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RAMADAN KAREEM!! (Gotta love any felicitation that has cream in it!!)
Yesterday I completed my first day of the month of fasting called Ramadan.
One part of fasting is the obvious, abstain from all food and drink from sunrise till sunset. So apart from a little weakness and lethargy, it really didnt go too bad. It felt like when I started the Atkins. The first few days involved jittery feelings, lethargy and a lot of headaches. I guess its the detoxification stage at the moment. I know from experience that it takes about 8-10 days for the body to settle down. After that, you dont even realize that you are fasting. My headaches are light but oddly enough, only happen when I eat. Any ideas why that might be happening?(sararay???)
My daughter came up to me yesterday while I was preparing the sunset feast (when you can end the fast) "How can you be around so much food when you are fasting?". Quite easily actually. The funny thing was that I didnt feel the urge to snack on the veggies or other foods I was preparing, which is good!! Knowing that you are not allowed and being imposed upon by a higher authority than yourself really helps.
There is another part of the fasting that most non Muslims arent aware of. Not only are you supposed to detoxify your body, you are supposed to detoxify your soul too. So for the entire month , no lying, cheating, swearing, gossiping, backbiting, slandering etc, etc...No hugging, kissing or you know what(from sunrise to sunset only, for those of you worried about lack of affection-after that you have the whole night to make whoopee. AND...it becomes better quality due to the lack of time available!!). We have to discipline ourselves to have restraint and patience in worldly things.
To be honest with you, I find that harder than not eating!! I cant shout at my kids if they annoy me. In fact I am supposed to restrain myself from getting annoyed in the first place! I cant vent about people currently around me,so no gossip about certain people for the next month!! I dont really indulge in the gossip or backbiting thankfully so that is not a problem. The make out stuff is not a problem, because I am already restrained in that department, but knowing you cant have something just makes you want it more. It increases our 'intimate moments' during the month, so I always look forward to this 'honeymoon' month.
In just one day though, being forced to retrain myself into a more positive person has worked wonders. Things that would irk me before are not so stressful because I try to find excuses for that person and why they are doing what they are. Extensional members are insisting on preparing the meals, which initially felt like stepping on my boundaries but then I came up with a compromise of letting them do a few days and then suggesting I do a few days to share the workload.
I think this Ramadan has come at such an apt time in my life because I really did need more discipline in my thoughts and feelings and I can feel the changes already!
Oh yeah..finally..it was my birthday on 29th August. We didnt really celebrate it because hubby was working late as usual. We did go to the Rainforest cafe and had a birthday meal there a day later. But yesterday, I got a diamond heart shaped pendant!! Muslims believe that the devil is locked up for the month of Ramadan because it is such a sacred month. So I said to hubby.."Now I believe that the devils are locked up..because whatever devil was inside you stopping you from giving me gifts has obviously been taken away!!" I never get gifts, especially expensive ones so it was definitely a big big surprise for me!!
Boy, this month is rocking!!!
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