A few days separate us from the holy month of Ramadan.
A month of reunion, spirituality, finding peace, and searching for serenity within.
It’s the time when we plan every single day to meet distant family members, school friends who we haven’t met for a while, iftar gathering with coworkers, in short, it’s the time when we make plans to meet every single person we’ve known that we don’t see regularly.
30 days seem reasonable and feasible to make iftar and suhoor plans without missing out on any group and even take some days off, not doing anything or meeting anyone after already having done so much, right? WRONG
If there’s anything that makes our plans to be more peaceful or get together with friends seem impossible, it would be due to timing and last minute change of plans.
Who hasn’t planned a lovely iftar, catered to everyone’s dietary plan, only for some weird, unpredictable circumstance that happens and screws everything up? Sickness, emergency meeting, you name it.
All of that planning, hours spent cooking meals, setting up the lanterns and the decorations for the guest to enjoy looking at, all of that for nothing.
Here’s a hard reality check: not everything will go according to plan, and what’s meant to be will happen, so why worry about what has happened and not live in the moment?
Why not follow the “glass is still full” mindset?
Yes, we know the endless stress of wanting to have everything perfect. For the guests to enjoy their time, to be the perfect hostess, and have endless joyful moments with them, but realistically, not all the pieces fall into place.
Why worry about things we cannot control when we can focus on what we have at the moment? Here are some interesting ways to look at the situation with a fresh eye.
One Person Cancelling Isn’t The End of the World
Sure, you have planned everything to fit everyone’s schedule, but we cannot predict unforeseen events. Just because someone didn’t show up doesn’t mean that A) they don’t like you. B) that you should cancel the whole iftar plan.
Enjoy the day, even if half the people cancelled due to unfortunate circumstances, live in the moment and create memories that will last.
For those who couldn’t attend, don’t hold any grudges and plan another get-together that will be suitable for everyone.
People Already Appreciate The Effort, So Don’t Stress Yourself
It’s really difficult to cook meals, make drinks, and make sure that everything is neat while fasting and fearing that guests won’t like what you’ve done. While yes, it’s understandable that you want everything catered to everyone’s taste and to ensure their comfort; however, they are not just regular people, they are your friends, family, close people who know the amount of effort made, and appreciate your hard work and love you regardless.
Ramadan is About Reunions, Not Aesthetics
It’s the proper manner for the house to be tidy, but to go overboard and exhaust yourself with unnecessary decorations so that it can be aesthetically pleasing, not focused on coziness and comfort, is just wrong.
The guests should feel comfortable and welcomed in your home, not bombarded with over-the-top lights that can cause a seizure, or too many lanterns on the floor that can trip anyone who’s walking.
Keep it light, cozy, and comfortable.
Meal Ruined? Don’t Cook and Just Order
Even if you’re the world’s best chef, sometimes luck plays dirty tricks on you, and your meal ends up being overcooked or undercooked.
The food you spent hours cooking to perfection, only to end up being ruined, that’s fine; it happens to all of us.
Don’t stress yourself out, and just this time, order something that can be easily done, or maybe takeout to save time.
Focus on what you can save and what you can ditch, and most importantly, don’t blame yourself.
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