By Humaira
Are you finding it hard to see the silver lining in our current situation with the outbreak of Coronavirus, social distancing and shelter in place? I struggle with it every day.
My kids (17 & 20-year-old) are doing online classes while facing cabin fever. My husband is working in his office and running most outside errands since I’m immune-compromised with asthma. I’m trying to manage the chaos of feeding four people three times a day while working on my own projects and consulting on a TV show. The house looks endlessly cluttered and washing towels several times a week due to Coronavirus precautions is getting old.
To stay sane I’ve been meditating with Tara Brach in the morning, doing an online yoga or workout class midday and searching for uplifting articles to share on my Afghan Culture Unveiled Facebook page to bring some levity in all of our lives. I feel at times like this the poor, uneducated and dislocated populations are hit the worst and it’s important that we have humility, compassion, and generosity in our hearts so we can reach beyond our daily troubles to help others whether it be with words, phone calls or funds. And in order to find humility, compassion, and generosity we have to stay grounded, we have to look with-in for strength and we have to look for stories of hope and share it widely.
In my small way, I hope to bring a little joy to your day by sharing these beautiful Rumi poems and three uplifting articles about Afghanistan that are inspiring to me. If you want to see more of these types of articles and the inspirational Rumi poems, LIKE my Afghan Culture Unveiled Facebook page, and you’ll receive daily posts, articles, and poems.
Waiving Rent and Making Masks, Afghans Meet Coronavirus With Kindness, in an article in the NY Times about Afghanistan, a country where there have been decades of fighting and unrest, the pandemic has provoked a shared sense of responsibility and spontaneous acts of generosity.
In this New York Times article, From Victims to Superwomen: Honoring Female Strength in Afghanistan Afghans celebrate the achievements of ancient and modern women from Afghanistan.
Al Jazeera showcases a short film in this article, Where the Light Shines: The Birth of Skiing in Afghanistan. about two young Afghan skiers who hope to qualify for the Winter Olympics as they dream of a brighter future for Afghanistan.
Please share your favorite stories or articles in the comment section of this post. I also want to know how you and your family are faring during this difficult time. I welcome your thoughts and encourage your feedback. Wishing you and your family health.
