#i simply cannot entertain dating apps right now i just don’t care. if i am to be a hag so be it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

notimetoblog · 6 years

Text

Not Happening (Pt.5)

Summary: An online dating site clearly makes a mistake when it matches you with the one person you cannot stand.

A/N: I am so excited about this chapter! It was so hard to wait until today to actually share it with you guys! I really do hope you guys enjoy it. Its a longer chapter.. longest one I’ve written!!! Thanks so much for reading, as always. You guys are the best!!!

PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / MY STORIES

“I think whosyourmate.com is onto something. Don’t you?”

This could not be happening.

Keeping up with the thoughts crossing your mind was impossible. You had not only discovered that a picture of you had been hung at a photo gallery, but you had also discovered that the photographer had been Bucky Barnes, a man you had surprisingly tolerated throughout the night. To make matters worse, he was aware of the match Craig and his stupid algorithm had mocked you with. Not only aware, though, he was agreeing with it?

You forced your eyes to peel away from the label hanging beside the photograph, willing them to look at Bucky who remained silent after his sudden declaration.

His face was almost smug, as if enjoying the fact that he had caught you off guard. You felt your gaze shift from confusion to anger. Was this just another of his ‘funny’ pranks?

“You knew,” you found yourself saying. You didn’t speak above a whisper, though, still dealing with the attention the people around you were giving as they realized you were the one in the picture.

“Course I knew,” Bucky whispered back, eyes also scanning the room mentally noting the people who were all failing miserably in their attempts to pretend not to be staring. “The app lets you know when it finds you a match.”

“You knew,” you repeated with a much harsher tone.

You felt as the blood rushed to your face, heating it up in the process. You weren’t sure if it was due to the sudden anger you were feeling or because of the sudden need to run and hide from all the attention. The space you were in, feeling more and more constricting. Between the photograph behind you, the people surrounding you, and Bucky standing in front of you, it was all too much.

“Yes,” Bucky confirmed yet again. “I knew.”

“Well, I’m glad you had fun tonight Bucky,” you snapped, “I’m glad I was able to provide you with a bit of entertainment. Now if you excuse me, I have to leave since I’m done being laughed at.”

You stepped around Bucky, rushing to get out of the gallery yet trying your best to not attract even more attention to yourself. Seemed like everybody in the gallery knew about your picture before you. As you made your way out of the spiral of photographs you caught a glimpse of Nat, Wanda, and Steve having a drink. The anger flaring up once more as you realized they had not even thought of giving you a heads-up. Nat and Wanda weren’t exactly some of your favorite people at the moment thanks to their constant nagging about the whole Bucky-match thing. Steve, though, you expected more from. You had at least expected a subtle heads-up.

“Hey, Y/N,” you heard Bucky call out from behind you.

You were nearing the coatrack by the entrance and his voice had caught the attention of your group of so-called friends, who all turned to observe what was occurring between you and Bucky.

“Come on, don’t leave like this,” Bucky said as he stepped beside you. You rummaged through the coats hanging, unable to find your own.

“I’ll do whatever I want, Barnes,” you replied, somehow still not seeing your coat. There weren’t even that many on the rack, your anger just caused all of them to look the same.

“Its right here,” he said as he extended his arm towards you, his hand holding your coat.

You yanked it from his hands, quickly throwing it on. Nat and Wanda took this as their cue to approach you, seemingly ready to leave with you. Steve also approached you and Bucky, with a slower pace, though, falling behind the girls.

“Listen, I wasn’t laughing at you, so you can’t use that as an excuse to leave because it isn’t true.”

Hearing this, the approaching trio, slowly turned towards the direction they had come from, quickly concluding this was a conversation for just you and Bucky.

“You weren’t laughing?” you asked, eyes rolling as you scoffed. “Just randomly decided to throw up a picture of me at a gallery of your secret photographs, huh? And all of this after you embarrassed me as soon as I got here and threw in the punchline you were probably holding back all night about the match.”

You went to step around him again, but he took a step to the side essentially blocking your path out of this place.

“That wasn’t a punchline and no, that picture of you wasn’t random. And I’m sorry about that prank, it was stupid and immature.”

You just stared at him. How far was he willing to take this? You were already embarrassed he knew about the match and that everybody now seemed to know your picture was hanging in this gallery.

“You’re really something Bucky,” you said, not an ounce of anger leaving your tone of voice.

“Remember what I said when we started talking about the pictures?” he asked as he blocked your path again. “I said you’d have to listen a little for this to work.”

“Yeah, well I think I’ve listened enough,” you replied.

“You haven’t. You’re leaving as soon as the real conversation is beginning.”

“Well you chose not to say anything about what you knew all night. And for what purpose? To have fun!”

“You knew about the match too, sweetheart, and didn’t say a word either,” he retorted. “So, this isn’t all on me. And I already told you this wasn’t a joke or some elaborate prank.”

“I don’t care,” you said, frustration growing as he wouldn’t let you leave causing your argument to not be as strong as you’d hope.

“If you want to leave, fine leave, but I’m taking you home.”

“Not happening,” you simply said, unable to picture what a ride home with Bucky would look like.

“Yes, it is,” he replied confidently. “You couldn’t even find your coat among 5 other coats, not a chance you’ll find your place.”

You scoffed not understanding how one person could be so frustrating, annoying, and a pain. Maybe you should create a trophy for him that let him know just how much of a bother he was. You could have it engraved, “TO THE BIGGEST ASS”.

“Excuse me?” Bucky suddenly yelled out for all his guests to hear.

Your mouth dropped as he called everybody’s attention to where you and he stood. You flashed your eyes to Nat and Wanda who shared a similar expression.

“I’d like to thank everyone of you for coming out tonight. I hope you all enjoyed the images. I have to leave now, but please enjoy the rest of the night. Place is ours for a bit,” he added with a smile. The guests clapped and those holding glasses raised them, most singing their praises to Bucky. Turning to you he quietly said, “Let’s go.”

“I’m not leaving,” you quickly responded.

“Well darling I already said goodnight so now we kind of have to leave,” he said, and you swore you could slap him.

“I’m not leaving with you,” you amended.

“Ok, then I’ll just announce I’m staying, give me a sec—”

“No!” you said, louder than you had intended. “No more stupid announcements.”

“Just let me take the time it takes to get to your place to explain. I promise I won’t take any longer. You can say whatever you want after that. But I can’t let you go like this. Not after what I’ve learned tonight.”

Your eyebrows shot up at that last part. He had learned something?

You looked over to Nat and Wanda who were staring back trying to figure out whether you needed them or not.

Your mind replayed the words Wanda had uttered before you went on the ‘tour’ with Bucky.

“Try to figure out what the system saw between both of you. Maybe you learn something new.”

Could you really trust this guy? He had been nothing but an ass the entire time you had known him, yet you had noticed he had kept that side of him hidden tonight. But tonight, had only been a few hours, surely that couldn’t make up for the years you had known him for.

And yet now he stood in front of you asking for a few more minutes. Not days, or weeks, or months. Just minutes. An amount of time you would usually think tolerable.

“If you really think I won’t change your mind, then why are you hesitating?” he asked. His words echoing the ones Nat had spoken to you a few hours ago. “You have to get home anyway so might as well prove me wrong while you’re at it.”

The challenge in his voice spurred something within you. He was right. You were confident in what you had seen. Knew that this was nothing more than a game to him, so if you could get the last laugh then you should take that opportunity.

“Fine,” you said.

The smile he gave was unlike any other smile he had flashed your way. There was no undertone of mischief within it.

You gazed once more towards Nat and Wanda who were still looking back at you. They took a few steps toward you before you began walking their way. Quickly explaining what was happening and letting them know you were ok, you said your goodbyes.

Once outside the gallery, Rick wished you both a goodnight, a surprised look on his face as he saw you walking beside Bucky.

“My bike is in the back,” Bucky leaned in to say and you felt your stomach drop. There was no way in hell you would be getting on a motorcycle with him. You could barely trust him while he stood next to you, that little trust would evaporate as soon as he got on that death-trap. You began to shake your head furiously when you heard him chuckle. “Kidding, I parked my car over on that street,” he said pointing you in the direction of his car.

You sighed deeply, not understanding how you had actually accepted to have him drive you home.

“So much for not being a jerk,” you said.

“It doesn’t hurt to laugh a little, you know,” he replied.

“I laugh at funny things. Usually ones that are not at my expense,” you responded seriously, both of you falling into step on your way to his car.

He sighed, “Ok, sorry. But laughing at yourself every once in a while, can be therapeutic. Can’t take yourself too seriously.”

“I laugh at myself all the time, Barnes.”

“Had me fooled.”

“Well you were absolutely right,” you began sarcastically. “I’m having a wonderful time proving you wrong.”

“Hey, don’t claim victory too soon. This is just beginning. Tell you what. Let’s ditch my car and instead walk to your place.”

“You mean extend the time I have to spend with you?” you scoffed. “Not happening.”

“Scared?”

You rolled your eyes. He was actually a child.

“Please, scared of what?”

“Falling in love with me,” he said with a smirk.

You threw your head back as you laughed, careful not to trip over anything as you kept walking. This man was the bane of your existence. He was not only a complete and total jerk, but also an egomaniac. Again, you cursed Craig’s name. No way he could be sitting at home happily with an amazing wife when his algorithm matched people like you and Bucky.

“Nice to hear you laugh for a change,” he chuckled. “Thought maybe you couldn’t.”

“The faster we get this over with, the better,” you said choosing to not even acknowledge his reply.

“Oh, come on!” he said. “We got a soulmate-level match. You’re not curious to figure out why? I mean I’m already putting together my own theories. Why are you so stubborn? 20 more minutes won’t kill you.”

“That site is a sham,” you replied. “That’s the only theory that’s accepted so there’s no need to waste more time.”

“You can be so infuriating, you know that?”

“Ditto.”

“I mean tonight wasn’t terrible. You can’t say you weren’t having a good time. Up until you freaked out on me, we were actually getting along. Doesn’t that say anything to you?”

“What exactly is it supposed to say?” you asked as you glanced around the street, noting the people casually walking by you. “Am I supposed to applaud you for being civil for once?”

“See, there you go again. Just infuriating. What tonight said to me was that maybe that site saw something we hadn’t even thought about.”

You looked to him. Why did everybody think this? How could anybody believe an algorithm could be wise enough to see something hidden behind layers of annoyance and hate.

“Wanna know why your picture was hanging in the gallery tonight?” he interrupted your thoughts. You weighed his question, curiosity fighting its way to the top against your annoyance. You nodded, remembering you still had so many other questions. “I had another image up originally. A picture of that one corner in Grand Central Station where you can whisper at one end and a person on the other end can hear you crystal clear. I got a couple who was hanging out there to pose. The colors photographed incredibly well, and I was happy with the way the picture turned out. I had set up the whole thing. Yes, I set it up, even if you refuse to give me the credit,” he said causing you chuckle much to your surprise, “The whole thing was ready, so I was on my way to invite you guys when I saw you at the coffee place with the girls. Figured I could invite you there.”

“You didn’t invite me,” you replied, annoyance quickly flooding your senses again. “You invited Nat and Wanda.”

“I invited you,” he taunted. “You just got a special kind of invitation. One that stayed true to our style,” he winked.

Suddenly you wondered why he had decided to invite you the day of the gallery and hide the fact that he was the photographer. You were more than sure he must’ve worked on it for weeks, so why not share it with the cocky attitude he was infamous for?

“Why’d you wait till today to invite us and tell us it was your gallery?” you voiced your question.

“It’s fucking terrifying to put yourself out there like that. Those pictures all have a bit of me. Had to work myself up to tell you guys.”

“Steve knew?”

“Of course, he did,” he said as he tied to move a few of the stubborn strands of hair out of his face. “Told Sam and Tony before they left. They promised to stop by the gallery once they come back from LA.”

You understood what he meant. It couldn’t be easy to put up a gallery of your work and invite your friends.

You had seen him around with his camera a couple of times. The thought of him being serious about photography never crossed your mind. Seriousness and Bucky Barnes weren’t things that you paired up often. He usually brought this camera along when the group hung out. The shuttering sounds of him taking a picture usually interrupting casual conversations among friends. Pictures of you had found their way on his camera, simply because you were part of the group of friends he spent his time with. Your next question sprung up.

“When did you take that picture of me?”

“A few months ago,” he replied, his gaze softening as he remembered, hands shyly hiding in the pockets of his jacket. “Saw you sitting there alone one time. I was heading over to Steve’s place and thought about maybe talking to you for a bit. It had been a while since we’d talked and I kind of missed teasing you,” he laughed. “So, I walked up behind you and stopped when I saw how peaceful you looked. Felt bad about disturbing you, because believe it or not I can be nice, so I just picked up my camera and took a picture. The light reflecting off the droplets of dew on the flowers was too good to pass up.”

“You just had a camera at the ready, you creep?”

With a laugh he answered, “Just for you, doll.”

You scrunched up your nose at his response. Noticing how his laugh wasn’t as annoying as it had been a few minutes ago, caused a strange feeling in your stomach. Crossing the street, you thought of your next question.

“So, why’d you switch out the original image with mine?”

“I got the notification from the app,” he admitted. “You almost cost me my phone, you know. I almost dropped it in the gutter when I saw your name. iPhone X almost gone because of you.”

“I almost broke Wanda’s laptop,” you joked, giving a soft laugh as you rememebered this morning.

“I laughed a bit,” you quirked your eyebrow knowing there was bound to be more to his reaction. “Ok, I laughed a lot. The fucking irony of it all, you know. Who would even think to pair us up?”

“Craig,” you muttered under your breath with disdain.

“Who?”

You shook your head, instead encouraging him to continue.

“Then I clicked on your profile. Saw your likes and the way you described yourself. Couldn’t find a lie, by the way,” he commented with a smirk.

You felt your cheeks heat up as you remembered Wanda had described you as ‘sexy and well read’. You quickly averted your eyes, hoping he wouldn’t notice how flustered you’d suddenly become. You chose to let your eyes fixate on your shoes as you walked.

“Got to the part where you listed your favorite place in the world. I mean out of all the places on this entire planet, you chose to write in your community garden! Who does that? Couldn’t believe it when I read it, but then that image of you I had taken flashed in my mind. Suddenly I understood why you had answered the way you did.”

He had spent the day wondering, like you, why a soulmate-level match had been made between you and him. He had noticed your profile was minutes-old, so he assumed you were already aware of the match as you were still probably online. Once realizing you would most likely not address it, he did all he could to get your photograph printed and hung before the guests arrived, trying to get the topic out in the open.

“I admit it. I haven’t been the nicest to you, but that match wouldn’t leave me alone! Why? I mean how? Thought I would do one nice thing to see what would happen,” he smiled, “turns out you just assumed I was setting you up.”

“I still do,” you said, waiting to see his reaction. To your amusement his eyes went large, jaw tensing, as he processed what you had said. “Kidding,” you added before he got a chance to respond. “But you can’t believe we could be more than what we are now,” you said. “I mean sure, maybe our friendship can improve, but whosyourmate.com is still wrong.”

“Shit, that actually hurt,” he said as he put a hand over his chest.

You stopped at a red light, scanning his features for confirmation of his reaction being a joke. To your surprise you found what you thought to be genuine hurt. You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. Bucky couldn’t really believe there was something romantic between the two of you, right? The change from a red to a green glow illuminating his features caused you to turn around and continue walking as the traffic light had granted you permission to cross the intersection.

“Bucky,” you began quietly as you crossed the street. Afraid of saying the wrong thing. “You really do believe the match?”

“I — um— I mean,” he sighed grabbing your arm, stopping the both of you from continuing walking. You stopped in front of a closed coffee place, much to your misfortune. Had the place been open, maybe you could distract yourself a bit with the people inside. Now you were forced to look at Bucky. “I don’t know. But if it had been another guy, if you had gotten a soulmate-level match with somebody else, would you consider it?”

You thought about his question, remembering how you had at one point been excited to see who was out there. Ready to give it a try.

“I guess,” you admitted.

“You would’ve accepted a match with a complete and total stranger?”

“I mean, maybe. It’s what I signed up for, right? Meeting new people. Seeing who else was out there. Trying new things”

“Yes,” he said, voice becoming more confident as he continued. “But you got me instead. So why can’t you apply the same reasoning to me? Why can’t you see this as trying something new?”

Your stomach began doing what seemed to be somersaults. Why were his words affecting you so much? The only response his words would bring out of you were annoyed groans or a roll of your eyes.

“Why are you so accepting about it?” You chose to respond with a question, maybe buying you a few minutes to sort out what you were feeling.

“Because what if it’s right! I’ve been on that site for almost two years and you know how many soulmate-level matches I’ve gotten?” He continued as you shook your head. “Just one; you. And maybe it’s a sham, just a glitch, a coincidence, or whatever you choose to call it, but I can’t stop thinking about what if it’s right. What if you’ve been standing in front of me all this time and I did nothing about it because I chose to ignore a soulmate fucking level match. Because the sham system, as you’re calling it, somehow picked the one girl I already know and decided to match her with me. Because I saw how you were drawn to my photographs, the same ones I just told you all have a piece of me. Because as you were trying to leave I couldn’t even think about letting you go so I left the fucking opening of my gallery. Because I’ve been an asshole every time I’ve interacted with you, yet I laugh at every time you call me out on my bullshit. Because maybe I’ve been immature and have decided to mask something else with a jerk attitude without even knowing I’m doing it. I’m accepting it because I KNOW I wouldn’t be thinking so much about this match if it hadn’t been with you!”

You blinked a couple of times. His words ringing in your ear as you looked at him. The strands of hair framing his face, had multiplied even after his attempts to tame them. A look of determination on his face made his barely illuminated eyes somehow radiate in the darkness.

“Bucky,” you started again immediately stopping, unable to form any more words.

“I know I’ve been a jerk,” he interrupted. “I know I haven’t been the nicest. And tonight, I thought it would be best to start it off as I would normally greet you. A bit of teasing to not let you in on the fact that I knew. I didn’t want to scare you away before you even got to see the picture. And then you just gave me the perfect way to try it out. Basically, dropped the opportunity to spend the night with you and test this out, right onto my lap. I’m not asking you to marry me Y/N. Just help me out here and consider it. I can’t get it out of my head, doll. Can’t seem to shake the feeling I get when I think about getting that notification. What if it’s right?”

“What if it’s not?”

“Then it’s not. Then we move on, knowing that we did what we could. That we at least gave it a shot.”

“Gave us a shot?” You whispered, the thought still a bit uncomfortable. “I hated you a few hours ago.”

“I don’t think you hated me. You were annoyed with me, definitely, but you didn’t hate me. You came to the gallery, didn’t you? Chose to spend the night with me?”

“To shut up Nat and Wanda!” You said, surprised by how not totally accurate that felt. “They kept saying that I should figure out why we had matched.”

“Can I tell you what I learned today?”

You nodded shyly, nervous about what he was going to say.

“Your favorite place in the world is a tiny patch of flowers that everybody overlooks. A place that is probably only a favorite place to you because you see the beauty of it even when others can’t. Because you can sit on that bench and forget about everything. Didn’t even hear my camera when I took your picture. My entire collection of photographs was full of places often overlooked. Places that hold beauty most people ignore. We see things others don’t, doll. See places that are ignored and choose to spend time in them. Choose to make them our favorite places. I didn’t know that this morning. Didn’t know it until I clicked your profile on that site. I learned something new. Learned that I share something with you. Something that is special to both of us. I feel like there’s something here I hadn’t realized until I got that notification from that app. Maybe we are something we’ve overlooked. Maybe we are another patch of flowers we can both admire. Maybe we’re the something beautiful many, including us, have ignored.”

You stared at him unable to form a worthy response. He was making sense, much to your surprise. Why were you fighting this so viciously? What if you gave it a shot? What if he was right?

“Consider it?” He asked, eyes soft and hopeful.

You took a few deep breaths, trying to steady your heart and calm your mind. Trying to understand everything going on.

Timidly you nodded your head hoping you weren’t making a huge mistake. Hoping he wouldn’t laugh and call it all a prank. Hoping you were trusting the right person.

A warm smile spread on his lips. He got closer to you whispering, “Thank you.”

“Where’s your car?” You asked, suddenly realizing so much had happened, and you were still not at his car.

It was his turn to laugh. He closed his eyes and doubled over, peals of laughter springing from his lips.

“About 6 blocks behind us. We’re almost halfway to your place.”

That jerk!! He had tricked and distracted you into actually waking home with him!

“Needed to have this talk, doll,” he said with a smile, already knowing you would give him a hard time for not driving you home. “Couldn’t have it in a car.”

And although you knew you would usually be upset, you couldn’t help but smile with him. His smile wasn’t teasing, wasn’t spreading on his lips because he had done something bad, something to embarrass you. It was genuine, warm, and inviting. Thinking about it made you appreciate the way it caused the corner of his eyes to crinkle. Appreciate the way he was directing it your way. Finally letting you see how you might’ve actually been missing out on the beauty of it all this time. Letting you more confidently decide it was worth it to at least give it a shot.

PART 6

---

Bucky Tags

@camillechan @just-add-butter @buckyisthepuresthuman @carry-on-my-fandom @creideamhgradochas @sixweekcure4dreams @verycoolveryunique @dugan365 @jitterbuck @buckysmusculararm @headinthe-fridge @buckybarnesappreciationsociety @hedwigthelegend @sappybarnes @coal000 @the-soldiers @natcad @winters-beauty @dixonsbugaboo @sawdustandsugar @silverbvcky @whyugottabsorude @theoutlinez @killjoynotes @agentpegcxrter @demonspawn2468 @books-movies-eternal @buckysbeech @thefridgeismybestie @lionheo04 @pinkfairyfluff @imaginecrushes @cauraphernelia @angieptt @fridolf-arach @nerdgirljen @bucky-is-a-hero-fightme @n-lafayette @titty-teetee @bfuckjames @crowleysqueenofhell @sebtrashcan-stan @jaamesbbarnes @heartssick @hello-lucifer-here @sold-my-soul-in-2016 @ifyousayyouloveme

“Not Happening” Tags

@metalarmlover @starkxpotts @nephalem67 @boyzines @starfisharchives @crazybutconfidentaf @dyanna-corona @fangedmutant @talinalani @xi-i-i-whatsyouremergency @wisestydia-15 @curlypeter @jayattemptstoruletheworld @justreadingthesefanfics @swtmckngbrd @deathbyarabbit @whogaveuspermission @thespottedwolf-blog @buckwhitewolf @bilesxbilinskixlahey @ireallyneedcoolusername @anelaokalanii @jamielea81 @gallifreyansass @lowkeysebby @other-people-are-great @friendly-neighborhood-lich-queen @liketotallynat @kenzieam @sonarsyndor @thisismyfriend-tree @justtolkienabout @khaleesilovesmarshmellows @kermitissexy @missinstantgratification

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky x reader #bucky x you #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky fanfiction #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes #bucky #modern!AU #bucky barnes fluff #bucky fluff #stories by notimetoblog

1K notes · View notes

adilamkarol · 7 years

Text

‎السّلام عليكم ورحمت الله و بركاته Hello & warm welcome once again! With Ramadan less than 2 weeks ahead, I cannot think of anything better than sharing with you some tips and tricks to go an extra mile this Ramadan and make the MOST of it. Oye,I have no magic to tell you. But personally, these are some tips that helped me sail through the past two Ramadans and hit Eid with a sense of satisfaction. And if you are thinking 'Nah, Isn't it too early to prep up for Ramadan?', No, we are way behind. But don't lose hope, better late than never. Now imagine a valley full of gold and you are told to take from it as much as you can. Which of the three types of people are you? 1. The type that will just not care and move on thus taking nothing, or 2. The type that will fill up their pockets and leave, or 3. The type that will bring trucks after trucks taking truckloads until it’s over. It’s clear, without a doubt that all of us will be of the third type. However, the month of Ramadan is greater than a valley full of gold but yet you will find the majority of the people simply not interested and will leave empty handed. This is an interesting analogy that I read somewhere last Ramadan:) Start preparing for Ramadan before it sets in, make to-do lists, clean up your spaces for worship and cleanse your heart. Purify your intentions, seek the reward only from Allah and then ان شاء الله (if Allah wills) you will find time for everything you thought you wouldn't. I am not going to give you an exhaustive list of to-do's. Plus you don't have to stick to every single step. Pick up those you feel are 'the' ones for you and work them up. So, yeah, roll up your sleeves and let's get started! 1. Before speaking of anything that adds up to your productivity, first let's address any issue that costs you distractions. Delete those useless games off your phone, stop watching those Youtube videos for entertainment and everything else not worth getting into your Ramadan schedule. Maybe it's nothing haram, still, keep it outside Ramadan if its not clearly not necessary. So No.1 - ward off distractions! 2. Set Quran memorisation goals for the month. Maybe you have never done one. Or maybe you feel you are too old for it. Or your memory isn't good enough. Stop. Stop making yourself believe this nonsense. You never know what wonders you can do unless you fail at least ten times. You don't have to compete with anybody. You don't even have to tell anyone. Pick up a surah you feel you can complete in 30 days. Download a good slow recitation and listen to it a minimum of 15 times. If you confused where and how to begin ,check out my earlier post here. Trust me, nothing is going to stand in comparison to the happiness you'll feel at the end of the month. You may ask why this is so important, it's because Allah introduces this month in the Quran as, "Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).." (Q 2:183) 3. Learn 20 duas by the end of the month. We all have those mini sized books quoting all duas. Duas are to be in our hearts and not papers. C'mon. This isn't hard. 20 duas in 30 days. 4. Make it the month of Ramadan. Try to build an incredible connection with the Qur'an this month. Choose a surah, maybe it's the same one you are memorising or some other- doesn't matter. Learn the meaning of it. Find an authentic tafsir online or buy one and read it over and over this month. If you have no idea what I'm telling you, start reading from Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Let it penetrate your heart so much that every time you think of Ramadan 2017, you have happy memories of that surah. Go out of your way to internalize it. If you feel you are going to see a dip in motivation to move further a little later, Buddy up! Find a Friend who hold a similar interest and hook up. That way, you can encourage each other. Go find one! 5. Find a small sized notebook to list down all things you wish to make dua for this Ramadan. Let it run from teeny weeny things like asking Allah to make you brave to big things like refuge from the hellfire. One side of the book be for this list in English and one side for Arabic duas from the Qur'an and sunnah. I made myself one like 2 years ago and it still helps. Without one, you'll find yourself scratching your head when you are sitting down to pray. It's not always that you remember all the things you ever wanted. A written list makes it super easy! 6. Block an hour or 45 min purely for the recitation of Quran . It's okay if you don't understand what's being said, there's still abundant rewards. 7. WARNING: This tip is only for those who are able to control your use of gadgets. If you are sure you will not waste your time over other useless apps, download the Ramadan Legacy app available both on the AppStore and PlayStore. It is super amazing. I've used it during Ramadan in the past two years and I rate it 5-stars. It helps you track down all the progress you are making and there's so much more! The 2017 version of the app will be available in a few days and their team sent me a mail claiming to have a new planner and so many new features, yippee! I'm excited! And last but not least, the others. Don't miss your suhoor(pre-dawn meal). Don't overeat at Iftar. Break the fast with dates or water. Stay up at night for some extra prayers (taraweeh). Try getting your to-do's done right after fajr prayers if possible. Plan things around salah times. Don't associate Ramadan with hunger and thirst. Don't sleep all day long. Make it an amazing spiritual experience. Fast is not just for your stomachs but for your tongues, ears ,eyes and the entire self. And try involving in every bit of good possible. Yeah! I guess that's all I have got to share with you right now. Share in the comments below your ideas and tips too! Follow me on adilamkarol.wordpress.com for more! May Allah (SWT) make us of those who take full benefit of this blessed month ahead! ❤️

#ramadan2017 #productivity #spiritual #planner

1 note · View note