02/21/2026
As I sit here finishing up my sehri, I reflect on the internal spiritual transformation I’ve undergone over the last little while.
As someone who is making a very conscious effort of observing ramadan in its fullest sense this year, I feel really lucky. The more I think about my roots, the more I feel content with having that base that I can lean into at any point in life without judgement, without external validation, without guilt.
As I’ve opted to pursue a life of less, less people, less noise, less superficial interactions, less stuff, less of anything that doesn’t fully make me feel like I’m exactly where I need to be, I feel at ease and the timing of ramadan has been a wonderful reset.
For years, I carried shame of not being able to fully claim my religion because I left it in some small way but I largely left the walls of the community. My heart was always where it needed to be. I’m not a religion defender because I think we need deep care above scripture but I’m a defender of finding a guide that brings you closer to purpose, the purpose of trying to be good and I’ve realized how much good I grew up with.
This doesn’t mean I don’t question or reject some of it. It just means I focus on the stuff that helps people in some small way.
Effort doesn’t need to be grand, it just has to be meaningful.
For me, fasting has made me understand the discomfort of those who have to go without food (near and far).
It has given me a deep appreciation for so much of my community who so generously feed others as giving sadqa (alms) to the poor is mandatory.
It has given me a deep appreciation for people who take a few minutes out of their day to pray because ultimately what is prayer than a meditative practice insisted upon you by a higher being. It’s like saying, here: you get to shut everything off for a few minutes and meditate where none of the worldly noise matters. Just you and a higher being.
I find it ironic that all these calendar driven events like ramadan, lent, lunar year all share proximity. How is it not proof that we are all the product of one thing with different start settings?
All this to say, Ramadan Mubarak, Happy Lent, Happy LNY 🌙🧧✝️
