The Ocean of My Being

Listening to the celebratory noise around me- guns, firecrackers, fireworks, shouting and what have you, I can't help but feel sad. The end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan has come. While the Eid'l Fitr is one of the two biggest and most important days that are celebrated in the Islamic world and every Muslim family the world over is happy and excited, there is still that feeling of sadness as we say goodbye to another Ramadhan . Along with all our prayers for peace, for our loved-ones, for our family and friends, for the world, for humanity, and for ourselves, we also vehemently pray that we'd still be around when the next Ramadhan comes. After all, no one can really tell. There is, of course, the thankfulness and gratefulness to God for giving us the Month of Mercy and Blessings . There is the hope that all our sacrifices and good deeds would be accepted by the One for whose service and praise we are doing everything. Usrah (Islamic Discussion), Photo #1 Ramadhan

How important is reading in my life? Very. Very important. Reading has not only made me the person that I am or always provided me information I need. Reading has saved me not just once, but so many times in so many ways. Reading is like breathing to me. I cannot live without books. I cannot let a day pass without reading. Reading is as important to me as the sun is to plants and the soul is to the body. So, yes, reading is very important to me. It is my key to survival! I think I have written about reading and my affair with books a number of times on this blog. I grew up with books around me. My parents both love reading and they've influenced me a great deal to be the kind of reader that I am. Ever since I was a child, reading has always been a huge part of my life, something that has always been automatic in my system. Happy, sad, lonely, excited, angry, confused, lost, problematic, grateful... whatever my state of mind or emotional state is, I read, read and read. Reading has