Day 32 - Salima Ibrahim-Khan

I carry a stone in my purse that my office manager handed me when I needed to rush from work to be with my dear dad. The stone reads “Hope.”  A few months ago my mom took my dad to the hospital to find out what’s happening. He has been in the hospital for months now with fleeting moments of despair, uncertainty, shock, sadness, confusion, depression, gratitude, regret, immense love and an abundance of hope.
What I have learned is that we can always have hope. With hope comes an urgency to learn more, do more and make more goodness in the world. My early introductions to hope came from philosopher Immanuel Kant’s words “What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope?” It is this last question that means so much when we feel love for others. It can be in moments when caring for our parents and hoping they are not suffering and at peace and it can be in moments when we are raising awareness for children in war and hoping they know they are worthy and one day they will find peace again.
Hope gets us up everyday to keep going and keep doing the good work, the peace work. Later I came to lean on Gandhian words of ahimsa, peace and nonviolence, “There is no path to peace, peace is the path.” It is everyday intentional practice, a labour of love and service to all around us, the people, the earth, to ourself that is the necessary work we must each do. By making time to connect, listen and share stories we learn and grow together and be inspired by those before us.
As I spend many hours sitting by my dad’s side I think about the generosity of his being, how he helped so many, how he always showed up when people were in need, how he always showed kindness. He encouraged us to do the same and these are the teachings I hope to continue and pass on. We can show up in peace, in ahimsa and help others see that they can do more with their words and helping hands.  My hope is to continue during the season of nonviolence and beyond to show up in peace, care, connection, gratitude empathy and love for humanity. Thank you Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace for giving me space, voice and the ability to reflect on my peace practice so I may continue to spread messages of hope and be hopeful myself.

Salima Ibrahim-Khan, Toronto, Ontario