Ramadan is a time to reflect on yourself and the way you live your life. Being an expat in the Middle East, this usually rubs off on me. The work days are reduced, the city is silent, families leave the country, it is 40 degrees Celsius outside, there isn't much to do until sundown, so I end up reading, cooking and enjoying some quiet time. A couple of months ago I came across Sandra Bienkowski's list of 48 things she knows for sure on the Huffington Post, that made me think of the 30 lessons I have learned so far, which is a good way to start this Holy month of Ramadan:
2- Know yourself and learn to handle your fears/shortcomings. No one should have to manage them for you.
3- Spend time with people who make you smile.
4- Life isn't that serious.
5- Be curious, never say never.
6- Hair will grow back. Don't be scared to experiment.
7- Always wonder if things that make you sad or stress you out will matter in 5 years time.
8- Challenge yourself, but do it on your own terms. What matters is how you feel.
9- Listen. A lot.
10- The only way to know is to go for it.
11- Take time to reflect. Don't forget to breathe.
12- Never think that you are done growing up or learning.
13- Don't give advice unless you were asked. You don't necessarily know better and have no right to judge.
14- Learn when to walk away or go for a run before you say things you might regret.
15- It's ok not to know where you are going in life. Trust that you are doing the best you can with whatever you have and know at the time.
16- Embrace the decisions you took. However it turns out, you did the best you could.
17- You have a right to say no.
18- Immediate emotional reactions are rarely a good idea.
19- Remember that everything isn't about you.
20- Indecision is a decision.
21- Brains are sexy.
22- Everything doesn't have to be perfect. Starting somewhere and perfecting along the way is better than doing nothing.
23- Being consistent will take you far.
24- Don't underestimate details: they can make or ruin someone's day.
25- Listen to your body: you only have one.
26- Allow people to come and go in your life, you never know what the future holds.
27- Learn a lesson from every experience, good or bad.
28- Be polite and mean it.
29- Try. At least once.
30- Don't take life changing decisions when you are feeling really high or really low.
Ramadan Kareem ya'all!
Ramadan Kareem ya'all!
