Naw Ruz '10

Naw Ruz

This year was by far THE best Naw Ruz i have ever experienced. I cannot remember a time where the community was as high spirited as this. Everyone was so happy, I speak for myself as well ofcourse. This year's fasting month and Naw Ruz was a good one, the best to me. God willing the rest of the year will be as happy, joyful and enlightening as this.

KING YANG. Foxy Mama ;) HAHA

I will remember this till the day I die, I WILL :')

Happy Naw Ruz everyone! <3

Have a great year ahead. Allah-u-abha :)

In the end, I want to be standing at the beginning with you.

Spending the evening reminiscing on my favourite childhood times : singing to good old Disney soundtracks.

What more can I ask for :)

I feel more grateful everyday.

I look around me and everything I see, reminds me how much I have that I should be grateful for.

I love what my life is and what it revolves around.
I love my family. I'm so lucky to have been born in this family.
I love my Faith, I feel.. lucky to know that I've been given this bounty. I'm so grateful to be one of the early Baha'is in this world. Yes, there are Baha'is all over the world. The second fastest growing religion in the world, after over one and a half centuries. And I am truly happy to be a part of this Cause.
I love my cousins, the people I know that I'm bonded with for life, the people I grew up with, the people that have walked the same path of service I've walked, and the memories of doing all of that.. together.
I love my friends. I love how after all these years, I'm happy about where I am and who I spend my time with. I love the fact that we aren't at all anything close to similar when it comes to style, personality or character, but what keeps our bonds tight are the values and principles we share.
I love how my Grandpa sends us random emails to remind us the little things that we tend to forget. I love my grandparents.
I love Shayna. I love Sunil and I love Sonia for being people that I trust with my life. For being the cause of my happy days, my never ending laughter and even my sad days. I love that they never turn their backs on me no matter what I do. I know that they will always love, support, encourage and make me a better person. I know that they have my absolute best interest in mind. Not just because they are my siblings, but because they are.. my best friends.
I love that my life is purposeful. I love that I have a certain purpose to fulfill in this life. Something so powerful, something I'm truly blessed with.

Everything I see and experience everyday that makes me feel this way, the things that put good tears in my eyes, the things that make me excited, the things that make me feel like I have butterflies in my stomach, the things that amaze me, and the people that touch my lives are all images and reflections of God.  

I'm a true believer in hope and faith. Things will have to get worse before it can get better. But, that's okay because I know that things WILL get better and really, things do. 

but why?

everything I said above, that's why.
that's what keeps me going.

last week of the fast, don't pass too quickly, please? :')

What made my day today was..

 

having Mommy SURPRISE me by coming home early :') Mommy planned the whole thing with Papa. you evil, EVIL parents :p

I was using the computer when I heard the bell ring. Aunty Ellen opened it, and I heard her say "Madam! you're home!" I was so confused, I thought I heard it wrong. I ran downstairs only to find my mommy walking up the front porch.
thank goodness she's home.
our household is finally back to normal!

2007 : London

LOVE:)

I need mommy right now :'(

People that always leave me with a smile on my face and good tears in my eyes :

yesterday night was :')

I LOVE you fam.

The Fasting Month

So, it's the 3rd day of the fasting month.

I was at Navin's mom's house for break fast on the first day, and ofcourse, Grandpa spoke a little about what the fast means. We often equate the fast with spirituality ofcourse, but I think most of the time it becomes more material than spiritual. Sometimes I forget the mere essence and reason behind why we fast, but that Tuesday night, Grandpa helped me remember. Because of fasting, and because it is, IF we don't think it through, a material hardship. What I mean is that, well, we start to feel hungry, thirsty,etc and most of the time, that almost becomes a veil to me forgetting what the fasting month is really all about because really, sometimes I forget and I tend to want to just get through the day as quickly as possible to break fast :/

Yes, we abstain from food and drink from the break of dawn until the sun sets at night. Yes, we have to resist all temptations of wanting to satisfy our hungry bellies during the midday, but I think it's not just abstaining from these material things. At the end of the fasting month, after having resisted the temptations materially, I think it would help me resist the worldly temptations that we face in our every day lives. It makes us people with stonger will power, it'll make me a stronger person I hope.

The purpose of the fast, now, to me, is to help us mould ourselves to become better people and to start the year holding on to and practicing the new things that we might've not learnt if it wasn't for the fasting month.

And yes, some people might ask, "Why can't you practice those virtues everyday of the year?", "Why have a specific fasting month to only realise the things that you can realise even without the fasting month?", "Shouldn't we know and do this everyday already?"

and well.. Yes.

But we are all only human, and well.. unfortunately, I think everybody needs a good reminder. I know I do. The fasting month is that to me.

Have a good 16 days left :)

And Ma, if you're reading this, I miss you! and I hope you're having a good time fasting in cold cold New York :)

Break fast with the youth and Juan tonight :') cant.wait!