Hello friends,

 

It's her birthday.

 

She had me before she turned 20.

I am her oldest and she's my only. I made her a mother and a grandmother and she made me who I am.

 

Today is Fadia Ayoub's Birthday, my mother.

 

Not many people know I am the eldest of five siblings—two sisters then two brothers. My mum married young; during her first year at Yarmouk University. The plan was for her to complete her studies in Amman after marriage, but she became a mum first, and she only managed to fulfill that plan after having the five of us.

So when I was in 6th grade and going to the 7th, I attended her graduation ceremony with a Bachelor's degree in English from Jordan University. We had a party at home afterward, and we danced to celebrate her graduation.

She did not stop there. She pursued her master's degree, and I attended her graduation again when I was in university myself. Can you imagine my pride? Cheering my mum as they called her name to the podium to receive her certificate?

 

That's where my ambition comes from. That's where my love of learning comes from. She taught me the love of reading and got me my first books and magazines. She bought Ihsan Abdul Quddus novels and had me hooked.

 

She loved participating in the morning school "broadcast," and so did I. My Arabic teacher had me read the poems last to enjoy my voice, and so did Mum's teachers. She taught me self-reliance, which is a bit too much for our own good, but we are healing from that. She became a teacher; I became a trainer. She loves colors and creativity and transferred that to us. My middle sister is the most creative teacher I know, and my younger sister is a handmade artist, just like Mum.

 

Mum is always creating. Always crocheting, always planting and tending. Her favorite thing is showing me around her garden and trying to get me to memorize the names of the exotic and gorgeous plants she bought, planted, or asked for from a friend's garden.

 

Her happiness and preparations for my daughter Iris, her first grandchild, 11 years ago, is something my sister is still teasing her about till now. My surprise baby shower on her birthday was one of the best days of my entire life. That is how my sister tricked me into dressing up and doing my nails in my 9th month of pregnancy. My favorite people were all there. The decoration details and games were incredible. I was over the moon when I uploaded 300 photos on Facebook, which was when we used to upload albums there.  

 

I am running out of time and space in this newsletter, but I have to finally say that her cooking is the best, her Saturday cake is a treat, and her beauty is unmatched. I did not take a lot after her looks, but if someone mentions that I did, they make my day.

 

Happy Birthday Mum.

 

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On another note, the 5 at 5 challenge started; as I send you this, we are 83 members in the Telegram group. The challenge: In November, we will wake up at 5 am and write for 5 minutes! Join us today (Monday is the last day to join, and the challenge is for ladies only).

 

I also offer 50% off my fantastic journaling course for the challenge participants and you, too, Sunday Sparkers, which is only applicable during November. Use the code: RISE50. 

11 years ago, my surprise baby shower that she and my sisters prepared: Teta To Be

Best surprise ever.

Glad we got to travel together this year, for the first time in a long time

Here is your weekly dose of The Sunday Spark ⚡️ a newsletter listing 3 sparks that I thought were worth starting your week with: 

 

1. ️ 💞 For those of us who are harsh to ourselves when we don't do the thing we planned to do, for those of us who still forget self-compassion, this article by the meditation teacher Susan Piver serves us well: Getting Stuff Done By Not Being Mean to Yourself.

 

2. 📚 The article that finally convinced me to start waking up early in 2016: How to Become an Early Riser by Steve Pavlina. If you are in the 5 at 5 challenge or want to try waking up early, read and enjoy.

 

3. 💬 Quote of the week for early birds who write or want to write:

“"It was early, always early, when Toni Morrison awoke to write. In the dark, she would move quietly, making that first cup of coffee. She’d sit at her desk in her small apartment, and as her mind cleared and the sun rose and the light filled the room, she would write. She did this for years, practicing this secular ritual used not just by writers, but by countless busy and driven people for all time.

“Writers all devise ways to approach that place where they expect to make the contact,” she’d later reflect, “where they become the conduit, or where they engage in this mysterious process. For me, light is the signal in the transition. It’s not being in the light, it’s being there before it arrives. It enables me, in some sense.”" 

 

-Ryan Holiday, Why a Stoic Wakes Up Early

 

This is Sunday Spark issue #205

 

 

 

 

Calendar love: This is week 45, day 308 of the year. 

Still reading? I'm flattered! Here are some cool resources I personally use, love and recommend:

 

 

Note: some of the links above may be affiliate links, but always keep in mind that I don’t endorse anything I don’t use and love myself.

 

 

See you next Sunday First name / my dear friend

 

* Note: To the best of my ability, I am trying to share content by authors who have not disappointed me, and they are hard to come by! Please let me know if any author I share about was disrespectful to Palestine.