I’ve been reflecting a lot for the past few weeks – a lot has been happening, both at work and at home (when I refer to home, it really refers to my son).
I know for a fact that a lot of you out there are in the same boat as most of the work that falls on me will fall to you and most of the times (if not all the time), the nitty gritty details are carried by you. I’m sure many also have their own set of challenges in their personal lives.
So, before anything – thank you all for everything.
I know a lot of you have been working hard, even over weekends and late nights to clear some of the priorities came our way. This has helped us as an organization deal with a lot of the stakeholders’ expectations, could not have done it without the amazing you.
Looking back at this quarter and this month itself, there were so many overlapping priorities we had to deal with: new tenders came up, finalizing the accounts and financial statement (= dealing with auditors), owning up and clearing operational incidences, the national MHIT agenda and the list goes on and on. On top of that, if I were to be transparent, our business numbers are not stacking up against targets we’ve set as per this year’s business plan. We’re trailing behind budget quite a bit and the gaps getting bigger by the day.
This has been really getting to me personally. We’re still striving forward, figuring out how to close the gaps, but I won’t lie – it’s been challenging, at times, frustrating.
With the never-ending sprints, there have been moments my body has been giving me signals to take a break. In between been trying to pace myself so that can cope with the things that come – as some of it just can’t avoid.
As you read this, you might think why the sudden dump of honest vulnerability to everyone. The truth is I know I’m not alone, and many might feel the same from time to time. Despite those circumstances, I know many out there are still showing up, giving their best, to their best ability, and strive to deliver the best – thus saving us from a lot of the challenges we’ve been facing.
We’ve done and achieved a lot for the past quarter.
Again, from the bottom of my heart: thank you.
Dealing with the challenges that come with the exhaustion, is never easy. Everyone deals with it in their own way. Personally, when it gets really tough, I hit the mat or I fall back to verses of the Quran that promises around challenges, among others the one below, as a spiritual support:
We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure— who say, when struck by a disaster, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.” They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided.
Al-Baqarah 2: 155 -157
At the same time, it’s also important for us to build a support system around us, to lift us up emotionally. Having a good set of people you’re comfortable to pour and laugh it out definitely helps. Laughter can be the best medicine.
The other piece is ensuring our physical form, our body is taken care of – a healthy lifestyle makes a lot of difference. I wish I realized the importance of it much earlier in life – I’m a late starter when it comes to this. Some of you already I hit the “zuhud” gym at the office frequently, we have our monthly brisk walks and over the past month or so, and I’ve started playing pickleball with some of you. It keeps the body in a better shape, and it helps connect with people too.
This has definitely made a difference in helping me cope with the demanding expectations and priorities that come my way. A healthy body = a healthy mind.