I very rarely make traditional "New Years Resolutions". No sooner do I resolve to do something, than that something desolves from memory. I decided this year I was going to focus on a word. A word for the year to help anchor me as I try to find more structure and peace in my life. My word is "Connect". Connect with Allah Connecting with Allah is something I have struggled with for years. I can only venture to guess that this is due to my own issues of letting life consume me at times and just not taking care of that relationship. For years I have allowed myself to get swept away with the circumstances of the moment. With small children and a husband, it seemed everyone needed me. I was being pulled in multiple directions. My thirties were a time of moving one foot infront of the other and trying to not trip. I didn't leave a lot of room for Alah. I suppose a person observing could see that my relationship with Allah was strained. I acknowledged He existed, but I had lost the connection. This year is about finding that connection again. I am always impressed by my husband's resolve to pray each of the payers on time. He is a great example and I know it was something he was taught as a young child. I feel at times that being a revert has robbed me of some of that discipline. I pray I will find it this year. May Allah grant us a closer connection and increase our desire to draw closer to him. Ameen Connect with Friends Friendship is so incredibly important. It is the thing that brings a sweet fragrance to our lives. However, it is hard to stop and smell the roses in our fast paced society. So I took the opportunity to invite several friends out for dinner on my 41st birthday. I was just using the birthday as a way to get all these sisters together to start working on the connection. A month before the event, I asked each sister to send me their 2016 word of the year. What amazing insights I recieved just by them sharing their words. I then prepared little gift bags for each of them including a few of my favorite things. Mother's Circus Cookies, Magnet (with a picture the logo on a truck I happened to share the road with on a road trip through New Mexico - I know the driver probably thought I was a nut job trying to get a picture of his vehicle - I thought it was sheer serendipty to see such an iconic vehicle out in the middle of nowhere), and a pendant that I handstamped with their individual words. We left with several ideas of getting together in the future. Just spending an hour or so with people you love is an amazing thing.
Connect with Self I think it was when I turned 40 that my knee started to cause me major grief. I had spent 20 years completely neglecting myself in aspects of my health. Finally the ache of my knee reminded me that I had disconnected from myself. What is frustrating for me is had I not had issues with my knee, I might still be walking around in a fog, completely disconnected. The truth is that it's really hard. It's hard to get to know yourself when you have allowed so much time to pass. It has become a thing of intention. I believe that journaling and reflecting on my life has truly helped me plug in. I feel more alive. My senses have been revived and life just seems more vibrant. I still am putting one foot infront of the other. However, this time it is with intention. As the year progresses, I will be revisiting these connections through the blog. I ask you to take this journey with me. I have asked my friends to share their words. Words like faith, perservere, embrace, love, give, health, and growth are just a few things that people around me are focusing on. I feel truly blessed that they shared these words with me. It will help me as I continue to make connections with them and as I check in to see how their year is going. Please take an opportunity to share your word in the comment section.
21 Comments
San
1/31/2016 08:24:36 pm
I just want to say thank you so much friend for allowing us to go on this journey with you. The one thing about this post that I totally identify with is your connection wit Allah. I have a big desire to connect with Allah this year as well. Thats why my word was Faith. :)
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2/2/2016 12:51:38 pm
I look forward to encouraging each other throughout the year.
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2/2/2016 12:57:49 pm
Thank you. I absolutely felt that connection is something that a lot of us are missing in society.
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2/2/2016 06:20:30 am
'Accomplish' is my word. It reminds me everytime that setting goals and not acheiving them is completely ignorant, wrong n dishonest of me to myself. I have to accomplish what i desire my health to be, my body to feel, my skin to look and my soul to survive. I want to accomplish my goal of strengthening my Iman n becoming a good person for my Allah and for myself. My ultimate goal is to accomplish my journey towards Jannah hand in hand with my husband while leading my kids in sha Allah.
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2/2/2016 12:59:45 pm
I love your word! I think you are absolutely right that it is dishonest when we make a goal and we do nothing to work towards it. I pray you Accomplish all your goals in the coming year. Ameen.
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You envy your hubby! I envy reverts for one reason. You get double reward!! :) We could never know who ranks higher in taqwa.
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2/2/2016 06:11:17 pm
It was a blessing to connect with each of the sisters who attended. I pray that as the year progresses we will make stronger connections. Ameen.
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myda
2/2/2016 06:16:08 pm
jazakAllah Sister for such an impressive and thought provoking post,Hmmm, my word for this is and for the rest of my life is to become Nafay to others,means to be generous and helpful to others in my capacity.
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Papatia
2/2/2016 08:01:47 pm
Masha'Allah, you have started a path of 'Reclaiming your heart!' . Alf mabrook to ya and happy belated birthday. May Allah give you many mubarak and fullfilling years, amiin. May you also gain the barakat in these endeavors, amin. Life gets lonely and it's connecting with Him and the things around us that make it worthwhile :).
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2/5/2016 06:13:00 am
Oh my... I did the exact same thing for this year :) My word is presence. Just to be more present with my daily life. Be here for this moment, for this day. Your word sounds so nourishing - connection in all levels is such a beautiful blessing in life. Hope you have a great year inshaAllah!
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2/5/2016 08:22:36 am
What a great idea! In my case, I think my word would be growth. I put too many things off when there is so much I want to do as a person. I need to grow in so many ways. Insha'Allah we are successful with the things we want!
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2/7/2016 02:09:31 am
There is a Quranic phrase to that I think: Hablumminallah wa hablumminannaas :)
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Amina
2/7/2016 01:01:12 pm
Mine will have to be *Inspire* ~ stay inspired and inspire others insha Allah.
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2/8/2016 12:08:20 am
Loved this idea. Seriously, my word this year should be connect as well. I really need to connect myself before I can do other things. Next to connect would be Learn. In this time, we should be knowledgeable of the deen of Allah so we will be guided and so we won't easily be distracted by this dunya.
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AuthorA muslimah mom of two teens trying to navigate my 40s. Taking time outs when I can to make it each day! Archives
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