Murtada Shah

The clock struck 12, fireworks went off in ultra sub-zero temperatures, and 2009 had arrived. It felt slightly surreal, knowing that this will be 10 years since we graduated from high school. What felt more surreal, to me, was that my daughters’ 7th birthday is in two weeks.There have been many valuable lessons this year, but there is one that sticks. When Sumayyah expressed her interest in becoming an author [and Haleemah a president, after being a principal and teacher, hmm], I told her that she should pursue her dreams, work hard for her cause, and hold fast to God the whole way. The only person she can point at it herself, for failure, and God for success. And you can never fail if you try your utmost. It is better to pass away on the path to your dreams, rather than surrender your soul and live a life of apathy.

Maybe this advice is more for myself than my children. How many of us had dreams, or have dreams, yet let life get in our way? How many of us stop struggling and give up, because the burden is just too much? How many of us want to be someone, leave a positive legacy for humanity, yet get sucked into the daily rat-race, which in turn sucks the life out of us? The continuous “struggle” is the most difficult, yet most rewarding.

I never believed much in new years’ resolutions. Change does not occur overnight, but takes a lifetime or generations at times. The human soul thrives on hopes and dreams. It thrives on a long arduous journey that takes it somewhere, rather than a comfortable couch and a big-screen TV, however relaxing that may be for a day or two.

This is a time to strengthen our resolve to reach our dreams. This is a time to let that little bit of youthful light, that may be left behind mortgages and bills, shine through. Whether it was being a journalist giving voice to the weak, a lawyer echoing the concerns of the oppressed, an athlete being a role model for our youth, a businessman financing the needs of the poor, a politician taking care of his constituency, or just someone doing what’s right, it is never too late to start, and it is never right to give up.

Not just for our children, but for ourselves as well. As we get older, inevitably time is taken off our lives, and the urgency to contribute, reach our goals, becomes that much more important.

I wish everyone a very happy, fruitful and blessed 2009.