it’s okay to start again // goodbye 2019, hello 2020

Dear 2019…

In difference to most ‘love notes’ and letters I’ve written to myself, this was easier to put down. I’ve carried so many thoughts about this year, feeling ambivalent about it. It wasn’t filled with highlights, nor was it the lowest point of my life — and still, it was life. And life… is not always easy. There will be good times, like traveling to Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) and South Korea (Seoul, Jeju, Nami), and there will be… not-so-good times. Like overworking and burning out. Like losing loved ones and watching the world grow in injustice. But I re-learned to slow down this year.

I learned that even if I’m not where I want to be, I’m here and I’m trying. I show up. And that counts, because the days will continue on. And so long as I am trying, even in the smallest ways on the days where I feel like I can’t find my way, my Maker sees it all. Letting go and moving forward did not make me weak — I am free to start over. No matter the uncertainty, I am free to learn peace. And so are you.

Whatever happens, whatever is written, trust in its greatness—the greatness of the One in control, the One who plans best. By His will, here is to another year.

— with love, rö // roedah —

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a few causes to give time, voice & energy to (and money, if able)
🔸 check orgs and sites like launchgood.com & irusa.org, UNICEF & Save the Children, the IRC (international rescue committee), Doctors without Borders, and more, to stay up to date with ongoing (and new) calls for humanitarian aid, causes, fundraisers, & projects around the world
🔸 occupation of palestinian land: http://unrwa.org/gaza-emergency
🔸 get educated on the issues and discrimination the indigenous face as minority groups in bolivia: https://iwgia.org/en/bolivia, https://minorityrights.org/country/bolivia/
🔸 give to our brothers and sisters in somalia, help mitigate climate devastation and effect of drought in east africa: http://irusa.org/somalia
🔸 uyghur human rights: https://uhrp.org/what-you-can-do, https://www.amnesty.org/en/get-involved/take-action/china-xinjiang-uyghur-muslims/
🔸 rohingyan persecution and displacement of the rakhine state — learn more: https://www.rescue.org/country/myanmar, give at: http://irusa.org/myanmar
🔸 appeals for basic supplies & urgent relief in syria: http://irusa.org/syria/, https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/syria/
🔸 yemen emergency appeal: http://irusa.org/yemen/
🔸 raise awareness for our brothers and sisters in kashmir — know what’s happening and speak up: http://aljazeera.com/topics/issues/kashmir
🔸 pakistan earthquake: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/appeals/pakistan-earthquake/
🔸 orphan support in afghanistan: https://www.launchgood.com/campaign/help_orphans_flourish#!/
🔸 stand with hong kong: https://www.change.org/p/international-court-of-justice-request-international-court-of-justice-to-investigate-excessive-force-of-hong-kong-police (check change.org for so much more)
🔸 australian fires: https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate (see @helloemilie’s instagram for more information, for credible orgs to donate to like red cross and the first nations communities relief funds, and for updates)
🔸 the amazon is STILL burning. https://www.popsci.com/story/environment/amazon-wildfire-climate-change/ do your research, stay informed & spread the word!

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get $40 in airbnb credit by joining with this link! https://www.airbnb.com/c/roedahm
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🌼 Where to find me:
˙˚ʚ(´◡`)ɞ˚˙ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roedah_/
˙˚ʚ(´◡`)ɞ˚˙ twitter: https://www.twitter.com/roedah_/