Since I'm not working currently therefore I'm not earning much as a graduate would generally do and that though is not my focus either.Whatever I get is Alhmdulillah enough and contain barakah.
If I compare it with my similar earnings few years back,I can recall no matter how much I used to earn it just disappeared in a matter of days and I couldn't understand how.But now the situation is different.I feel it's all about intent and actions.
When we earn not for the sake of earning but for the sake of serving/giving (and giving for His sake)that small becomes enough with His mercy and now I reflect how I manage to do my planned tasks and even the unplanned things coming on my way with little in my hand.This gives me feelings of contentment,gratitude and sufficiency.
Alhmdulillah!
Now for me, this giving in itself is deep.It means giving priority to my relations when needed (one of the reasons I haven't put myself in a certain career yet after graduation).It means giving to my family,friends,the deserving ones,the needy,to some meaningful activities I'm working on and some to myself.All that given for His sake.
Once I was attending an event where the speaker said,"Sometimes it's beyond our understanding the concept of barakah and that how Allah multiplies/increases sadqa(something that we give) and its reward but we believe in His words."Now I can relate to this.
The concept of earning from "only" halal sources no matter how little and limited it is and taking care about the "source" of income is something I inherited and adopted from my father and he from his father.May be the reason barakah and contentment travelled in our generations. Alhmdulillah again.
But this post is not only about earning.Regarding spending,I made a few rules for myself.(I have this habit of making a long list of rules for myself).
These include spending on what's a "need" and not a "want",spending on things which don't leave much impact on environment (environment friendly),spending for a smile,spending to fulfil someone's need or to make them capable to do so and all these spendings should be meaningful and not to fulfil an impulsive urge.
But today when I was reflecting on my recent spendings,I realized that they were quite impulsive.I purchased a few dresses just because I couldn't let go of their designs(later I realized I could live without them,a not so good realization for a minimalist) besides I didn't even consider the environment factor while purchasing fabric knowing that purchasing new clothes every single time with plastic beads on them is is so wasteful and harmful for environment too.
Moreover I ate at an expensive ice-cream parlor with my family which could have been replaced by we learning to make it at home with some better ingredients in a fairly little cost and could save the cost for some more meaningful activities.This put me off a bit since I was striving since months to be less impulsive and to focus on "needs" over "wants" and being more meaningful.
Still,we are humans and often forget and slip.Although it's not a regret and I tried to overcome the effect by donating some older clothes and consoling myself that this shopping and eating out is only occasionally but it's still a learning for future so that I'd be more mindful in my spendings and will make it more meaningful and worthwhile.
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