It is July 16th – I turn 50 today. Something else happened 50 years ago. The Apollo 11 launch – also known as the Moon Landing. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t believe in coincidences. There is meaning in the smallest of things. I call it synchronicity. Around 1:15 PM EST on July 16, 1969 the spacecraft, carrying 3 American astronauts, had separated from the Saturn V rocket and escaped the familiar bounds of earth’s gravity towards the lunar orbit. Around that time, I too was escaping the safety of my mother’s womb towards the unknown frontiers of my new world.
I stand at a crossroads today. For 50 years I have been bound by my fears, shame, guilt, and doubts about my own self-worth. I have lived within the familiar space of ‘normality’. But I am feeling strong labor pangs as if it is time for me to be re-born. It is time to leave the safety of my familiar, conventional space.
I feel an immense push to escape these bounds towards the next frontier of my life. To work on my mission – To help create a world with less hatred, more understanding and tolerance. A world with less pain, more peace. To serve as a bridge between people so we can come closer. So we can learn from each other and better understand each other.
For the past few years, I have been working on myself. It has been a painful process of self-evaluation, breaking of old habits, clearing old blocks, self-defeating views, suppressing the ego. Sometimes it takes a long time, even 50 years to prepare for a mission. It took years to plan for the Apollo mission.
Self-improvement and self-development work isn’t easy either. It takes many years of grueling emotional work. I too, had failed attempts but I learned from them, took my losses and got back into the game. Each failure turned into a lesson and made me smarter, more resilient. My confidence grew and I decided to take bolder steps. Each one is a small step towards a much bigger dream. I don’t know if I will be successful but there is a voice inside that keeps challenging me, “Have you ever failed”. I know the answer to that question very well! I will learn to crawl, walk, run, talk just like I did 50 years ago. I am fueled by my mission.
It all starts here. With Me.
All engines running. Liftoff. We have a liftoff!
Love your spirit, your enduring resilience, and your sense of adventure. I am so proud to call you my dear friend, and can only hope to follow your path. It’s not for lack of inspiration, for sure ❤️
Happy birthday, darling!
Thank you my dear friend. You exemplify courage for me. I hope that we all can make a difference with everything we do.
I love this first post, I feel peace with the image at the top, and I am happy to see that you have joined us in the amazing 50+ club (a very small “+” in your case!). All of the things that you have experienced in life has made you into the person I know and appreciate today, and today I honor you on your birthday and thank you for always being kind to me when we see each other.
As I am much further down the path on the shady side of 50, I was recently reflecting at another friend’s 50th party that just happened last weekend. The day was an amazing party down at the beach, and my friend was flanked by many of her family and close friends. Her joy was overflowing, and her heartfelt speech made it clear that the sum of her successes in life were not made up of a scorecard of physical items, but rather the group of people in her life that love her.
It was so clear and so beautiful, and I am hoping you are feeling the same love and support on this great day in your journey!
Enjoy!
Mike
Thank you Mike. I appreciate your kind and inspiring words.
You are an inspiration Shehla . I know you must have heard this many times, but I
hope that every time you here this , please stop for a minute and do give yourself a pat on the shoulder when people say , YOU my friend are truly an inspiration. By God , you are . Love . Sahar .
Thank you my dear sister. I appreciate your kindness. I pray that God guides me on this path and helps me in achieving my mission. Ameen
You are one of the strongest women I know and I know you will be successful in whatever you choose to achieve inshaAllah. ❤️
Thank you my dear friend. You inspire me. I appreciate your kindness.
Happy Birthday Shehla!! Celebrate your big day in style. I still remember our friendship at Mama Parsi School. One thing is for sure that we all have grown up to be independent, caring ladies who are doing our part to make this world a better place one small kind action or gesture at a time. I know it takes courage to face our own shortcomings and tranform them into our strengths by being broken open and allowing others to be inspired through our vulnerabilities so that they too can take a positive step in becoming a more empowerd human being. If each of us changed ourselves for the better imagine what impact we could all have collectively. If you are in US reach out to me:)
Thank you Sharmeen. I too have such fond memories from our childhood. I really appreciate and agree with your kind words of encouragement.