Life Lessons

Ever wonder what it means when you hear the phrase "live life to the fullest' or "don't worry about anything because you have one life to live"? What does it really mean to live a full life? Does it mean party all you want, travel, shop and have fun or is there something deeper in it? I have always struggled with this because as I was growing up, I avoided parties and hanging out with the popular crowds because I was afraid to get influenced by the wrong people. I was afraid that they would get me hooked on the wrong things and thus kept my distance, but now as I sit here and write this piece, I wonder if I lost out on something very integral, what people call the zest of life. I don't have any regrets but a part of me always wonders what kind of a person I would be today had I been more social or experimental. Does this mean that I really missed out on enjoying life to the fullest?. For me a full life also consists of how much of a difference you have made in other people's lives. I was raised with a sense of responsibility and a sensibility towards others. I believe in service and generosity and my favorite and best teacher has been my mother. My mother is a wonderful cook and many family members showed up at our home to have her food or if she made something special, she would pack it up and send it over to whoever asked for it. She always tells me this is her way of showing love and while others can afford to shower expensive gifts, she loves sharing her food and is appreciated just as much if not more. So this life lesson is extremely important because it is not about how much money you spend on someone but showing how much you care by little gestures such as cooking like my mom.

Another life lesson is about friendship. I am very fortunate to have a few but very good friends. We may not talk on the phone everyday or see each other in months but in our hearts we know that we are there for each other. It is certainly a challenge to be close to your friends all the time due to our hectic schedules and geographical distances but true friends will always be in your heart no matter where they live and even if you meet them after years, it would always seem like you just talked yesterday. There is another side to friendship which can hurt and make you miserable. These are people who come into your life for a short period of time but leave a bad taste in your mouth. I've had my share of so-called friends who brought a lot of negativity and toxic energy in my life. When I was younger, I found it hard to tell them about the damage they are causing, but now I feel it is important to distance yourself from such people. We should always make friends who bring out the best in us, not the ones who suck the life out of us and leave us exhausted. So I have let those people go because they do not contribute anything significant to my life.

Lastly, the most important life lesson comes from our spiritual side. We all believe in a higher power and know that there is something greater out there that controls everything and everyone. Once I was having a discussion with a very dear friend about taking care of your body and skin and all the outer things and she suddenly asked, "So what are you doing for your soul?" That question shocked and puzzled me and I couldn't help but remember that in Islam and most of the religions around the world, it is taught that your body is finite, only your soul is infinite. Life as we know it is temporary because one day we all have to die and leave this body behind, only what's inside gets to go and be with that superior being. So what do you do to cleanse your soul? I don't think it is necessary to pray 24/7 and preach about your religion to people every opportunity you get. For me living my life with honesty and integrity is also an act of faith along with religious rituals and prayers. I know plenty of people who pray all the time but are nasty human beings who hurt people. There are so many ways we can be spiritual. Just doing what my mom does by serving her food to people is an act of faith. Giving charity is an act of faith. Watching your neighbor's kid while they are out is an act of faith. I could go on and on but you get the idea. So the lesson here is that while it is great to take care of your body and live a healthy life but it is more important to have a healthy soul.

Life lessons are important and the purpose should be to learn from them. If you have made a decision in the past that has left a negative impact on you then you should do everything possible to avoid repeating that mistake and if the results are positive then you should try and replicate them. I believe in making life easier for people by providing my services and advice whenever I can and I also try and learn from my elders because their experiences enrich my life. So my friends learn from life because there is no better teacher and live your life to the fullest because after all, we only get one life to live.

R