not even water
On my mind
It’s hard to believe Ramadan is already here but I think that’s what we say every year… I want to wish Ramadan Mubarak to all those celebrating! As much as this is an unusually challenging moment we’re in, I’m also looking forward to how sharing a communal spiritual experience will challenge and change us. Of course, I’m sad that we won’t get to celebrate this month as planned. I was excited to host people in my apartment again and get involved with different activities and gatherings in D.C. Now we’ll just be figuring things out as we go and finding virtual ways to stay in touch.
Here’s a short poem I wrote to share some of my feelings about spending Ramadan at home.
For my non-Muslim readers, this month is incredibly important for Muslims. We fast from dawn til dusk, increase time for self-reflection, prayer, charity and (under normal circumstances) would spend more time with family and friends and attend the mosque almost every night.
Check out this website for a breakdown of what Ramadan means and how you can be a good ally to your Muslim co-workers and friends.
The days have blurred together for me since we began the quarantine. Ramadan gives us a chance to wake up again with purpose and reminds us to make each day really count. Remember to be kind to yourself when setting goals and give yourself a break as you adapt to this new routine. No more snacking the day away!
What I’m noting
🌙 Ramadan reads //
✋🏽What’s Your Most Important Memory of Touch // It’s so tough to be deprived of hugs and physical contact right now. This was a moving collection of people’s most significant memories of touch in their lives.
🎤#NMAAHCPoetrySlam // The National Museum of African American History and Culture is having a virtual poetry slam on their Instagram account today. Submit your poem or just check out the entries!
🎥Neefso // A beautiful short film about what happens when a girl’s birthday is unexpectedly interrupted by anxiety
🎧Above & Beyond with Tariq Toure // My friend and fellow poet Tariq Toure invited me to join him on his podcast last week. Check out the episode for our conversation on conscious content, poetry, and getting through the coronavirus pandemic.
😂A TikTok thread if you need a laugh // There are days when I’m very grateful for dumb humor on social media. This thread was a gem.
Hope you’re staying safe and healthy wherever you are in the world. Let me know what’s getting you through the pandemic from books to music to recipes to workouts, so I can feature them in an upcoming newsletter. You can always hit reply to this email if you want to share or just say hi :)
Have a good weekend!
— Nesima