I do think there is a connection, but it's hard for me to put into words. I can't say that someone who is more spiritual will be healthier. I consider myself to be spiritual but I have many health issues.
I do know that my spirituality helps me to deal with whatever comes my way, in terms of health or anything else. And maybe it does make me stronger than I otherwise would have been. I know that I was very sick this summer and, according to those who love me the most, I was near death. (I wasn't aware of much of anything for a few days so I'll have to take their word on that.) I know that many people, throughout the world, were praying for me. And I know that I have recovered much more quickly than my doctor, or anyone else, expected. There is definitely a connection.
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In the physical sense I am not a member of any community. This isn't by choice. I'm very sensitive (you could say allergic) to perfumes, colognes, and fragrances in general (actually, the chemicals in the fragrances) and the mounting prevalence of these has forced me into isolation.
This is why the internet is so important to me. It is my connection to the outside world, along with my family. In the virtual world I am a member of many different communities. Communities for writers, communities for Muslims, communities for mothers. . .and, of course, communities like Gaia.
Community is an important aspect of the human experience. I'm very thankful that the internet helps me maintain my connections in spite of my limitations.
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I was taught, as a little girl, that God could see everything I did. That is something I still believe. It gives me comfort, not fear. I pray formal prayers five times a day but I also pray to God throughout my day. The Qur'an says that our Creator is as near as our jugular vein. I depend on that.
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Making choices and decisions, even if they're wrong. Being myself with family and friends, without lies or pretense. Pursuing activities that fulfill me. Having enough physical space for myself and my stuff and enough emotional space for all my various feelings. Working when I need to and relaxing when I can. Living without unnecessary constraints on myself or my time. Oh, and taking a nice long shower as hot as I can stand it.
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When I write. No one can judge me because my mistakes are not visible to anyone except me. Without going into specifics, I have made a few glaring errors in my first drafts, some that would embarrass me terribly if people knew. But they don't and they never will. First drafts are practice sessions. I put the story into words and it's there, alive and real. Once it exists I can do whatever I want to make it more interesting, more presentable, more vibrant. And by the time someone does read my story, it is ripe and ready for public consumption.
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Posted on Oct 31st, 2009
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Jamilah
Being an intellectual, and being perceived as intelligent, has been important to me all my life. The worst insult is when someone treats me as if I know nothing. (This happens sometimes, especially since I'm a Muslim woman who covers her head.) This is a natural role for me. I don't lie awake at night thinking about what "big words" I can use or how I can show off my knowledge. I love books and I love reading them and I love learning. Knowing is a natural byproduct.
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Posted on Oct 30th, 2009
by Jamilah
I've read this question at least three times throughout the day, and the only answer that comes to mind is a museum of books. We already have libraries so my museum would have to be different. It could include rare books, an exhibit on the history of books, and an exhibit on famous authors. I would also want to have an interactive exhibit on writing, with different levels for different skills.
And in the front of my museum? A giant book, of course.
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Posted on Oct 28th, 2009
by Jamilah
When I woke up this morning my mood was sunny, with perhaps a few light fluffy clouds. But I'm becoming increasingly overcast, matching the gray skies outside my window. Tomorrow they say the sun will be out, with warmer temperatures, and I expect my mood will brighten.
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Posted on Oct 26th, 2009
by Jamilah
Words have always shaped my world, from my earliest memories. Language, the grammar and nuances, fascinates me. I love to play with the words and the sounds, rearranging them for the greatest effect. And when I write words and phrases and sentences, weaving them into stories, I am carried away, far away, on the wings of my imagination.
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November 2009 
