It’s that time of year again… preparations for Ramadan. No, I’m not talking about redecorating the house, painting the walls, tossing last year’s dishes and pots to buy new ones. I’m not even talking about filling the freezer with dough, chopped parsley, home-made tomato sauce and grated cheese. I’m talking about the mental preparation.
Last year we had been in the same place for three years in a row, a record for this family! This year will be a bit different. Different place, different circumstance, different people. We’re still far from family, and that’s the biggest issue on holidays, but maybe it’ll be easier this time around. Why? Well… this year we have to work harder to make it meaningful. Every time it’s a new playing field, a new strategy. We do the best with what we’ve got, and since what we’ve got to work with changes all the time, we must adjust, every time.
Can’t complain. At least we’re not in the middle of a war zone. No unexpected power cuts. No holds on pay. No endless lineups for gas. Water is readily available, and food isn’t too expensive. The last few Ramadans have been fairly predictable, compared to previous years, and compared to what some of our dearest friends and relatives’ have to endure. It would be an insult to their hardships for me to complain about my own challenges. So I won’t.
Part of the excitement of being me is that I get to shed stuff a lot, I get to accumulate new things, and then I get to gift them. I get to see new faces, make new acquaintances, explore new environments, buy new clothes, new books, make new art. The kids grow out of things anyhow, but they have had to give up some things as well. We can get attached to stuff, especially if we spent a lot of time with it, if it reminds us of important moments, of fun times that we wish we’d never forget, but we’ve found that there is always something else that will remind us; we don’t physically have to own something for us to be brought back to the memory of it. So this year, I want to build on this lesson. This time I want to be prepared. I must start now to dig a new foundation on which to build this Ramadan.
Although I feel tired, a bit drained, I intellectually know it must be done. I do believe that my children are old enough to grasp this level of depth, so I am willing to attempt it. I realize that I’ve been relying too heavily on non-transferrable reminders. The fatigue I feel might be coming from using too many crutches. This time I must attempt a non-structural approach. One built on ideas, not physicalities. One built on mental and emotional connections, not schedules and crafts. And maybe that’s why I’m starting from now, two months before Ramadan, to prepare myself mentally for it.
This year, I hope to be able to make a new routine that we can carry over to the next place. One that we won’t have to leave behind when we move again. Because change has been our constant, I hope to establish something that can be built upon from the inside, carrying meaning to whatever else goes on around us. I hope to establish a Ramadan that is lived fully, in our hearts, minds, and souls, so that it will travel with us, no matter where we go next.
https://learningtowinhigh.wordpress.com/2018/05/16/ramadan-mubarak-%f0%9f%8e%86/
Ramadan Mubarak
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May Allah grant you and your family a blessed Ramadan Insha-Allah 🙂 (www.spicyfusionkitchen.com)
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Ejma3een!
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I really liked your post! That’s why I have been mentally preparing myself since the start of Sha’baan – the one thing that I felt helped prepare me more was making up missed fasts in this month! SubhanAllah
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“I hope to establish a Ramadan that is lived fully, in our hearts, minds, and souls, so that it will travel with us, no matter where we go next.”
This is exactly what I’m hoping for this Ramadan. Jazak’Allah khayr for writing such a beautiful article! May Allah swt help you and all of us to achieve all our Ramadan goals and stick to them not just in Ramadan but later on as well, Ameen!
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Ameen! Jazakillah khair for your comment, it’s always good to hear that something I wrote resonates with my readers! All the best inshallah for Ramadan and beyond!
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Jazakillahkhayr. I am inspired by your traveller practice and grateful perspective, masha’Allah. I’m also hoping and planning to establish elements of long-term routine this Ramadan insha’Allah. May Allah be pleased, grant us success, and admit us to the best of final abodes, ameen.
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Ameen. Jazakillah khair for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I am glad you were able to benefit from it! Alhamdullah.
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I really enjoyed your article and love the artwork. May Allah bless you and your family with a heartfelt Ramadan
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Jazakillah khair, ejma3een!
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This was a beautiful read sis! Inshallah you are able to fulfill your Ramadan goals ❤ I agree, we must be mentally prepared as well!
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Jazakillah khair, same to you inshallah!
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Beautifully written. Wishing you and your family a blessed Ramadan with new traditions and deep connections.
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Jazakillah khair, İ wish you the same!
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May Allah bring you blessings and happiness this Ramadan for you and your family xx
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Ejma3een
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It feels like Ramadan has come along so quickly again. Not long left now. In sha Allah you have a blessed Ramadan and you establish what you are aiming for.
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Jazakillah khair. Ejma3een.
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Beautifully written ❤️
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Thank you <3!
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