Eat Tbn, be Happy.

As most people in Saudi Arabia probably know; “eat tbn” is an expression used on a daily basis, to either show disinterest in something, because you became frustrated about something, or even just because you’re too lazy to give a solution. If I ask you to try and remember how many times that phrase was said to you, and how many times you used it, you probably wouldn’t know. Do you really know what it is, though?

WHAT IS “TBN”?

“Tbn” is an herb, also known as ‘Hay’.  Tbn is basically cutup, dried herbs used to feed livestock. So, by being told to eat tbn, you’re being told to shut up and join the herd.
Little do people know, some pharmacies actually sell tbn powder as a form of nutrition because it’s highly rich in fiber and vitamins, so says a brilliant Saudi nutritionist I had the pleasure of meeting.

WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?

Every little thing we do in life is surely going to face obstacles. Whether it be social acceptance, lies, cheating, arrogant people, lazy people, denial, or even lack of energy to achieve something you’ve set-out to do. At that point, you’ll probably be picturing reality telling you to Eat Tbn. So, go ahead and do it! Eat up until you’re full, because with it comes a lot of good things you probably weren’t aware of. With it comes remedy for the soul.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

When you face problems, something good has to come from it. Maybe if you got sick you’d say: What’s so good about this? How am I in any way benefiting from this horrible time? Well, most times we forget the main reason as to why we were born. We forget that with hard times comes good. Many times we forget that our creator never misses a thing. If you get a splinter, a tiny little splinter, that’s observed by him; and he is just. Every hard time is recorded, every bad memory is saved, and every harsh feeling is taken into consideration. When you think no one cares, you’re wrong. Allah, is frankly the only one that I want to care for me, because I know he is fair.

ACCEPTANCE

There’s a common mistake made when being told to accept something as it is. People tend to completely isolate their ideas, and try their best to prove that what they’re doing is the right thing. This is one hundred percent wrong.  To accept is to know that you’ve done everything you can, but fate seems to remain the same. In that case, that’s what is supposed to be happening, and that is when you accept it. Failed an exam? Toughen-up, study harder! Got your leg broken? You ate tbn, now slowly recover. Missed your appointment? Boohoo, make another one. These are all things you can fix. On the other hand… Your legs got eaten by a shark? Live with it.  See the difference?

LET IT GO

I can’t give you certain steps to be able to let go of something, but through experience I learned that accepting is the hardest part. If you can do that, then you can let go. Perhaps it made you stronger, perhaps it made you wiser. It could have even pulled you to reality.
Some things are silly and not worth remembering. Others really hurt and stay in our memory. It’s not a bad thing… It taught you something valuable. It made you who you are, and if who you are is a better person then, why would you want to forget?

LET’S RE-DEFINE “TBN”

Tbn is an obstacle that comes in many forms. It sits there and waits to be eaten. If you choose to look at it and cry about it, it’s going to stay there. If you choose to eat it, and benefit from it; it’ll be gone, and you continue your journey with a boost.

Now let me ask you… wanna have a tbn drink?