I shall not delve into the events of my unusual evening, for once anyway. Sometimes I can provide folks with TMI – too much information, It is an interesting concept. Wondering if I have written about it before – will check my search engine and get back to you immediately.
Well, typed ‘too much information’ into the search engine, several titles emerged but none addressed the subject. I found an intriguing title in a January 29, 2024 blog which spoke of my success. Here is the quote, which I find most amusing.
“I am successful, that I do know. How do I know?? Winston Churchill told me, in these words. Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm —Winston Churchill. That is definitely me. “
I seem not to loose my enthusiasm, even when things go disastrously wrong. Perhaps we should now speak of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm, a noun, intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. Used in a sentence: Her energy and enthusiasm for life. I am definitely enthusiastic about some of the synonyms: warmth, passion, zeal,, zest, gusto, pep, vivaciousness, verve, dynamism, exuberance, ebullience. The informal synonyms are such fun: oomph, zing, zip, zap, get-up-and-go. That is me, lots of oomph.
Do admit to waking up in a rather apathetic mood. But just in time’s nick received a notification from one of my WhatsApp folk. A series of sunrise photos with the caption: Good morning from Gurney Waterfront. Another: Sunrise backdrop against the dredging machine. I immediately responded.
Me: Good morning! How beautiful! Except for the dredging machines. Hahaha Absolutely magnificent. I am SO grateful for this beauty. I needed this. Allah is with me. Usually I am the giver of sunrises. Now the roles are reversed at a time so needed. And I can share. It seems like a miracle to me.
Another arrived, even more beautiful.
Me: my goodness. Even more beautiful with each passing moment. I have shared this sunrise with many. With a sense of wonder and worship.
Indeed I had. With this caption to Alice.
Me: It is a miracle I can share this with you. From Gurney Waterfront via a friend.
Alice: Good morning, Dear. It’s a beautiful sunrise. Makes me feel bright.
Me: Me too. Ad I definitely needed it.
Alice: Seeing this photo makes me feel that life should be lived positively and happily. Thanks for sharing. I love it. Thank you so much. I will keep it. Amazing!!!
Me: Me too. When I was young, at a summer camp in Canada We would say every morning. “God has created a new day. Silver and green and gold. Live that the sunset may find us, Worthy his gift to behold. It is rather amazing that I remember it after ALL of these years. It was a Christian camp, as I was born into a Christian family.
Then sent a cheerful, laughing voice message.
Alice: So cheerful and laughing. U make me happy too.
Alice then sent a cute Happy Happy GIF.
Me: I love it and will send it as to others as well.
Then this message arrived from the friend who sent the sunrise photos.
She: Inna lilac wainnailahi rojiun. Indeed we believe go to Allah and to Him we all return. My Uncle just passed away.
Me: May Allah be pleased with him. Alhamdulillah
She: We came to visit our Aunty. Then got news he passed away. Alhanduillah we managed to visit him in the hospital yesterday. We went for a Hajj together. Back in 2008. My father, uncle, my aunty and I.
Me: How very special to share a Hajj with someone you love.
She: We were very close. My father’s closest friend. This uncle.
Me: Such a sense of loss you must be feeling. May you be comforted by our Creator
She: Thanks Alaa
I thought about my own life and how, for a myriad of reasons, have not suffered a feeling of loss at someone’s death. The only huge exception was the death of my beloved Aunt Alice. In a way it is a blessing, not altogether a curse to not feel a sense of loss.
After this long exchange went to a Lyf breakfast. Eva and I prepared my scrambled eggs. Sent a photo to Shamir.
Me: Eva and I made these eggs.
He: Awesome.
We then spoke of his day and his posting availability.
He: I can post after five.
Me: That is FANTASTIC. I can have an early nap and and write after the nap. By then Nesh’s breakdown will be posted.
An hour or so later.
Me: Nesh’s blog breakdown is AWESOME.
And indeed it was and is because I guess it lives on.
Nesh: Hey Alexis, posted the latest breakdown!! Let me know what you think.
Me: It came at EXACTLY the right moment!! Your timing is perfect.
Then after I read it, sent him a message.
Me: I am in awe- no better word to describe my emotion. I have something to tell you which I did not include in the blog. Here goes.
Then sent a 2.38 minute spoken message. Following it up with.
Me: He will just disappear from view. As I he never existed. The fate of all the ex men in my life. He did some good but evil overtook him.
He: oh my oh my.. Ahahahahaha
Here is the blog breakdown which filled me with awe.
In Islam, a child’s name is not just a label. It’s a prayer.a compass and the very first gift parents give their child.
In Islam, naming a child is more than just giving them an identity, it’s giving them a prayer, a moral compass, and a starting point for a journey of faith.
From the Aqiqah ceremony on the 7th day, where the baby’s hair is shaved, charity is given, and family gathers to celebrate, to the careful choice of names with beautiful meaning, every detail carries intention. A name isn’t just a sound..it’s a blessing, a dua, and a vision for the child’s future character.
When I asked AI about my Muslim name Alaa, I was amazed; it means Elevation, Nobility, Gratitude, and Honor. Shamir’s name, meanwhile means Strength. Sharpness, and Bravery Together? Loftiness with resilience, gratitude with determination. No wonder we laugh and call ourselves “The Dream Team”
And it doesn’t stop at names. Mothers nurture faith in the home through something as simple and powerful as bedtime stories. I even filmed myself reading one, proof that guiding the next generation can start with a story before sleep.
Subhanallah, what a gift it is is that even something as small as as a name carries so much meaning, hope and love.”
My goodness. This was the prayer from QuranFaith.com for today.
Surely ’for’ Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and woman, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often—for ‘all of’ them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. Quran 33:35
Photos of the Sunrise; A Happy, Happy, Happy GIF, Scrambled Eggs
