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Nadir Keval

Question: How To Cope With Depression and Anxiety From A Religious Standpoint
Question: How To Cope With Depression and Anxiety From A Religious Standpoint 1680 1050 Nadir Keval

I was asked this question a few days ago, and thought it would be best to share as a post of its own because of the importance and relevance it has to the Muslim community, and people overall in today’s world. I also receive questions regularly on my Tumblr blog, and so I will try to post the longer responses here as well, insha Allah.

Question:

Assalamu ‘Alaikum Akhi! i was wondering if you have any advice on how to cope with depression and anxiety from a religious stand point. As i have found it quite difficult to discuss it with family due to the stigma in my culture. may Allah reward you for everything you have accomplished and may He make your future goals possible with his grace ameen.

Answer:

Wa alaikum assalaam,

My apologies for the delay in responding to your question. I wanted to take some time to think about it and determine how to answer it in the best way I could.

Depression is a touchy topic, not because of the fact that it’s considered taboo to discuss, but because of its fragile nature. As a person who was once diagnosed with clinical depression, and was able to overcome it by the Mercy of Allah, with faith and determination, and without the use of medication, I feel I hold a unique view on the subject. Still, I am not a scholar or a doctor, so I can’t say much based on evidences other than what I’ve used in my own experiences. I would suggest that in addition to my response, you also seek the counsel of a Muslim whose Islamic knowledge and wisdom you trust, as well as the advice of a doctor specialized in the specific types of struggles you are facing that are causing your current state.

First thing to address is the difference between depression and sadness. Both, at their varying degrees, can be mistaken for one another. Both are also serious things that should be addressed as soon as possible. Regardless of which it is, recognize that both can be addressed, and will only determine your future if you allow them to.

Personally, when I went through this, I first looked at my faith. I gave myself an in-depth self-check, and asked myself whether or not I was truly doing my best with my faith. As a Muslim, I know that my solution in any and everything ultimately relies on Allah, and so, I chose to first put my focus on that. That said, I would suggest you take a look at the basic elements of practicing and believing in the faith, and ask yourself where you stand with them. For example, how is your Tawakkul? Do you recognize that Allah is the One who is able to do all things and is the facilitator of your affairs? Do you know and sincerely believe in the following verse?

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Do you know with full confidence and certainty that Allah is the Most Merciful, and won’t put you through anything you can’t handle – which ultimately tells you that you are capable of overcoming any and everything you face? These were the first things that I had to learn to accept and truly believe in. It took some time and convincing (within myself), but I was able to do it, because I knew it was the truth. I knew that the truth was something that just needed to be engrained into my soul. In order to make these aspects of the faith a part of my very essence, I knew that I needed to take action to build my relationship with Allah. So, I began to focus on seeking the Help of Allah, by making a lot of dua, but in moderation. Even dua is something that must be done in moderation, because it is very easy for us to fall into this condition of begging Allah for help, expecting Him to fix everything with some miracle, without actually making the effort to do something positive and productive towards building myself back up. And so, I began to focus on perfecting my Salah. That didn’t mean that I just jumped in and started increasing the quantity of my prayers and worship. The key isn’t quantity – it’s quality. So, I began with focusing on the Fard (obligatory) prayers, and ensuring that I perfected every moment of that prayer. I didn’t worry about how long each prayer took. Sometimes, praying Asr would take me 20-25 minutes, Alhamdulillah. My focus was on finding that connection with Allah in every prayer. After this became a comfortable part of my lifestyle, I began to give back more by volunteer with programs (run by Muslims and non-Muslims) that were focused on helping those that were struggling in life (I don’t like using the term “less-fortunate people” because I feel it leads to negative judgments of others). When you work with people who are struggling more than you are, you begin to truly appreciate the good in your life, and it helps bring things into perspective. So, my faith comprised of three things: Dua, Salah, and Sadaqah. Since then, I have constantly worked towards building my Imaan through other actions, which I may discuss another day, insha Allah.

Consider solidifying your spiritual health as being your warm-up before taking on the workout that is life.

After this, I began to focus on taking care of myself more. After spiritual health, how much emphasis do you put on your physical and mental health? Work towards increasing your physical activity in life. Push yourself when you train, and let out your emotions, feelings, and stress, while also maintaining balance and ensuring you don’t overstep and hurt yourself. This is a great way to learn how to gain control of your emotions and thoughts. Building on controlling your mind helps immensely in your growth and in fighting falling back into depression or sadness. I have experienced things that are FAR worse than what I faced when I was diagnosed with clinical depression, and since then, I’ve found myself to be in more control of my mind and the struggles I face.

When it comes to your mental health, it’s important to recognize that we are created balanced, and that as we go through life, we lose balance, and it’s on us to maintain equilibrium. Take a break sometimes. Work hard at other times. Listen to your body. Know that life is balanced, meaning that things won’t always work out your way, but rather will be balanced with going your way and going another way. There is yin and yang in everything. Two ways for anything to go, and you must understand that life will always go as it is meant to, not as you want it to.

Finally, I want you to ask yourself about your condition. I understand the taboo quality the concept of depression holds in almost every culture around the world, but you must understand that the way things are thought to be is irrelevant to you and what you face now. If I followed the path that was “expected” of me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Don’t discredit the weight depression and/or sadness can place on a person’s shoulders, but always remember that you are never faced with anything that you can’t handle, that everything you face is a challenge to make you a greater and better person, and that what you face is only as heavy and overwhelming as you let it be. Face life with confidence in Allah, and in yourself. Allah wouldn’t have you face anything you can’t handle, which means that He, the All-Knowing, Most Wise, has confidence in you being able to fight through it. And the last thought I’ll leave you with is one that gives me peace whenever I begin to struggle and feel overwhelmed with something in my life:

“There is no calamity that strikes a believer, even if it as small as the prick of a thorn, except that it expiates the sins of that believer.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

I pray that Allah gives you strength and guidance as you work towards overcoming your sadness or depression, and that you find peace and control within your heart and mind as you move forward with your life. May Allah give you the best in this life and the Hereafter. Ameen.

When My Patience Wears Thin
When My Patience Wears Thin 1701 1129 Nadir Keval

We all go through times when our patience is tested. We’re pushed to the edge, either by others or through our own overthinking, and it’s at that point that we find our patience wears thin. When this happens to me, I become anxious, annoyed, and irritable. I begin to fall into a daze, where I find myself not caring about anything or anyone, and focusing solely on myself. Focusing on oneself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can be destructive if it isn’t balanced with giving back in some way or another. So, when I find myself in predicaments like these, I first turn to Allah. I pray two rakah (segments) of prayer, and supplicate while in prostration, asking Him to give me peace, calm, and serenity. It’s far too easy to fall prey to the stresses and hopes of this world, which can be scary and fatal, especially when it leads to us distancing ourselves from the hopes and aspirations of the Hereafter. Just the other, I was speaking to a friend about this. We discussed how in the past, during the time of the Prophet (SAW), he and his companions would have such a strong focus on their Hereafter, that this life was like a simple pit stop towards their ultimate goal of Paradise.

“Live in this world as a traveler or a stranger.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW) [Bukhari and Tirmidhi]

This life we’re leading is something we should really consider as being a mere tool with which we can prepare ourselves for the Hereafter. That relates to so many matters of life, but to focus on the topic at hand, I’ll speak on how this relates to patience. We all live these rushed lives, trying to constantly get something done to fulfill our need for instant gratification. We become obsessed with how others are leading their lives, and feel the need to follow their examples without a moment’s consideration as to whether or not what they’re doing is right or wrong, beneficial or harmful. We live based on our desires and feel that we must embrace those desires in order to live well, forgetting that what makes us different from other creatures in this world is that we have been given the intellect to make sound judgments and moral decisions. These blessings make it possible for us to live within guidelines and boundaries we have set up based on morals and beliefs. What kind of a life are we leading if we focus on what is temporary instead of what is eternal and everlasting? That’s like accepting pennies when you could earn millions by putting in the same effort, but just readjusting your priorities. I know it’s much easier said than done, because we have been created to have emotions, desires, and wants, but everything must be maintained within reason and moderation. I believe in letting our imaginations soar, and to never accept anything less than the best, but what is beautiful about that is that a good portion of that is reliant upon Allah’s Wisdom and Decree. When we want something or strive towards achieving something, it’s important to remember that the results of our efforts are in the Hands of God, and that everything that happens to us is what is best for us, even if we don’t see it then. Reevaluate and readjust your priorities. Be content with what life throws your way, but never be satisfied with it, because there is always hope for more. There are no limits to how far we can go when we put our hearts and faith, and ambition and effort towards what we want. But, there are also times when what we want isn’t really what’s best for us, and so, we don’t get what we want, or are left to learn the hard way. Either way, what comes is for our benefit, and we just need to keep moving forward. I’ve done it, and so I’m sure any of you can. Sure, life has beaten me to the ground time and time again in the past, but I know that I will never face anything I can’t handle, and so, I get back up, regardless of how hard it is or how long it takes, and keep moving forward.

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Here are some tips based on what I’ve learned to do when my patience has been tested:

  • Take a break – This can be something as simple as putting down your phone, headphones, and everything else you may be carrying and just going for a walk – you, yourself, and God. Or, it can be something like taking a day or two off. Don’t worry, you’re not wasting time, or losing money (refer to the stupid saying, “Time is money.”). You’re recuperating. You’re recharging yourself so that you can be better, stronger, and more driven. You weren’t created to constantly be working. You were created to live a balanced life, so find balance, damnit!
  • Increase worship – Your connection with God is something that will change your complete outlook towards life. When a distance has grown between us and God, we begin to question everything with ignorance, and lose faith and hope that everything will be okay. Your relationship with God is your greatest weapon against insanity, so embrace it, develop it, nourish it, and thank God for being your greatest friend and supporter. Whenever you can, take a second and supplicate or pray, just to get that reconnect with God. Think about it: since having cell phones and social media, how many times do we talk to our friends in a day? God has been there all this time, and staying in touch with him doesn’t cost you a three-year contract and a monthly bill. In fact, HE rewards you when you keep up with Him. How awesome is that?!
  • Go fishing – Okay, so maybe you don’t HAVE to choose fishing as your activity, but do something that’s relaxing and doesn’t require much effort, but also gives you a chance to be productive and grow. I personally like fishing because it forces me to be patient. You spend a lot of time trying to catch something, and it really makes you have to be quiet and patient as you wait for the sudden and often subtle movements of the line to know if you’re getting a bite. Sometimes, that leads to catching something, and sometimes it doesn’t. When you do catch something, it’s a great sense of accomplishment, not because of a physical feat, but because you’ve overcome impatience and achieved something that has been done for centuries throughout history. When you don’t catch something, it’s an opportunity for building humility, because you’re reminded that not everything goes your way all the time, and that it was written for you today.
  • Take care of YOU – This can involve so many things from meditation, exercising, eating well, hanging out with close friends, etc. The main point is to remember that you have to take care of yourself in order for you to make the most of life and be as successful as possible. Life’s not running away from you. What’s written for you will be yours, and what isn’t, wont. BUT, what you have to do is make the most of every moment, which includes you working hard at some times and taking breaks at others, eating clean and healthy most of the time and indulging in your favourite treat sometimes, etc. And all of this is stuff you should do without feeling guilty. Don’t call it a cheat meal, call it a treat meal. Don’t call it a lazy Sunday, call it a recharge Sunday. Get what I’m saying?

When things get overwhelming and our patience with ourselves or with others begins to wear thin, I find that it’s often a signal our body is sending us to take a moment to ourselves and come back to our centre point. Don’t let patience become your enemy, but instead, consider it that friend that calls you out when you’re in need of some tough love. Take some time out to take care of you, and remember that it’s okay to put things off for a day (don’t make this a habit though – that’s how procrastination is born), as long as you maintain balance and come back with stronger ambition, passion, and drive. Now, go out there and patiently persevere and make your dreams a reality!

Poem: To Live
Poem: To Live 1638 818 Nadir Keval

They tell me I should keep myself busy.

No.

I don’t want to run from my troubles. I don’t want to have to hate myself for having thoughts, emotions, or opinions. I don’t want to have to believe that by relaxing, I am wasting time. I don’t want to believe that I need to follow societal rules and expectations to be “normal” or “accepted” to succeed. I don’t want to throw away my freedom to be imaginative and creative, just so that I can have a “secure” lifestyle.

I don’t want any of that.

What I want is to just live.

To face my troubles and embrace my thoughts, emotions, and opinions. I want to love to relax because it helps me to focus in on and enjoy my goals and aspirations. I want to follow morality and sincerity, and be my own person. I want to let my mind and heart take flight together, and focus more on my happiness than on paying bills – as long as I work hard at what I love, God will take care of me. Why? Because we have been created to live – not to survive, but to thrive; not to constantly be keeping “busy”, but to live a balanced life; not to worry about the judgments of others when making our decisions, but to worry about our own happiness and the Judgment of the One.

They can go on and keep themselves busy.

I, in the meantime, will live.

I Once Knew Her
I Once Knew Her 1600 1200 Nadir Keval

There’s this girl I once knew.

I heard she’s getting married soon, and it reminded me of a dark time…a time when I had met an occurrence that I couldn’t understand, despite my efforts. I cared about her, and stood by her for a long time as she figured herself out, even during times when she would push me, hurt me, and make me struggle within my own self because of her own struggles (and those times came often). I used to know her inside and out, and would be her support in fulfilling her every dream.

Then, one day, something happened, that until today I don’t understand. This girl, holding the potential of greatness in so many ways, threw away all of her dreams. She told me that she was confused and didn’t know what she wanted from life. She wanted time to understand herself better before taking any new steps in life. She was full of potential, but I felt she was restrained by her desire to please those around her over pleasing God and herself. I may be wrong, but it’s what I felt, based on my knowing her.

She put aside projects she had begun working on, changed future plans, threw away many of the dreams she spoke so passionately with me about, and became this whole new person that I just didn’t understand. She then told me that she was engaged to marry a man that she had only begun speaking to a few weeks before announcing that decision. I asked her about how it would change her life, and she said that she would be moving from place to place around the world because of the nature of his work, and will be spending a long period of time living in places known as active warzones. Nothing made sense to me, and so I gave her space, prayed for her, and let her make the decisions she felt was best.

Usually, at the end of an article, I come to a point of speaking on the lessons learned from an inspiring story, or something like that. This time, I’m left speechless because of my sincere confusion. All I can say is that I hope she is getting married and making these decisions because she’s looking out for herself and is trying to live out her dreams. I have seen a few people get married solely to avoid facing their own realities and the struggles that may come from facing their fears. I sincerely hope she isn’t doing that. Even if her fiancé is a good man, and from what she told me, I’m sure he is…I still hope that she is taking her steps carefully and is acting with wisdom and heart, and not because of others or her own fears. Some may consider it pathetic to still care about someone’s well-being, especially when they hurt me more times than they healed, but I believe it be to a reflection of my sincerity and genuine heart. That is something I am proud of, and I don’t believe it to be arrogant of me to be proud of something like that.

At the end of the day, I wish her the best, and pray that she stays happy, safe, loved by the One Above, and lives out to her greatest potential. May Allah give her clarity and guidance, and bring back the ambitious and confident woman I once knew – bring back the woman that was taken away from thriving, and brought to a life of simply surviving.

There was this woman I once knew.

Poem: Moonlight
Poem: Moonlight 1920 1080 Nadir Keval

Moonlight envisions visionaries.
A mere boulder,
left to wander
into what seems like oblivion.
If it were not for the sun,
it would fall off track,
and would be left to darkness,
never to be seen.
The two, sun and moon, have been paired for each other
by the Ever-Generous Creator,
to bring about life and light
to a world that would die without them.

Today, I am that moon,
and you are the sun.
I am left wandering,
wondering,
when you will shine your gift upon me,
and see that though I am simple and bare,
I would help you shine brighter
because the love we could have
is one that’s almost forgotten,
from having spent so much time being rare.

Still, just as there is night and day,
Divinely decreed time must pass,
in order for life to run smoothly,
and growth to find its pace.
So, until you are ready,
and God gives you clarity,
I will bask in your light patiently.
Until the time comes,
when you choose to shine on me,
so we can see if we
can spark a love
that will brighten the world indefinitely.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: Nourished (with commentary)
Poem: Nourished (with commentary) 640 480 Nadir Keval

Poem: Nourished

Staring out into the ocean, with no land in sight. The world seems so unimportant because here and now, it’s just me and the Most High. I raise my hands in supplication, in search of some direction, in life and in sight, as I seek out clarity in the purest of ambitions. The wind and water hit my face, like pellets of reminders, that the air and water I depend on can hurt me just as much as they nourish me. Yet still, I hold on to them. I can’t let them go, because as much as they may hurt and as much as they may nourish, I need them to understand my relationship with my Lord. His Love is pure, and yet it comes with both pain and pleasure – for lessons and satisfaction. So, how can we expect our love for each other, as humans, which is naturally imperfect, to be flawless and without struggle and difficulty?

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Commentary

All that we face in our lives are opportunities to live – truly live. What value is there in a life without risks, without failures, without pain?  A life like that isn’t living. It is merely an existence. When you look back at your life, you may see that you faced immense amounts of pain at times, which then seemed as though they would be the end of you. But those visions would be faded by the brightness of all the good that came because of or after those painful times.

When you wake every morning, take a deep breath, have a glass of water, and breathe. These are the two basic elements you need in life, and every morning, you are blessed with them, while so many others around the world aren’t. When you go through a struggle, smile because what you are facing isn’t something that hasn’t been faced by someone in the past – they overcame it, and so can you. What you face today is a stepping stone towards greatness, but that is only the case if you recognize that you are capable of greatness. Once you are confident in that, nothing that challenges you becomes overbearing. Instead, it is something you know you must go through to reach that greatness.

Standing on the ferry during my trip yesterday, I felt great gusts of wind pushing me back into the body of the ship. The water struck my body like pins, such that when I finally went back inside, I felt disoriented. Still, I cherished those few simple moments, because I relished in the recognition that I am pleased with the pain I have felt in my life and am grateful for the nourishment Allah has given my soul, even if it was acquired through some difficulty. I raised my hands, and prayed two Rakahs (segments) of prayer as the wind and water continued to push me, and the sounds of the wind silenced my mind to give it the clarity it needed to focus on my connection with Allah. My life was changed. Alhamdulillah. Truly, Alhamdulillah.

Marry Your Best Friend
Marry Your Best Friend 1280 939 Nadir Keval

I may be completely off here, considering I’m not married so I’m saying this off of theory, but I believe that you should marry someone that could become your best friend.

A best friend is someone who loves you for all that you are.

Someone who, when times get rough for you, they support you, even if what you’re going through seems trivial to him/her.

Someone who inspires you to become a better Muslim and person, but recognizes that you’re still human and will have your good and bad days.

A best friend doesn’t make you feel inferior, but rather, helps you banish that inferiority complex through the path that works best for YOU.

A best friend as a lover would be incredible, because you could spend hours being intimate, laughing, crying, and sharing moments, without even coming to the point of anything sexual.

But then, with a best friend, sexuality would be incredible too, because well, you’d be companions and not just partners – individuals combined so perfectly to complete as one.

A best friend would cherish you, because they love you as a friend, as a lover, and also with the best form of love – love for the sake of Allah.

I hope to one day find that best friend, insha Allah, and the search continues, but once I do, I know that I’ll spend a lifetime trying to earn my keep – loving her, cherishing her, and giving her the support and care in every form and fashion that I could have wished for when I didn’t have her.

And I know that even if, God forbid, it doesn’t last forever, I would be happy with God’s Plan, because for what I needed, He knew there wouldn’t be anybody better.

Sanabel’s Promise – She Left Us Her Inspiration
Sanabel’s Promise – She Left Us Her Inspiration 900 664 Nadir Keval

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon. From Allah we have come, and to Him we shall return.

I didn’t know her too well, and I’m sure she didn’t know me, but I had been following her story and her journey for the last little while. She was a friend’s sister, but an inspiration to many around her, and anyone else that heard of her struggle, including myself.

Hearing about Sanabel Abubaker’s return to Allah this morning struck my heart more than any story like this had before. She was merely 25 years old, the same age as I, but she had experienced so much more than I could imagine. Born with a fatal lung disease, she fought for twenty-five years to survive, but from what I’ve seen, she has done far more than that with her life – she has lived. This is far more than most of us can say we’ve done. Sanabel inspired hundreds of people and reminded them of the importance of honoring one’s body.

I ask each and everyone one out there to count your blessings. Allah gave you your body and organs for you to take care of them. They are Ammanah (a trust) to you. Those who smoke, think twice about the consequences you may come across later in life. Those who drink or do drugs think about the harmful things that can happen while you’re under influence. You may take your own life and the life of others. I was born imperfect with a fatal lung disease and Alhamdulilah Im 25 yrs old. With all new medical discoveries I’ve lived this long, but I didn’t have a choice. YOU do! I’m currently at the hospital suffering from 2 bloodclots that traveled to my lungs in addition to a case of pneumonia. Alhamdulilah I could be in much worse condition. I’m fighting through… I want your prayers and your promise to yourself and to Allah that you will take care of your body…. – Sanabel Abubaker

For the last few nights, I’ve struggled to sleep as I’ve been thinking about my own challenges in life. I would make dua for Sanabel and her family, but for some reason, I would continuously feel like my struggle needed more dua. Perhaps because it was closer to home, and so it felt more real. But, I was wrong. I’ve learned that our love for a person for the sake of Allah is not one that is impacted by relation or distance, but by a sincere awareness of Allah’s blessings upon us. I look at Sanabel’s pictures on her Facebook page, and quite honestly, off the top of my head, I can’t recall any one in which she isn’t smiling. Her contagious smile makes your heart smile and tear up, as you realize that you’ve been so ungrateful and need to change and become a better person inside and out.

You know how sometimes, you learn about someone, and even if you’ve never met them in person or even spoken to them, you get this sense that they are truly touched by God? That their sheer existence is to be a symbol of hope, optimism, and faith? That was Sanabel to me. She was and will continue to be, insha Allah, a reminder of hope, faith, and sincerity in my life, as I move forward with my own life. She may no longer be with us to shine a new smile, but I know for certain that her smile has left enough sparks in the hearts of other to ignite a shine so bright that her love and soul will always have a place in this world, just as I pray it will continue to have in the Hereafter.

Take a note from Sanabel’s books and try to inspire change for the better. Make that change within yourself first, and then strive to help others do the same. Ensure that you taking the best care of your health – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Ask yourself if you’re really doing your best to take care of yourself. You never know when you’ll lose that opportunity, or if your children will lose that opportunity because of your carelessness. Be wise, be kind, be righteous, and be happy.

The greatest Jihad (struggle) one will face is the struggle against his own soul. – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.” – Quran (2:286)

I ask you all to join me in taking a moment to pray for Sanabel and her family. I also ask that you share some kind and supportive words on Sanabel’s Facebook page, called Sanabel’s Promise, as I’m sure her friends and family would truly appreciate it. May Allah forgive her of her sins and grant her a coolness in her resting place. May He enter her into Heaven without account, simply through His Infinite Mercy. May He grant her family and friends strength to continue moving forward with memories of her that inspire them to become stronger in their faith and closeness to Allah, as well as to give them the patience, guidance, and support they need in order to face this. And finally, may Allah give them the courage to continue their lives with Sanabel in the hearts forever, and have them all reach Paradise to meet her again one day.

Ameen.

Take The Leap – Taken Literally
Take The Leap – Taken Literally 1920 1080 Nadir Keval

Plenty of times before, I’ve spoken about taking a leap towards the things you face and struggle with in life. In fact, I would say that it’s the center of most of what I talk about in my advice and development articles. Sometimes, this remains as a simple concept in our minds, and we feel as though it’s one of those things that’s just easier said than done. But what if we saw some literally take a leap that seemed as though it would be the end of him, but instead, because he prepared himself, he was able to fly and land safely? When I saw this video (below), I was floored. To take this concept and finally see it become a reality was truly inspiring. I’ve always been more hands-on with the things I do in life, and so, seeing this really motivated me to do even more towards reaching my goals. And since outdoor rock climbing was something I was afraid of doing as a kid, I think that maybe one of these days, Insha Allah, I’ll take the leap and try it out again.

Check out the video and tell me what you think! Would you be willing to take the leap? What kinds of leaps (metaphorically-speaking) have you taken recently? Share your stories in the comments below and who knows, you may just inspire someone to do something that changes their life!

Basejumping with the Skyliners and the Casio G’zOne Commando from Hypebeast on Vimeo.

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