It is not a weakness to fall in love. I see it as strength. Weakness is the need to control for without that control, you are vulnerable and insecure. To love is to be willing to sacrifice a part of you for something or someone else. A part of you meaning time, energy or even thoughts. To add an additional and unnecessary emotions to oneself. You are perfectly able to live on your own. Replacing needs with the existence of pets, people and creativity. But to fill that gap with a person takes deep courage. To let yourself choose another person is risky. I'm a coward. I have been disappointed before. And am very reluctant to experience another relationship. To be vulnerable to another promise. To gamble another future. But maybe, it's time to be a bit more brave.

Congregational

Congregational Prayers. Solat ajjamaah. As Muslims we are asked to pray 5 times a day. If you combine them all together it could take less than 30 minutes. Like Yoga, just faster and easier. The act itself is easy; IF you take laziness, tiredness, time and discipline OUT of the equation. But you're human. You're bound to feel the pressure of at least one if the things mentioned above. Well at least i do. I feel the pressure. Some days more than the others. Some days performing prayers are so hard. There are things need to be done, or i have been so physically mentally and emotionally tired that i FEEL the burden of prayers. Yet there are days when all i want to do is to be in my wudu' and do a marathon of prayers. Well, that's the chapter of imān and that's for a different time. Anyway, during those lazy period, i am glad for solat ajjamaah/congregational prayers. Praying together forces me to keep my prayers on track. My parents impose certain solat ajjamaah on us at home . Growing up, i used to hate it so much. Because my father would take his time reading each surah and ayah when i know he can read them at a faster speed -i sometimes observe him praying on his own. Then of course, the lengthy duas afterwards. If i pray on my own, after the last salam, i would stand up and recite my duas WHILE folding the prayer mats and taking off my attire. But as i grow older, i tend to appreciate it very much. Mainly for 3 things. 1. I realize that my surah recitation is heavily influenced by my father -though not nearly as good. 2. My mother pinpoints my mistakes in my salah rituals -like she does everything else. 3. It's 27 times better than doing it alone. My parents impose the congregational prayers at home to lead by example. Though the school taught us how to pray and what to read, seeing my parents performing prayers together gave me a deeper understanding of the matter. Most of my friends nowadays are now married with babies. I don't mean to sound preachy but i implore that you too impose salah aljamaah at home. Even if it's just once a day. Or once a week. It'll be good in the long run. For you, your children and the society. I promise you, it won't be easy. But it will be worth it. InshaAllah.