Lessons Learned as a 24 year old

It's supposed to be exciting isn't it, the day you get to be special and be showered with birthday well wishes and gifts and get to do fun things with those you love. The day of your birth aka your birthday. But it is also bittersweet as I realize I may be a year older I am also a year closer to death.

Which you may think it is negative and gloomy to think of it in that terms but is also a reality check. that this life is temporary and all the glitter and glamour and gifts they will all end. But what is forever is our hereafter, our good deeds and the relationships we build which God willing, will be carried with us after our death.

I hit 24 years old yesterday and it was definitely an amazing weekend, I got to spend it with my closest friends as well as my family members. I love them all so much, May Allah guide them and keep them on the straight path and May we all be reunited in Jennah Tul Furdaus.

But I am also reminded that this world is temporary, that the things we enjoy like technology, traveling, working, our favorite food, money, fame even our loved ones has a clicking time clock and one day we won't exist or those things we enjoy will be gone from our lives. 

This is why I love Islam though because it teaches us to be realistic, because our time is short in this life, so we (including myself) should take the time to appreciate the blessings we are given by Allah Subhana Wa Tala and give love, respect and patience to our loved ones while they are alive. I am definitely guilty of not giving my family their rights and appreciating them because I absorb myself into my work or events in the community. May we all make a better effort to appreciate, love and spend time with our families!

But besides reflecting on death and the inevitable fact that we will all face it, I have also reflected on my growth as an individual. I am more aware that I am not perfect and there are flaws I can work on like dealing with criticism when it is delivered in a manner to help me, to work on opening up more to those closest to me and being more guarded and cautious around people I just met and hardly know. I have learned that because of my upbringing and personality that I can be very trusting and like an open book and most of the time it is my downfall to give my heart away so easily.

I have also learned the importance of faith, the value of hard work and education and the importance of a strong religious community to guide you and advise you during difficult times. I have learned so much about what is going on in the world and even though I am just one person I can still push to create change and help others. I have learned that nothing comes easy and not to let negativity and my emotions let me give up or stop me from pursuing my dreams and goals.

I have had some really hard and difficult times and may have other times where I really struggle but I will be strong and rely on Allah for hope and guidance. I have learned to trust my gut and sometimes it is good to ask for advice and seek counsel but other times people advise without having your best interests at heart, and to not doubt what your heart and gut is telling you to do, because Allah gave you that feeling to protect you.

Most of all I have learned of the importance of keeping the connection alive between me and Allah because he is my Creator, if I pray and cry to him He will give me patience, strength, stability, happiness and He will forgive my sins and conceal them. A few months ago when I wasn't practicing I remember the emptiness I had felt and I had tried to find ways to fill that loneliness, to fill that void and it wasn't until I started praying again and caring about learning about my religion did I find peace in my heart.