Ramadan Karim!
Another year has gone and passed, and another has swiftly unfolded before our eyes, reminding us of the fleeting nature of time. Having said that, it’s important to remind ourselves of what a blessing and privilege it is to be able to participate in another Ramadan this year. Just because the world moves forward at a rapid pace, does not mean that it depends on our presence for its progress. A lot can happen in a year, and it can happen without warning. Death, illness, and unexpected changes can alter our lives in an instant. And yet, we still assume that we’ll live to see tomorrow. Life is a short, timely gift, and we should remind ourselves of that more. I know I definitely can!
In past years, I admittedly had mixed feelings when Ramadan was approaching. I’d look at the calendar and feel dread — the inability to eat, the fatigue, the forced self-control I’d impose on myself, physically, mentally, spiritually, etc. Plus, it would occur at a point of the year in which everything would usually pile itself up on top of the other and I was already emotionally and mentally exhausted. I wouldn’t want to deal with anything or put any more pressure on myself, including fasting. The physical and mental challenges of fasting were daunting, and it often came at a time when life felt overwhelming. But on the other hand, I knew that Ramadan had transformative power. This holy month always resulted in self-growth, self-development, reflection, increased self-awareness and spirituality, content, etc. Whenever I wanted to focus entirely on self-improvement during the year, something would always get in the way, and I’d end up pushing it off. I think many of us can relate to this, where we only focus on the problem/situation in the moment. It’s not bad, and I don’t blame people for it, (since I’m guilty of this, anyways). But it’s a deep hindrance to our journeys of self-growth and self-love.
Therefore, when Ramadan came flying by this year and I didn’t even realize it, I just went with the flow and wasn’t bothered by it. I realized that my heart made a conscious effort to embrace it with an open mind. Rather than focusing solely on the challenges of fasting, I committed myself to self-growth and spiritual development. I recognized that this was an opportunity to break free from the distractions of everyday life and focus on what truly matters.
So as we begin this month of reflection, prayer, and self-discipline, let’s approach it with gratitude, humility, and a willingness to grow. Let’s embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and use this time to deepen our connection with our faith, our community, and ourselves. Ramadan Karim! Keywords: Ramadan, Ramadan Karim, self-growth, self-development, reflection, spirituality, community, self-love, self-discipline.