“I love how outgoing / bubbly / helpful you are.” If only I had a penny for each time someone uttered these words to me in my personal and professional life.
Wishful thinking. And yet, if I were given the opportunity to explain, these are the thoughts I'd share with them.
It all comes down to my mother, a woman who were I to attempt to encapsulate in words, would take a lifetime and then some. Exuding vitality, joy and affection, my mother is the embodiment of a happy home and the rich, comforting scent of oud.
My favourite childhood memory is waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of my mother's prayers
I attribute all my positive personality traits to my mother's infectious laughter and warm personality. I am grateful to have inherited some of her finest qualities. The mere sound of her voice has the power to alleviate my exhaustion and sorrow.
My favourite childhood memory is waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of my mother's prayers, fervently asking for blessings for my sister and me. I would listen silently, mouthing “Ameen” and relishing the sound of her voice.
My mother holds an exceptional place in my heart as my best friend and eternal teacher. She not only imparted essential life skills, but also invaluable values that will remain with me for ever. Here are some of the lessons from my childhood that I hold dear and that have proved useful even as an adult.
Be generous
My mother is a person who freely gives her time, money and belongings, quite literally. She firmly believes in the principle of sharing and applies it extensively to her family as well as relatives back home in Somalia.
She is a remarkable model of volunteerism, contributing to various organisations that aim to better the future of young children in our home country. Her door is always open to our neighbours and people in need, whom she invites to make themselves at home and at ease, especially in the month of Ramadan.
“Build relationships not for personal gain, but for the sake of giving and being generous to others,” is her motto.
So now, whenever I have the opportunity to brighten someone's life, even if it's with only a kind word and smile, I never hesitate to do so.
Be happy with what you have
My mother leads a modest and uncomplicated life, placing her family at the centre of her world. Her contentment is palpable, and she urged us to avoid superficiality and the temptation to compare ourselves with others.
My mother was right when she said, by staying true to your beliefs, you will earn respect and trust
She also encouraged us to pursue our aspirations, and not let the desire for material possessions hinder our progress.
My mother's philosophy is to seize the moment and make the most of every opportunity, surrounded by those we love. When we were growing up, she often reminded us that we have our whole lives to rest and reflect, and that we should avoid regret by striving to live fully in the present.
By prioritising relationships, embracing simplicity, and cherishing every moment, I hope to emulate her model of contentment.
Stand firm in your values
“Never bend back for anyone” was a frequent phrase I heard growing up, as my mother reminded me that I should never compromise my values or beliefs for the sake of others.
Even today, these words enable me to always stand up for myself and not be swayed by external pressures. This advice has helped me navigate challenging situations where I was tempted to compromise my values to please others.
And I have found my mother was right when she said, by staying true to yourself and your beliefs, you will earn the respect and trust of those around you.
Love yourself before you love anyone else
Another of my mother's early teachings was that love is one of the most esteemed human emotions. She implanted in me the importance of self-love from a very young age. She would always say: “You can't truly love someone else until you love yourself first.”
She taught me that self-love means valuing and respecting myself, being comfortable in my own skin, and not seeking validation or approval from others.
She always encouraged me to set healthy boundaries and prioritise my well-being. Through her words and actions, she showed me that taking care of myself physically, emotionally and mentally is essential in order to have healthy relationships with others.
This has helped me to develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence, which has been invaluable in my personal and professional life.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
SPECS
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
PRISCILLA
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Sofia%20Coppola%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Jacob%20Elordi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
