Struggling to Stay Connected
"I Believe In You" - Mental Health
There was a period of time in my life when I was not feeling the best, there was a lot going on in my life, a lot of difficulties happening all at once. One day, my husband gave me a book titled “I Believe In You”. It contained a lot of inspirational quotes. For me at the time it meant a lot to me that he went out of his way to give me this book, to try and uplift me. Even though I was extremely hopeless, this book made me realize that it is always worth seeking the light even when life is dark.
Funeral Day - Loss & Grief
One of the most important days in my life was the day my husband passed away. Although death is something inevitable and everyone knows it will happen one day; no one’s ready to hear such news. I remember every moment of this day, the sky, how crowded the funeral was; around 300 people attended who were all from different cultures. As much as I was trying to take it day by day, it was really hard and sometimes the waves of grief were so strong I felt like I was being swept away. I did not want to see or talk to anyone. I had to disconnect from everyone, even my kids tried their best to cheer me up by telling me “look dad is in heaven.”
Hobbies (Health Decline)
Gardening has been a hobby of mine since I was a child. My childhood in Pakistan consisted of gardening and taking care of plants. I remember how I would water all the plants and veggies my mother was growing. Due to my health problems, I am no longer able to do any kind of gardening even though I love nature and I like plants. This year I can’t do that, because of my knees, I cannot do anything. My son now has a love for gardening and he takes care of all the plants in the front yard.
Phone Calls (Distance)
Living in a country where extended family is not around can be hard and detrimental to one’s health. When troubles come in life and you want to communicate this to those closest to you, it can be difficult to share your troubles, especially if they live many continents away. I spend a lot of time talking on the phone, speaking to relatives in Pakistan, talking to them and this is my way of connecting with people who I love dearly that live far away. The phone is my form of social communication.