END of RAMADAN 2019 - Lesson Learned

I can't believe that 30 days have come and gone and I am now on the other side of Ramadan. As with most things in life, when we look into the future, it seems so far away. But when we look back in time, it seems to have gone so fast.

I learned many great lessons during this month and I am definitely a better person for the experience. I will try to summarize what I learned, but honestly, I now realize it will be impossible for anyone who has not fasted or lived in a Muslim country to understand completely. But I do hope it will encourage some of you to give it a try.

I LEARNED ABOUT COMPASSION. As I approached each evening anticipating the delicious food I would be consuming to break my fast, I was very aware of how lucky I am to have the 'luxury' of always knowing that a meal will be coming and never having to worry that there won't be one. My heart ached daily for the millions of people, especially children, around the world who live in poverty every day and who don't know when their next meal will be, or if there will even be one.

I LEARNED ABOUT GRATITUDE. On the days when I was really thirsty, I was grateful that for my entire life, I have had access to clean drinking water - another 'luxury' that shouldn't be one.

I LEARNED TO TASTE FOOD. The first bite of food every single day was pure bliss. I never knew a date could taste so delicious. I had never realized how great a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice feels as it hits the back of a dry throat. I felt a new appreciation for the wonderful aroma of spices and flavors coming together in a kitchen. I experienced wonder as I tried new foods for the first time.

I LEARNED ABOUT GENEROSITY. I was invited to so many iftar dinners, I had to turn some of them down. People were eager to host me and share the breaking of the fast. I witnessed people offering mountains of food and encouraging me to eat more and take home leftovers.

I LEARNED ABOUT ENCOURAGEMENT. Every single day, I received messages and words of support from my colleagues, students, friends and family. Advice and suggestions were endlessly forthcoming and congratulations were plentiful.

I LEARNED ABOUT ATTITUDE. Although my initial response to the idea of Ramadan had been "I can't", it changed. From the first day it transformed into "I can", "I want to", and "I will". I was simply amazed at how easy it was once I made the decision.

I LEARNED ABOUT RESILIENCE. The human body is simply amazing. It is able to adapt and overcome seemingly impossible situations. I discovered that I could go 22 hours without eating and be completely fine. I learned that I could work, exercise, read, write, dance, teach, and laugh hysterically, all on a completely empty stomach.

I LEARNED ABOUT SCIENCE. When I visited my favorite research website, National Center for Biotechnology Information and typed the words "intermittent fasting" into the search engine, there were 185,004 results on 9251 pages. I read about 50 of these studies and that was enough to convince me that fasting is an exceptionally good idea for long term health and longevity.

NCBI Database - Search results for "Intermittent Fasting"

I LEARNED ABOUT CHANGE. Returning to my old way of eating doesn't seem possible now. I will continue with intermittent fasting and make it part of my new lifestyle. I will move my 'eating zone' to earlier in the day - between approximately 2pm and 6pm and fast for the remaining 20 hours - which is more manageable for me. In so doing, I will continue to benefit from the numerous health advantages of this way of living and eating.

I LEARNED ABOUT LOVE. Never in my life have I felt the love of a community like I do here in Morocco. I have developed more beautiful friendships in the last 8 months than I did in the entire 25 years I lived in Vancouver. Ramadan took that feeling of love, welcoming, and acceptance to a whole new level. I am truly blessed.

I want to sincerely thank all of the people who have encouraged me in this challenge. There are too many to mention, but I hope you know who you are.

“May Allah bless you and us all with his peace and blessings"