Ramadan inspires us to be better human beings in various ways.
Charity, kindness, and self-restraint are focused on during Ramadan.
It is very important to take them forward through your Eid resolutions.
After all, it is not about one month, but who we become after it that counts.
Here are nine ideas to inspire your post-Ramadan resolutions.
1. Charity
Charity begins at home, as they say, and should be year-round, not just for one month.
It is not only about giving when you have extra. It is about understanding our responsibility for other human lives in the world.
Giving, in whatever small amount, is a great way to help a less fortunate person. Ramadan teaches you to be kind and charitable, not just for a month but for as long as you live.
2. Self-Restraint
Ramadan, as a month of fasting and restraint, teaches us the importance of self-restraint.
Take a resolution to practice this control in all aspects of life. Put needs over wants in terms of food and money.
This restraint will help you realize how blessed we are in comparison to others who don’t have enough for their basic needs, and it will also help you have better control over yourself and your life.
3. Sponsor a Child
Sponsoring a child involves being financially responsible for his or her educational expenses, sometimes extending to include living expenses too.
The payments involved in such programs are in yearly, half-yearly, or monthly installments of small amounts.
Almost all sponsorship programs give you periodic school progress reports and other details about the child. Some programs also allow you to be in contact with your sponsored child.
4. All or Nothing
The essence of Ramadan is trying to be the best version of yourself, whether it’s at work or at home.
When fasting ends, keep your efforts up to maximum productivity and 100 percent commitment to your work and family.
5. Fast One Day in a Month
Rekindle the spirit of Ramadan once a month by selecting one day to fast.
It will refresh your mind and body. End your fast in as healthy way as possible.
Meditate, spend time in positive introspection, and take the day slow.
This will help refresh your mind and help you de-stress while detoxing your body.
6. Tolerance
The spiritual element of Ramadan automatically instills a positive feeling, which permeates all our activities.
Even people who don’t fast seem to make the extra effort to be positive, polite, and tolerant.
Carry this forward this Eid and strive to be understanding and tolerant of people or events around you.
Be ready to listen and learn as much as you can. Be open-minded to ideas, even if they make no sense to you at first.
Tolerance only comes through understanding and acceptance of things that are new or different.
7. Eat Less Meat
As responsible human beings, we should avoid taking lives just because we like eating meat.
We have so many options available to us, yet we seem unable to control our appetite for meat.
Regardless of your culture or normal eating patterns, eating less meat is easy to do and healthier for you.
For a start, restrict yourself to just one or two non-vegetarian meals a week.
8. Volunteer Once a Month
Volunteer for a cause close to your heart once a month.
Find a cause you feel passionate about and do adequate research on the organization before registering as a volunteer.