Of abundance and appreciation.

When we have things in abundant, often we lack appreciation. There will be tendency to take things for granted. An instance? Think air. How many of us are really grateful to have breathe oxygen everyday?

I had asthma when I was young(er) but it grows out as I get old(er). Those who’s experienced asthma attack would know how much valuable it is to be able to breathe freely without any restrictions.

So is it always true that we appreciate less when we have more?

I think it is beautiful when Islam teaches us to value things even when it’s not in scarcity. For example, never waste water when you make wudhu even when you make wudhu at flowing rivers with continuous water supply.

During this time of tribulations, l learned that we may sometimes appreciate things more when we have less but we should also appreciate things even more when we have a lot.

I am away from my family, home alone with restricted mobility. These made me cherish the time I have, alone at home, to be able to get closer to myself and to connect more with other people (thanks to technology). I usually work more than 12 hours a day for six days a week but now I have more time at home than at work and I accomplished unexpected things. I bonded more with neighbours and friends and I care for myself more in these times.

Anyway, I just wanna write memories. I’ll let my grandkids read this (if I were to have them in the future ameen) so that they know I lived in the time when we do video calls solely to makan raya together (almost felt like mukbang), and have online real-time takbir raya, solat raya and khutbah raya within just a family unit. I want them to know that we should live in the present and appreciate all the things that we have regardless of how much it is.

This Ramadhan, Syawal and the year 2020 itself is indeed very different and special. Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah.

/ˈsɒlɪtjuːd/

At this time around with COVID-19 pandemic in Ramadhan, I have come to reflect on the word عزلة. Btw, عزلة is one of my sisters’ name.

Growing up, we always thought her name means ‘cahaya kebesaran’. Still wondering how did we even get there? Hmm. Nonetheless, then I know her name عزلة means solitude. Such a beautiful name and it somehow shows in her personality.

[Brewster Rd, 2133, 040520]

Being in solitary is often regarded to being lonely. As a matter of fact, it is not. At least for me there’s a difference, a wide gap in between solitude and loneliness.

Loneliness in my opinion, has a negative connotation. It sounds very destructive and insufficient.

On the other hand, solitude carries a much positive energy. It is constructive, self-engaging and gives you space to contemplate on yourself. It is refreshing and enriching your inner self, your soul.

No wonder our beloved Rasulullah saw did عزلة before he received the revelation. The solitude brings about the greatest and most precious thing that we have up until now which is this deen, biidznillah.

Maybe I’m saying this because I’m more towards the introverted end of the extrovert-introvert spectrum but being in solitary (sometimes I call it ‘me-time’) can become a happiness. It is being alone but not lonely. I can experience it during solo travelling, when appreciating nature, do deep reading etc. And especially during this quarantine and social distancing period and especially in this blessed month of Ramadhan, tonnes of opportunity for me to عزلة. And yes, I’m now away from my family and home alone alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli hal :)

Let’s take advantage of our solitude, be grateful, make lots of du’a and strive to be better everyday. Fighting!