That sounds so wonderful! Sometimes parents have to do things knowing that their children may not appreciate it now, but that they will later :)

Warmly,
Baraka

I got back late last night from a hectic trip to Boston and wanted to thank you all again for reading and commenting – it really means a lot to me!

Safia: Thanks sweetie :)

Cella: I want a copy of that photo to laugh over and to remind me!

And weren’t you the girl updating your Facebook status via mobile from the rainforests of South America during her honeymoon?!

(PS- Welcome back to Blogistan :) )

Basil: “A friend of mine used to say that we spend the first 25 years of our lives making memories and the rest of our lives talking about them.”

Thanks for that, it made me reflect on my own life and see that I could be doing a lot more living in this, my 35th year.

SKarim: I look at learning and growth as interrelated. Reflection is a form of learning about oneself; surrendering to safety implies mindlessness or stasis.

But you’re right, this too is just a theory :)

MM: I missed you but here you are back in full force! :) I absolutely loved your nani’s apocalyptic story. It feels true to me: the way we are in life will be the way we are in the grave, the Day of Judgment, and the afterlife.

Dreamessence: Yes to disconnecting from technology to reconnect from the world and the world within oneself. It reminds me of my favorite EM Forester quote (from Howard’s End):

“”Mature as he was, she might yet be able to help him to the building of the rainbow bridge that should connect the prose in us with the passion. Without it we are meaningless fragments, half monks, half beasts, unconnected arches that have never joined into a man. With it love is born, and alights on the highest curve, glowing against the gray, sober against the fire.

Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.”

Safiya Outlines: Yes, I too don’t want a mind full of trivia but that is so much of what socializing has become centered around that it is sometimes difficult to raise the conversation to ideas. *sigh*

Nerda: Your splendid story is a wonderful way to reconnect deeply!

Saffiyah: Some of the blur is understandable and human – we simply cannot process/retain all the information/stimulation in the world around us. But I do think I need to fight harder to form & retain what I can.

Ayesha: “Surprised by joy: the shape of my early life” – I love that! And I too kept journals from a young age, and they bring back so much I had forgotten. I hope every child is as encouraged to chronicle their lives as yours will be. :)

Achelois: I’m so glad it took you back to peek into my childhood. And it’s good to know that phenomenon is not limited to Basil & me! :)

I really enjoyed reading your related post on replaying life’s mosaic when you die too!

Maithri: Thank you dear brother, your sun-kissed and love-drenched words are always a joy to read. May your heart touch and inspire thousands!

Imelda: Every memory I create now should really be something I would value having present in my last moments.

What a beautiful vow – thank you for the inspiration!

Darvish: Insha-Allah dear brother, thank you always for your beauty & reassurance.

Thank you all again for sharing your beautiful and thoughtful insights.

Much love to you all,
Baraka

Ya Haqq!

These words have set my body tingling…

Such deep truth you write here… Such beauty… Such wisdom.

May there be a thousand readers of these love kissed words, A thousand listeners to the voice of this courageous, tender, heart.

With reverent love,

Maithri

Beautiful!