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Hands
As I often do, I scroll for hours looking at pictures of my mother in my camera roll. I don’t know if it makes me miss her more or if it provides solace but I suspect it’s a bit of both. In honing in on her hands, each and every line is etched with a Continue reading
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1963 – The beginnings of a family
It was 62 years ago today that the union that formed a family of five began. In those days, arranged marriages were the norm and my parents marriage was no different. My parents met on their wedding day. And that’s when their story began. I have heard stories about my parents’ marriage likened to a Continue reading
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The passing of the baton
It was 26 January 2023 at 17:25 that I unknowingly took the baton from my Mother in the seemingly endless relay race of life. I’ve heard people say and have read that with the passage of time, the intensity of grief reduces as one adapts with the loss. I humbly disagree. So far, it seems Continue reading
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Two years
In loss, it can feel like the clock has either stopped entirely or is rushing forward without consent. It can seem both a relentless force and an abstract concept, slipping away as emotions slow everything else to a standstill. Grief has a way of bending perception, making a single moment feel endless and yet barely Continue reading
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Noise
I have contemplated many times to write but every time I collect my thoughts, sit down and put fingers to keyboard, I give up. I keep asking myself what the point of writing is, who cares, and I question why I want to contribute to the deafening noise of opinions, blogs, vlogs, and all the Continue reading
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Connection to the Earth
Disclaimer: This post was drafted long ago and not published. After Eid, God deemed it to be the right time for me to visit my Mom, Dad and sister. It seemed like an eternity had passed since laying my mother to rest. Living far away from your loved ones is difficult when they are alive Continue reading
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The Russian Doll Boxes
My Mom’s room in my house is known as “Nano’s Room” and remains in tact the way she decorated it, filled it with her books and personal effects. In her dresser, there are 9 drawers and each one has her signature personal effect – her tin boxes. Many Baby Boomers, my generation of Gen Xers Continue reading
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The Significance of 589
It is the 10th of Ramadan and I’m doing my best to stay on track with my daily prayers, perform tasbeeh (rosary)/dhikr (remembrance of God) throughout the day, keep my thoughts focused, injest positivity in what I read, hear, and see, eat nutritious foods that will give me energy and strength, be intentional with my Continue reading
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Sunrises and sunsets
On this last day of the year, my maternal Grandfather’s tradition that my Mother carried on in her children was to bid the final sunset of the year farewell, give thanks for the blessings and lessons of the year and to say a prayer for the Almighty to bless the new year with goodness for Continue reading
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Competitive grief
Ever since the passing of my sister in December of 2018, I didn’t know grief like I do today. And after the passing of my father and mother, each loss has brought about it’s own uniqueness with compounding impact. I have suffered loss of an only grandparent (Nani), of extended family, friends and seen friends Continue reading
About Me
I’m an ordinary but deeply spiritual person. I try to be devoted to the many roles in life I have been blessed with. I love my tight circle of family and friends, laughing, traveling, photography, technology, pomegranates and cats.
Jharoka 