12 Years

We get to visit someone after 12 years. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her. 

I’m very excited to be able to meet her parents again. I remember them being nice and parenty I guess. I hadn’t really thought about how exceptionally nice they were twelve years ago. 

They opened their home so warmly to us. We arrived late at night, probably after 1am with Yusuf who was then a cute, but loud baby. I remember very well that they stayed up to meet us and had way more food than we could possibly eat waiting for us. They had rooms and beds prepared for us too thoughtfully directing us to essentials we would need and I remember them saying make yourself at home and really meaning it. I recall thinking this is so nice. 

I didn’t really think of their perspective until the other day. We were essentially strangers. One of us was friends with their adult kid and far away too. We had a loud baby that we we’re bringing in to their otherwise quiet home. And we probably demanded quiet because the baby was sleeping at probably seemingly random times. We arrived late at night and they were up. At the time, I didn’t think much of this. We were young and parenting a newborn. We were up all the time and whenever. I’m pretty sure they weren’t. 

I realize that they probably did this for all the people that came to their home and this wasn’t out of the ordinary. It was personal for me and they made me feel welcome. 

Taher, pay it forward. Change the world one interaction at a time. 

Never Change

 Road trip!

We were all in the car today and a song came on I hadn’t heard in a while. The las time I heard it was when Nooriya and I had a night out together. It was super special and I even wrote about it. 

She’s starting to go through a time in her life where hanging out with me is not going to be what she wants to do. This song reminds me this won’t always be how she feels. 

—

Yeah, some things never change
Like the love that I feel for her
Some things stay the same

—

Taher, be patient and listen to the lyrics because sometimes Disney songs are awesome.

Luck

I’ve thought a lot about plans and control over the years.   Luck, serendipity, fate, kismet, and a lot of other names that do a good job describing what I’m thinking about today. I’ve also thought about what success means what I’d like for the Yusuf and Nooriya. I’ve tried to simplify it to being happy and not define it more than that. 

Being successful, whatever that means, requires a lot of luck/serendipity/fate/kismet. Whatever the word, it requires something you don’t control. It has been easier to remember Alhamdolillah about certain situations I’ve been in where I think things could be slightly different and way worse and Alhamdolillah it wasn’t. 

I’m thinking about the flip side. Working hard makes being successful more likely, but there is a significant portion of being successful that isn’t in your control. 

Taher, remember to think Alhamdolillah when things are good. Remember things could be slightly different and way different.