Day 1: A Ramadan Blog

As we’re thinking about traditions to share on this year’s blog, I thought why not start with the blog itself – now in it’s fourth year, it has certainly become a tradition in our home, with our extended family and friends, and happily, with readers around the world.  Thank you so much to all of you for reading and sharing.The initial idea grew out of a desire to find a way to make Ramadan meaningful for our kids, to help them understand the true essence of the month. We thought that by intentionally practicing the spirit of Ramadan each day – from doing good deeds, to expressing gratitude, to praying sincerely for ourselves and others – and then sharing our reflections, might be a good place to start. Keeping a daily blog would help us stay focused and mindful, invite family and friends to join in the journey, and share the spirit of the month with other Muslims and non-Muslims. That’s how “30days30deeds.com” came about.One of the most wonderful parts of the blog has been hearing from people around the world for whom the blog has some meaning – new friends who are following the blog and have been moved to contribute; families who have started similar Ramadan projects of their own; and people of different faiths who feel they have developed a better understanding of Islam and what all faiths have in common. The blog even made it to the United Nations.While it’s not always easy to write each day, or to share deeply personal duas and gratitudes, I sincerely believe that it’s the personal that helps us connect with each other, to understand one another better, to build compassion and empathy, and ultimately love. And that too is the essence of Ramadan.Day 1, Tradition 1: 30days30deeds.com