Taking a Stand

This evening I brought K's bike in the backyard, closed our house's side gate and on the way back in the house I looked around the neighborhood thinking "look at me, I am in california, having 3 gorgeous boys and I get that "I have to pinch myself to realize I'm not dreaming" kind of feeling. Originally from Switzerland, not in my wildest dreams I would've ever imagined that me, Myriam, would end up married with 3 kids in our house in california !!! WOW..  


It wasn't always dreamy beaches and high palm trees waving in the wind. At several points I think I can speak for anyone, we have to take decisions that we just know they'll be turning our life up side down. One of these moments was, when I decided to practice my religion, Islam. More over when I decided to show it "publicly" by wearing the "Hijab" (Headscarf). 

Over night in the eyes of the ticket sales women, the bus driver, my patients, and people I met as soon as I'm stepping out of my own four walls, I became a foreigner, and was very much treated that way. Of course I did expect mixed reactions but it's an understatement to say that: It was everythng else than easy, my feelings were greatly hurt over and over again, and the whole experience was very very eye opening. 


I have the most extraordinary loving family who stood behind me 120%, and one hand full of true friends up to today, and I say one hand because it's not more then 5!! which truly stood by me and still are my true friends I care about with all my heart. Most of my other "so called friends" disappeared, which is perfectly fine. -->  forget the people in your past, there is a reason they didn't make it to your future (unknown).


Very few of my friends encouraged me saying the right thing to do is what I thought was best for ME, which I have so much respect for until the present day, may Allah bless and protect them, wherever they might be today. Most of the people/friends I knew did not quiet understand, were confused or even very upset at my decision and changes I took in my own personal life (exactly, MY life) and were very much discouraging. So I had to take a stand, for my own sake and several times get vocal about that" I can not and will not live my life according to how YOU want me to live my life or the way you think is best for ME .." 


AlhamduliLlah (all praise be to Allah/God) that I haven't listened to anyone but my inner self about how I want to live my life. 


Have you ever been in a life changing situation? and if so how did it effect your present/ future?