Mailbag: Just throwing in a starfish

by HijabMan :: posted 5 July 07

A couple days ago, I received this anonymous message on Facebook, and I’d like to respond:

“I don’t see the point in a lot of the things you do, i mean there’s so much more you could do with the exposure you’ve gained. instead you wear balloon hats and act in a manner in which no one can take you seriously. don’t waste your potential man”

Thank you for taking the time to write, I truly appreciate it. I’d like to tell you a well-known story.

One day, a girl walking across a beach came upon hundreds, possibly thousands of starfish that had washed up on to the shore. She didn’t want them to die, so she started throwing them back in one by one. Many people on the beach saw this, and eventually one of them, a man, approached her.

“You know, there are thousands of these starfish on the beach, you can’t possibly make a difference!”

The girl looked up at the man blankly, picked up another starfish, and flung it into the water.

“I made a difference to that one,” she stated matter of factly.

Inspired, the man and others on the beach joined her until all of the starfish were saved.

In this story, I can imagine you to be the girl’s father who complained to her. “Why the heck are you going out to the beach again, wasting time? You have so much potential!” Keep in mind, he wasn’t at the beach, nor did he know what happened at the beach.

Back in my youth, my parents were worried about my spending so much time on the internet. They didn’t know I was making human connections all over the globe, and they didn’t know I was teaching myself new skills.

And I didn’t necessarily tell them, just as I don’t tell you. God tells us that it is better to give charity in secret,* I believe that isn’t necessarily limited to money. It could be in the form of giving empathy, inspiration, or even just a smile. Just because you do not see it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening, my friend. And while I won’t put a number on ‘good things’ that have come from my efforts, let’s just say that there is a fair chance that at least one of the hundreds of thousands of unique visitors this site gets each year is inspired by something they find. Just like the girl and her starfish said, I made a difference to that one. And I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for God (I hope).

The girl led by example. She didn’t force people to do anything, she didn’t even ask people to help her. So what did she do? Out of the love she had for God’s creations, she used the body, the blessings that God gave her, and used them to serve those same creations.

Ultimately, this is about staying conscious of God while doing something with the Favors that God has given you, right? Right now, I’m working a full-time job, running the business, regularly hanging out with family, and struggling with a few different web projects… I’m not complaining. I’m doing what I love, I’m doing it for me and the world, and praise be to God some are inspired by it.

Sure, there are many ways in which I could be doing better. I actually agree with you. I haven’t met my potential yet. I realize my potential, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to actualize that. I noticed that you didn’t offer any suggestions for me, as far as actualizing my potential. Care to comment on that? In fact let’s open it up.

If you are reading this, what do you think I could do or should be doing? I’d truly appreciate your commentary. Thanks.

_______________________

*“If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you bestow it upon the needy in secret, it will be even better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds. And God is aware of all that you do.” Qur’an 2:271

rawi at 5 July 07 :: #

In all honesty, more Muslims need to wear balloon hats and just take it easy. Our pretense of being overly serious hasn’t gotten us anywhere :-)

p.s. It was great to hear from you the other day. Looking forward to updates!
The Imugi at 5 July 07 :: #

Well-said. :) Besides, who says you can’t do God’s work with a balloon hat?
Will at 5 July 07 :: #

All I can say is I find this place (can you call a web page “this place”?) a very nice, relaxing place to visit and your stories and observations more than just a little food for thought.

If that’s not doing a lot, man, I wish someone would tell me what is.

Oh, and I hope you all had a good 4th. :)
katiktuni at 5 July 07 :: #

Nice post:). In addition, not that I have any control over the matter, but I think it’s time society redefines who and what we take seriously. Why would wearing a balloon hat make someone less worthy of respect. As Muslims we know only too well what it’s like to be pigeonholed/stereotyped, but we can’t really expect that to stop until we stop doing it ourselves in all avenues of our lives.
HippieMom at 5 July 07 :: #

That anonymous guy/girl probablaly doesn’t know much about you. You’re doing a lot of wonderful things.
Farha at 7 July 07 :: #

you’re great just the way you are. and being great always entails improvements, and that you’re doing inshaAllah. God bless you and your balloon hats :)
PrincessEgypt at 7 July 07 :: #

Salam! I love you!
Suggestions for things you can do to more actualize your potential:
a. Start an Oprah-like television show
b. Write an autobiography
Optimal at 7 July 07 :: #

Great post, mashallah. I was wondering, where did you get that anecdote?
Faiza at 8 July 07 :: #

I think you’re doing a lot as it is, in your own not-so-little way. I mean, the t-shirts alone are so great. And balloon hats are fun.
Hafsa Ahmad at 8 July 07 :: #

I think what you’re doing right now is great as it is. Its not as small as it seems to the girl who said that. On a personal level, your shirts have actually made an impact in my school. The shrts are funny, but at the same time they send a strong political message (most).

I’ve been approached while wearing hijabman shirts by people that would never have said anything. They all had questions and were genuinely interested. Your shirts made the topic seem a little lighter, and gave them a chance to ask what they had in mind. And more than one person has walked away saying, “wow, I never knew that” or “i never imagined what it would be like”

So thanks, hijabman.
What you’re doing is awesome as it is.
ICNA-MAS Convention attendee at 9 July 07 :: #

Looks like the shirts are good tools for Da’wah:

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-islamic.artjul08,0,4875102.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
Aisha at 9 July 07 :: #

GRRRRRR!

Who said that? Let me at them!

:) In all seriousness that upsets me that someone left that comment. I know the point of your post is not to say “look how mean they are” but its just such a statement of the issue in Islam we are having with the struggle to find our place and to tell each other what to do and how they should spend their time.

I haven’t met you (yet) but you are such an inspiration to but beyond that you give me hope that there are others like you out there, happy, joyous, THINKING, DOING Muslims out there. it is through you and people like you that things will change within our community.

I will say this. I tried to work within the Muslim community back in my college days. Its hard work and for me I realized i was not strong enough. I do my part for Muslims but I do it from outside. I help families who need my help who are Muslim and I try to be in a position of good work to give Muslims a good light in the way I carry my life and with the people I meet, but venturing into the Muslim community to interact and thus create change? I’m too scarred and bruised to even consider it.

I know that people probably say things like this to you all the time. I was told things like this and far worse in my time. Its why I stopped trying in that capacity.

Your store and the things you do and write about give me so much hope that there are people who are strong enough to try to work on bettering the Ummah.

You have potential and you are utilizing your potential. There are many miles to go before you sleep in this journey of life and insh’allah you will continue to succceed and build upon the stepping stones you are creating.

I know you were not looking for a “YOU ROCK” comment… but for every such negative comment I am going to try my darn hardest to let peole like you know that WE NEED YOU and dont let such people who will be more than people like me encouraging you, to get you down and even make you consider giving up on affecting change.
Mujahideen Ryder at 10 July 07 :: #

Post that video you showed me.
HijabMan at 10 July 07 :: #

Anecdote: It is fairly well known, I was reminded of it on NPR the other day. Just google.

Mujjy- Will do.

Everyone else, thank you for the comments. As always, thank you for the inspiration. More soon

Welcome! This site serves two main purposes: to entertain and educate the Believing and curious community, and to generate a bit of cash—God willing. But there’s a lot more about HijabMan.

Mailbag: Just throwing in a starfish

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