Hope when all else Fails

Hope when all else Fails, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

We are at a crossroad of our life where we all want the After to be better than the Before. We feel as though life is not on "purpose", scared of what the future may hold for us or angry at what has happened in the past.

To me, life is about living each moment as it comes and not worrying about what has taken place or may happen in the future. It is about being certain that each moment of your life is being lived exactly as it is supposed to be to learn the lessons you were brought here to learn.

But, for past couple of years, as I believe that we create our destiny through our thought process… This myth or whatever you may call it has been shattered and cracked so many times… The dust & debry around me make me wonder about how to live a peace filled life. Why there is so much pain, suffering, bloodshed & wars happening around us. The more I think "Why", the deeper in thoughts I go behind the memory lane. Scattered bodies, smoke & shouting people create a wetness in my eyes.

But, at the end it all comes down to hope.. "Hope when all else fails." Hope is something you should have no matter when, not just when things are failing, but all the time. Hope gives you options and can change all of those bricked walls surrounding your into ones with doors.

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Taken: Camp at Jalkhad beside River Kunhar, Upper Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.

Your Own Private World

Your Own Private World, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

In today’s distracted world, with its emphasis on incessant business, the art of just being alone with one’s own thoughts has been lost. We always have to be doing something. Take a look round any lounge or bus station, and you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who are just sitting there, waiting. Most people will be thumbing on their mobile phones or fiddling with their mp3 player. Even when sitting at home, I sometimes feel that I should be doing something.

Solitude becomes a difficult state to attain. Just sitting by yourself in the park, you are distracted by traffic noises, kids and general passers by. There are few quiet places, perhaps far-away mountain is the only one left in an urban environment.

Out there, the sense of solitude and inner well being becomes much easier to experience. Being alone gives you time to think, as there is normally very little else to do. There is true silence, apart from the sound of the blowing air coursing along the side of the ears, and even that is more therapeutic than annoying. Just watching the endless views calms the troubled soul, and leaves you in your own private world. You are well away from the constant time poor burdens of everyday life.

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Taken: After spending a night in heavy rain, just got the time for a morning walk around a camping spot at Middle of Paya Meadows, Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.

One of the photographic soul met me there, camped beside us… Mudassar Ahmed Dar. Do visit his photostream at

Mudassar Ahmed Dar’s Photostream

The Flow of Joy

The Flow of Joy, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

The process starts when you focus your attention on the positive possibilities, and on the value of what you have. An attitude of gratitude primes the pump to get joy flowing in your life and through your world.

See what is good, what is right, what is true. Let the joy begin to flow.

Then live that joy, spreading it far and wide. And it will flow with ever-increasing power. Joy cannot be held or restrained, hidden away or saved for another time. Joy must freely flow in order to exist at all.

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Taken: Evening Walk, Bank of River Kunhar, Jalkhad, Upper Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.

Walk Along The Top

Walk Along The Top, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

Just for a moment, imagine a scenario. If as a child your mum was a little bit over-protective, and perhaps a tiny bit anxious or very anxious when you decided, as children do, that you wanted to walk along the top of a wall or climb a tree, do you think you might have picked up a little bit of her fear of falling? And then if the same sensations of anxiety were transmitted the next time you decided to go on a climbing expedition, and then the next, is it possible that this little bit of anxiety might build and build until you have learned, through empathy and experience, to be afraid of heights.

The good news is that a fear of heights is learned and not something you are born with. What is learned can be un-learned and a new pattern of thought and behavior can be learned instead.

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Taken: A view of Neelam River from Mukshpuri Top, Galyat Region, Pakistan

Go Through Lives

Go Through Lives, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

When I see people around me, I categorize them into two kind of souls… One, those who are thankful, two, who are complaining. Mostly we are all a mixture of this and that… But what is dominated is the category we fall in.

I see around me those who are "victim of circumstances" and those who no matter what are fighting those circumstances with their chin high in the sunlight. To understand them you have to go through their lives and the events and choices they had made.

This is the theme I have always thought of working out… "A Dividing Line" where one can differentiate between the beggar and the hard worker… I hope some day I would be able to get the time and the connections to undertake this dream of mine…

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Taken: Near Masjid Afghanan, Bank of River Jehlum, Punjab, Pakistan.

Strange Feeling

Strange Feeling, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

I suppose that at some point in our lives we have all experienced love sickness – that strange feeling inside when we have fallen in love and begin to lose the plot! We may go off our food, become dreamy and unfocused and cut ourselves off from our family and friends.

Love is a strange feeling… sometimes we fight ourself, sometimes we fight Love. A lot of time, the soft words of love can sometimes melt the strongest heart and make you into a hopeless romantic.

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Taken: Phantom of Opera, PNCA Islamabad, Pakistan

Mist of The Meadow

Mist of The Meadow, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

As I sit along a wet path with my eyes closed in the silence of the nature, I dont know for how long I have been sitting like this. My fellows are lost into the mist of the meadow. As I open my eyes, my eyelashes were wet with drops of mist… A beautiful sight before my eyes.

Manna Meadows, a beautiful and isolated piece of land in the valley of Kaghan is magical in terms of the weather, views, feeling and location. The way to manna meadows is filled with waterfalls and the lush green environment which will make you bite your fingers. There are only a small family living in this part of land and the spot where they have built their home is one of the most beautiful places I have even seen.

After cleaning the jeep trek with our own hands for crating a path to take the jeep further, it was a worthy effort to be in a dream filled moments of rejoice.

Taken: Manna Meadows, Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Hunzakuts

Hunzakuts, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed (Job Hunt Mode).

Hardworking Hunza people are artists of their own kind.. you will find the art many had forbidden because of socio-economic issues and the amount of dedication and handwork desired to it. Woodwork is one of it. Still making spoons, forks, musical instruments and traditional show pieces with his own hands.. Normally using the wood of Walnut & Apricot tree.

Something I learned about the Hunzakuts, as the people of Hunza are known, is that they are co-operative rather than competitive. The economy used to be entirely self-sufficient, but this is rapidly changing as the Karakoram Highway open up the valley to the outside world.

Bought a set of spoons made of walnut wood.. still could be seen over the dinner at home…

Amazing details in large

Taken: Hunzo-E-Hayan a shop in Central Karimabad, Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan

Dreams of Jalkhad

Dreams of Jalkhad, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed.

As the sun was about to show itself in the wonder valley of Jalkhad, it is about time to go for a small hike along the river Kunhar and then a nice breakfast to start up a day. Friendly people, stunning scenery, flowing river and glowing sun makes this time feels like a dream. Its time to cook some heavy duty food that can set up our day long exertion in the remote Valley of Kach Gali.

This is what I have been thinking for so many years, family camping along the one of my most cherished places on earth… This is my Dreams of Jalkhad coming into life. I am so blessed.

The guy in the back is my Mrs Brother, and is a heavy adventurous soul… These days on a bed due to accident, needing a lot of your prayers.

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Taken: Breakfast at the Campsite of Jalkhad, Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.

Walk Away

Walk Away, originally uploaded by !ShTiaQ Ahmed.

When your mind is filled with worry, just imagine how wonderful it would be to have that heavy burden lifted clean away. Imagine it, and then choose the simple act of doing it.

Choose to walk away from worry, and lift that burden from yourself. In a moment, your worry can be gone.

Breathe in the sweet, refreshing air of freedom, clarity and effectiveness. Walk away from worry, and walk forward with positive purpose.

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Taken: Ban, Galyat Region, Punjab, Pakistan