It is a normal business as usual Tuesday morning.
Then almost out of nowhere, six men, nondescript in their appearance, emerge. Some are wearing the traditional Swahili kanzu; the others are in your standard shirt and trouser. If they walked past you at any other time you would hardly spare them a glance, there is nothing extraordinary about them, they would blend in seamlessly with the scenery.
These last few days of December, as you are looking forward to some R and R, preparing to go back to work, to send your children back to school, to embark on your goals, working on starting a new business- whatever is on your planner your calendar your mind, spare a moment for the city.
” The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” Rumi There is something out
Indeed, self-care is a lifelong, never ending commitment to meeting your own needs and showing up for yourself
It happens that there are some days that just aren’t meant to be your days. Somehow, everything that can go wrong does go wrong and you are left pounding your fists on the wall.
You have to start somewhere. Usually at the bottom. Typically doing the hardest, least desirable item on the description box.
It didn’t help matters that our school teachers thre the term “regret” at us every chance they got. It was, they warned ominously, what we would suffer with if we didn’t work hard. Our future would be ruined, they foresaw, if we didn’t step up; if we allowed our socks to remain at ankle level instead of pulling them up.
What scares me the most is coming out of this having learned nothing. Going back to our selfish, self absorbed ways. Running around like headless chickens trying to prove ourselves. The question is to who?
Somehow in the quiet, without what would have been sounds from masaajid all around the neighbourhood, it feels more like Ramadhan than it ever has. For with quiet are we able to hear what would have otherwise remained muted.
It might seem stupid to suggest spending time with the family when you are all indoors together but don’t be surprised when everyone is absorbed in their own things in their own corners of the home.
if you still have a living grandparent appreciate her or him. Spend as much time as you can with because one day, just like Hababa, they will be gone. And you will be left listening for their footfalls, and leaving their seat open. May Allah bless all our parents and grandparents.
