Noha, this brought back memories of Ramadan when I was still a kid. This year is the first Ramadan I'm fasting after a 20 year relapse (I'm both proud and ashamed, and urgh, I am having so many feelings - hand me the Kleenex box please 🤧) but it has already propelled me into creating my own little community and finding myself in things I had rashly abandoned decades ago in my youth. But the act of LIVING: the cooking, the prepping, the sharing, the reminders of all the blessings we have, and the prayers that others may have them as well so we are all better for it. Thank you for this.
Naz, I love this so much. Welcome back and it's never too late. Don't let your shame pull you down. God is the most merciful (wa huwa al-tawwab al-raheem).
Oh my, I love this. I have had years of inconsistent fasting where I can easily point to pregnancies, breastfeeding, small kid life, work stress life - whatever and why doesn't matter, and I'm ok (mostly) that I also listened to myself in that time. It feels good when you're ready and want to! That's when we're open to the magic.
Ramadan Kareem! Between the fasting and spiritual observance of Ramadan and the full moon lunar eclipse yesterday, you were right to honor your body and rest. I’m glad that much of your exhaustion is from laughter and being together with loved ones because that’s how it should be. May glimmers of happiness continue to shine on you and yours.
Yesterday, I saw a woman reading out loud (I couldn't hear her but could see her lips moving) from her Koran (in a lovely green leather case) on the bus yesterday. I was smiling and sending up blessings for her as I watched.
awwwwwwww... I used to do that all the time when my bus ride was longer. I'm blessed with a short commute now, which I appreciate, but on the flip side I miss my Quran reading time.
Oh I identify with your description of sharing a bedroom with your sister! My sister and I always shared a bedroom and talked, laughed, whispered, and sang together. Recently she commented that she thinks it made us much closer, growing up.
Ironically, I shared a room with my younger sister and often dragged my mattress into my older sister's room and the description above would then take place. We had a 4th sister too. Sometimes all 4 of us would have 'sleepovers'. I think it definitely made us all closer.
We've been talking with our daughters about having them share a room. They both seem pretty excited about it. I think your testimonial for sisterly conversations might have finally tipped us over the edge to finally move the bed.
Amy I love this and am so happy to have played any small part in the process. Here's to years of the best kind of sleepover there is, and to a bond that will carry well into adulthood, forming in the deep of the night.
Another stunner. That rattle for me was talking gibberish--the heavy-lidded dream-speak that made no sense, but I couldn't let myself cross the threshold into rest even as I knew I was babbling nonsense. I feel a different fatigue now: wired and tired. It would take two whole days of unplugging myself to get out of the wired and tired cycle. Someday I will, and it'll be glorious ;) PS the language of your ordinary days is poetry for sure. And your images--thank you. They keep my heart open and my grief close. We need that.
Oh I know the gibberish talking! I did that too. We'd be in the middle of some discussion or another and a sentence would trail off into utter nonsense and the other one would say, "hey! are you asleep? Do you want to go to sleep?" and the one who'd trailed off would startle awake just long enough to protest "no no! I'm awake!" and this might happen over and over until a second wind came along and woke us both up for another hour or two... I love that other sisters recognize this pattern.
Wired and tired is a great way to describe today's fatigue. I think I'm the same. There are days I can just conk out and I am so grateful for them because it's definitely a better feeling than being unable to rest no matter how exhausted you are...
Thank you for continuing to look. We can't look away. Those babies! 8 months old in bodies that look 3 months at most. Almost their whole lives under bombardment. I remember my babies at 8 months, so chunky my arms ached. It's devastating and unconscionable. I wish I could do more to make it stop but I have vowed to keep talking until it stops, because that's what I can do.
When our fellow humans are suffering so pointlessly, so much, being able to laugh and visit and rest with your loved ones feels even more of a gift than ever before. It reminds me of Tricia Hersey, a Black artist and theologian who created Nap Ministry. Her work on resting as resistance brings me to tears (ok sobs) it's so powerful...have you heard of her?
To answer your Qs - I have fibromyalgia (as well an unrelated neurological condition). So I do go through periods of work/busy/energized and then I flat line. I don't want anyone to feel bad for me though, because I'm on paid medical leave and don't have children, so I have more chances to rest than the average woman/mother/adult my age! But I do like to remind my loved ones or anyone who will listen that resting is good for your body, your brain, and your soul.
I stayed up very late a few weeks ago (sleepover at my bestie's house while her children were with their grandparents) and it took me 2 weeks to recover...ugh. I'm not even 50 but I am very much a granny!
I hadn't heard of Tricia Hersey but I had heard of the Nap Ministry. Truly brilliant! Especially in the society we live in that values doing over being and reduces us to units of productivity.
I think it's glorious that you remind your loved ones and everyone else about the value of rest. It's good for every facet of our being, as you said. A sleepover with the bestie sounds amazing! I get you about being a granny lol. My kids are 10 and 13 but I joke every day that I'm 41 going on 83.
While I'm too old now to stay up too late (seriously, if I'm still up by 9:30 p.m. the next day is gonna be rough), but I do go through periods of intense obsession of activities, whether that's sewing custom slipcovers for the living room furniture, processing and converting film negatives, researching some random topic, I'll spend every free moment doing it. Then, it passes and I'm on to the next thing.
I mean, they aren't professional quality and I've got some seams popping, but I like how the fabric looks and feels (gray chenille) so I still think it was worth it. :-)
Noha, this brought back memories of Ramadan when I was still a kid. This year is the first Ramadan I'm fasting after a 20 year relapse (I'm both proud and ashamed, and urgh, I am having so many feelings - hand me the Kleenex box please 🤧) but it has already propelled me into creating my own little community and finding myself in things I had rashly abandoned decades ago in my youth. But the act of LIVING: the cooking, the prepping, the sharing, the reminders of all the blessings we have, and the prayers that others may have them as well so we are all better for it. Thank you for this.
Naz, I love this so much. Welcome back and it's never too late. Don't let your shame pull you down. God is the most merciful (wa huwa al-tawwab al-raheem).
Oh my, I love this. I have had years of inconsistent fasting where I can easily point to pregnancies, breastfeeding, small kid life, work stress life - whatever and why doesn't matter, and I'm ok (mostly) that I also listened to myself in that time. It feels good when you're ready and want to! That's when we're open to the magic.
I agree 💯!
Ramadan Kareem! Between the fasting and spiritual observance of Ramadan and the full moon lunar eclipse yesterday, you were right to honor your body and rest. I’m glad that much of your exhaustion is from laughter and being together with loved ones because that’s how it should be. May glimmers of happiness continue to shine on you and yours.
Ramadan Mubarak. Amen amen amen to your beautiful prayers.
Yesterday, I saw a woman reading out loud (I couldn't hear her but could see her lips moving) from her Koran (in a lovely green leather case) on the bus yesterday. I was smiling and sending up blessings for her as I watched.
awwwwwwww... I used to do that all the time when my bus ride was longer. I'm blessed with a short commute now, which I appreciate, but on the flip side I miss my Quran reading time.
So beautiful. It's nice to know there are people sending blessings like this.
such a source of comfort...
Oh I identify with your description of sharing a bedroom with your sister! My sister and I always shared a bedroom and talked, laughed, whispered, and sang together. Recently she commented that she thinks it made us much closer, growing up.
I love this, Karen.
Ironically, I shared a room with my younger sister and often dragged my mattress into my older sister's room and the description above would then take place. We had a 4th sister too. Sometimes all 4 of us would have 'sleepovers'. I think it definitely made us all closer.
Same mood sister ! In this month we just live every second of the day
Absolutely!
We've been talking with our daughters about having them share a room. They both seem pretty excited about it. I think your testimonial for sisterly conversations might have finally tipped us over the edge to finally move the bed.
Amy I love this and am so happy to have played any small part in the process. Here's to years of the best kind of sleepover there is, and to a bond that will carry well into adulthood, forming in the deep of the night.
I’ve taken so many naps since I’ve become a parent. I don’t even hesitate anymore. Whatever it is that needs to get done can wait.
Naps are the best thing ever. They are sacred. Rest is sacred.
Another stunner. That rattle for me was talking gibberish--the heavy-lidded dream-speak that made no sense, but I couldn't let myself cross the threshold into rest even as I knew I was babbling nonsense. I feel a different fatigue now: wired and tired. It would take two whole days of unplugging myself to get out of the wired and tired cycle. Someday I will, and it'll be glorious ;) PS the language of your ordinary days is poetry for sure. And your images--thank you. They keep my heart open and my grief close. We need that.
Oh I know the gibberish talking! I did that too. We'd be in the middle of some discussion or another and a sentence would trail off into utter nonsense and the other one would say, "hey! are you asleep? Do you want to go to sleep?" and the one who'd trailed off would startle awake just long enough to protest "no no! I'm awake!" and this might happen over and over until a second wind came along and woke us both up for another hour or two... I love that other sisters recognize this pattern.
Wired and tired is a great way to describe today's fatigue. I think I'm the same. There are days I can just conk out and I am so grateful for them because it's definitely a better feeling than being unable to rest no matter how exhausted you are...
Thank you for continuing to look. We can't look away. Those babies! 8 months old in bodies that look 3 months at most. Almost their whole lives under bombardment. I remember my babies at 8 months, so chunky my arms ached. It's devastating and unconscionable. I wish I could do more to make it stop but I have vowed to keep talking until it stops, because that's what I can do.
When our fellow humans are suffering so pointlessly, so much, being able to laugh and visit and rest with your loved ones feels even more of a gift than ever before. It reminds me of Tricia Hersey, a Black artist and theologian who created Nap Ministry. Her work on resting as resistance brings me to tears (ok sobs) it's so powerful...have you heard of her?
To answer your Qs - I have fibromyalgia (as well an unrelated neurological condition). So I do go through periods of work/busy/energized and then I flat line. I don't want anyone to feel bad for me though, because I'm on paid medical leave and don't have children, so I have more chances to rest than the average woman/mother/adult my age! But I do like to remind my loved ones or anyone who will listen that resting is good for your body, your brain, and your soul.
I stayed up very late a few weeks ago (sleepover at my bestie's house while her children were with their grandparents) and it took me 2 weeks to recover...ugh. I'm not even 50 but I am very much a granny!
I hadn't heard of Tricia Hersey but I had heard of the Nap Ministry. Truly brilliant! Especially in the society we live in that values doing over being and reduces us to units of productivity.
I think it's glorious that you remind your loved ones and everyone else about the value of rest. It's good for every facet of our being, as you said. A sleepover with the bestie sounds amazing! I get you about being a granny lol. My kids are 10 and 13 but I joke every day that I'm 41 going on 83.
Beautiful words have been shared :) I love all of this.
Yay! Thank you - stay tuned for the eventual essay that will come one day, insha Allah.
While I'm too old now to stay up too late (seriously, if I'm still up by 9:30 p.m. the next day is gonna be rough), but I do go through periods of intense obsession of activities, whether that's sewing custom slipcovers for the living room furniture, processing and converting film negatives, researching some random topic, I'll spend every free moment doing it. Then, it passes and I'm on to the next thing.
Ty that sounds like a lot of fun. The slipcovers especially lol... I can't so for my life but it's an aspirational thing for me.
I mean, they aren't professional quality and I've got some seams popping, but I like how the fabric looks and feels (gray chenille) so I still think it was worth it. :-)
100%. I am not skilled in any visual arts so this is impressive!
Oh the exhaustion of living, particularly as a mother.
Yes! The exhaustion of living. So well put.
Thank you for sharing this. this speaks so many of us :)
I'm glad you enjoyed, Kiran 🥰
Absolutely and gave me a breather for the days like you mentioned here.
Beautiful, Noha. مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ on spending your week living, and finding places of prayer and laughter and love and connection ❤️
Thanks Dana. It was a beautiful week. I'm so grateful... Love your Arabic.