A Celebration Touched by Grief and Kindness

A Celebration Touched by Grief and Kindness Eid will never feel the same without Sana. Though she didn’t always fast, the celebration was a highlight for her—especially the gifts she received. She loved the ritual of dressing up, sharing meals, and embracing the warmth of family and friends. One of her favorite traditions was visiting a friend in Singapore who prepared the most elaborate Eid spread. Sana would eagerly wait for that feast every year, her excitement infectious. This year, we chose to mark Eid differently. Instead of a traditional celebration, we took a day trip with Maahir. Though we didn’t talk about it, thoughts of Sana lingered in our minds, woven into every quiet moment. Last year, we celebrated at home with her, believing we had more Eids to share. Many people have reached out, sending beautiful messages about grief. I recently read a blog by a father who had lost his daughter. He wrote that the only way to live with grief is to help someone else going through it or to honor the memory of the person who is no longer here. Those words resonated deeply. Sana was the epitome of kindness. No matter how bad her day was, she always made time to listen to others, to offer comfort, to simply be there. I truly believe she would have been happier in Chicago over New York. New York moves fast—people are too caught up in their lives to pause. Chicagoans, on the other hand, have a warmth and kindness that I know Sana would have appreciated. So, after this blessed month of Ramadan, in Sana’s honor, I will continue spreading her kindness. It’s what she would have done. It’s what she would have wanted.