Monday, December 31, 2012

Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year.

So this is the new year and I don't feel any different.  The clanking of crystal, explosions off in the distance.   So this is the new year and I have no resolutions for self assigned penance, for problems with easy solutions. - Death Cab For Cutie

I don't make new year resolutions because I think they're silly.  I don't need a specific date to make decisions to better my life.

But, I do want to reflect on 2012...

I cleared so much toxicity from my life, mostly in the form of friends.  I thought I would be really upset by it and it was lonely for a little while but I can honestly say, I've never felt better.  I've spent too much time holding on to certain people and didn't realize how negatively it was affecting me until I let them go.  Don't ever ever ever let someone dim your light simply because it's shining in their eyes.

I learned how much of myself I'm willing to sacrifice for a relationship: NONE.

This year I really learned to fight for myself and what I believe in even if it alienates people.  This coming year I will work on softening my delivery a bit.  ;)  But it's so empowering to finally say, hey ya know what, this is what's right and I'm going to fight for it even if it puts a wedge in our friendship.

On that same note somewhat, I've become really comfortable in my religious beliefs. I took this year to really focus on God and I've prayed more than I've ever prayed before.  And I've really been focusing on listening to Him and actually allowing Him to guide my steps.  It hasn't been easy but I've been blessed SO much this year because of this decision.

Social media played a huge role in saving my life this year.  Crazy, right?  Through Twitter this year, I discovered So Worth Loving and POTSC.  And because of that I met five beautiful women: Eryn, Erin, Ashley, Melissa, and Sade who have taught me that I have so much soul inside my shattered heart.  Every Tuesday night, I reminded of how beautiful their spirits are and I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude.  

Also, there's Ileana.  You know how your mama always told you not to talk to strangers on the Internet?  Well, ignore her.  Do it, anyway.  You will meet your best friends.  Haha.  Ileana and I had the same group of blogging friends and started casually talking via Twitter.  A few months later, she moves an hour away from me and we decide to meet up for smoothies and the beginning of a very long friendship. :)  Since then I have grown to love everything about this lady.  She has taught me so much about grace and empowerment and beauty and love.

Please know that just because I haven't named you doesn't mean you haven't made an impact on my life this year. 

On to 2013...

Band Aid Records is relaunching in a few weeks.  Building a stronger team for Open Our Eyes because we have two major projects we're hoping to have launched by the end of the year.  I have a new project that I'm working on with one of my oldest friends that's launching in two weeks.  Clothing and accessories line is still happening.

I applied for something very very dear to my heart.  I don't want to say too much until everything is in place, which should be within the next week.  I will say it involves India.  :)  My heart is so overjoyed about the possibility of serving there!

I'm going back to school.  Inshallah.  Spending a lot of time with my family.  Stepping out of my bubble and making new friends.

I hope it's true what they say about the way you bring in the new year is how you spend the rest of the year because I'll be at a show with the most talented musicians I know.

Happy New Year, y'all.  xo

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Olivia Act




The Olivia Act, named after one of the children killed in Newtown, was started by a Photographer whom Olivia’s family had family pictures taken by a short time before she was killed on that horrible day.  I have seen what having those last photos can mean to a family member and it truly means the world to them.  Upon hearing about this, the photographer was moved to give away a 30 minute family photo shoot and has challenged other photographers to do the same.  I know that not all families have the resources to have photos taken every year, but I'd love 2013 to be the year for one of them. 

I will be taking nominations for a family who you think would appreciate this gift of memories.  The session will take place sometime after the new year (probably at the end of January).  Email me your nominations to brittny@itsbrittny.com.  In the email, please include who you're nominating and the story or reason you'd love them to get this gift.  The family chosen will be contacted via email or phone, so I will need both!  

You have until December 31st to nominate a family.  Please share the link to this blog with all of your family and friends.  The only thing I ask is that the family you nominate be within two hours of Mobile, AL.

I'm so stoked to be able to gift a family with these memories that can't be replaced or taken away!  And fellow photographers, please think about participating in the Olivia act, too.

You can find out more information or photographers in your area, here.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Women, Modesty and Hijab - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad



This was such a wonderfully informative interview.  I think ALL women of faith, not just Muslims, can benefit from it because God gave the same commandments for all of us regarding modesty.  You can watch the interview in it's entirety above. Below are a few things that really stood out to me...


What is hijab and how should it affect us on an inner and outer level?
- What we do on outward DOES have an impact on within.
- Beauty was created for us to admire BUT only certain people have that right to gaze.
- Sacred things are set apart with barriers and treated with dignity.  For example, the Holy of Holies is always covered by a veil as an expression of it's holiness/sacredness.


For Muslim women living and working in the West, how do you suggest we can ensure that we are growing spiritually, whilst being surrounded by materialism and often being tempted by it?
- We don't recognize the good life but rather the managed pursuit of pleasures.
- Focus on the five daily prayers.  Keeps you grounded because it takes precedent over everything else.


What advice would you give to sisters (reverts and non-reverts) who are finding it difficult to start wearing hijab?
- Modesty is innate.
- Many find it difficult but religion itself is hard and a struggle.  Following God offers us paradise but the price is high and we have to make that sacrifice.


What methods can one use to increase one's iman?  Many people nowadays suffer from having severe "dips" in their faith, and become very distressed upon realizing this.  Could you suggest some methods that might help to rectify this type of spiritual crisis?
- Remember that God is ALWAYS near.
- Experience the world as a gift and always see it's beauty.  To know the percentage of you imam , look at the percentage of people you see beauty in.  Seeing beauty is seeing God's intentions in that person.
- Truly fall in love with God and we will see His majesty/beauty.
- Train your hearts to see God.  If you've seen the moon, you're not going to argue rather it exists or not.


*This was my favorite portion of the interview.  It begins at 27:14 if you're interested in watching it.  Such great practical advice to apply to everything, not just hijab.*
Do you have any tips for sisters to maintain the correct intentions when wearing hijab, when it's always criticized in some way or another by both Muslims and non-Muslims? 
- Too much concern of the opinion of others is human but it's not the religious way.
- Simply respond with: "Thank you, brother/sister.  We all have so much to learn."  It's better to "play dumb" than cause a dispute, especially with a fellow believer.  HUMILITY.


When thoughts of taking off her hijab come to a sister, what can she do?
- Islam is based on the beauty of God's law.  It is not important for us to do what we want but rather conform to what God has commanded us to do.
- God has given us Shariah with LOTS of details so there's never any question.  Following it gives us the opportunity to turn away from our ego and towards the Spirit.  
- See hijab as a spiritual method and a way of re-centering ourselves in a crazy world.  Once we see it this way, we won't even have the desire to take it off.
- Need to see Shariah as mercy keeping us away from our own rubbish.  Also if we see the beauty of Islam through someone who is really living it, we will begin to see Shariah as not just a bunch of rules.
- Keeping company of the best people you can find is CRUCIAL.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday Tunes: Warrior // Worrier


Outlandish is a hip-hop group based in Denmark.  Isam (Moroccan descent) and Waqas (Pakastani descent) are Muslim and Lenny (Cuban/Honduran descent) is Catholic.  They released their first album, Outland's Official in 2001 and their most recent album, Warrior // Worrier was released this year.





I was a little late finding out about this new album with them not being too popular here in the states.  In almost perfect timing, though, I discovered it right as Ramadan ended and I've been listening to it almost nonstop since then.  Gypsy Cab is definitely my favorite on the album and quickly becoming my favorite Outlandish song of all time.  There's a part of the song where they combine "Hallelujah" and "Alhumdulillah" and it made my heart melt.  Below are more of my favorite lyrics from the album...

Gypsy Cab 
“Say Hallelujah. Say Al halla lu li lah. Praise be at whoever your hearts is at, whether that be Allah or Jesus Christ.” 
“Maybe she lies ‘cause she'd prefer a broken neck instead of a broken heart.” 

Warrior // Worrier 
“Do whatever you love and you'll be free. If you can't buy happiness, try to lease.” “For what is worth you're my warrior and I'm your warrior.” 
“Goodness is bigger than us. You can't see it ‘cause it is silent but it's feeding this world.” 
“What you call a problem, I just call them lessons of love.” 
“God never promised you days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But he did promise strength for you every day.” 
“Everybody's in love when things are going well.” 

 Barrio 
“Whenever it rains, an angel cries. Makes me sad to see tears from the sky.” 

Sky Is Ours 
“They can have this Earth, this pile of dirt. But the sky is ours.” 

Better Days 
“Maniacs will you sit while geniuses drive your cabs? Dead end jobs that might leave you dead at the job. Oh, a place where you can third world in the first world.” “Poverty is like love, makes you do some crazy things.” 

The Start 
“Where a heart skips a beat no DJ could ever drop.” 
“In a heart where's there true love, there's no doubt. When it's love you'll know. It's from the start, from the start.” 

Ready To Love 
“We got one life to love each other. One life, one love. Protecting and be there for one another. We're worthless if we keep on fighting ‘cause together we can face the night if we're ready to love.” 
“It ain't enough that we are at war with nature. We want more more more than our 40 acres.” 

Breathin’ Under Water 
“Did I die for nothing instead of living for something?” 
“Maybe you know the difference. What's between just being alive and just living?” 
“I'm a P I M P. Preaching in my poetry.” 
“Can't buy happiness, at least I can lease it. I'm not being facetious when I say I need Jesus. How can we follow leaders when we have such hallow leaders?” 
“I got millions of ancestors deep in the Atlantic from where the slave traders came. And they still speaking through my vein, so when I'm speaking underwater.” 

A Mind Full of Whispers 
“A mind full of whispers, my heart full of scripture. Music is my frame and words play the picture.” 

Gangsta Like Crazy 
“Arab men are radical terrorists. Immigrants all play and must be sent away, period. Black men are criminals. Veiled women are oppressed. White men are racists. And free speech is irrelevant. If you believe in any of these statements, you are an idiot. I repeat, an idiot. I don't know who knocked the Twin Towers down, but in different times I wonder if a bomb falls in the desert will it make a sound?” 

TriumF 
“Put down the gun, pick up my pen. The ink of one worth more than men.”

I'll end with the official video for their single Warrior // Worrier.  Let me know what you think of the video and the album in general.  Is this your first time hearing of them?  If you were already a fan, how does this album compare to the others?