by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
The Bahá’Ă Writings tell us:
Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements. (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 213)
One of the most critical needs of this age is the environment, especially climate change and global warming. One practical way we can participate is to turn off our lights for one hour, in support of Earth Hour, taking place on Saturday March 28, 2009, from 8:30-9:30 pm (local time).
According to the official website at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo we learn:
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.
Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.
In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.
We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.
VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.
Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.
To watch a video on Earth Hour, click here:
How will you spend your hour in the dark? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
Gratitude is often a difficult concept to understand and put into practice. Remember how your parents used to tell you not to waste food because there were starving kids in the world? That was an elementary attempt at teaching gratitude because the goal was to make you think about how fortunate you were to have food on your plate.
Once children get older and start to understand the concept of gratitude, they’re usually bombarded with commercials and marketing ploys for all the latest, coolest gadgets. The problem is that all this hype and marketing undermines parents’ desire to teach their children to be happy with what they already have. And jealousy is especially difficult to battle when children have friends who get whatever they desire.
But if love and gratitude is only expressed through worldly things, there is no depth or deeper meaning since things break down, get old, and stop working at some point.
What Is Gratitude?
If you look in the dictionary you’ll find the definition of gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness; basically, being happy with what you have in life. Sit and think about all that you have – your home, family, health, food, car, and faith – and then consider those people who don’t have any of those things. It’s very humbling to realize that there are so many joys we take for granted in our life!
Every Thanksgiving families sit around the dinner table and share what they’re thankful for but this practice shouldn’t be reserved for just one time a year. Giving regular thanks will help everyone in your family appreciate each other and all they have.
· Share your gratitude with your family every night during a family dinner. Say thanks to the cook, thanks to the cleaner, and thanks for everyone gathered around the table.
· Encourage older kids to really think about the little things that happened during the day to find their gratitude.
· Enjoy the quiet time together and use the sharing opportunity to open discussions about ways your family can work together as a loving team.
Showing Gratitude Without Envy
Both children and adults are guilty of being envious of other people’s possessions or success at one time or another. It’s human nature, especially since we see what others have and desire it for ourselves. But the Bahai Writings tell us how dangerous this is:
“At the same time those who show forth envies, jealousies, etc., toward a servant, are depriving themselves of their own stations, and not another of his, for they prove by their own acts that they are not only unworthy of being called to any station waiting them, but also prove that they cannot withstand the very first test - that of rejoicing over the success of their neighbour, at which God rejoices . . . Envy closes the door of Bounty, and jealousy prevents one from ever attaining to the Kingdom of Abhá.” (’Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 6, No. 6, p. 44.)
If you’re ready to eliminate that jealousy and show genuine gratitude, here are a few reminders for you:
“To thank Him . . . make ye a mighty effort, and choose for yourselves a noble goal. Through the power of faith, obey ye the teachings of God, and let all your actions conform to His laws.” (’Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 35-36.)
1. Gratitude can be expressed by doing big and small things. You don’t have to make a huge monetary contribution to express your appreciation. Simple things, such as writing a thank you note, are just as effective in showing your gratitude for life.
2. Gratitude must be practiced regularly, even during difficult times. By doing something small but meaningful each day to show your gratitude, you’re forming an important habit which will last for your lifetime.
“If we should offer a hundred thousand thanksgivings every moment to the threshold of God . . . we would fail to express our gratitude sufficiently.” (’Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 37).
3. Gratitude is not all about money. Making charitable contributions is wonderful but if you don’t have the money to do that, volunteer your time at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or other charity that touches your heart. Your time is just as valuable as money!
Teaching Kids a Life Lesson
Young children generally have a difficult time thinking of the big world around them. Their worlds are often centered on themselves, their family, school, and activities. They barely have a concept of another town or state, never mind starving kids in a foreign country.
By engaging in activities as a family, you can show your children the struggles other people face and how their own problems or desires fit into the big picture. Seeing the children who don’t normally get Christmas gifts will help them appreciate their own possessions more. Listening to the stories of the people at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day will help them learn compassion for others.
It may not be an instantaneous change, but eventually your kids will be more concerned about people, instead of things. Things can be replaced, but people are priceless. After all, without the sacrifices of our parents and the gift of positive relationships, there would be no one to share our things with!
Keep Dreaming Big
Gratitude plays an important role in your own personal growth journey but expressing your gratitude doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams. If you want to reach a certain career level, go for it. Want a bigger house, save up. If your child wants the newest electronic toy, let him start learning the value of money. In doing so, you will begin to appreciate your life journey a whole lot more.
Gratitude helps you see the true joys in everything – big or small. Just remember that every gift in your life should be a pleasant surprise rather than a desperate or jealous desire. We can repeat this mantra from the Bahá’Ă Writings:
“O Lord, increase my astonishment at Thee!” (Bahá’u'lláh, Seven Valleys, p. 34)
Are you having trouble with gratitude? Book a 30 minute session with a life coach! Email me at susan@susangammage.com
How do you express your gratitude? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
The members of the Bahá’Ă Faith celebrate their New Year (called “Naw Ruz”) today, March 21, but did you know that it’s the only holiday celebrated by more than one religious group?
Some people claim that Naw-Ruz dates as far back as 15,000 years — before the last ice age, while others claim that it was founded by Zoroaster. Today, the festival is celebrated in many countries that were territories of, or influenced by, the Persian Empire: Iran, Kurdistan, parts of the Middle East, as well as in the former Soviet republics of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is also celebrated by Persians living in Pakistan, Zanzibar, Turkey, Iraq, Albania, northwestern China and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In Afghanistan during the reign of the Taliban, Naw Ruz was banned until 2001 where it came back as popular as it was before the Taliban. It is also a holy day for Ismailis, Alawites, and Alevis (branches of the Shiite Moslem religion). The Jewish festival of Purim is probably adopted from the Persian New Year. Naw-Ruz is celebrated rather like the Christian Easter, with many symbols indicating spring and renewal.
Persians believe that Naw Ruz marks the first day when the universe started its motion. Moslems believe it’s a day in which many events of great religious significance took place. Among them God’s first covenant with mankind, the first rising of the sun, the grounding of Noah’s ark on Ararat, Gabriel’s first appearance to Muhammad, the destruction of the idols in the holy Sanctuary at Mecca, Muhammad’s appointment of `Ali as His successor, the appearance of the Qa’im, and the final triumph of the Qa’im over the Antichrist. Such traditions echoed similar accounts of Naw-Ruz found in Zoroastrian literature. In the northern hemisphere Naw-RĂşz marks the coming of spring.
In the Bahá’Ă Faith, the Báb called the first day of his new calendar “the Day of God”. The remaining eighteen days of the first month were associated with the eighteen Letters of the Living, hence the Báb’s apostles imagined a celebration that would last nineteen days.
Bahá’u'lláh, adopted the new calendar proposed by the Báb, and the use of Naw-RĂşz as a festival for those who observed the fast. Naw-RĂşz is one of nine Bahá’Ă holy days where work is to be suspended (the only one that is not is not associated with an event in the lives of either the Báb or Bahá’u'lláh).
If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look? This is the time for growing; the season for joyous gathering! Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abha; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy! (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 351)
As with all Bahá’Ă holy days, there are few fixed rules for observing Naw-RĂşz. Bahá’Ăs all over the world celebrate it according to local custom.
During the time of the Báb, throughout the night of Naw-Ruz each believer was to recite 361 times the verse: “God beareth witness that there is no God but Him, the Ineffable, the Self-Subsistent”, and during the day: “God beareth witness that there is no God but Him, the Precious, the Beloved”.
Persians start preparing for Naw Ruz with a major spring-cleaning of their houses, the purchase of new clothes and flowers (hyacinths and the tulips are popular). They believe that whatever a person does on Naw Ruz will affect the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors on that day, then the new year will be a good one. On the other hand, if there are fights and disagreements, the year will be a bad one.
The most joyful time for a Naw-Ruz celebration is at sunset on the last day of the Fast. It seems almost directed by Baha’u'llah that it should be this way:
O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Ruz as a feast. (Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 24)
`Abdu’l-Bahá, explained the significance of Naw-RĂşz in terms of spring and the new life it brings. As the fast ended, he said, they could turn a new page in their lives, inspired to right action and spiritual excellence.
Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb. The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the winter time is over. The new year hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like the angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver. (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 351)
Here’s a part of the Naw Ruz tablet, which we can say today:
Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-RĂşz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee. (Bahá’u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations, p. 67)
What’s your favorite Naw Ruz memory? Post your comment here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
I found this excerpt from a talk given I believe by Roger Nixon a number of years ago, and thought you’d enjoy it.
The last month of the Baha’i year is the month of fasting, when Bahá’Ăs abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Many people ask why we fast and assume it is for health reasons, or in order to loose weight. Although fasting is, of course, beneficial to one’s health, the Bahá’à Fast is observed because it is a law prescribed for our spiritual development. Periods of fasting have been observed by people of different religions throughout the ages, and the Bahá’à Fast is a continuation of that tradition. The main purpose of a religious fast is to commemorate the “Act of Revelation”, the Act of God’s communion with His Holy Messengers, when He inspires Them with His laws and teachings.
We know that Moses did not eat or drink while He was on Mount Sinai to receive the commandments for the Jewish people; Buddha fasted for extended periods during the times of His “Enlightenment”; Jesus withdrew to Mount Tabor in the Holy Land, where He prayed and fasted for 40 days; and the Muslim Fast during the month of Ramadan commemorates the Revelation of the Holy Qu’ran by the Prophet Muhammad.
In this age we have the example of Bahá’u'lláh, Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Who revealed over 100 volumes of Holy Writings during the 40 years of His Ministry. Whenever a new Revelation from God descended upon Him, He, too, fasted. The Words of God came to Him like torrents of spring rain, and His secretaries had to develop a special style of shorthand, called “Revelation writing”, in order to record them.
When fasting, we are somehow linked to this divine process, as we not only commemorate the priceless gift of a new Revelation from God, but also meditate on the revealed Word of God, often called “the Bread of Life”. One can say that we are feasting on the Bread of Life during the Fast! Naw Ruz has been ordained as a Feast to follow the Fast and — happily — includes food and drink to keep body and soul together!
Here’s a prayer of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recently translated at the Baha’i World Centre:
O Divine Providence! As I am abstaining from bodily desires and not occupied with eating and drinking, even so purify and sanctify my heart from the love of anyone save Thyself, and shield and protect my soul from corrupt desires and satanic qualities so that my spirit may commune with the breaths of holiness, and fast from the mention of all else besides Thee.
What’s your experience with the fast? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
The need to make a budget came up in one of my life coaching sessions this week. We were talking about the Bahá’Ă teachings on how to educate the girl children, in which the concept of household management emerged. Her husband had always managed the family’s budget and she wanted to take over this responsibility. So this blog posting is written for her!
Using a budget is one of the best ways for you to determine where you stand financially so you can plan for future expenses. A budget can help you live within your means, get out of debt, and have money available for a new car, vacation, or education.
Planning and using a budget doesn’t have to be complicated. Plus, once you’ve put your budget into place, it makes spending decisions a snap.
Here’s how to plan your budget, step-by-step:
1. Set goals. Before you begin to plan, it’s important to know what your financial goals are.
· Do you want to pay off your debts?
· Do you want to save for a new home?
· Have you always wanted to travel overseas?
· Are you thinking about your children’s educational future?
Write down your family’s financial goals and post them where everyone can see them. This will help you all remain focused on reaching your goals rather than giving in to temptations to buy things you don’t need.
2. Determine income. Figure out how much money you currently have coming into your home. It’s hard to establish a budget if you don’t know how much money you have at your disposal. This would include:
- Employment income for each family member contributing to the budget
- Interest earned from money markets, savings accounts, or investments
- Inheritances
- Any other form of income
3. Figure out your expenses. Write down your family’s expenses. Listing each bill will help you determine how much money you need to earn each month to reach your financial goals.
· List every bill your family has regardless of how often it’s paid.
· Group expenses together (insurances, credit cards, etc.) to make them easier to calculate.
· Include cash for each day, such as money for gas, lunches, tolls or parking.
4. Include savings. Remember to pay yourself! Instead of waiting to determine what money is left after paying the monthly bills, include your savings account as a bill and pay it just as you would any other expense.
5. Subtract expenses from income. Add together all income sources and then add together all expenses. Subtract the expenses from the income, and this will tell you what financial shape your family is in.
6. If your income is greater than your expenses… If you have money left after paying the bills, you may choose to do one of the following:
- Put additional money in savings.
- Invest the money with the help of a financial planner.
- Pay off credit cards or other monthly credit accounts so you can get out of debt.
7. If your expenses are greater than your income… If your expenses are more than your income, you have some decisions to make. They may not be pleasant, but if you want to get out of the avalanche of debt, changes are necessary.
Here are some changes you may want to make:
- If your home is too large for your family, you may want to downsize into a home with cheaper payments.
- Do you have, and do you need, more than one vehicle? If two or more cars are necessary, by all means keep them. However, you may be able to buy vehicles that are cheaper to own and maintain. If all the cars aren’t necessary, why not sell the extra ones?
- Avoid eating out. You may not think eating out is that expensive, but a family of four can easily spend $40 or more each time they eat out. That same amount of money can buy groceries for several meals, instead of just one.
- Put a hold on credit card spending. Either cut your credit cards up or put them in a plastic bag filled with water. Place the bag in the freezer and leave it there. When you need to use it, you’ll have to let it thaw gradually – putting it in the microwave to thaw, will destroy the card!
- As you’re able to pay off one credit card, close the account. Then use the money you spent each month on that bill and add it to your payment for the credit card with the next highest interest rate. This process accelerates the elimination of your debt.
And remember this quote from the Bahá’Ă Writings:
Trust in God and engage in your work and practice economy; the confirmations of God shall descend and you will be enabled to pay off your debts. (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 375)
It’s possible to create a budget you and your family can live with. By following these step-by-step instructions for planning a budget, you’ll be taking a financial step in the right direction. Stick to your budget, and before you know it you can be out of debt and saving for something special!
What helps you budget? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
As someone who is prone to anxiety, I was pleased to find this quote from the Baha’i Writings:
The lives of the Founders of our Faith clearly show that to be fundamentally assured does not mean that we live without anxieties, nor does being happy mean that there are not periods of deep grief when, like the Guardian, we wrap ourselves in a blanket, pray and supplicate, and give ourselves time for healing in preparation for the next great effort.  (Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117)
If this describes you, or someone you know, you might enjoy this month’s wallpapers.
You can right click on these to download them to your computer, then save them as wallpapers or screen savers. (I think this will work – if it doesn’t, send me a quick email, let me know your resolution size and I’ll be happy to email them to you). The most common resolution sizes are:
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You can click on these to make them bigger.
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Enjoy!
Let me know what you think. Should I continue to post more like these? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
Below are 10 top tips for healthy eating during the Fast:
- Don’t gorge in the evenings: Large meals should be avoided because they can cause the digestive system to block after a long day of fasting. Therefore, break your fast with dates and water or juice as they contain simple sugars that can be absorbed easily by the body. Then try to have a balanced meal – soups are a good choice as they don’t stress the stomach and hydrate the body.
- Stay off the Salt: Salty foods should be avoided as they will retain water in the body and cause discomfort.
- Hydrate Yourself: A lack of fluids makes the body prone to dehydration and more likely to retain fats and toxins. So, drink ample quantities of water and fresh juices.
- Eat Yoghurt: Yogurt is recommended at both meals, as it contains friendly bacteria which benefit the digestive tract. Yoghurt also helps digestion and cleanses the intestines from harmful bacteria. Also, it is a good source of calcium and protein.
- Avoid Sugar and Grease: Fried foods and sweets should be consumed in moderation as they are full of saturated fats which raise cholesterol and adversely affect your health.
- Get Moving: Exercise is very important during the Fast as it helps you maintain your body weight by burning the extra-calories and eliminating stress. It also has an essential role in preventing constipation.
- Don’t Skip Breakfast: Many people tend to skip breakfast; however skipping meals will slow down your metabolism and lead to fatigue and distress. For Suhoor, try to choose foods that contain protein, complex carbohydrates and high-fibre foods such as wheat, oats, beans, whole grain bread, vegetables and seasonable fruits. Fibers and proteins take a long time to be digested so you won’t feel hungry.
- Avoid Tea and Coffee: Tea, Coffee and carbonated beverages remove calcium from your body. It is therefore recommended that you avoid them especially at breakfast, as they increase salt and water excretion which your body needs during fasting.
- Don’t neglect Protein: Consumption of protein is important in order to prevent muscle wasting; vegetarians should consider this when choosing non-animal protein sources.
- Finish with Fruit: Intake of fruits after a meal is highly beneficial and provides the body with nutrients. Fasting could be effective in treating of moderate (non-insulin) diabetes, obesity and hypertension as the process lowers the blood sugar levels, cholesterol and the systolic blood pressure.
Nathalie Haddad, leading Dietician and Managing Director of Right Bite cautions: “It is highly important to eat moderately and focus on well-balanced and low-fat meals during the Fast. A light, healthy breakfast, one that is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, will help prevent tiredness, poor concentration, dizziness and headaches. At dinner, it is important to consume food from all five groups with minimum fat content and to control portion sizes in order to avoid weight gain.”
Adapted from: http://www.whatsonsyria.com/magazine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=586&Itemid=0
Have I missed any? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
The Bahá’Ă month of fasting is an excellent opportunity to assess our behavior and habits and to adjust to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Through fasting, we learn how to control our manners and our eating habits. It is also a good chance for the stomach to have a break and allow the body to eliminate accumulated toxins.
Many of us wonder what is best to eat during the Fast and how to stay healthy and get the maximum benefit from the fasting process. A quick review of the physiological changes that occur during fasting will help us determine what should be consumed before dawn and after sunset.
What happens in our bodies during fasting?
When the body enters into a state of fasting (approximately twelve hours after the last meal), it draws upon the glucose stored in the liver and muscles as the main source of energy. Fat is used
next, as a source of energy once these stores of glucose are used up. This process promotes weight loss and also prevents muscle wasting.
After a few days of fasting, toxins stored in the body fat are broken down and hormones, such as endorphins, appear in the blood in higher levels, improving vigilance and inducing an overall feeling of well-being.
What to eat during the Fast?
A balanced nutritious diet containing adequate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water is vital between fasts in order to ensure a healthy state of mind and body.
As the fast approaches, many of us wonder if fasting will be “too difficult to do.” Here is a practical guide of how we can make fasting both easier and more spiritually rewarding:
1. Make your intention to abide by the will of God:
It is important for the acceptance of any act of worship to do it solely for the pleasure of God. If you sincerely want to fast for Him, He will make it easy for you.
2. Stock up on groceries a week in advance:
Fasting requires two major meals each day. If you buy the food you’ll need for the week, you won’t waste time and energy shopping when temptation might be high to buy more than you need.
3. Prepare yourself:
Read the compilation The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting to understand more about this spiritual obligation.
Make sure you have a printed timetable of dawn and sunset times in your area for the entire month in a place where you can easily refer to it.
You’ll want to avoid caffeinated drinks such as coke, coffee or tea during the fast, because caffeine is a diuretic. Three to five days before the Fast, gradually reduce your intake of these drinks, since a sudden decrease in caffeine prompts headaches, mood swings and irritability, which you’ll want to avoid when you are fasting.
If you are a smoker, you won’t be able to smoke during the daylight hours, so consider cutting down gradually starting a few weeks before the Fast starts. Smoking negatively affects the utilization of various vitamins, metabolites and enzyme systems in the body, so if you smoke, consider how you can replace these things during the Fast.
4. Prepare your family:
This is especially important if you have non-Baha’i family members. Let them know how their lives might be affected while you are fasting and what you expect of them.
5. Go to bed early:
In order to wake up refreshed and on time for the pre-dawn meal, go to bed early during the Fast.
6. Eat Moderately:
Contrary to popular opinion, nutritionist and dieticians suggest that people tend to gain more weight during the Fast compared to the rest of the year, as a result of following incorrect and unplanned food practices. To avoid the widespread occurrence of digestive and stomach-related problems, there are many eating habits that should be followed during the Fast.
There is no need to consume excess food before dawn. Some Baha’is eat more than usual at breakfast, thinking, “this is my last chance to get as much food into myself as I can, before having to starve till sunset”. Fasting is not the same as starving the body, so eat in moderation.
The body has regulatory mechanisms that activate during fasting. There is efficient utilization of body fat. Basal metabolism slows down during the Fast. A diet that is less than the normal amount of food intake, but contains all the required minerals and vitamins is sufficient to keep a person healthy and active during the Fast.
7. Don’t skip breakfast:
Some people, hating to get up so early, prefer to eat till well after midnight and sleep late, skipping breakfast altogether. Eating breakfast minimizes the feeling of hunger during the day and provides the body with all its nutritional needs.
8. Go about your normal daily routine:
Some people assume that since they can not eat or drink till sunset, they should “sleep off” the fast and awaken only a few hours before the evening meal. They draw their curtains, pull their comforters over their heads or put on the air conditioner, and sleep till the evening. They get up to eat and then dive back into their beds. This is not the aim or spirit of the Fast. Fasting does not curb energy for productive work, except in the last two hours of the fast, so continue to work or study as usual till 2 or 3 hours before sunset. If you have a chance to lie down and rest for a while for an afternoon siesta, this will help you get through.
It is recommended that everyone engage in some kind of light exercise, such as stretching or walking. It’s important to follow good time management practices to ensure you have enough time for prayer, sleep, studies, job, and physical activities or exercise.
9. Breaking the fast:
The dinner meal is the high point of the day for everyone who fasts. This meal, unfortunately, is also the cause of most of the excess and extravagance that takes place during this month.
Muslims break their fast by eating three to five dates with a glass of water. Dates consist of 80 per cent sugar, while the remainder constitutes protein, fat and minerals, including copper, sulphur, iron, magnesium and fluoric acid. They are high in fiber and are an excellent source of potassium so they compensate for the sugar and other elements the body loses during the day.
After the dates and water, they offer prayers with a light stomach and a thankful, attentive heart, and then return to the table to eat in moderation, which prevents them from overeating as soon as the sun sets. Starting with a hot vegetable and lentil soup alerts the stomach, facilitates the digestive process and provides the body with needed energy from the fiber and vitamins.
The main meal should contain vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates to give the body the nutrition it needs. Meat, chicken and fish, should be provided to make up for the loss of nutrition while fasting. It’s also important to eat small helpings of fruit for dessert, to give the body the required amounts of sugar. These should be eaten two hours after the main meal, to facilitate digestion and prevent gastrointestinal problems.
Fruits and mixed nuts may be eaten as a snack before going to bed, and make sure you drink sufficient water, to prevent dehydration.
The first week of fasting settles the body into fasting mode, and by the mid-point most of us have settled into a new routine. The second half of the fast can be used to intensify our focus on prayer and our spiritual connection with God. Consistent fasting does take its toll on the body, so during the last few days of the fast, you might find you need to spend a portion of these days sleeping or resting more than usual.
In summary, an intake of a balanced diet is critical to maintaining good health, sustaining an active lifestyle and attaining the full benefits of the Fast.
What would you like to share about eating during the Fast? Post your comments here:
Click here for more Tips for the Baha’i Fast.
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
When was the last time you said thank you for being alive? Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Well, if you barely have time to appreciate what you have, how can you ever desire anything more? If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, why would God give you more?
Be thou happy and well pleased and arise to offer thanks to God, in order that thanksgiving may conduce to the increase of bounty. (’Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 484.)
We all have something to be thankful for, even those who live a modest lifestyle by choice or by circumstance.
Focusing on material possessions, rather than on the very fact that we’re living and breathing, tend to make us forgetful of the greater gifts, such as our families, our health and our Faith.
Be thankful to God for having enabled you to recognize His Cause. (Shoghi Effendi, The Directives of the Guardian, p. 73.)
Life is a miracle and can be taken away in a moment’s notice. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, there are many ways you can show your appreciation for your life.
5 Ways to Express Your Gratitude
Sometimes showing your gratitude can be as simple as saying “thanks,” but other times you can show gratitude by helping others, or “paying it forward.” After all, you’ll never know how a simple, kind gesture will affect someone’s day.
Here are some ideas to help you appreciate life while also helping others:
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Reflect about your childhood and ancestors. Write a poem, essay, or short story about your life. What sacrifices did your parents make for you? What struggles did the family endure? How is your life better or easier than that of your great-grandparents? How did these events make you the person you are today?
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Meditate, pray, or go to your place of worship. Find a quiet place to think about all that’s good – your health, family, or home – and simply say “thank you” to your Creator.
If we should offer a hundred thousand thanksgivings every moment to the threshold of God…we would fail to express our gratitude sufficiently. (’Abdu’l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 37.)
- Reconnect with your spouse and children. Actions speak louder than words so turn off that television and spend some quality time with your family just to have some fun! Whether it’s a surprise getaway or a family game night, renewing your relationships with your family will strengthen your bond and bring you closer together.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Write down all the things you’re grateful for in your life and reflect on all that is good. Even the simplest things – such as finding a parking space at the mall or locating your missing keys – are times to be grateful!
When You Need a Wake Up Call
Sometimes it’s all too easy to engage in these activities and give thanks for a good life, yet over time, we somehow fall back into our old habits. In these times, we need a jolt to remind ourselves of all that is good.
Spend a few hours a week volunteering at a hospital, nursing home, or soup kitchen. Take a good look at the people you’re helping, listen to their stories, and be grateful that you’re fortunate enough to help those in need.
To thank Him for this, make ye a mighty effort, and choose for yourselves a noble goal. (’Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 35-36.)
Giving IS Receiving
When you give of yourself – either with a smile or another kind gesture – you receive the warm satisfaction of helping to make a difference in the world, one person at a time. Your uplifting attitude will be contagious and you just might be the recipient of a random act of kindness!
What’s been your experience with giving thanks? Post your comment here:
