My Dear Maya, my sweet, my jaan, my biggest blessing, my reflection of myself in many ways,
You’re our life loving, party craving, dancing, singing, full of energy three year old.
You’re our life, our love, our happiness. You’re the result of our prayers to Allah for a beautiful, strong, healthy, happy daughter.
As you sleep awaiting your day of fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth today, I am up penning my letter to you. You see, dear, this isn’t my first letter to you. Mama writes to you occasionally but this letter, this open letter is one we are sharing with thousands of mothers on International Women’s Day. When you grow up, I hope the idea of celebrating women separately from men once day a year is foreign to your world.
I hope your world is one of true equality between men and women financially, emotionally, spiritually, domestically and socially. I pray you don’t have to deal with job inequality, sexism, prejudice, discrimination by anyone.
I pray your voice is loud enough to stand up for what is right and make change where needed
I pray your vision is sharp enough to read between the lines
I pray you love yourself unconditionally. You’re you because that’s you. Allah made you this way. Love yourself so you can learn to love others.
I pray you give yourself a break when needed.
I pray you have endless support next to you and on the sidelines.
I pray you are someone else’s unconditional support.
I pray you learn to just let it go…then get up and dance! A good dance party lifts the spirits, gets you going and remember…no one’s watching!
Life naturally has ups and downs. I pray you learn to pick yourself up when you fall down.
Everyone makes mistakes. We are human. Learn from them, rectify things and move on.
Others opinions of you are theirs, like yours of others are yours. Do not dwell on these opinions. You do you. Your supporters are cheering you on.
Don’t settle for the well beaten road. Tread your own path if needed.
May you have faith in Allah. He loves you and will never leave your side.
Khush raho, Salamat raho. In the words of your great grandmother, “Tu rajji reh, tu rakh rakh pullein”, Ameen, Sum Ameen.
And in the words of Lee Ann Womack…
Lee Ann Womack
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’
Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance