Shock Like Never

What stood out for me about her, is that my friend lived. She truly lived. I recall that she was always in the habit of telling me “Timileyin, I just want people to be happy....

Hey, how are you today? How did your weekend go? Mine went…sigh… for the most part, a friend of mine passed away just last week and I also found myself in the hospital bed till yesterday though it wasn't related to the death but at least, part of it. It honestly led to a jumble of different emotions and I felt something snap within me.

This friend of mine never knew she would go to meet her lord too soon. In fact, we had spoken an hour before her death, her plans and her thoughts about the upcoming Ramadan fast. We even shared jokes, and I remember her telling me she had something to discuss when I get home. Well, life happens. Sighs. All these happened within an hour. I got home to call her only to be told that she died in her short nap. How come and what happened? Well, I pray God illuminates her grave.

Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

What stood out for me about her, is that my friend lived. She truly lived. I recall that she was always in the habit of telling me “Timileyin, I just want people to be happy and I will always play my role in seeing that it happens”. So she gave generously. Never held back. As long as it was within her means, she’d give like no man’s business. A lot of people held it against her (jealousy maybe). But for the most part, she was endeared to many. My friend taught me to seize the moment, to make the most of each second and to smile through the pain. She taught me that smiling doesn’t make you look stupid, it only reinforces your child-like resilience.

So rather than fixate on the grief I feel at her passing and allow myself to be blinded by it, I’m choosing to focus on her legacy; giving out and living in the moment.

By extension, I’d love to dedicate this newsletter towards reminding you to learn the act of giving out and dwell on the things that really matter. I want you to spread your mental wings and glide over the pains, worries, frustrations, financial distress and uncertainties that currently plague your heart. Glide right into the epicentre of tranquillity and seize this moment to live. Live my friend. Live indeed. See life through the curious eyes of an adventurer and live in childlike wonder.

Before the final moment, where they’d be saying “rest in peace”[even though as Muslims, we don't tell our dead to rest in peace], I want you to train your mind to learn to find rest in everything. Find rest in your daily routine, find rest in your sleeping, find rest in your strolling, find rest in your friendships, find rest in family, find rest in making impacts, find rest in loving and being loved in return.

Live like never before… for life is fleeting… and time is transient.

With warmth,

Abdussamad.