Today's experiment note:
DRY EYEBALLS.
Clearly when my body dry fasts the first thing it does is hoover moisture from my eyes--like I don't need them anymore?!
Again, I'm very impressed that so many humans do this every year. It is *so* much rougher on the body than water fasting.
I'm good, but what a profound reminder that we're all just one bad day from being tasked to be our best selves amid physical depletion from lack of food and water.
No wonder our world is so raw and full of pain. π―οΈ
Oh my goodness, what a perfect detail to remember! I too am an organ donor; I should definitely make that note as well.
Thank you for mentioning this!
Help me to understand the point of dry fasting?
It's done by Muslims once a year for a month in Ramadan, from dawn to dusk, and also in some Evangelical Christian communities.
I think the physical depletion over the day is used to bond people in their religious devotion, because breaking the fast in Ramadan is a joyous and communal affair, suffusing one in prayer and feasts after a day of being laid low.
Ramadan is also tied to charitable giving and a reminder of worldly suffering. That part, this atheist vibes with 100%.
(But otherwise, heck no. Water fasting is way safer and much more of a natural "boost" when done responsibly.)
Thank you βοΈ ML
Thank you for making space for the reflection! π€
@MLClark Water fasting? You don't drink water? That's not healthy in any form, religion or not. I understand Ramadan, but not water fasting.
Water fasting is when you ONLY drink water - and ideally take salt, potassium, and magnesium as well.
Ramadan is dry fasting - no water or food from dawn until dusk for a month. That's much tougher.
@MLClark Thank you.
@MLClark I have students fasting for Ramadan. Iβve long known the basics for how to support them. This year kids who show up cuz its an ok space (not on my roster) asked if they could pray.
Of course and how can I support?
Was a privilege, and learning for non muslim students. And For me!
Exactly, Laurel! Growing up alongside a lot more Christian and Jewish students, with calendars shaped around their holy days, I've had plenty of experiences with their forms of abstention and dietary restrictions, but this is my first time trying out what the healthy non-pregnant observant adults from our world's 1.9 billion Muslims do every year.
It is eye-opening!
(And eye-drying-out π
- but I have drops for that!)
Thanks for being a safe space for the students your sphere. β€οΈπ€
@MLClark The child who brought friends, and asked, is a kid Ive known for years, shes a senior now. She said she was experienced, comfortable, praying in front of others.
It was a gift, we all sensed it, even if we didn't understand it. Happy to report that it was a sacred moment respected by all in the classroom.
In a world that has made school such an unsafe place for so many children, thank you *so* much for all the hard work you do to ease the strain for your students. π€
@MLClark You need a stillsuit.
@MLClark thank you for sharing this. When I prepared my living will and health care power of attorney, I wanted to have food withheld at the end but not water because I am an organ donor. I feared that dehydration would impair the organs that could help others.