Gulf Elite Issue 8

Gulf Elite

KANYE WEST NOT A DOUCHE AFTER ALL

LIVE, BREATHE, THINK

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CHRISTOPHE GUILLARME SOPHISTICATED SIMPLICITY IN FASHION

Issue 8

simply the best

STUDINOV MARKETING STRATEGIES DESIGN, CONSULTANCY AND MARKETING SERVICES EMAIL US AT: STUDINOVSTRATEGIES@GMAIL.COM

EDITOR’S LETTER

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s we fight through our ventures, going through sleepless nights, long hours and constant pressure to finish what we started, we keep a relentless hidden question swirling through our minds, a question that manages to pop up constantly. A question that we, deep down in our guts, know we have figured out, but yet keep the reasonable rational thought that, “you just never know what might happen.” It’s the tricky question we don’t want to think about, but yet can’t help to reflect upon while laying in our bed, wide awake, thinking; Am I going to succeed? Is all of this hard work going to pay off, ever? What if I don’t make it and become one of those average Joes you see on the streets wearing their 100 dollars suits, heading towards their 9 to 5 jobs? What if I fail? As crazy as this may sound, that is exactly how you’re supposed to think, that’s the exact mentality every successful entrepreneur has, and I’ll explain why.

Ibrahim Naji - Co-founder/Editor

It´s those self-critical questions that keep us on our toes. It’s that “what if” mentality that makes us fight even harder, with the hope of achieving whatever we want to achieve. It’s the fear of failure that unleashes the beast inside every one of us. The beast that has the capability to work through those long nights and stressful hours in order to achieve what your fears made you doubt you could. Whatever you think you can’t do, whenever you doubt your own capability of getting the job done – reverse that negative psychological “block” into a motivational booster, into a stimulus to prove to yourself and to everyone else, that you will, in fact, make it – not matter what!

And lastly, remember that you are the one who creates your opportunities; you are the only one who establishes your own success. With that being said, don’t ever let dumb bullshit excuses or thoughts stand in the way of what you’re capable of, just because it’s a comfortable situation to be. Because as much as it may seem comfortable in the time being, it’ll come back around and bite you in the ass, reminding you of what you could have done and changed to reach that ultimate destination to the top.

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APRIL ISSUE - 8

Index

GULF ELITE 2

1

Weird?

2

Pissing Them Off

3

Social Media

4

Entrepreneurship

5

Christophe G.

6

Jenny Aleksia

7

Noor Wazwaz

8

Kanye West

9

1 Month Offline

10

Summer Fashion

11

In Love or Obsessed

12

Pursuit of Happiness

No, just an entrepreneur

You’re doing it right then!

Bridging the gaps

Live, dream and breathe it

A fashion trendsetter

Feline Beauty

Nothing can stop her

Not a douche after all

And still alive

The Do’s and Don’t’s

It’s a tricky situation

Know where to look

www.kairossociety.org

WEIRD?

NO, JUST AN ENTREPRENEUR

S

itting in a room with all my friends, I realized that I am so much different than they are, my own friends, the people I chose to hang around with. How is it that their views on life and business can be so different than my own? None of them can see an opportunity when it hits them in the face, not one of them would “throw away that much money” to hire a coach and none of them are willing to take a small risk in stocks to make a great gain, let alone risk everything you have to start a business.

It is absolutely pointless for me to even discuss or argue with them about business or any other entrepreneurial related topic because they have been taught and raised with the simple collective idea that you go to school, achieve decent grades, get an education and finally get a good job behind a desk somewhere. Absolutely nothing I say now can change their minds, no matter how hard I try to tell them that they could actually gain financial freedom, help their family with what ever they wanted, fulfill their dreams and live life on their own terms instead of having to listen to some stuck up boss that tells you what to do for the rest of your life.

Every time I try to explain my concept to these individuals, in the hope of maybe changing their minds or at least give

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them another perspective to perceive business or entrepreneurship from, they get this crazy idea that I’m trying to set myself above them or that I’m saying that they won’t be successful otherwise in their desired field, which I’m obviously not. Frankly I hate it, so I have completely stopped myself from even coming close to talking about these topics, about how they could live life on their own terms, and will let my “craziness” speak for itself.

Without saying, there are big risks you have to take in order to achieve the “financial freedom” I mentioned earlier, but the reward is well worth it. And of course every now and then you have a setback or two, but as long as you stay focused and determined and make the best moves you can, you’ll bounce back two-fold!

There are so many different ways to be successful in life, but for me, being successful means that I accomplished the one task that I set out to do, everything else I get or do that comes along with the success is a bonus. So what is that one goal that I have? A while back, about three years ago, my brother and I were talking about business (away from my friends) and how we both wanted to establish our own ventures and business so that we could do what we desired, without putting any limitation

APRIL ISSUE

to our imagination and truly live without having to worry about anything. In short, we both basically wanted to become millionaires, and I mean who doesn’t?

But that’s not really the point.

The point was our elaborations as to why we wanted to be entrepreneurs and run our own empires. A motivation that many young individuals have which really boosts them towards achieving their goals. You see, our parents and grandparents worked extremely hard their entire life in order to sustain our family to the comfortable point we have today.

They did absolutely everything in their power to give us what they didn’t have during their childhood and upbringing. Because lets face it, most of us are spoiled brats compared to our parents’ upbringing, something I realized later on in life, as I started appreciating and noticing the little things.

So I vowed to myself that I would get my family to that “next level”, and agreed that I would do whatever it takes, no matter what, so that they no longer had to worry about the financial expenses we all worry about and enjoy the rest of their lives. And keep in mind, no matter what, I would never give up!

My goal was to hit the million dollar mark by the time I turned 30, if not sooner. Not because I felt like that was enough money to set my family up for life, but just because it was a benchmark that would tell me if I was reaching my goal or if I needed to re-think things.

Now of course there were other things I want to do - cancer research- since it has had such an impact on my family, skydiving and other crazy stuff I had

written down on my bucket-list!

These are all attainable goals though, and I felt like I definitely could make a huge difference if I just had the guts to put my mind to it. But, surprisingly enough, I was told by a friend that this goal was “pretty illogical” and that I should just focus on getting my degree and getting a good, high-paying job that would provide for my family, because that is what’s more “realistic”. She then proceeded to tell me that it couldn’t happen anyway because my heart was in it for the wrong reasons. Not realistic? Wrong reasons? It was crazy, she was telling me this as if it was unachievable, when in fact, it wasn’t!

It’s like I said earlier, my friends don’t have the same mentality as you and I, so when they state illogical dumb statements like that, we may ending up having a little heated argument (especially with the “illogical” comment). As far as what the “right” reasons were concerned, she couldn’t tell me, but if this isn’t a reason to accomplish any goals, then this isn’t the world I want to live in! Let me tell you something; there are almost no wrong reasons to pursue your dreams, no matter how wild, unrealistic and difficult they may be. Don’t be afraid to have those “unrealistic” goals, because the only people who do think they´re unrealistic are the individuals who are afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone to see how great they can actually be.

Take those risks, and make that leap of faith.

BRANDON JOLICOEUR

PISSING THEM OFF? GOOD!

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re you losing weight? “You should be happy with your own body!” Saving children in Africa? “You should save your own country!” Curing cancer?

“What took you so long?” Whatever you do, you’re going to annoy someone, and annoying someone can be a good thing. Let me show you the virtue of being an occasional asshole.

Rule 1: There are more important things than other people’s feelings

This is not to say that being an asshole will make you successful. But an unwillingness to occasionally be one is an almost certain road to failure.

Rule 2: Hate is a side effect of impact As your actions impact more people, the less those people will understand you:

Imagine a face-to-face conversation, with motives and nuance: “As it One of the reasons successful people spreads, the simple message is intercan sometimes come over like asspreted.” And outright distorted. This holes is because they’ve learned that happens even when people read the there are far more important things exact same words on a screen. We in this world than what other people just do it in our heads. feel. It’s an uncomfortable truth. We’re The only thing this process needs is raised to be nice, and for good reaenough people. If you’re impacting sons. Niceness is safe. It’s excellent enough people in any way, you’re goat maintaining the status quo. Nice ing to be tragically misrepresented in people are conscious of what might the time it takes a teenager to poop upset others, and avoid such things, out a tweet. which is deadly if you want to accom- You can avoid all of this by not doing plish anything of significance. If your anything important. If your biggest mission is to lead, create, or better decision in life is what you change the world, surrendering to the emoyour desktop wallpaper to, no probtional concerns of others will paralyze lem. But if you want to write a bestand kill you. Leaders that can’t make seller or end poverty or change the tough decisions can’t lead. Artists world in any way whatsoever you’re that can never offend anyone can gonna have to cope with pissing off never delight anyone either. people entirely by accident.

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Rule 3: Just because someone is offended, doesn’t mean they’re right Think back to a time when you were angry – say you were cut off in traffic.

How intelligent were you when you were pissed off? Anger is an emotional response, and a spectacularly stupid one.

It’s almost never in proportion, nor is it necessarily even just. It’s a fleeting impulse, like thinking a stranger is cute or preferring one color over another.

And like any such impulse, the usual provocation for anger is association.

Some people might hate Apple, others hate Google. Some people are right wing, others left. Say something nice about one group, and you’ll ignite the primal rage in the others before they can stop to think. Pretty much everyone thinks like this, sadly, unless they’re trying really hard.

Which leads to a crucial conclusion: conforming to other people’s anger is caving to the most stupid part of their nature. Be an asshole and ignore those, um, assholes. The only way to avoid pissing people off is to do nothing important. Which leaves you with a choice, whether you like it or not: where will you settle on this scale? Most of us fear upsetting the emotions of others. When we upset people, we’re compelled to justify ourselves. We yearn to win over our detractors. We seek everyone’s approval.

And just one criticism among a hundred compliments burns into our brain like a cigarette.

That’s actually a good sign. It means you’re not really an asshole. Just don’t be afraid to act like one where it matters.

OLIVER EMBERTON

The voice of generation Y

www.elitedaily.com Coming Soon

SOCIAL MEDIA

W

BRIDGING THE GAPS

hat do you want to achieve If you have any additional goals besides the with your social media pro- ones mentioned above, feel free to write files? Are you seeing the re- those down, too. turn on all your efforts? Are you keeping up just because you are sup- 2. What’s your Strategic Plan? posed to, or do you have an actual plan?

1. Where is the Social Media gap?

You are not investing all this time, effort and resources just for the sake of doing it, right? No, you want to achieve tangible results and what better than actual increased revenues?

The easiest way to do so is to use what you already have and optimize that. So, think about the following:

First thing you should do is to take a look at your current situation. Select a few indicators you want to use as a measuring tool. For example, these indicators can be the number of followers on your profiles, percentage of engaged followers, a total reach, amount of newsletter subscribers, • What can you do to make more from number of clicks, or even number of gener- your existing customers? (For example, can ated sales calls. you upsell them a service or product? Do you have an opportunity to cross-sell or Then, list your objectives for those indica- bundle your offerings?) tors (if you currently have 1100 subscribers • What can you do to generate more but you want to have 4,000; or if you cur- new customers? (For example, can you get rently have 500 people following you on an exposure that you can leverage on? Can Twitter but you want to have 12,000 follow- you appear in front of a group of your ideal ers)… clients?)

• How can you revitalize lapsed and lost customers? (Be sure to understand why Specific action plan they left and determine how you can apNow write down specific action and steps proach them – with new offers, different you need to take to bridge that gap. For in- terms?) stance – create topical calendar by a specif- Now further develop each one onto an acic date; compose all the updates and queue tionable plan. them; add a time in your calendar to write newsletters; write newsletters; reach out to 3. What Will Your Initiatives Be? existing LinkedIn connections, etc. Whatever the needed action may be, write it down You know what they say: “A Goal is Simply with its deadline next to it. a Dream With a Deadline” GULF ELITE 10

For the next six months, lay out the major goals you want to achieve (that align with the plans, goals and strategies you just worked on), and determine their deadline.

To assure you can commit to reaching those goals, consider setting one per month, if you know your time restrictions may prevent you from achieving more.

On the other hand, you need to get out of your comfort zone and break old habits in order to achieve new results. But that’s a different conversation.

4. Who is your target audience and where can you find it?

This part of the plan should be self-explanatory: before you can do anything, you need to be clear on who you are targeting, and where your audience is. Only then can you develop a messaging that will resonate with your market as well as build presence where you know you can reach them.

5. Are Key Words Really That Important and Everything You Need?

It can be difficult to keep adjusting to ever-changing techniques that various search engines are using to find you.

But once you are clear on which keywords your audience is using when they are searching for you, it makes it all much easier.

Without going into too much details on Search Engine Optimization, Google algorithms, Facebook newsfeed algo-

rithms, and so on, do at least the following: • Make a list of particular keywords your target audience is using • Make sure these keywords appear in the content of your website, blog, social media updates, newsletter, etc.

• Make sure you expand on these key words and form actual meaningful sentences or questions – imagine what your audience would search for, or ask.

6. Just Do It Now here comes the hardest part of them all: actually sticking to the plan, implementing it and checking back on regular basis to measure the progress and results.

If you are like many other business owners, then you simply don’t have the time to do all of the above consistently. Utilizing tools such as HootSuite, marketing calendar, good-old checklists and consciously setting aside a few hours per week to do all the writing and posting the updates will save you the time and headache. As an alternative, you may want to consider outsourcing this part to a virtual assistant or marketing agency.

In return, your consistent presence will result in increased interest from your audience and eventually you will see increased number of inquiries.

SARA O. SPEICHER GULF ELITE 11

#NIGHTCLUBSROAD Start 15 August Till 26 August 2014

The Night Clubs Road is an opportunity for companies to create links, contacts with other SMEs and large companies in diverse and varied elds and different locations.

This event takes place for 11 days, and is the rst Transcontinental Rally to link Europe, Afric and Gulf Countries. ANWAR WARDI, the Rally Organiser arranges overnight 5-star accommodation for Participant.

Moreover, unlike fairs, congresses and seminars, The Night Clubs Road, escorted by a magniicent procession moves to discover his prowess to the public. It is a mobile and festive fair that brings together different entities (companies, journalists, personalities ) with common interests .

With limited number of spaces available, organisers are inviting participants from across the UAE and Middle East to sign up for the high proole extravaganza.

Potential Participants can nd out more at www.nightclubsroad.com Entry Ent Fee : 50,000 € ( All Charges are included in Entry Fee )

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

E

LIVE, DREAM AND BREATHE IT

ntrepreneurship is cool, fun, and makes you tons of money. That’s the conclusion we hear across social media, from the latest billion dollar deals Zuckerberg is locking to new hot startups landing millions of dollars in seed funding rounds. Yet, it’s not all that easy, you can’t just wake up one morning and decide that from now on you are an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship is not a badge you buy at a grocery store or a title you bargain for.

Entrepreneurship takes time, becoming an entrepreneur is a process. You are an entrepreneur only when you see, smell, live, sleep, breathe and eat Entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship is a philosophy, a way of living, a mindset that few have the guts to adopt in life. Entrepreneurship is not about coding or knowing how to mount a product. If it was all about coding, then we wouldn’t have successful enterprises such as Starbucks, Uber or the 700 million USD Yogurt giant Chobani. Entrepreneurship is idea-centric: creativity is the fuel of enterprises, not C++ or Java.

ture of what makes Entrepreneurs relevant at all times and in all fields: They don’t always follow the conventional economic theorem of supply and demand.

Need - Product Entrepreneurship is not about finding a solution for a problem only; it’s also about creating a product and finding a use for it.

Nobody needed an iPhone until they saw one. No one thought they couldn’t live without Facebook until Facebook was created.

Entrepreneurship allows you to be innovative by creating new things for new usages. You create your market instead of running after one. Don’t wait for the demand to drive your supply chain, create that demand in the first place. Drive people crazy, make them hungry and curious about your product, show them that you are the new cool, you are the next big thing, and see them line up in front of the store or rush into your site although they have no idea why they are hooked.

Entrepreneurship is not exclusive to one Evidence sector or one type of people: it’s accessible to everyone. It is the ability to not rely on Entrepreneurship is the future of the econothers to provide you with the things you omy, or rather, it’s the present already. need, but instead, going out and creating But one question that is important at this them yourself. stage is: regardless of all the hype and the entire buzz around entrepreneurship, do Now let’s start by understanding a key feanumbers actually add up? In a paper ti-

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tled Who Creates Jobs? Small vs. Large vs.

Young, they came to the conclusion that: “Young firms have been shown to be a more important source of net job creation than incumbent firms.”

Enterprises are leading the way for a new economy where you don’t make money out of thin air, but create a product, a technology or a service that brings about a positive impact on society. This is the knowledge-based economy of today, and it’s not only happening in the US. It’s happening everywhere, and the sooner you realize it and get on board, the better off you will be!

Some would ask: Why Entrepreneurship in Business? Why not just the good old corporate track?

1. Technology is making more and more jobs obsolete, and unless you’re constantly challenging yourself to dive in new fields, join new ventures and launch new products, you’ll fall far behind. Sitting at the same office desk for the next 20 years is a professional suicide!

2. A lot of young people are discontent with the corporate world because of their profit based business ethic, and the only way to force a change is by leading and establishing ventures that don’t put profit only in the center, but also care about customers, the environment and the quality of the product.

3. Startups are Independent, Innovative and Flexible. Large corporations take time to adapt to the Market, to identify venues for growth, but if you’re a 5 members team living in a garage or operating from your dorm, you can easily pivot and change to fit the market, making money along the way.

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Do not settle for average Our days are numbered. We will not live forever; we will all die at some point. If you are going to spend the next 40 years doing the same thing, living the same routine: eating, sleeping, working in an office and then die, then what made your life worth it when there are 6.5 Billion other people doing the same thing?

You are young, full of energy and passionate: go explore the world, create new things, do crazy stuff, be adventurous, make everyday worth it and do things that matter. Ask yourselves: What will I do if I was not afraid?

Once you start thinking like this, you are on your way to becoming a kickass entrepreneur. The world will open up for you, possibilities will become endless. Entrepreneurship will become your new religion.

Conclusion Entrepreneurship is pushing the limits of what is possible everyday. From Space exploration to 3D printing, nothing is immune from Entrepreneurs.

Creative and innovative ideas will always be welcomed in any field, the question is, are you brave enough to take the risk to explore new opportunities for growth?

You are the future, and as such, you have a responsibility to make this world a better place to live in for you and for the next generation. Entrepreneurship is the key for you to drive the economy forward in a meaningful manner.

You make jobs, once again, something that people enjoy rather than something people have to do. You can bring ideas back into the spotlight instead of letting profit dictate how a company is run. Entrepreneurship is the solution to make businesses socially relevant, solving problems that matter and helping create a positive change. You have the skills, the passion, now just decide whether you want to let the entrepreneur within you make great things happen. You’re the future, so act like it!

MOHAMED AMINE BELARBI

‘’ PRINCESS’’ Collection Spring Summer 2014 by DURÉ COUTURE. Starring: Laura Gadea Model & Host.

Location: Sabatini Gardens of the Royal Palace.

Credits: Fashion Film & Shooting:Terry Esparza Assistant Fashion Films & Shooting: Raúl Adell Creative Director: Javier Duré General Production: Norma Friedmann Make-Up: Eva Sanvivas Hairdresser: Vicente Ropero Styling and Costume: Patricia Moreno Jewelry for the head: ‘DURÉ COUTURE’ Métaux Special Thanks: Amytouchaccessories (Flower Headband & crochet bracelets)

ELITE PROFILE

Christophe Guillarme

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n our tradition to feature designers from around the world who are making waves and reimagining how trends are set, we went on conducting an interview with Christophe Guillarmé, a French designer whose collections and genius have traveled the world back and forth, leaving a powerful print on the world of fashion and design. Our first encounter with Christophe was when our brand ambassadors in France attended the launch of Christophe’s latest collection, Miss Polly. Now why Miss Polly you may ask?

“I was obsessed with the late 60’s movie “Who are you Polly Maggoo” realized by photographer William Klein. It’s a story about a love affair involving a model.

Like William, who has no trouble unleashing his creative genius, I just wanted to create some unbridled girly silhouettes made for a contemporary Barbarella. For this collection, apart from the girl in the movie, I was also thinking of the famous and fabulous model Twiggy, her great style and unique baby face with that catchy cat eye makeup.”

Being a designer is no easy task. Staying on top of the latest trends, being aware of the most miniscule details and turning an imaginary ideals into a piece of fabric that communicates all those feelings you want to channel, well, that requires a lot of work, and Christophe Guillarmé is sparing no effort in that regard!

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In fashion, what matters most is timing according to Christophe. Every minute, every second counts. And what usually end up happening is that you get inspired not every Monday or every first of the month, but it comes at random times, and if you don’t act quick enough to transform that inspiration into a palpable collection, you might miss on the opportunity since new seasons, new fashion trends and new styles take place and may turn your inspiration into an obsolete concept. It’s a whole new framework that you have to learn to work within.

“6 months is not enough to turn all my ideas into collections and stunning dresses. Sometimes I have to give up on a certain concept; sometimes I have to postpone it to the next season. But the secret is to always be positive and never get frustrated with these hurdles.”

Christophe Guillarmé works hard, but the cliché schedule of successful people doesn’t hold when it comes to Christophe. This is something we need to understand and apply in our lives, otherwise blindly following what we read and hear about successful people’s work ethic and patterns may not always hold true for us.

You don’t have to wake up at 6 am in order to be successful, but you have to have a work pattern that makes you most productive, and for Christophe, it’s waking up late and staying up past bed time.

“My day never starts really early as I’m more of an evening person. I ‘m in my workspace until 9 or 10 pm every day.

Before 6pm I’m taking care of the business and marketing side of my brand, which takes most of the hustle, but afterwards I let my imagination run wild since the office is quieter and my phone rings less than 2000 times an hour! This is my creative period of the day. This is when magic happens.”

Yes, magic, and not the kind of complex magic that many designers want you to believe is behind their stunning fashion collections. For Christophe Guillarmé, less is more, following on the footsteps of Da Vinci: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.

“I’m trying to say more in using less artifice, to create a silhouette that looks simply beyond.” Simplicity also defines Christophe’s future plans for his brand.

“I will first expand my Women’s line to more casual daily looks and accessories.”

But if you’re doing well already, you may just as well take your work to the next level and dive into new fields. Diversification is key in any enterprise, and Christophe understands this well.

“I’m dreaming of designing shoes! Maybe in the near future as my successful luggage line has been making waves for the past 2 years, so it’s just a matter of time before proposals start flowing in.

But one thing is for sure, I’m not ready yet to enter menswear. Frankly, designing for women is way more fun, more creative and edgy.”

Christophe Guillarmé is a visionary, someone whose young age didn’t pose a problem and never was an obstacle in his quest for success. Why? Because when you love what you do, when you are passionate about your work, nothing can stop you.

“I am a workaholic. I love what I do! I don’t like fashion because of what people think it is: It’s not all red carpets, openings, flashy guests and flowing champagne. Fashion is a tough job, and if you are not motivated to wake up every morning and work hard to make things happen, then you’re not cut out for this. But as much stress as this job has, I steam off by having a great time with friends as well; I love laughing and spending quality time with people around me. In general, I’m someone who doesn’t take thinks too seriously, I just love living and creating beautiful things along the way.

Whether it is my personal or professional life, I really don’t think too much, I do my best, I try to express myself via my creations. If it works, I continue, If not, then I still don’t give up.”

Looking back at Christophe’s path, we understand that circumstances sometimes play a role in determining where you will get in life. That random encounter, that unforeseen opportunity, that miraculous event, the list goes on, but in the case of Christophe, it was all about regulation and the state of the market.

“I started my work independently at the beginning of the year 2000, when the fashion world was not as regulated as today. At that time we could make some

mistakes, there was a kind of tolerance and craziness in creation. Today with the crisis hitting all sectors hard, it is becoming competitive and ruthless! What I mean is, I was lucky to start at a young age because I had plenty of time to experience, learn, fail and experiment. Today, the fashion world is not as forgiving, and the slightest mistake can get you in trouble.”

To conclude, it would be insane to miss on the chance to ask Christophe about his insights on the Middle Eastern fashion market, and whether he has some secret plans to set foot in the nearby malls in Dubai or Doha.

edgy and ask for the latest trends! They have a wonderful grasp of the market and know well what is hot in China or what’s popular in Europe. My fascination with Middle Eastern fashion is the reason why my designs are mixing oriental touches with occidental shapes. But beyond fabrics and embroideries, my creations, wherever they are worn or displayed, have a message behind them: Tolerance, glamour and fun. This is fashion for me.”

“I think that despite the globalization, the middle-eastern fashion is keeping its identity well. I mean those vivid colors and intricate embroideries, the magical mix between traditional and contemporary designs; this is what makes this part of the world so charming, so exotic and so rich in fashion concepts. It is also worth noting that Middle Eastern customers are aware of the latest trends in the market. I remark that my costumers in Doha and Dubai for example are super

MOHAMED AMINE BELARBI

JENNY ALEKSIA FELINE BEAUTY IBRAHIM NAJI

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rom the beautiful alleys of Sao Paulo to the dreamlike heavens of Monaco lies the gorgeous Jenny Aleksia, who embodies the combination of elegance and sophistication, giving her that unique edge of unbrittled beauty, a wild feline allure that you can’t miss on.

Jenny started working on her modeling career a couple of years back as she simultaneously took on high school and other commitments. Modeling was a venue to relax, explore her body further and spend quality time in front of the camera lenses. So unlike other girls, she wasn’t in it for the fame, for the money or any other superficial reason, but simply because she enjoyed it. She enjoyed the fulfilling sensation of just being herself in front of the camera, showcasing her most unique facial features with passion, love and devotion, taking modeling to a whole new level.

StĂŠpane Rodriguez Delavega

Bruno French Riviera

StĂŠpane Rodriguez Delavega

NOOR WAZWAZ She Would Stop At Nothing

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t’s already hard to make it in life with all the obstacles and hardships paving the way to success, but these hardships become even more relevant when you happen to be a woman, Muslim, covered and living in the USA. It’s as if you hit the jackpot in the “How can my life get any harder” drama show! Well, meet the lucky winner: Noor Wazwaz!

Want to spice up the story? Noor’s dream, and she’s well on her way to achieve it, is to become a news anchor in a US TV channel. FULLHOUSE! Noor’s journey towards journalism started a while back, actually a long while back when she was still a kid staring at the Oprah Winfrey’s show, and smiling at the prospects that she could, and would, be the next big star of American TV. Fast forward a few years and Noor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in May 2013 from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was also a member of UIC’s Honors College. Noor had a hard time staying away from her passion, as going for journalism wasn’t making her family and relatives jump with enthusiasm. If you want to be a good daughter or son in an Arab context, go for engineering or medicine. Well Noor went for the latter, but things never felt right.

“I always had a passion for journalism since high school and even before that. I was a part of the newspaper club in high school. I was so excited and eager to start college that I graduated a year early in order to get to experience college life. Going into college, I knew I wanted to go into journalism but I was strongly discouraged because Muslims were not favored

in Western Media. So I decided to pursue a career in the medical field since that was what my family and surrounding thought most appropriate for me.

I took all the chemistry, biology, psychology and science classes I could. I started doing my observation hours at clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. I even got an interview at one of the top Occupational therapy doctoral programs in the nation, but I declined because that was not where my heart was. I dreaded going to hospitals and it honestly really affected me because I was doing something I wasn’t passionate about. I simply was unhappy, so I decided to do something about it.

I ended up applying for an internship with one of the top radio stations here in Chicago- B96. I loved every second of it. I loved the fast paced environment, the media, and the chaos. I felt that this is where I belonged and from then on I decided I was going to pursue a career in journalism. It was too late for me to change my major because it was my last semester in college- so I decided I was going to do my Masters in Journalism.

I took a year off school for personal reasons and I am currently teaching first grade at an Islamic school. This however did not stop me from getting involved in journalism one way or another. I created and established a broadcasting club at the school I was teaching at. Many of the kids have parents that care mainly about the sciences and math, when really, reading, languages, arts and literature are also very important. I wanted the students to know that there are other career paths they can choose to follow rather than the pre-determined careers that are chosen for them by their parents.

I also wanted the children to be educated not only by reading books but by exploring the world around them and to discover what is taking place in countries around the globe. It has been a great success so far.

I am also working on an independent documentary that highlights my journey into becoming a news anchor/ TV talk show host. I have had many great opportunities, including conducting interviews with Mohammad Assaf, Yahya Hawa, Dr. Tariq Ramadan and Maher Zain. I was even invited to interview Tyrese Gibson.”

For a covered Muslim Arab female living in the USA, making your way to the top is almost mission impossible, but with perseverance and persistence, anything is possible. The secret for Noor is to not focus on your disadvantages, don’t claim that you can’t make it because of this or that, instead hustle, work hard and improve along the way. Never put the focus on your gender or background, but on your talents and skills. These will always pay off at the end!

This philosophy and outlook on life is pushing many out there to start looking up to Noor, following on her path and facing life’s hurdles with temerity and strength.

“I have received tons of messages and emails from many people who look up to me and this truly is humbling. I am not perfect and I do not have all the answers. I, myself, am still learning and still have so much to learn. But it makes me incredibly happy that I am able to reach out and share my experiences with others. And I hope I am inspiring others to do what they love because a person doing something they don’t like is one too many.”

Noor Wazwaz understands that success cannot be accomplished without scars and pains.

She also understands that trying to do everything on your own is simply not possible. There is no such thing in life as being captain America, you have to rely on others, ask for help and reach out to people around you. Here comes the power of networking!

“Without networking I would not have accom-

plished anything. Networking is what it’s all about! Take advantage of every single person you meet. For those that are still in college, your professors are the best people to build a relationship with and to keep in contact with. I was one of those students who would stay after class or visit professors during their office hours just to talk. It plays a huge role in the long run, and if not, you have nothing to lose!”

After hearing the story of Noor, we couldn’t help but ask her what advices would she give to females who want to be as successful, and here is the recipe that Noor prepared for us: 1. Set your goals and WORK towards them. Focus on your goals and don’t let any noise distract you.

2. People will hate whether you succeed or fail, so it is up to YOU and only YOU to decide whether or not you want to succeed.

3. Network, network, network!

4. Realize that there is always room to grow. You are always learning so be open-minded!

5. Be a well-rounded individual. Read and educate yourself.

If there is anything you should take from Noor Wazwaz’s path to success, it’s that our most valuable assets are our dreams, and if we don’t stick to them, if we don’t hold them tight and if we don’t achieve them or die trying, then we have nothing left to live for.

“Many people have discouraged me from pursuing my dream. Even the people closest to me thought I would not succeed in this career. Why? Because I am Muslim, and because I am an Arab. I will not allow myself to be silenced in fear of what people think of me, nor will I ever allow anyone to draw the line of what I can and cannot accomplish.

I will pursue my dreams with or without anyone’s acceptance, and I will be a news anchor on American television.”

Noor will be starting her masters in journalism at Northwestern’s school of journalism, Medill, this summer.

MOHAMED AMINE BELARBI

KANYE WEST

I

NOT A DOUCHE AFTER ALL

know it sounds crazy, I mean after all the shit we´ve seen him doing, glorifying himself, humiliating Taylor Swift at the VMA awards, pooping crazy tweets and snapping on several radio stations, it´ll be difficult to see Kanye from ANY perspective, other than from the “him being an asshole” perspective. With that being said, I took the time to watch and analyze his “speeches” in various occasions as well as evaluate them from an entrepreneurial perspective, giving his personality and character a twist, highlighting his great, yet unique, entrepreneurial traits. Lets get to it.

In 2007 Kanye attended the Wendy Williams Show, where he took the liberty to say “ I am the number one human being in music. That means any person that’s living or breathing is number two.” Obviously this made the public go crazy, giving him a bunch of “constructive” criticism towards his explicit state of mind and his misuse of his first amendment. Now yes, when throwing a statement like that (which is above the usual to say the least), you have to, not only have the guts, but the equipment to back that statement up with, and with 2 AMA awards, 21 Grammy Awards, 4 Billboard Music Awards and 197 other honors, he definitely stands tall amongst the paramount figures within the music industry. Now you can keep on asking yourself the same questions: if he´s sane, normal or if he´s got any type of filter between his brain and his mouth – or you can applaud his entrepreneurial and outgoing traits that makes or breaks an individuals’ path to success.

It’s his outgoing confident self-assured mentality that has led him to attain the essential mindset one has to have in order to make it within the music industry or any other industry for that matter. It’s that attitude that

makes him stand out amongst the crowd; it’s that boldness that has made him whom he is today, rejecting the societal norms, doing the unexpected, performing the extraordinary and stating the craziest declarations that make him come across as crazy, outrageous or even disrespectful. It’s his entrepreneurial mentality that has made him walk against the stream, achieving the unachievable. It´s Kanye’s risk-taking innovative approach to his character that has made him and his name the global brand it is today. Now yes, some people (a lot of people) might argue that you don’t have to be so “full of yourself” in order to achieve the level of success that he has. I mean look at the other pioneers within his industry; Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dog (now called Snoopzilla), they never had to cross the line Kanye crossed in order to attain the success they have today.

But you’re wrong, they all believe that they are, in fact, the best and their track records speak for themselves. They all believed in themselves, they all value their individualities to the extent where they understand that they can do anything. They all attained that entrepreneurial attribute that made them walk the grounds they march down today, only difference is, Kanye West is outspoken about it.

But Kanye doesn’t only work magic in the studio, but in the fashion industry as well. In 2009 West collaborated with the giant sports figure Nike to release his new shoe collection Air Yeezys. During the same year he designed his first shoe line for the world’s leading international fashion line, Louis Vuitton, during his Paris Fashion Week. Now these are just two of his major collaborations with the greatest and most exclusive fashion brands in the world.

And of course, with him being Kanye West, he got some harsh critical commentaries from the world’s largest publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and a bunch of other influential publications. Now put yourself in his shoes, do you understand how many individuals would have broken down, mentally, extinguishing their innovational spark they have going on, if major publications like The Wall Street Journal dumped, criticized, and hated on every single product you showcased in Paris? Investing millions of dollars into what you believed in, spending thousands of hours working on it, just to see it crumble to the floor.

has given and devoted a lot of his time, efforts and financial resources to those in need – he´s a philanthropist. That’s right, put away his microphone, the trash-talk and his bling bling outfits, and you’ll find a man who’s fighting the war against poverty, hunger and uplifting deprived people. He´s supported over 20 different charities and foundations, including; The Common Ground Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, The Human Rights Watch and the list just keeps on going. Through his personal foundation, the Dr. Donda West Foundation, which was named after his deceased mother, is the one closest to the heart. A foundation with the mission to battle dropout and illiteracy rates, Yet it’s his resilient mentality and personality while partnering with community organizations that makes him un-breakable, that makes him to provide underprivileged kids access to music endure all the corporate and commercial bateducation. How is this seen as an entrepreneurtles he´s been facing. With that being said, ial trait you may ask? All successful entreprethese may seem like everyday struggles for the neurs, all self-made individuals who have made rich and famous, a battle that is obvious in the it to the top, earning between seven to eight eyes of the beholder, assuming that they´re digits, who are financially stable and are living able to fight through it, because well, there are the good life should give back to the public worse problems “normal” people face, like fiand to the world (count it as CSR if you may). nancial burdens or family related complications, Giving the next generation a shot at becoming reflecting the “celebrity issues” as “luxury com- the next big thing, giving them an opportunity plications” that really lead to more publicity, that they can thrive from and flourish by. Inenhancing their glorified figure. Justin Bieber, spiring and encouraging the boy who wasn’t Paris Hilton and even the king of pop, Mikael that good at math, the girl who was seen as Jackson, have been tarred down and publicly hyperactive and the kid who had lost all hope exposed, crashing their careers, personal life because his or her parents couldn’t afford to and fame into the ground potentially. These are pay for high school. Spreading the word that a few of the so called superstars who couldn’t you don’t have to be an A+ student in order handle the heat, who couldn’t take the public to live your dreams, teaching them that you pressure that lead to legal prosecutions, finandon’t have to enroll in an IVY-league in order to cial setbacks and even personal family splitmake it. Teaching them that, they can and will ups. Now yes, West has been exposed several do anything they want, as long as they set their times to the public eye, revealing family relatminds to it. ed frictions, health problems and even gone through stimulated made-up stories, but never Kanye West may act like a douche, sound like has that affected his peak performance, as he a douche and look like a douche, but really, continues to produce great beats, unbelievable he isn’t a douche. Because no matter how you statements and “foster” surreal names, because twist and turn his vocalizations, manipulate his I know I wasn’t the only one who thought the actions and absorb the commercial gossip that name “North”, the name he gave his baby girl, is unloaded against him, you´ll never be able was absolutely epic! It’s this essential entrepre- to deny the fact that he is an influential charneurial trait that keeps him steady and resilient. acter who has modernized the music industry, It’s his strong mental state of mind that keeps had the guts to pick on fights with one of the him going, that keeps him fighting through and world’s leading corporations and do what he doing anything to reach his desired goal – ded- does best, telling the world, literally, that there icated, devoted and faithful to what he is creat- is only one Kanye West. And yes, he has done ing. some inappropriate stuff, who hasn’t!?

Now before I let you go, lets leave on a more “world loving” note because, yes, Kanye West

1 MONTH OFFLINE And Still Alive!

Social media has become a part of our lives and daily schedules, equally as essential as eating or sleeping. Social media is at the forefront of the ongoing digital revolution and we have come to accept Facebook and other social media platforms as a social standard.

A month ago, I made the decision to give up social media for 21 days. To put things in context, let me tell you about my social media addiction and how bad it had become by the time I made the decision to abstain from it for a period of three weeks.

In a 3-day experiment that I carried out on myself previously, I discovered that I check

my Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Twitter and Snapchat accounts 62 times per day. I used three different devices to check these social media sites and spent anything between 40 seconds to 15 minutes per log in. On an average night, I would wake up at least three times to check my newsfeed on Facebook and to respond to messages.

This is mainly due to the time difference between British Columbia (where I currently live) and Egypt (my home country).

It should come as no surprise that my college professors constantly commented on how I was always distracted by social media in class. My friends made fun of how I Snapchat and Instagram everything that

happens around me, eventually coming up with the popular statement: “It didn’t happen if it is not on Snapchat” (or on Instagram). I don’t recall giving up social media for more than 48 hours in the past three years and I knew that a 21-day challenge would be incredibly hard.

Well, here I am, reporting that I’m still alive and that the experience I had over the past 21 days has been absolutely eye-opening and life changing.

By giving up social media, I had hoped to create more value in my life, to quit hoarding information that was irrelevant, to appreciate the time that I spent with friends, and to make sure I made the most out of every moment before I even thought of sharing it with others.

The first couple of days of my challenge were full of withdrawal symptoms – I would open a new tab in my browser and start typing ‘facebook.com’ without even thinking about it. I missed my constant entertainment from Snapchat and Vine.

However, things improved dramatically after the first week. I forgot all about Twitter, Vine, Instagram and Snapchat within days. I still missed Facebook, mostly because it came up in conversation all of the time.

“Hey, did you see the picture Kjell tagged you in.. oh, nevermind.”

I felt like I was unable to engage in conversations that I would usually be the one initiating because I had not seen the latest trending video or read the article that everyone was talking about.

There is a shift in the dynamics of how information flows through social media platforms. Though invisible, neglecting this shift could prove to be problematic.

Facebook tracks our preferences and redefines visible content using invisible algorithms to edit our newsfeed. It creates filter bubbles of our personal unique universe of information purely based on previous cyber interactions. I feel that I am unable to decide what enters this bubble and what my newsfeed abandons. It shows us what it thinks we want to see but not necessarily what we need to see.

And that, in my opinion, is not a true representation of connectivity. My time off of social media made me think of the people I had not heard from in a while, making me realize how my newsfeed has been reinforcing my connection with a specific group of people based on something like my geo-location or my history of interaction with them. I currently live in British Columbia, Canada but I lived in Egypt, Johannesburg and San Francisco at different times in my life resulting in the accumulation of 1,863 friends on Facebook, each of whom I know personally. However, my newsfeed has been only showing me a select few of them. While Facebook has enabled me to build my own social network, navigating this network in a meaningful and fulfilling way is increasingly difficult.

Ok! The 21 days are over.

What’s my plan now? Well, I’m back on social media. It’s nice to finally see “that picture that Kjell tagged me in”. But I don’t want to go back to my old routines.

I am now able to enjoy spending time on It was only towards the second week my own without feeling the urge to run to of my challenge when I started realiz- my security blanket and aimlessly scroll ing how the great value of connectivity up and down the newsfeed of my varithat social media provides is superficial.

ous social media accounts. I realized that the constant connection I believed social media provides does not necessarily keep me away from feeling lonely. The opposite is true. Being unable to appreciate being alone has resulted in making me more vulnerable to being lonely once my phone dies or when I am unable to pick up the free Wi-Fi around.

Social media feeds us the same content, over and over again. Rather than suggesting resources that we may not initially come across, we are provided with material that we are already familiar with, and our comfort zones are reinforced. We are unable to meet new people, learn about new trends, and gain access to information we know nothing about. Hence, rather than social media allowing us to connect with the world in its entirety, it rather works on emphasizing our own smaller personal worlds.

AMMAR KANDIL

E

SUMMER SUMMER FASHION FASHION

very season I wait excitedly for all the trends that appear on the streets, on the mannequins, and on the pages of my (multiple) prized fashion magazines. And every season I find a trend that changes my life, either for the better, or by blinding me forever.

There comes a certain amount of frustration with new trends, either because they aren’t realistic outside of the runway, or as our fashion-savvy friends would call them, they are too “couture”, because they look amazing, only (emphasis on only) when worn by airbrushed-looking models, because they are so beautiful we could CRY, or simply because we want to scream out at the horrendous crime against our eyes that the trendsetters just committed. Paraphrasing from Monica Geller, “The person who set this trend HATES EYES and wants to see them DIE.” Now, to each his or her own, but seeing as the frustration is killing me, I mean shops don’t allow me to kiss (or hug for that matter) whatever I find beautiful and people don’t appreciate me screaming, “My eyes! My eyes!” (Pheobe style) whenever I see something I do not like, it is healthy to find an outlet for your frustrations.

And so I will.

HUGS AND KISSES: Espadrilles -- I love these. I mean I am truly, head over heels in love with them. Why? Because they are perfect. They are the perfect combination between airy for my feet, and actually enable walking. I have nothing against sandals; I actually love them, but try walking for a couple of hours in sandals and tell me what they do to your feet (if they do nothing, please send me the brand name, because that would be just heaven). Espadrilles however, in addition to their beautiful name, which makes my tongue ecstatic, are not

only cute and easy to wear – they are also easy to take off and walk barefoot in the sand, and they live through water-attacks. Perfection, I tell you.

MY EYES! Bermuda Shorts – for women. What? Why so unflattering? Even the most gorgeous model (whom I will envy forever) did not look at all enviable in them. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for dressing for comfort if that is what you want, and I am also all for appropriating men’s dress into women’s – but this is not pretty. If it is comfort that these shorts seek, then okay, but no need to treat them as a fashion staple. And if it is to add a masculine touch to a female then I ask, what happened to a baseball cap or oversized shirt? No. Just really – No.

HUGS AND KISSES (AGAIN): Turbans – now that is a trend I can get on board with. Ever since Blair Waldorf brought them back, headbands have been popping in and out of the trend scene. And while I love a cute headband, I believe, they don’t exactly go with everything. Turbans however, are the headbands’ younger sister – chic-er, edgier, and more versatile. You can wear a turban to the beach, with your sundress and flipflops, then throw it off right before you get into the water (or don’t).

You can wear an embellished turban with a cocktail dress (cue: lace turbans). And you can definitely wear one with a biker jacket. Dyed hair? Well, ba-bam, Ms. Turban can hide your roots until you retouch them. Bad hair week?

The turban is here to minimize the damage. And so on. I swear by them – I hope I never have to see the turban leave the scene.

Disclaimer: Do not blind everyone in a five-mile radius by clashing too many patterns – patterned turban, solid clothes.

MY EYES! MY EYES! Sock-Sandal Combination- Disclaimer: Are you Rihanna (preferably in Paris)?

If your answer is no, then please do not wear socks with sandals. Please. I understand that the socks are really pretty, or that you are self-conscious about your feet, or that you just want to wear socks with sandals. But in truth, I don’t get it. The whole point of sandals is that your feet can breath, your toes can wiggle, and we can SEE skin. Now, if you want to cover your feet put on a pair of flats, pumps, sneakers, anything - but not sandals. There is not much I can write (screaming is the most effective expression) about socks and sandals, it’s like having to write about why we should use punctuation (and please, do not even try to argue that you could read my whole article without stopping for a breather).

it just looks really cheeky and gives and edge to a dainty heel. But the red heels and phosphoric green socks – definitely a horrifying moment.

Reminder: No one’s opinion matters, mine included, if you are comfortable and happy wearing what you are wearing and buying what you are buying. And to the espadrilles/turban-wearing people out there, woohoo us!

However, if your answer is yes, as in, yes you are Rihanna (maybe even in Paris) then: I do not know how you pulled it off but hats off to you.

WARMER, WARMER! Socks and Closed-toe-dainty-heels Combination – Now, I’m not very sure about this. I kind of love it, but I slightly hate it. I think I prefer it when the colors are dark and mostly the same,

MARIAM EL ZOGHBY

IN LOVE OR OBSESSED? IBRAHIM NAHI

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e´ve all fallen in love at one point in time, but rarely been in love. We´ve all had the mental and emotional capability of sharing our passionate love with someone else, but rarely does it last. When it comes to relationships, things just don’t add up the way we expect them to because there will always be a coexisting love/ hate relationship when it comes to attaching yourself to someone else; with the possibilities of ending up with a broken heart, yet loving that emotional and physical friction you’re attaining, ending up thinking that it’s worth it. It can feel like the most amazing, most intoxicating, most horrible and excruciating feeling in the world. But even though you spend your mornings thinking about what he did last night, your afternoons worrying about why she did what she did and your evenings crying yourself to sleep because you´ve go the illusion that you love them more than they love you, you still can’t seem to let go.

So if the relationship you’re currently in doesn’t make you happy nor satisfies your emotional and physical needs, why is it so damn hard to let go, and move on, with the hope of finding another man or woman, who are, in fact, worthy of your love? Is it that you just love them too much? Do you feel like you’ve spent too much time with them to the point where you can forgive the unforgivable or is that you’re obsessed? Obsessed? Yes, obsessed with the idea that you can’t leave him or her, not because you don’t know how, but simply because you can’t. Now there is a lot of depth into that statement so let me break it down to you.

A lot of us confuse the feeling of being in love with the feeling of being obsessed, because well, they are so emotionally similar. Both carry the characteristics of being attached to something. Both carry the routinely habit of being with someone, thinking about someone, wanting someone –

no matter what. Here is where the obsessive characteristics differ; It equips you with this emotional certainty that you can’t, in fact, live without an individual. It carries that obsessive desire to “possess” due to the unbelievably strong attraction you´re feeling, it empowers the emotional liability that you are unable to see nor accept failure or rejection, even though it’s starring you right in the face.

The “problem” doesn’t really lie within our hearts, but is deeply rooted in our heads, with the constant rationalization that “It has to be love if I can’t think of anyone else”, well I hate to break it down to you, but that’s not really how it works.

You see, “love based” relationships are established on a foundation of lust, wanting an individual driven by the fading impulse of desiring an intimate relationship. Now whether that fading lust can turn into love by getting to know the individual’s personal characteristics and individualities is another story, the main motivation is; what foundational layer of attraction did you arrange in order for you to be in your current state of mind?

Are you in Love or are you Obsessed?

a little too pushed since, well, I’m not a shrink, but there is no better educator than experience in itself. You see, as love is founded on lust while obsession originates from the desire of possession, they still have a lot of in common. Both have the misleading power to emotionally drag you into intimate situations. Both have the misleading power to psychologically enhance an emotion to stratospheric horizons. But in contrast to lust, which usually fades away with time, obsession gets worse with time, as more time and effort is invested into an unhealthy obsessive relationship.

Now the trick is to be able to realize whether you’re in love or obsessed, the key is to confront your action and habits in order to assess your current state of mind – which really is easier said than done, but lets get to it. If all of your time and efforts are going into satisfying someone else’s needs and desires or in chasing another individual then you’re at your own risk of becoming obsessed.

If one partner is always to please the other or if there are no considerations or compromises then it’s most probably based on obsessive feelings rather than love. You see, actual love, real love While I believe that love-based relation- is nurturing, real love helps individuals ships are structured on the “groundgrow and flourish into a “better” version work” of lust, I also believe that obof themselves. In contrast, obsession is sessive relationships are based on the weakening and affects the psyche of the preoccupied fixated mentality of posses- partner, leading him or her into dark and sion, almost like a materialistic possesblind paths, making him or her extend sive drug that, in fact, is present in the their actions to desperate measures. majority of our generation in some way or form. It’s based on the mental fear of Now with that being said, what triggers dis-attachment from someone due to this obsessive mentality, what sparks your fanatic self-protective mechanism this crazy condition? Is it a “disorder” that tells you that wears off amongst people or is it “you can’t leave the individual you’re something we inherit? Honestly, I’m not currently with”, because if you do, you´ll completely sure, since it is such a combreak down. I know this all might sound plex mentality that is constructed in a

bunch of different ways based on each partner’s personal experience. But what I know for sure is that, we all take the same track to that obsessive state of mind, we all follow the same foundational road to obsession, it’s only when you cross that point of no return when each individualistic obsession flourishes out its own path. Objectively speaking, putting all obsessions on the same level of “craziness”, the mother of all relationship-based obsession comes from the desire of wanting what you cannot have.

That’s what makes you cheat on your (ex) girlfriend, that’s what makes you feel that “I don’t know why I’m so into him/her” feeling and that is what makes you so obsessed over having something you simply do not have, be it physical intimacy or be it emotional affection.

Now obviously not all relationships out there have that obsessive characteristic, there are a bunch of healthy relationships where both partners are equally engaged in their various roles, which is the key to a non-obsessive relationship; Balance. You see; balance is what keeps the equilibrium of the relationship steady. Balance is what evens out the emotional and physical circulation between the two partners, giving them a stable “give and take” relationship, which eliminates that obsessive state of mind.

So if you feel like you have lost yourself, like you’re a weakened version of your true self, leave. If you’re always attempting to please your partner without them doing the same to you, break it up. If all of your life-decisions are based on the feelings and needs of your partner, separate yourself from them, because if that is the case, you truly are obsessed.

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS KNOW WHERE TO LOOK IAGO REY

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hat is happiness? A very abstract concept, of course, but still a concept that so many philosophers have theorized about and sought to synthesize along the centuries in a concrete definition, a kind of formula that allows us to finally achieve it. But the truth is, happiness is still, and will always be, a great mystery.

scientifically proven!

Research conducted by psychologist Viktor Frankl, at a nazi concentration camp, reflected in the book “Man’s Search for Meaning”, suggested that we are alive because we have a purpose to fulfil. Dr. Frankl found that those who had no family, who had no one to look after, had lost the will to live... and invariably died within two weeks. In contrast, They say that the concept of “happithere were other people who endured ness” varies depending on who’s feelyears of suffering and horror caring for a ing or experiencing it - but is it really child in the camp, because other people though? Some people would even go depended on them, because there was as far as saying that happiness is just a someone out there who was waiting for myth, a concept created in the collective him or her, because they had a mission minds of humanity that has ingrained to accomplish, and therefore they diditself into our nervous system. n´t die simply because they couldn´t.

Happiness has to do with the concept I have absolutely no idea what the exact of duty, with the “survival of the fittest” concept of happiness is, but I definitely mentality, that makes you push that know what makes me happy, what satmuch harder to reach the goal you want isfies me and brings that emotional joy to reach, and therefore feel that fulfilthat puts a smile on my face and makes ment that makes you happy. me feel that much more alive. It is the sensation of waking up in the morning Sometimes life takes you down paths with one goal in mind, with a mission to you don’t want to go down. There are conquer, something that brings a purpaths that make you feel blue and despose to my life, something that makes perate, that do not stimulate your pasme jump out of bed, ready to defeat sion in the short run, but that unleashes what ever stands in my way to success. the definition of happiness in the long But don’t take my word for it, it’s even rung. You see, the key word here is “pas-

sion”. Go with what you love, go with that “gut feeling” you always feel, not matter how bad or difficult it may seem. Don’t let anything or anyone take control of your life, your future, your job or even the car you drive. Don’t let anyone define your lifestyle. Be the painter of your masterpiece. If your passion is to sing, then sing!

If you´re into art, then that’s what you’re supposed to do! Make your passion your livelihood because when you “choose a job you love, you´ll never have to work a day in your life”.

Today, we live in a multidimensional world that changes constantly - a world that offers so many possibilities and opportunities. It’s a complex and demanding world in which we have to learn to adapt and morph. Even the law of natural selection tells us that, not the strongest animal survives, but the one that is able to adapt to its surrounding, embracing and learning from its past, in order to excel in the present. And lets face it, happiness is truly just a choice, something we choose to feel, no matter what the scenario you’re facing. Happiness is available to anyone with the courage to live their dreams, without doubting or fearing their potential – no matter what anyone thinks or says!

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