"TURNING POINT"

^{I could sit here - in the middle of this road all day long! And think about life as it happening}

My first thought when I woke up a couple of days earlier: What is a Turning point????
As I was googling the definitions of this phrase, I came across some very interesting interpretations. A simpler definition was, "a point at which a significant change occurs." Much to my surprise, it came out as a mathematical term also. In calculus, a turning point is a point at which the derivative changes sign. So I delved into it a little more (don't mind my inquisitive nature) and found what the term "derivative" means. A derivative, in mathematics, refers to the rate of change of a function with respect to a "variable." This is the word I was looking for – the word "variable"! So, in real life, a turning point is that variable in our consistent day-to-day lives that changes our perspective towards life. This variable changes our direction and causes us to make a choice. This variable is that pivotal moment in our lives when we become self-aware. Yes, it's the moment of SELF AWARENESS!
And until we become self-aware, we are something that is reactive, not proactive. By definition, proactivity means creating and controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened (Britannica). It is the decisive moment when we feel the motivation to make a shift in our lives.

^{Direction is there - decision is yours}

I have been in a shemozzle since the last few days as to write about my own experience or to cover this topic in general. The more I think about this, the more I realize that there is not only one but many points in my life that have shaped my life. I am a housewife in my thirties, a mother to three kids, and a wife of an amazing person. And there have been so many moments in my life that led to certain decisions, choices, and my outlook towards life. Some incidents made me stronger, some made me more self-aware, and there were some that made me doubt myself in different roles I play as a mother, wife, daughter, citizen, and most importantly, as a human being. But yes, there is not a single big "turning point" in my life that I could say changed everything in my life. I don't know if it's good or bad, but I know one thing for sure; that I need to make my bond stronger with my creator, Allah Almighty. In every person's life, there is a turning point when they revert back to their Creator. It is irrespective of their origin or religion. God has promised guidance for every human being. And when I say every human, I am not saying every Muslim - I am positive that every religion or way of life has some sort of system for the calibration of the moral compass of its believers. There comes a point where a person thinks and rethinks about their purpose in life—a point where they believe they've had enough. Now, it's time to recalibrate themselves.

Sometimes, the death of a loved one, betrayal from the person they love dearly, losing a job, or any kind of failure, gives them a new "philosophy of life." These are the true testing times in a person's life when they are vulnerable at their most with exposed wounds and a bruised soul. At the same time, this is a moment of self-awareness! A moment to make a choice between being reactive or proactive in the time of calamity. This is easier said than done. It takes the nerves of steel to remain positive and calm in such situations and to overcome adversity. Yet the next level would be turning this disaster or unpleasant situation into something positive. Only a handful of people are capable of doing this. It is very difficult but not impossible.

^{I took my daughter to golfcourse on an impulse today; it's been days since she had her last coaching lesson.}

Another example of this "variable" or "turning point" could be things not going their way. A student might not get admission into the university or institute of their dreams. Rather than sulking and getting miserable, they may work even harder in that not-so-prestigious university and turn out to be shinier and brighter than ever. It may actually work in their favor. So yes, sometimes things not going their way are the turning points in their lives without them even realizing. This is what we call destiny (This is a talk for another day). So maybe it was destiny that was shaping their path. The path that was more favorable in the long run.
This point in life is just a jump start. It only acts as a catalyst in the chemistry of life. Having said that, these catalysts can create a mess or a miracle. It is up to us to choose. The entire chemical reaction can blow out of proportion and become disastrous if we don't make the right choice. One wrong step and we may end up choosing a wrong option. Or else it can turn into something productive and fruitful. It can be the fate-changing instant in our lives. So either way, this point needs to be attended very carefully.

^{Turn this spoon and you can have all the flavours on the tip of your tongue}

As we go through life experiences, each record captures a different turning point in life. It is a process of unveiling our hidden capabilities and strengths. In this process of self-reflection, we learn to look at life from a different perspective. These different approaches make us more mature and wiser. We learn to tackle different and difficult situations in our lives with a sense of control and contentment. In turn, this road may lead us a step closer to achieving our goals. There is this quote by Bill Rancic (American entrepreneur) that sums up the relativity of success and turning point in a person's life:
"Ask any successful person to look back over the events of his or her life, and chances are there'll be a turning point of one kind or another. It doesn't matter if that success has come on a ball field or in a boardroom, in a research laboratory or on a campaign trail - it can usually be traced to some pivotal moment."

So if we summarize this whole debate, a turning point is a moment in the plot of our life story when we must make a decision that will change the course of our story. The choices we make in our story will change the direction of the plot and, in turn, our future. Sometimes the decision is our own, and sometimes external factors or events may force their hand. Every turning point in our story – SHOULD BE A POINT OF NO RETURN!

^{Autumn is here finally}