Do you remember your days and moments in 2021 or did they go by in a blur? We are living in a time where the pandemic is now endemic, and we are struggling to keep up with the implications of this shift. What does it mean for our well-being, our relationships, our connection with our faith?

As we reflect on the year that’s about to pass, we dive within and into the past while finding a semblance of normalcy to hold onto in an unsettling time. We find ways to cope with the many changes that seem to arise outside of our control. How do we reconcile between what Allah has decreed and the choices that we’ve made in the past year that led us here?

For many, it may be a time to where we are forced to reprioritise what is truly important to us. Perhaps that comes in the form of rest: physical rest to regulate the body’s functionality, mental rest by scheduling pockets of time off to unwind, sensory rest from the weariness of overstimulation, or even social rest to create a more meaningful relationship with yourself and God.

This December and January, we will go on a journey of reflection and introspection to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re going; to extend kindness to ourselves for the struggles we’ve faced; to remap our path and reaffirm our intentions for the coming year. Our theme on Reflections will cover the creative ways in which artists find faith in their creations, how we can deal with heavy emotions like grief, how we can empower our children in these troubled times, and above all, how we can find Allah’s grace in every moment by reflecting on His immense blessings.

Nobody said it would be easy. But perhaps the solid ground that we seek in the turbulent world filled with COVID anxiety does not come from having a solid grip on dunya but letting go and letting God guide you to an understanding that He is in control, and He knows best.