All in the Family

In 2012, when the theme was '30 Gratitudes', I wrote about my 'great big American-Pakistani family'. It was the hardest year of my life, and the only way I got through was with their tight embrace which kept me from falling. The post is in the book and I share it below - and I had a chance to read it to 50+ members of my family who joined a pre-launch Zoom family book reading, with my gratitude.

"This year has been the most difficult I’ve faced. Between parents’ illness and surgery, death in our extended family, and some things I don’t have the courage to write about yet, I was put to God’s test. Some days I’m not sure if I passed. But I’m standing, held together by faith, family, and hope.

Without the deep embrace of my family in all its layers, there’s no way I could have gotten through. They formed such tight concentric circles around me, falling was out of the question. Each offered what they instinctively knew could help—unflinching shoulders to lean on, cry on; phone calls and emails of support; prayers in overdrive and hugs in abundance; and all the practical things from cooking to babysitting that make getting through trying times a little easier.

Hard times are a fact of life. Getting through them is an act of faith. Having family like mine is a pact of love.

Pc: Aeysha Chaudhry, 2016

Book info/purchase: https://www.salmahasanali.com/shop