Ramadan is coming..

Asalam Alikuym,

I wrote about My plans about Aysha for Ramadan, inshaAllah but I haven't yet wrote about my own perspective or hopes, Ramadan will be starting at the end of this Month, depending on when the moon is sighted.
I have to be honest, As a revert I feel my Ramadan days have been lonely and I feel like I just can't fit into the Fasting groove and being a woman I always get that disappointing week of not being able to fast/pray.
But this year I'm trying to enter Ramadan in a new perspective & being hopeful that I won't become depressed or filled with dread at the thought of Eid.

Some of the things I'm doing to prepare myself, well, as my earlier blog post suggests I'm putting some effort & focus into making Ramadan a fun & exciting time for Aysha.

I know for a fact when I think about others my personal wellbeing is usually positive so I'm trying to find out about some charity or community initiatives so I can put my time & energy into them, I don't only want this to be a Ramadan activity alone but I feel Ramadan has given me that extra push to get more involved. I have depression so its kept me to myself a lot, its time for me to start contributing to the world again.. InshaaAllah.

I think I should perhaps try to reintergrate myself & Aysha into the Muslim community, I need to start showing Aysha that Islam isn't a lonely life there are others out there, they're not perfect but essentially they're our "family". And families shouldn't always be estranged. Aysha & I shouldn't have to walk in this religion alone..

I'm also currently reading a book called "Glow with Ramadan All Year Long!" (A Guide for Elevating Your Body-Mind-Soul Health, Before, During & After the Fast). Written by Laila Qafira Yamini.. I'm reading a chapter per day so its giving me time to reflect and learn before I enter Ramadan. She writes a very holistic approach, the book itself is a kinda a Manuel, which really appeals to me. I'm following this book and prepping myself through the advice, so for example today I reflected on what may be holding me back from my potential in Ramadan's past, and I did a small evaluation of my physical/mental/emotional/spiritual health.

Also I'm restocking my food supply & will be meal planning this week, inshaaAllah. Not because Ramadan is about the food but because I feel I want to streamline my time preparing/cooking/eating food to give me more time to focus on ibadah & reading Qu'ran during Ramadan. So I'm thinking porridge (in my various recipes ie: carrotcake porridge) for Suhoors & Soups/Winter Salads/light warming meals for Iftars.

Um what else, I want to keep a diary this year so warming up my writing skills, I'm on the hunt for a plush prayer rug as wooden floors and scarves aren't doing my knees any favours, at some stage I'll be thinking about what to do for Eid, not sure if I'll be spending it on my own lonesome or if we'll be doing the "family" thing..

How do you prepare for Ramadan/Eid? Feel free to share links or comments below.

Much love

Jennah

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