...

I have a beautiful friend whom I've known for almost a decade. I met her as she was barely entering adulthood. She was still single then, and seemed to see the entire world through rose-coloured glasses. She appeared to be perpetually content, always wore a smile and saw the bright side of any situation. At the time of our meeting, I was going through a particularly dark time, and it certainly wasn't made any easier by my predisposition to depression/the blues/low mood (depending on who you ask). So, when I met this girl, and as I got to observe her consistency in outlook in a number of situations, I put it down to the fact that she was young, unmarried and for the most part, carefree. No one could be that happy otherwise, I'd say.

Fast forward a few tumultuous years- a marriage, a special needs child, a divorce and everything that those things entail, and her demeanour has not faltered any: she is still the content, perpetually positive, silver-lining-seeker that she always was.

Which got me thinking. What is that special something that makes people see the world in this way? How is it that despite all adversity, this woman can and does still smile? Why does she never appear lonely or sad or dissatisfied with her lot? What can I do to be more like her?

Perhaps, the answer lies in not looking beyond today.
Or prioritising, over all things, the one constant that we all have, our connection with The Creator.
Or marching to the beat of a different drum.
Or loving ourselves enough such that we are enough. Even alone, we are enough.
Or only ever focussing on the good things that come.
Or trivialising the things that don't go right, the things we don't have.
Or surrounding ourselves with people like her.
Or reminding ourselves of the temporal nature of this time.
Or taking up a new hobby.
Or accepting when something isn't working and letting it go.
Or moving away.
Or fasting.


Ramadan has put me in a pensive mood.