Embrace the present
Halim Flowers was arrested at 16 and sentenced as an adult to two life sentences. In March 2019, he was released after serving 22 years. He is a poet, a rapper, an artist, an author of 11 books, a publisher, a Georgetown University student, and a Halcyon and Echoing Green fellow. Waking up in prison every day for 22 years, which is a lot of days, it wasn’t until I learned the principles of mindfulness and being present that I understood that I’m in a space that I don’t want to be, but I need to embrace that it’s the best place for me at this moment. That all things in life are transitory. Me being inside this space, this too shall pass, even though I have a life sentence.The greatest lesson for me in this quarantine and this global lockdown is a reminder to embrace the present moment, to understand that as a human being my wisdom and knowledge is finite. The Creator, who created all things, His will is so beautifully illustrated through nature, and that is ultimately the will that will win. Nature is a reflection of the Creator’s will, and nothing can go against nature. When we embrace unnatural behaviors, nature corrects us, it rebalances us, even if it has to force us.I’m just so grateful to be able to submit willingly to what is. It’s ok. This too shall pass. Nothing stays the same forever. We need the humility and open mindedness to accept that and embrace it, even when it’s uncomfortable. The one who will be successful in life - success in terms of being joyful, generous, sincere, loving - is the one who understands and embraces that the world will not always look like what we desire it to be. We have to trust that when it isn’t, that it’s for the greater good, even when we can’t understand it. That’s patience. And patience and gratitude are the keys to success.We’re in quarantine, but I have a smartphone, internet, wifi, printer, scanner; I have paintbrushes, paints, canvasses; I have streaming services, zoom, facetime, social media. You have none of that inside of a cell; the only way you can communicate to your loved ones is through handwriting letters. So for me just to get on the phone and talk to someone, I’m so grateful for that. To not have to live in the same room with my toilet, I’m extremely grateful for what I have. Because I’ve lived so long without. I am firmly rooted in gratitude and love. Gratitude is the ultimate expression of love.I’m very thankful for my life. I’m very grateful for my freedom. I went to prison as a child and was given two life sentences, and through the grace and mercy of Allah I was given an opportunity to be liberated with my sanity and my humanity still intact. I’m grateful that I have a second chance to operate in this world from a place of love and gratitude. I’m just grateful for that. To read all '30 reflections for our times', please follow the Facebook page '30 days 30 deeds', Instagram @salmahasanali, or subscribe to the newsletter at www.salmahasanali.com.