Posts By :

Nadir Keval

Pho’real, it’s delicious!
Pho’real, it’s delicious! 1500 1125 Nadir Keval

People keep talking about Pho being amazing, so I thought I’d give it a try. I went to a couple of restaurants around my house, but I couldn’t find any that were halal, so I decided to make my own at home. I have to admit, I can taste the hype living up to it’s rep! This stuff is absolutely incredible! I’ve never tasted Pho before, so I don’t know if this is what it tastes like, but, my family and I loved the results!

To make this, I checked out a bunch of different recipes online, found their similarities, and then customized it to fit my own taste. So, when you make this, you can adjust it, subtract from it and add from it whatever you’d like.

Cooking is somewhat of a stress-relief for me, and I always find that I need to do at least ONE thing every week in order to de-stress, otherwise I get pulled into this downward spiral of overwhelming thoughts and emotions. So, insha Allah, whenever I get the desire to cook something new or interesting, I’ll post it on here 🙂

Salmon Pho (2 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

Broth

1 cup diced white onion
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups water
3 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 whole cloves
1 bunch fresh cilantro (stems only – save the leaves for later)

Protein

6 oz fresh salmon filet, thinly sliced (1/4-1/2 inch thick)
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground coriander

Toppings

1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tbsp Sriracha Hot Sauce
Leaves from bunch of cilantro

Base

100 g uncooked rice-stick noodles (rice vermicelli)

PROCESS:

  1. In a large pot, sauté onion, ginger and garlic in vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add water, broth, fish sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, soy sauce, cloves, and cilantro stems.
  3. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer broth for 20-30 minutes.
  4. As the brother boils, begin preparing the salmon and the noodles.
    • slice the salmon
    • sprinkle the slices with 1 tsp sugar, coriander, and ground black pepper
    • prepare the noodles according to the directions on the package – I boiled mine with a pinch of salt
  5. After the broth has simmered for 20-30 minutes, strain out the solids in the broth, so that you’re left with only the liquid.
  6. Put the broth back on the stove, and add the toppings (shredded carrots, green onions, Sriracha hot sauce, cilantro leaves to the broth.
  7. Bring the broth to a boil.
  8. As the broth boils, prepare two deep bowls. Place half of the salmon and half of the noodles into each bowl.
  9. Ladle the boiling soup/broth into each bowl, basically drowning the salmon and noodles. The boiling hot broth will cook the salmon 😀
  10. If you’d like to add more kick, you can experiment with more Sriracha and lemon juice.
  11. And that’s it! Grab some chopsticks (forks if you need to) and a soup spoon, and enjoy!

Remember, I’ve never had Pho before, so I have no idea if this is what it’s supposed to taste like. But, it was DELICIOUS!

Try it out, and let me know what you guys think! 😀

SAMSUNG

On Poetry
On Poetry 2381 1549 Nadir Keval

Often, a poem is only as beautiful as the mark it leaves on a heart. Be it a temporary or permanent mark, the mark determines the greatest component of a poem’s significance. Or the significance of any words for that matter.

Thus, we should keep caution of what we say, as every word, every syllable, every letter, has an impact.

Poem: Misery. Broken.
Poem: Misery. Broken. 2117 1417 Nadir Keval

One day, I lost a part of me.
It was replaced with a flood of misery.
I had now lived out the truest love story.
One of loss, without regret,
because I had given her every part of me.

They say that upon leaving, you find your way.
They say that upon leaving, they rush back to stay.
They say that upon breathing, they make everything seem okay,
They say that upon breathing, they take your breath away.

But what becomes of that moment,
when all they say has been disproven?
When leaving left both merely lingering,
longing, but never acting?
When having your breath taken,
was all that left you breathing?
When that breath that was now missing,
was perhaps what you were truly missing?

Ah, but there is the beauty of love:
Sometimes you drift and sometimes you grow.
And sometimes doing one, leads to both.
The truth of the matter is really quite clear,
when you have truly loved, they never really disappear.
When you have truly lived, you must have loved,
and at that very moment, you will have found what real happiness does.

It pulls you in, makes you yearn for more,
for the path we all seek is happiness through oneself and the Lord.
But love is a necessity;
a prerequisite of sorts.
In order to truly be happy,
you must let love take its course.

So, I have, with all the strength I could muster,
shoved misery aside and left it flustered.
My love and my faith are both working hand-in-hand.
And I am certain that my prayers are more than just words in the shore’s sand.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Self-Imposed Slavery
Self-Imposed Slavery 1092 731 Nadir Keval

Every day, we battle something. Whether we recognize it or not, we combat against ourselves to keep moving forward, to let go of bad habits, to fulfill responsibilities, etc. Every situation is unique, and every person has their own personal challenges and struggles.

One of the key ingredients to sorrow, misery, and difficulty, is the lack of optimism and courage in one’s heart and mind towards facing what opposes them. There are many external factors in what causes us difficulty, but in dealing with it, overcoming what I call, “Self-imposed Slavery” is the first step.

Often, we trap ourselves, making ourselves think that we are incapable of doing something. We think, “What’s the point? I’m gonna screw up anyways,” or, “It’s too hard,” or, “I’m not ______ enough.” We have to recognize that we are only as good as we believe we can be.

I’ve been there. I know what it’s like. You feel like the weight of the world sits on your shoulders, holding you back from moving forward because you’re absolutely certain you’re going to fail. You feel like all the expectations people have of you will be shattered, especially your own expectations of yourself. No matter what you do, you know you will fail. It’s a horrific feeling, especially when you feel as though you have no choice in the matter.

More times than not, all we need is that extra little push. It’s not always a permanent solution to never feeling those nerves or sense of potential failure again, but it’s surely something that will help you move forward. I remember the first time I stood in front of an audience 10 years ago. I felt as though I was going to throw up on stage, or that I’d mess up my lines (I was acting in a play), or wouldn’t be loud enough for the audience to hear me, or that I would freeze on stage. Here’s the thing: I still feel those things every single time I stand in front of an audience. It’s always there.

However, each and every time, I find that the only solution is to just do it. Stare your fear in the face and tell it to move aside. You’ve got far too much potential to let it hold you back. I believe that we can only progress if we push forward and face our fears. Ask your heart what it wants, and go get it. Don’t let your fears of failure hold you back. You have the opportunity and the potential to achieve anything your heart desires, as long as you work incredibly hard towards it, hold strong to your faith, and maintain positivity and optimism that you will be okay, regardless of where your path leads. The happiest people are those who go after what they really want, despite the obstacles. You can achieve your dreams. You can achieve great. You just have to unlock your own shackles and set yourself free. And only you can do that. You’re the only one with the key.

Your Drive Is Your Key
Your Drive Is Your Key 1997 1525 Nadir Keval

As I’ve been trying to figure out what works best for me and my schedule, and trying to get in shape, I’ve been realizing that the most important key to making healthy changes towards a better lifestyle is drive. You can’t eat healthy and follow a nutritious diet without having the drive to. You can’t push yourself to get up and exercise without having that drive to.

In case you weren’t sure, when I refer to drive, I’m talking about that ambition, desire, and discipline to get to your goal no matter what comes in your way. Sometimes, we need to be motivated by external factors, and sometimes what is needed is a sense of motivation from our own selves. I remember once reading a quote by Jason Statham, where he was asked about his motivation towards being so physically fit, and he said, “If you can’t motivate yourself, nothing can motivate you.” I found that really interesting because it made me realize that unless I want to make a change myself, nothing else would be able to convince me to do something. Maybe that’s just me, but I definitely know I can be stubborn about things unless I come to terms with them on my own.

So, after finally coming to this point of knowing what I want and working towards my goals, I decided to set things up so that my morning environment in itself motivates me to do my 6am workouts:

  • I set out my workout clothes, shoes, and water bottle the night before, and place them on my path to my bathroom.
  • I always keep a picture that motivates me towards my goal, and look at it as soon as I wake up.
  • Finally, since I wake up for Tahajjud/Fajr (morning prayers) anyways, Alhamdulillah, I’m already somewhat awake. So, in order to stop myself from going back to bed after prayer, I make my bed as soon as I wake up.
  • I try to keep my bedroom and bathroom as clean as possible, because in my eyes, a clean and organized environment is a sign of success. When clutter builds up, it not only clutters your surroundings, but it clutters your mind as well.

Keeping little things like that in order makes you feel more inclined to get to the gym, because it reminds you of your goals and inspires you towards reaching those goals.

This mentality of focusing on your drive first and foremost is something that can be applied to pretty much any and everything in your life. I just feel my biggest struggle right now is building the drive to get in shape, so I keep pushing myself to remind myself how badly I want this change.

I have to push myself. I have to motivate myself. Unless I’ve reached my goal, I haven’t done enough. Keep moving!

Here’s the current picture I’m using as motivation to get up and work out (it’s from the upcoming movie “The Wolverine” based on one of my favourite characters):

Just Start!
Just Start! 1173 783 Nadir Keval

They say that failing to plan is ultimately planning to fail. Often, we find ourselves in a rut because we’re so busy planning things out and thinking about things, that we end up procrastinating and fall behind. We think we’re being productive, but in fact, we’re just avoiding starting our tasks because we don’t know where to start, or because we’re too afraid or lazy to accept that we have hard work ahead of us.

I always recommend to those I mentor/counsel that they set up a plan towards reaching their goals, and work towards it, recognizing that the plan isn’t written in stone but should be followed with as much precision as possible. That’s all good and well, but what happens when a person finds themselves stranded, going in circles with their planning because they’re completely uncertain as to what steps are needed to reach their goals?

I’ve been in that place before, and trust me, I know it’s as frustrating as frustration can be. There have been times when I would spend hours, days, and sometimes weeks, “planning” out and revising a schedule, and trying to stick to it. The most saddening part about that is that by the time I would have “completed” mapping out my schedule, priorities and responsibilities would have changed, and I would’ve fallen behind with every other aspect of my life. It was INCREDIBLY draining!

Now, to each their own, but my personal foolproof way to stopping that ridiculous cycle is to, as is with every other struggle I face, break it down to the basic core aspects of the matter. I slot things into my schedule step-by-step, following this process:

  1. What are the necessary things in my schedule that aren’t flexible? This could include prayer times, sleep time (the more I research the importance of getting 8 hours of sleep per night, the more I freak out – so sleep is a priority!), class times, work hours, running errands (like having to pick up/drop off someone somewhere at a certain time), meal times, and things like that. I include my workouts in this category, to ensure that I stick to them and take them as seriously as I do my meetings.
  2. What are some things I’d really like to include in my schedule? For me, this includes things like reading a certain amount of Quran every day, doing extra Nawafil or Sunnah (i.e. Salah Ad-Duha, Tahajjud, etc.) prayers, family time, meditating, doing a quick sweep of my bedroom and bathroom to ensure they’re clean, personal studying, learning a new language (I’m slowly working on Arabic right now :D), etc.
  3. Slot in meetings and other appointments weekly, but leave the rest of your schedule open and flexible, as much as possible. I like to leave things really flexible, so that I can concentrate on tasks instead of scheduled periods. I know this isn’t as easy for some because of the restraints of work hours and such, but it’s important to not let yourself get stressed out over deadlines, but rather, to look at them as challenges to overcome. Personally, I don’t look at whether or not I can get something done by a certain time or date, but instead, challenge myself in completing the tasks. For example, I wouldn’t tell myself that I have to complete 20 pages of editing in an hour. Rather, I would challenge myself to see how long it takes me to complete 20 pages of editing, and then would try to beat that the next time I edit, while still ensuring that I maintain the quality of my work. Does that make sense?

One of the greatest challenges I’ve personally faced has been working up the motivation to work on my tasks. This has been a MAJOR struggle for me because everything I do requires that I be disciplined in order for those tasks to be completed: studying online and through personal research, running my own businesses, taking care of my health, running on a disciplined schedule, etc.

During this process of figuring out my ideal way of accomplishing my goals, I found myself a new best friend: To-Do Lists. These things are life savers, and really motivating! The feeling of looking at a list, busting by butt on a particular task, and then crossing out on the list, may seem like a small and measly thing, but I assure you, the feeling is uplifting! Try it out. What’s there to lose? Some say working on the harder tasks first works best. Some say working on the easier tasks first works best. Personally, I just work on the things I feel like working on (on the condition there isn’t something that has a pre-set deadline from someone else, like a client). Find your own ideal.

Next, looking at everything on your list, you may feel overwhelmed. If that’s the case, take this piece of advice that I’ll pass on to you from an old Archie comic I read YEARS ago and have held onto since: “The best way to study is to JUST STUDY.” Take this advice and apply it to everything you do. Sometimes, it’s about just taking that leap, and learning along the way. Actually, most things in life are like that. Going to college/university, a lot of people walk in with a certain mindset and goal, and walk out completely changed with a completely new outlook on life, and on their academic and career goals. Getting in shape, you start by following a basic laid out plan, and then listen to your body and learn from trial and error to see what works best for you. Getting married, you go in trusting in God to guide you because you’ve tried to understand the other person as best you could, prayed and sought Guidance, felt the person had most of what you were looking for in a spouse (because, well, nobody’s perfect, but we can find perfection in imperfections :D), and then grew towards the path that was written for you and your significant other.

The examples go on, but the bottom line is, you have to JUST START. Life is too short to play it safe all the time, and to constantly question every single thought and thing that happens. I know, that’s easier said than done, because I’ve seen all the quotes, Facebook statuses, and tweets about how over-thinking ruins things and makes things more difficult than they are. So, it’s obvious that it’s common to start over-thinking. Shoot! I’m telling you this now, but I sometimes over-think as well! It’s natural. But, who says we have to succumb to it? Overcome your over-thinking! Take leaps of faith! Build up the courage and face your fears! What’s the worst that’ll happen? You’ll get knocked into a different direction with what you sought? Isn’t that great, considering Allah has a plan for you, and wants what’s best for you? Don’t be afraid of failure, my friends. Failure is the fuel of ambition, and ambition is the enemy of fear.

Hidden Opportunities
Hidden Opportunities 1280 800 Nadir Keval

“When Allah loves someone, He will put him in difficulties.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Reading that quote sent shivers down my spine as it is so short and simple, but so powerful and full of meaning. To the one who looks at things from what they are on the surface without pondering over them, this would seem like a confusing Hadith, as it would appear as though Allah punishes someone He loves. Of course, that isn’t the case, as this religion is one filled with signs and teachings for “people of understanding.”

What I got from this beautiful Hadith is that Allah loves to help those whom He loves grow into better people, slaves, and Muslims. Here are some of the thoughts that arose in my mind:

  1. We grow closer to Him – As Allah places us in difficulties, it causes us to run back to Him for help, making us grow closer to Him. We seek His Help, because He alone is the Owner and Facilitator of our affairs.
  2. We are humbled – To be placed into difficulties humbles us, making us recognize that we are no more than slaves in comparison to Allah, so we are inclined towards clinging tightly to Him, knowing that we are incapable of succeeding or growing without Him on our side.
  3. Blessings in disguise – We’ve all heard of blessings in disguise, and this is in fact the epitome of that phrase. There is a Hadith (a personal favourite, actually), where the Prophet (SAW) says that there is no calamity that strikes a believer, even if it as small as the prick of a thorn, except that it removes the sins of that believer. So, by placing us in difficulty, Allah is giving us the opportunity to strengthen our faith and to have our sins expiated, so that we may grow stronger as Muslims and may better our chances of getting into Jannah (Paradise).
  4. We are challenged towards greatness – As in anything we endeavour towards, we find a need to challenge ourselves in order to grow and progress in that endeavour. In Islam, the ultimate goal is Jannah, so these difficulties are in fact tests and opportunities Allah gives us to grow. Look at it as this: when you try to get in shape, you’re hoping to build a healthier lifestyle. Whether it be losing weight or gaining muscle, you have to challenge yourself beyond what you’re comfortable with in order for you to grow and progress. That is what these difficulties are like. They are ways in which Allah gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves so that we may reach Jannah. Think back to some of the challenges you used to face and no longer find difficulty in. Looking back at them, you might notice that what used to seem incredibly challenging no longer is. That’s growth right there!

These are just a few thoughts that entered my mind, and to be completely honest, I’m sure that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Still, I wanted to share these thoughts and ideas with all of you, as this is how we can learn and increase our knowledge. May Allah guide us all and help us towards becoming better Muslims, slaves of Allah, and better members of society. I’d love your input and thoughts on the topic, so if you’ve got anything positive to share, please comment below, and we’ll start up a discussion, insha Allah 🙂

Simple Eats
Simple Eats 1500 1156 Nadir Keval

One of the things I’ve learned in my journey towards better health is that it’s important to keep things simple. Often, people overwhelm themselves by complicating things beyond their personal levels of comfort. I was definitely one of those people. Then, it dawned on me. My greatest success has been when I’ve taken the challenge I was facing and ran it through my filter and life motto, “Simplicity, with a dash of elegance.™”

As I worked towards finding my ideal “diet”, I decided to break things down to the bare components of what I knew was healthy and good for me, and what wasn’t. These are the components I came up with:

Proteins

  • These would derive from lean meats such as chicken breast, turkey, fish, beans, nuts
  • Another source is through protein shakes, but be sure to educate yourself on a type before buying it, because a lot of protein powders have things you may not need in them, or may include fillers

Carbohydrates

  • It’s important to consume carbs from good sources, which as a general rule of thumb would include whole wheat and whole grain foods
  • Avoid the white bread, white rice, etc. because those are full of sugars and have been refined to the degree the majority of their nutritional value

Fibre

  • For this, I usually include ground flax seeds (from what I’ve read, our bodies can’t digest the whole seeds, so they must be ground) in sauces, protein shakes, etc.
  • I also eat oatmeal, and Metamucil (yes, Metamucil – the orange flavoured stuff tastes AMAZING!)
  • There are two types of dietary fibre, soluble and insoluble (I’ll discuss those in a separate post soon)

Fats

  • There are good fats and there are bad fats
  • Most processed foods, and things jam-packed with sugar (a.k.a. junk food) are filled with bad fats
  • Good fats come from healthy oils, fish, nuts, and things like that

Fruits/Veggies

  • These are personal favourites for keeping myself full throughout the day, and helping me not get hungry. If I get hungry, I munch on them
  • They are filled with natural sugars, fibre, and loads of vitamins
  • I avoid fruit after 7-8 p.m. because of their sugar content

Water

  • I drink so much of this, you’d think I was a water well haha. But seriously, water is your best friend. Still, too much of a good thing is bad for you, so make sure that you’re sticking to a healthy amount for your age, height, weight, lifestyle, etc.
  • There’s no cookie-cutter amount of water consumptions that fits everyone. For more details on knowing how much you can consume, here’s a short, simple article by Jillian Michaels (How Much Water Should I Drink?)

Now, remember, this is just my own personal guideline. I stick to eating from these different groups, and watch my caloric intake using myFitnessPal. As I’m very indecisive about my meal choices, I don’t bother with making a meal plan, but instead, cook up or grab something using these categories. I’ve tried meal plans before, and every time I go to make something, I get lazy and just end up eating the thing I have quickest access to.

Like I said, every person is different. Finding your own way is part of this journey towards getting into your personal ideal shape. Find what works for you through trial and error, and make an effort to educate yourself, not only because what you eat is 70-80% of your healthy lifestyle and dietary success, but also because this is a lifestyle change. This process will take time, so if you’re seeking a quick fix, know that it will only last as long as it took to reach. The more time you take working towards your goals, educating yourself, and working vigorously towards reaching your ideal, the more permanent the results will be.

I wish you all the best in this journey, and if you have any comments, suggesting, or ideas that you’d like to discuss, include them in the comments below, and maybe we’ll get to learn a thing or two from each other. Remember, this is a positive journey, so let’s stay positive and motivate each other towards success!

My Awesome Day and Date!
My Awesome Day and Date! 1000 750 Nadir Keval

Today is one of my mini-vacation days, where I go out and just spend time alone around the city, or at a park or beachfront, or find a remote place to sit, meditate, think, and write. The reason today became an opportunity for my mini-vacation is because I had an appointment for  a much needed haircut (I was getting annoyed ‘cuz my hair was touching my ears haha) and a dinner with my grandma (who’s visiting from Toronto).

I’m writing this right before my hair appointment at this place I’ve never been to. My sisters go there all the time though, and they seem to like it. And, because it’s a school, they charge the same amount I would pay at some random place, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I used to get my hair cut by a stylist friend who would do it for me at home, but she moved to Toronto with her family, so that’s a no go 🙁 Anyways, I’m about to head over to the salon. I’ll continue, with a review of the place, once I get back, insha Allah.

After the haircut…

Okay, that was great! Sure, it was the LONGEST haircut I’ve ever had (3 hours!!), but it was nice. The people were great, and they were really detailed and focused on making sure the haircut looked perfect. After the cut, I felt great cuz it made me feel like I lifted a weight off of my shoulders! Literally. (Da dum tum TSS! hahaha) Anyways, after the haircut, I didn’t have any time to walk around downtown, so I rushed home to take a quick shower and get ready for my date with my Grandma.

I had this whole plan to take her to the oceanfront by my house to watch the sunset, then to go pray Maghrib, then go to the restaurant, and then go out for dessert. But, as life would have it, that didn’t happen.

I rushed home, got ready, and prayed Maghrib. Then, as we were about to head out for the restaurant, I decided to take my mom with us, so she got ready and we head out. It was nice seeing the two of them so happy and enjoying their mother-daughter time together 🙂 So, we went to one restaurant that decided that they wanted to be closed today (*sigh*), so we head off to a restaurant we’d never heard of. I’m glad we did, because I wasn’t too big of a fan of our first restaurant choice. This new place was great in the food quality, portions, service. But, what made it even better was that we were the only people in the restaurant, so we got the full attention of the staff 😛

After that, we went over to my sisters’ school to pick them up, because they had just finished up with a meeting for one of the school clubs they’re in. Well, there’s a recap of my great day. Might be a little lame to tell you all of this stuff, but it was an awesome day, so I thought I’d share it with all of you. I hope all of you had a great day as well, with many more to come!

Check out some of the pictures from the day:

Back to top