I am ghazala shahid. I am 59 years old. I have four kids. Though they are grown up Alhamdulilah (praise be to Allah) but for me they are still my little babies. My eldest daughter 
Below is a picture of me with my daughter on her wedding day.
I was a self centered, conceited lady who never believed on compromising but the tough time and hardships turned me into a gentle, loving, caring and humble person who now wants to share, care and be helpful to people around her. My heart has grown so "soft n tender" that on hearing some minor mishap or tragedy, I start crying and can't stop my tears.
The last incident which has totally changed my whole family and me and has strengthen my belief on Allah is the death of my beloved brother. My brother's sudden death is an eye opener that LIFE is just an illusion and we should spend it like a passerby. We must not waste it just struggling to get more and more wealth, big houses, luxury cars and all other stuff rather we should try to explore why Allah Almighty has sent us that there is a purpose behind the creation of human beings. We should try to find it out and it's not difficult. For me, I think that purpose is to be nice to be kind and caring with people around us.
My brother's death has made this crystal clear to me that while helping poor or needy to get their true right if you sacrifice your life it's worth giving your life. My brother was an active social member of a community organization which used to help people who were deprived of their property or were troubled by gangsters. People who could not take a stand for themselves used to contact my brother and he used to help those who were suffering. While serving his fellow beings by fighting for their rights many of the "law breakers" went against him. But he moved on this path of righteousness and kept helping poor people.
He was so much involved in helping poor that one day when he took his mother to a hospital for her eye check and while sitting in waiting area for their turn, he noticed a young man who was sobbing standing in a corner. My brother (Naeem) went to him and asked why he was crying. The young man told him his father needed a surgery and he is short of 40 thousand rupees and if surgery did not go through, his father would die. My brother gave the young man 40 thousand rupees which he had for his mothers treatment. He returned to his mother and said " today the doc is not available he will come tomorrow so we will come and visit him tomorrow " and returned home with his mother. He was doing charity in a way that nobody knew about it. Sometimes he would stop his children's fees or will not provide for their new clothes or shoes or any other demand as he has to give that money to some brother.
Ahh! we all came to know about this over his dead body when people came to attend his funeral, one was saying he helped me get my money back, another said he helped getting my home back from some local thugs and another said he arranged for my daughter's respectable marriage. Many said he used to pay us an amount monthly or weekly basis.
This sad and tragic incident is one factor that has played a vital part in changing me; there are many such life episodes that have evolved me as a person. I will share more of these experiences here with time. Guys I don't want to make you more sad so I'll now move on to sharing a few of my likes and dislikes. I like reading a lot!! It has been my passion since I was a young school going girl. I used to read stories, comics, adventure, suspense etc. according to my growing age.
I love to go to hilly areas and the beauty of nature is my weakness. William Wordsworth poet of nature is my favorite one. Pakistan's northern areas are rich with natural beauty and I have visited muree, abbotabad, kalam, naran, swat, be sham and some other hill stations in my life so far. I really feel fresh, relaxed and happy when I am in some valley surrounded by tall lush green trees, hills or mountains, beautiful waterfalls, the beauty created by Allah Almighty.
I will share my different life experiences with my steemit friends. Actually I would like to talk to you, suggest and advise and help you in any way possible because my aim is to help you out under the light of my personal experiences or happenings around me. I want to be useful to all who would encourage and appreciate me at this forum.
I hope you will like knowing me with this piece of writing and will share your thoughts regarding my post.
LOVE AND LIVE HAPPILY,
Ghazala