COVERED Edition 4 Issue 2 | Page 34

ADVICE_______________________________________________________________________ A word from OPTI-WOT (THE OPTIMISTIC WAY OF THINKING) Dear sisters From the release of the first issue of sister to sister, many have reached out. Alhamdurillah. However, it seems to be a trend that my fellow sisters feel a stigma attached to seeking help. Life can be overwhelming at times, and we require an objective, safe and confidential space to seek assistance. For that reason, many questions have been answered directly to the ladies. On this note, I would like to invite all sisters to break this stigma. We all need help at some point, whether it's with our children, family circumstances or simply any life situations. Let's stand together and offer our support in a non-judgmental manner, to uplift our fellow cohorts. I would like to stress that it's okay to seek help and covered magazine along with this platform gives you that opportunity. We've got you Covered! Until next time XOXO Sister for sister Q. Dear OPTI-WOT I am a 25-year-old female and come from a strict Islamic family. I would love to settle down and be married at some point, but I feel like I have not been given the opportunity to find a suitable partner. Any advice on how I can get my parents to be a little more lenient in this regard. A.Dear sister JazakAllah for reaching out. This is a persisting issue among our youth and InshaAllah through your question we will reach many answers and you too will receive the rewards. Firstly, it is important to acknowledge and appreciate your parents’ efforts in this modern day and age. It is understandable that you might feel this way, but…. What is Meant to Be Yours Will Come to You at the right moment. We have to trust our higher power (Almighty). We don’t have to fight it. We don’t have to rush. We don’t have to live in a constant place of stress or anxiousness. We simply have to let go, to make room, to trust. And allow what’s ours to find us. We become fixated on wanting and desiring, instead of appreciating what is before us. Hence the cycle of suffering ensues. If we consider the present moment as perfect, what is meant to be will find its way into your life effortlessly. I’m not suggesting you abandon your desires, rather consider them in a new light. That what is written and destined for you will be yours no matter what. We cannot change outside circumstances to please us, so we must change our response to the events. My word of advice to you, discuss your concerns with your parents, give them more insight to how you are feeling, take their perceptions with an open mind and come to some compromise.