Don’t cancel yourself on account of a bad day

One day in April of 2016, I walked into a local supermarket, Danjam, if you know it. And as I walked through the stationary aisle, as I always do, I found this remarkable journal. Leather bound, brown and black, just the right size and it had a bookmark. It was a dream. so i got two. Because, you must never buy a single journal — Journals are meant to be bought in twos.

I gifted one to my Khadijah and kept one for myself.

This journal is unlike other journals I own.

In this journal, I have documented some of my most vulnerable thoughts. experiences. learnings. And every time I get a chance to read some of my old entries — I am reminded of the hard fact, I am a woman of many blunders. Pay attention.

Your life, our lives are a culmination of mistakes, those we learn from and those we make labels of. And no matter how far in life you go, you will have moments of slips, stumble and falls. You will make mistakes, foolish ones. worthy ones. costly ones. even repetitive ones.

And yet, a bad day (even many bad days) does/do not make you a bad person. And once you make this distinction, redefine that chasm between doing bad and being bad, you find an easier path to Allah’s forgiveness, to doing better, and consequently, being better.

It started with the story of a journal that has witnessed my evolution. And now we conclude with this:

Feel Remorse.

Seek Forgiveness.

Do more good to make up for your misdeeds.

And NEVER cancel yourself on account of a bad day.