Tuesday night was Kadir Gecesi, and I asked my co-workers to join me in fasting that day. Kadir Gecesi was the one psuedo-religious/cultural event that we celebrated as children. One prayed that night, and whatever was wished for would be granted (or so the story goes according to my mom). I thought the fun idea of earning a wish for fasting was a good premise for sharing Ramadan with the team.
There are two things that I think one day of fasting teaches a person.
The first is that the body is truly a spectacular machine, and that we haven’t come even close to replicating what was created regardless of the technology we discover and innovate.
The second is that the individual is unbelievably capable of things that he always doubted about himself.
Is it tough to skip that afternoon coffee? Yes, but two of my friends did just that. What about not drinking all day?
The Big Deal himself texted me four or five times about not being able to drink, but on his first day at a new job, he pulled it off, and I bet he even looked good doing it.
And as the time ticked closer and closer to 7:18pm (sunset in San Francisco), the group collectively came together to support each other, and to fill those last minutes, which often seem to last for hours, with camaraderie and laughter.
And so, I realized that I didn’t need to wait for Kadir Gecesi to make my wish. If everyone were as lucky as I feel I have been to have people around me who love me this much, then the world would truly be a better place. It’s amazing what giving up on food and water for a day can teach a person about how full their life really is.