Something before iftar...

I was walking from AIESEC office to find something to eat yesterday. It was almost iftar (time to break the fast; to eat and drink again). The temperature was slipping down as the wind kinda pushed my body back a little. But yet I felt very grateful when I saw the sky changing hues to golden and red so beautifully behind the foggy mountains. So I thought I will just walk and think of what did I do today, what have I learned, or just look around and then end my fasting while watching the view.

On the way, I suddenly stopped for a few seconds, and then decided to go a few meters back, took my camera out, and take a picture of the place I was passing by, and some leaves in the shrubs that made me stopped and think.

In autumn, the nature has one colourful farewell before the winter comes. As days shorten and temperatures slowly going down, trees and shrubs start changing their leaves to different colours, until they finally fall back to the earth. When I took the pictures yesterday, some of the leaves are still green, some are red, yellow, and some had already fallen. But these falling leaves does not mean that the trees are dying. It's just what they need to do to prepare and survive the freezing temperatures and other harsh influences from the upcoming winter. And some parts of the tree like stems, twigs, and buds, are actually equipped to survive the winter, so they will be ready to start another season when spring comes....and grow to be a bigger tree.

It's been 2 weeks since Ramadhan started. The main thing that differentiate whether I've been "treating" the month in the right way or not is what will happen with me after Ramadhan. Will I be a better person or not?
I've been trying to improve my self, leave all the negative aspects that I know I have, and also the ones that I don't know I have by the help other people around me.

Like autumn for the trees, Ramadhan brings more colours in my life, yet as well prepares me to survive the winter, which is my life after Ramadhan. It helps me to find which are the things that I can use to survive and keep growing in my life, and as well the things that I don't need to use and just leave behind.

These 14 days has been a blessed for me. So many good things and challenges. I hope the goods will make me more grateful to god for what I have by giving more to others, and the bads will will make me even stronger and keep improving my self.

with smile,
ali