Author: ohlala80

We think they belong to us… that they will be around us forever and yet in a blink of an eye they’re young adults who are pursuing their own paths in life. We have hopes and we have dreams of how they will become in the future, we pray that we have instilled in them the right moral values, that they grow to be kind, caring and righteous human beings but when the day comes where we have to let go, we do start questioning ourselves… will they be alright? Are they eating well? Did they make good friends? Do they have everything they need? Do I need to rush back to them in case they forgot something? It’s endless…. The thoughts, the worries… When they were toddlers you could fix almost anything with a hug and a band aid but now their problems include heartbreak, college decisions and navigating adult life.

As I watched my middle child set off to college as proud as I am of her as concerned as I am of how she will manage on her own so far away… and this is when I have to remind myself time and again that our children do not belong to us.. they are their own person and the best that we can do for them while they are away is pray. Pray for them to find guidance in God and choose the correct paths and remember the little good things we hopefully instilled in them. As we teach our children to fly we wait patiently for the day when they fly back to us even if for a moment.. it was a blink of an eye and there they are soaring.

Twenty years from now you will wish to return to this age precisely. You will wish to return to this health, these features, these details of your daily life that you once found ordinary. You will realize that the normal days you used to complain about were in fact a blessing you never really paid attention to.

So pause a little, take a deep breath and be more mindful of the present moment you are living in. Live life with gratitude rather than resentment. The trips to the grocery store mean that you have a home and can afford to put food on the table, the worn out sneakers you wear are a sign that you are able to exercise and prioritize your health, the regular cup of coffee which you see as mundane is a delicacy to have handed to you in your very home, your loud family? A sign that you are part of a family and that you are not alone… all of these things which seem mundane are in fact details of a happy life. That is why a lot of people live as prisoners of the past because they only realize the beauty of the present after it has passed.

So book that trip, take in the warm breeze, get that tan on the beach you were dreaming of and eat that last piece of chocolate soufflé. Life is happening right now, in the midst of the ordinary. Do not postpone living or take the present for granted for what you see as normal today you will miss tomorrow. Treat today as a miracle and you will see the miracle of your life unfold before your very eyes.

الحمد لك يا الله على عام مضى من عمري و انا بأحسن حال. عام مضى من عمري كان مليئا باللحظات الحلوة و المفاجئات السارة. عاما مليئ بلطفك الخفي. احمدك يا رب على كل يوم مر بي وانا محاطة باهلي و اصحابي، على كل يوم شهدت فيه شمسك و سمائك و روائع خلقك. يا الله اعبر لك عن امتناني و شكري لعام مضى من عمري وانا محاطة بكل هذا الخير و ادعوك الى عام مقبل فيه المزيد من الخيرات و المزيد من عطاياك الكريمة. أدعوك يا الله بأن تمدني بالصحة و العافية أنا و أحبابي أجمعين و ان تغمرني بالرزق الوفير و الحياة الكريمة الطيبة. اللهم اني أسألك سكينة القلب و اكتفاء الروح و الرضا، الرضا لما قدرته لي سواء كان خير أم شر و ان تحببني بكل عمل صالح يقربني اليك و يدخلني الجنة آمين يا رب العالمين

Something inconceivable happened to us this Ramadan. What started out as a peaceful month of worship ended as a turbulent month of instability and uncertainty. My country, a country whose main purpose was centered upon peace, prosperity and compassion towards us and others was being brutally attacked by Iran in a war we neither started nor participated in. Our calm nights became a center stage for loud missiles and drones. Our days became a series of siren alerts on our phones and on our streets. Roads became blocked and security guarded every area and scanned every vehicle and pedestrian. The explosions in the air shook our windows and our spirits. Sounds so unfamiliar to us were becoming customary as through the nights and days we hear missiles and drones being immaculately intercepted. Suddenly nothing else seemed as important as the safety of our country and our leaders. For what could be more important than protecting our very home? Our country handled the attacks with the utmost efficiency all the while assuring the nation that it will keep us safe. This effective and comforting nature of handling the war with grace and commitment whilst ensuring the wellbeing of it’s people was nothing new to the UAE. The UAE is a pioneer in dealing with crisis with the absolute care and comfort of its people coming first. In return we have complete trust in our nation and our government and we will not be defeated. We will once again rise while being reminded of the preciousness of this life and this country of ours. This is going to be a temporary set back, a tribulation in which we rise stronger and more determined than ever.

For now though it’s going to be a different kind of Eid. It’s going to be a time of solidarity and unity. The enemy might have instilled in us fear but it shall never shake our spirits. We will continue to pray for our country and we will never again take anything for granted. Quiet mornings, lazy routines, repetitive days now seem like privileges. So this Eid despite being different, we will cherish the time spent with family, we will hug each other a little longer and we shall play with children a little harder. We shall be more present and more faithful and grateful for the little things before the big things and we shall continue to pray for our country, our soldiers and our leaders. We shall continue to pray for our nation that lays awake at night guarding us so we could have this Eid and so we could cherish these little moments in this unpredictable thing called life.

Here it is again, as promised by the lord above, the month of holiness, the month of supplication, the month of total submission to God almighty. Here is the month of the Quran the month where Muslims unite as one in their submission to God. Here is the much anticipated month of Ramadan the month of offering and perseverance. The month that while we fast we are reminded of those less fortunate who are bereft from food all year round and not just in one month… may this Ramadan continue to cleanse our souls as it cleanses our bodies and may it remind us of how privileged we truly. As we gather around the table during for iftar let as praise the lord for all the food before us and the silent blessings around us and may we maintain our devotion to the rest of the months to come. Ramadan Mubarak 🌙

There’s no better way to start the year than with the cool winter breeze teasing my face and tickling my body. I am mesmerized by the surge of contentment that fills me up when the weather is cool. Winters in the UAE are a time where families huddle together around the bonfire in the desert, it is a time of barbecues, hot cocoas and children squealing with delight. Being a desert country we welcome the cool breeze with open arms, and when it rains we marvel at the droplets showering our dusty homes and flooding our heat stricken streets. My mood is always lifted in the winter and with Ramadan on the way I couldn’t be happier. Wishing you all the joy in this crisp and chilly winter. Let us make the most of this short period of coolness that we endure and let us anticipate the blessed month of Ramadan on the way. Much love 🌧️ 

القادم أجمل باذن الله❣️

As we close the chapter on another year and open the one to a new one I reminisce on the highlights and the lowlights of it all. What grasps my attention is the factors that kept me grounded, the factors that gave me strength and kept me going. I am forever indebted to my marriage and to my children and to my family. Having my family’s support, my children’s love and a solid marriage (far from perfect yet solid) gives me strength and gives me a sense of purpose in life. I am also indebted to my faith which gives me direction. For those factors that give me strength and direction I am forever grateful for without them I would not have a sense of purpose or belonging. Next come my friends. I’ve formed bonds and friendships that lasted the test of time and for that I am also forever grateful. So when you look back at the past year look not just at the experiences but look at what kept you grounded what kept you strong and what gave you purpose. Eternally grateful to God for reminding me I’m not alone, that I have God in my heart, safety amongst my people and that I’m grounded in my life. Looking forwards to the new year… the best is yet to come. 🌷

When you’re in your 40’s something magical occurs. A certain serenity descends on you and you’re suddenly calmer, softer and more tranquil… you’ve gained wisdom from life’s lessons. You’ve failed yet gotten up again this time stronger and more recovered. Life starts to look like a painting and you are the observer admiring every single stroke… the bright and the dark. You have more patience and you’ve built a resilience forever protecting you from further discouragements. You enjoy and appreciate the moment and you look back and tell yourself “Yes.. I’ve lived…” You start to focus on what truly matters like love, family and faith. Your health becomes a priority and your time becomes your investment spending it only on what adds value to you. You’ve learned to unapologetically get up from the table when love is no longer served… the forties is the age where you appreciate the past whilst anticipate the future with a clearer mind and a refreshed soul it is an elite access to peace with life still ahead with the promise of a greater tomorrow.