Field Notes from all the moments worth reflecting on
A little field notebook became my favorite travel companion this past year (aside from my husband). Like Dora calling upon backpack to fulfill so many needs, it captured moments not through images but words. It reignited a love for writing once lost to the chokehold of PR and corporate America.
Some of my own, many heard – all to carry into another year.
How blessed am I…
How blessed am I to feel things so deeply
How blessed am I to forgive without an apology
How blessed am I that I get to start over because I woke up today
How blessed am I to have failed so I could learn to try again
How blessed am I to know a strength only pain has taught me
How blessed am I to be unsure of what comes next, because my options are so plentiful
How blessed am I to have someone who is my blessing and not my test ,and teaches me these things every dayComparison is dangerous because you could end up comparing where Allah has you to where the devil may be leading others. Trust in the plan. Yours is perfect for you.
Borrow the belief others have in you until you believe in yourself.
To the friends who have lent me their belief, you are the strength that got me through all the impostor syndrome and grief. I love you more than words can express.To solve any issue, be gentle with the person and firm with the problem. You can discuss issues without attacking someone’s character. Praise publicly, correct privately.
Normalize “I actually don’t know anything about [enter topic here], but I’m willing to learn and understand” as a sufficient answer to not knowing something instead of pretending like you do.
No ill will, because I admire the way I grew from the tests that were facilitated for me by God through others. Some people are simply your test. And tests are blessings, too.
It is a credit to your character that you don’t understand why people do unkind things or why there is injustice in the world. Celebrate that your consideration is so abundant that you would never treat others that way, or cannot comprehend how people can be so evil.
Maybe your garden isn’t growing because every time a flower grows, you cut it to prove to someone that you’re a gardener. Let the garden speak for itself.
If Allah has removed you from a room, do not go barging back in. He heard conversations you did not hear. And if you prayed for his protection, do not be blind to his answers.
Sometimes, Allah will lead you to Jannah through slander. Sometimes it will be through really difficult family relations. Sometimes he will get you there through a hard friendship.
Not everyone reaches Jannah through something good that they did, but rather because they were patient during the difficulties. Focus on that.You weren’t made to become them – you were made to become who Allah decreed you to be. Influencer culture is toxic, and comparison is the thief of gratitude.
When life becomes too much, go outside. The trees don’t rush to grow, the rivers don’t force to flow, and the stars don’t compete to shine. Nature is not in a hurry. Everything happens when it is meant to.
Some people who are placed in your life will never evolve. They are there to remind you what things will look like if you don’t.
As you start walking on the way, the way appears. Just trust the path and start the walk.
It may not have been your fault, but it is your responsibility. You are not what happened to you, but you are what you do as a result of it.
We are never at the finish line of understanding. There is always something about life and the universe that we have yet to discover. Stay open-minded; learning and growing are blessings.
It’s okay to look for people who can speak your language. Life is too short to try and translate your soul to others. And we weren’t made to be everyone's cup of tea. Not everyone likes matcha (weird).
Being annoyed is the price you pay for community. If you want a village, you have to be a villager.
It means having guests when you’d rather be alone. It means letting someone live with you even when they get on your nerves. It means showing up for events that you’d rather not go to. It means turning the other cheek. And Allah loves those who give.It’s hard to hear Allah’s words when you have already decided what you want Him to say.
Nostalgia is proof that you are living a life worth being proud of. What a privilege to yearn for your own memories. And Allah loves it when you enjoy and are grateful for the things he has given you.
You can’t break generational curses if you are still seeking approval from the generation that is cursed. And if these things also muddy culture with Islam, you should be the one to end them.
Give people the dignity of their journey. But evaluate whether that is a journey you are also embarking on. Sometimes the best thing you can do is pray for someone along their way.
No job will ever be worth your morals and values. And Allah rewards acts done in the pursuit of that which is most pleasing to him.
You will never regret taking the high road or remaining silent. But you will almost always regret saying the wrong thing.
You have more years ahead of you, while your parents have more years behind them. Remember that the next time the conversation becomes testing.
Learn to love the thing that you most wish had not happened. For had it not happened, you would not be the person you are today.
Whatever is awaiting you is awaiting you. For now, just try your best.
