wasn’t it?
it’s been quiet here on the blog for a bit, but not quiet in my head. not quiet at all. as I type this I’m so full of frustration with what is going in the world today. abroad, and so close to home too. bad news, then more bad news and then even more.
it seems when it rains it pours.
and these things are not directly affecting me. only indirectly so, but man, I’m sad.
and I don’t feel like blogging about a recipe or what I did today. I feel guilty. and blessed. and thankful, but angry. I’m a big ball of emotion these days. and I can’t seem to concentrate and keep it all together.
blogs are typically so bright, full of life, pretty things and happy times. but it doesn’t feel right to use this forum for only that.
so I just took a pause.
and remembered why I started.
to dream big. love hard. and fight for what’s right.
fighting for what’s right is crucial now more than ever. the world is in a dark place. and what is currently going on in palestine has never been right, but now more than ever it’s grossly, unjustifiably, inhumanely wrong.
you only need to go on facebook for a minute to see the loss of life and destruction. can you imagine what that might do to a persons mind? seeing it first hand? living it?
and I’m a mother. of two little babies. if we lived (if you can call what they do living) in palestine right now we would likely be dead. this is not a joke. or taking things too far. this is real. and those lives are real. and i just want to say that out loud because some don’t seem to think so. and that completely boggles my mind.
I’m sitting at the park right now with niyya so close while we wait to pick up daaniya from camp. and there is laughter, kids running around, playing carelessly in the splash pad. as they should. kids still played in palestine, as they should, but their games end not in going home to rest, but in death and critical injury.
I pray for these families, for these mothers, fathers and children, these people, and think to myself what can I do to help? how can I play my part in all of this? because at this point I am consumed. I cannot unsee what I’ve seen or unfeel how I feel. I pray on this. hard. because even though I’m far away, I have a role somehow. right? don’t we all?
so what I’ve concluded right now is that I have to keep talking. to use my voice, however quiet it may be, to bring about awareness. for myself and for others too. knowledge is power, right?
and I have to fight, however i can, for the rights of people around the world who are being mentally broken, stolen from, killed, attacked, made to leave their homes out of fear.
as an artist/designer/maker I can only do what I know at this time. so, my shop is taking a slight shift to reflect this new goal of mine. most items will now have a cause that portions of the profits are going to go towards. for example, the i heart Allah tee proceeds will go towards the children of iraq who have been made to flee their homes due to the terror caused by isis. (that’s a whole other story) and the peace is universal tee will be back on for pre-order to aid the people of palestine during this nightmarish time. insha’allah, we can each do little and collectively do a lot.
and i have to keep on keeping on. life does go on. i have those two babies to raise. with good, happy, tolerant, loving and kind hearts, so that they can share their goodness with the world. i have to get out, but not too far away, from under the cloud in order to do this.
tonight is another night of powerful prayer. insha’allah our prayers for patience and faith will get to those oppressed the most.
be well.
i hear you tahsin and I totally get what you are feeling.. anger, frustration and a sense of helplessness at what is happening to the world around us and how the world has turned a blind eye to the oppressor and you are right, we need to do something, anything to educate, support and speak up and pray … the power of prayers can never be under estimated especially on a night like tonight where destinies can change.
may there be peace In the world and In our hearts….