Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Growing up is such a challenge. SubhanAllah. We have to cut teeth, bump our heads, scrape our knees, fall out of trees, lose teeth, break bones, deal with acne, change schools, lose friends, “fit in”, stand out… Allahul Musta’an… And then starts the real trying part… being yourself.
In Allah’s Wisdom, He has placed all these events in our lives purposefully and at the most perfect junctures, when we are ready for them. We might not have the ability to deal with new challenges straight away, but when we are ready to learn how, they present themselves, disguised mostly as difficulties. In dealing with them, we develop new skills, sharpen our senses and broaden our horizons. Alhamdulillah.
I’d like to pay particular attention to the challenges that come with “being yourself”, a challenge that not only adolescents, but also grown men and women grapple with. Why is it so difficult for us to live our truth? Why is it so important to us to look good in the eyes of our peers and critics? Don’t we understand that our true value lies in preserving our natural state? Don’t we “get” that the only time we will be at ease and at peace with ourselves is once we are being who we really are? The
answer, I am afraid, is that even as we get older, a huge part of our lives are spent trying to make “the people” feel happy and comfortable.