Letters to My Daughter

16:111 "On the day that every soul shall come arguing on its own behalf; and every soul shall be paid in full for what it did, and they shall not be wronged." What has my soul done during this month of Ramadan? What has it done? What do I have to report? I have been fleeing from the reality of the world, hiding somewhere I don't recognize. I live in my office, my green striped prayer rug complimenting my dying cactus. (How and why is my cactus dying?) I live in my room. I eat, and sometimes nap in the adjacent room. I find little or no reason to leave this seat. I sit, and I sit. I sit until my legs ache. I sit and I watch. I watch until my eyes hurt. I read, write, and talk to my computer screen. I have no contact with people outside of my family. I think how different it was! How different was my last Ramadan! How focused, how keen I was on what I needed to do. This Ramadan has not been the same. Most of the day, I am trying problems, writing emails that no one respond...

TEMERITY: from the Latin, temere, meaning "rashly" The line that divides boldness from foolishness or stupidity is often a fine one. Someone who rushes hastily into a situation without thinking about the consequences might be accused of rashness, while temerity implies exposing oneself needlessly to danger while failing to estimate one's chances of success (: she had the temerity to criticize her teacher in front of the class). Audacity describes a different kind of boldness, one that disregards moral standards or social conventions (: he had the audacity to ask her if she would mind paying for the trip). Someone who behaves with foolhardiness is reckless or downright foolish (: climbing the mountain after dark was foolhardiness and everyone knew it), while impetuosity describes an eager impulsiveness or behavior that is sudden, rash, and sometimes violent ( | his impetuosity had landed him in trouble before). Gall and effrontery are always derogatory terms. Effrontery ...

On September 10, 2009, I sat on the steps of a random church with my friend of 10 years. I had not done this with her since our youthful days at Stuyvesant, when we often found ourselves cutting class only to go to the school library. She was fasting, so we couldn't peep into the cafes tucked away on Irving Street. We were both headed in different directions but we had agreed to meet because I was here, back in this city, after a month of fasting from New York. I was coming down from 167th and 8th, the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, where my other friend was induced into labor. In my hands, I carried a Trader Joe's bag full of sweets, cookies that my husband liked to eat. I had just bought Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame for $2--thats $2 more than I had reason to spend, especially for a book that I didn't have time to read. In her hands, my friend held a Strand bag. She asked me, "Can I show you what I bought?" I continued my litany of dou...

"Many students wage a fierce battle with self doubt throughout the application process. Still it is easy to see why this happens. Many students compare themselves to this imaginary perfect applicant and feel despondent upon realizing that they dont measure up in all respects. Reality does not usually justify this concern because no application have everything going their way like the fantasy applicant does. You need some measure of self confidence that you can do it. Without this confidence most students wont even begin the process of applying to graduate school. Someone's low estimation of your chances of getting into a graduate program may be based on the assumption that you will approach the application process the way that most students do. If this were true, then perhaps your chances of getting in would be slim."-- Dave G. Mumby How can I be more confident? Maybe reread my resume. Talk to people who love and adore me. Trust God for the best outcomes. How can I set my...

Reading the stories of leaders who embraced their individuality is important for defining my own path. I've been trying to learn more about career paths, reading about the paths and blogs and tweets of others in industries I am most interested in. I am trying to prioritize my day and life around the values that matter most to me, but mostly my interests center around my persona and material needs. This seems problematic, given that this is the month of fasting and increasing rewards with God. Yet, I am slightly disconnected from God. Some days, tarawee is much more intense than other days. Some mornings are much more productive than others. I think focusing on the present, on the dhuniyah, makes me a consummate fool. Yet, I feel like I need moments of foolishness to get anywhere. I am capable, intelligent, and talented, but without meaningful correspondences and work--what is there to reflect this state? There is no reason why more of my energy is not spent developing relationships...

An overwhelming feeling surfaces at moments, and threatens the equanimity that I have structured into my days. The overwhelming feeling arises from the uncertainty of career plans, of education, or even the timely payment of bills. Is it awful that at 24 I don't know what I want to be when I "grow up," that inevitably the growing up has been done and over with for at least 3 years since I got married--is that awful? Is it surprising that at this age, I only have a vague understanding of meaningful work, as described by those people profiled in the New York Times, or described in Social Innovation Magazine? Is it strange that I do not yet know where I am headed but that I have a desire only to move, to go somewhere so long as it is on the path towards God and employment? I want to stop paying $400 for health insurance when neither my husband nor I am gainfully employed. I am grateful for friends and family that provide some clarity on things. I appreciate the little joys ...

My husband and I attended a gorgeous wedding at the Franklin Plaza (pictured above) in Troy on September 4th, 2009. The couple, I had never met before, but have never felt so graciously welcome, not even at my own wedding. When I had gotten the Save the Date for the wedding on March 28, 2009, I had remarked how this would be my first Russian Jewish wedding. And indeed, it was in many ways, a "first" for me. It was the first time I had witnessed a Jewish-anything, let alone a wedding. I learned about various traditions within the Jewish terms and tradition: the CHUPPAH, as well as Ketubah, the Sheva Brachot (the Seven Blessing), and the Breaking of the Glass. All these traditions were explained beautifully in an elegant handout for guests. The rabbi and priest who ordained the ceremony gave talks that were relevant to us, the only Muslim couple in the audience. The priest remarked how in America, according to an Is There Hope for the American Marriage? ">artic...