Definitely the museum art (and the friends) are my favorite.

Ask me anything

Have you ever thought about having your own talk show?

The following was a question posted to me on my formspring.me account

Have you ever thought about having your own talk show?

YES INDEED!

In fact, at first I thought about simply being an mTV VeeJay on TRL. My imagination can't take such limits though, and eventually I started daydreaming about having my own talk show entirely. I guess it was around sixth or seventh grade-- and I remember meticulously planning out this show in my journal. It was to be called "The Mia Show" and would have all sorts of segments all starting with the letter M-- "Mia's Man of the Week" "Mia's Must-Haves" "Mia's Moment" etc. etc. The show would of course end every week with an inspiring famous quote, and the segment would be called "Mia's Mantra."

I wasn't ever serious about the show for how much time you think I put into it. I am just a very detail-oriented dreamer. There was even going to be a Mia Magazine.

Looking back on it I would never market myself as Mia. Samiah or bust.

Great question.

Ask me anything

If you could choose any profession without the need to feel obligated to earn a living/pay the bills and only to gain daily self-fulfillment and enjoy

The following was a question posted to me on my formspring.me account

If you could choose any profession without the need to feel obligated to earn a living/pay the bills and only to gain daily self-fulfillment and enjoyment, what would you choose?

You know, I would expect myself to answer with things such as "Talent/model agent," artist/photog, or blogger/writer. But at the end of the day, the only answer that I want to give, even just on the basis of daily self-fulfillment and enjoyment, is "doctor." I can't imagine what could be better. And realizing that makes me feel very content. So thank you for asking this question and helping me realize that.

=)

Ask me anything

That would be cool! PS I miss you Britney

Refinery29.com posted an awesome "Oh Snap! Our Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Shot By The Sartorialist" once-- I love these kinds of things as something I used to enjoy in TEEN magazine about whether I should date the Rocker Dude or the Preppy Jock, but these grown-up ones are so much better. It keeps showing up really small when I try to post it, but here it is anyway, and you should check out the actual article.

Next, I spent last night watching the Britney Spears interview on Primetime with Diane Sawyer from 2004, which I had never seen. It made me all kinds of upset, which usually watching anything "Old Britney" does. She will always be my Great American Tragedy. Anyways. As much as I love whats hip and happening, I think I derive more pleasure from reminding myself of the things that mean something from the past. (Which is why my "Things That Came Up Today" tends to feature a lot of oldies.) We don't always agree on what's new, for example, I hate Taylor Swift. But usually there's something about older things that make your distastes or appreciation for them almost futile, and you're left just reveling in the general follies (or not) that made life so enjoyable or interesting or just memorable from back then. Even if it was two weeks ago. ;p

Things that came up today:

• Britney Spears on Primetime circa 2004
• the nervous system
• outdated cottage cheese
• whether a new year's resolution to spend more money is that good of an idea

Me gusta

I've never been that huge of a fan of Heather Marks-- but can I get a YUM YUM?

It's that FUR!

Vogue México | Heather Marks by Cliff Watts

Oh and I found these on my desktop-- might has well post and keep with the theme!

Things that came up today:

• a break up
• a bunch of pomegranate seeds
• a flash mob
• a movie trailer ("Greenberg" ft Ben Stiller)
• a new year