Author: ohlala80

For the first time in history the whole world stands together in solidarity. It took a disease to show us how ultimately vulnerable, naive and unequipped we truly are. Consequently it also showed us how similar we truly are. Here we are in the era of peak technological advancements and scientific discoveries standing powerless towards a disease.

Everyday there are news trying to explain what kind of disease this is or wether it has reached its peak, when to expect normal life again and wether or not we have found the cure. It is human nature to generate theories and conclusions to explain the inexplicable, but the truth is the more news we hear, the more confusing this pandemic seems to be. One thing is for sure though, that for the first time in history the whole world suffers as one. The rich, the poor, the European, the Asian, the Muslim, the Christian… we all suffer and struggle together. Neither money, background nor status has any relevance in front of this pandemic. Humanity appears as it truly is, vulnerable, fallible and susceptible. The universe we once knew, the one we thought we were in control of has changed in a blink of an eye. This pain, confusion & struggle we are enduring has somewhat united us and made us more human and more connected.

Will things ever go back to the way they were before? I highly doubt it. I pray that at least in terms of ourselves that we come out of this as better, humbler, more understanding human beings. Humans with more compassion more awareness and more understanding of others; especially those who struggled with issues far worse and way before this pandemic. We now know what it feels like to be afraid, to be confused and to be helpless and powerless. If we can take anything with us from this experience I hope it be love, peace and compassion towards each other and towards this earth regardless of our differences & backgrounds. We are all one. May God bless us all and continue to give us the awareness and guidance we need to grow, and the wisdom required to learn and evolve in this vast, wonderful yet unpredictable world.

One month and a half into our quarantine / social distancing during the corona pandemic and here is what I know I’ve learned for sure.

God sends us messages in the form of natural disasters, pain, loss, disease to awaken us physically and spiritually.

Believing, accepting and surrendering to what is gives us peace and strength to endure what seems to be unendurable.

We are all capable of being better humans and of learning from our mistakes if only we took the time to be silent and be still.

If we do not learn the lesson we will have to take the test again and the next time might be even harder.

Family is everything and when worse comes to worse there’s nothing but family. So cherish and love your family.

There’s more you can do in solitude than there ever was in a crowd.

Living superficially and materialistically drained us spiritually.

Money does not buy happiness nor health. 

Simplicity is key, less is more.

Social events we were conditioned to believe were important were in fact energy draining and the core of our underlying stressors in life.

It is during a crisis that you see the true colors of the people around you. 

It is ok and refreshing to spend time to think, to dream, to learn…

Children CAN learn from home.

With boredom creativity arises.

Uncertainty leads way to problem solving, innovation and imagination.

Things I miss:

Physical contact with extended family and loved ones.

Casual family gatherings and kids playing in the park. 

Going to the beach and smelling the fresh air. 

Having coffee with friends and not thinking twice before touching or holding something or someone. 

The possibility of traveling and seeing new places.

All these little things we took for granted we now realize were in fact the big things.

We will come out of this and we will recall the beings we once were and the beings we have now evolved.

May this blessed month bestow upon us the faith we need to keep believing, the wisdom we aspire for to learn and grow, and the peace we long for in a better and more loving world.

You know you’re a mom when you have to think twice before saying yes to a great night out with friends (who will take care of the kids?)

You know you’re a mom when it’s not what you like to wear anymore but rather what would be most comfortable while handling the kids

You know you’re a mom when you become an expert at removing spits, spills and stains from any kind of fabric

You know you’re a mom when you can’t remember the last time you slept a continuous 8 hours

You know you’re a mom when you’ve bathed the kids, fed the baby, prepared lunch, put away laundry, checked your days schedule only to realize you’re still in your p.j’s!

You know you’re a mom when after a long day of lecturing and disciplining the kids, you start to miss them the second they go to bed

You know you’re a mom when you start to miss your own mom and feel that no words or actions could truly repay how much she sacrificed for you

You know you’re a mom when you suddenly start to realize how spoilt and pampered you were before you became a mom

You know you’re a mom when you start to see the softer and more vulnerable side of your own parents who you used to think of as super heros

You know you’re a mom when it’s more important to you how the kids will react to a situation or event before you even start to consider you’re own feelings about the matter

You know you’re a mom when there’s this constant feeling of guilt hovering over you every time you are somewhere without the kids

You know you’re a mom when you can’t imagine how life was before being a mom

You know you’re a mom when you can find faults in every school, hospital or playground. 

You just know you’re a mom when while writing this you are also thinking about upcoming doctor appointments for the kids, school uniforms to lay out, and another days meal plan to prepare…

Lucky is the Woman whose first child is a Daughter

Prophet Mohammed PBUH