What Now? Reflections and Perspectives
By Iqbal Unus
Sep/Oct 2024
Thank you for attending ISNA’s 61st Annual Convention. It wouldn’t be a convention without you. But all good things must come to an end, and so does a convention.
If you are a frequent or an occasional attendee, you must surely wonder “What now?” You may have listened to several distinguished speakers and experts, asked questions, and analyzed their responses. You may have roamed the hallways connecting with old friends and making new ones or meandering the bazaar’s alleys wondering about all that it offered in stimulation, opportunities to get involved, and, yes, bargains. At the end of it all, when you got into your car to drive back or struggled through an airport security line, you must have wondered what’s next.
Let’s help you with that. Wonder no more.
First, ask yourself how do I go from the motivation, knowledge, and experience I have gained to action that might enhance my personal development and desire to benefit others?
The first step in this regard actually precedes the question itself. Ask yourself what your goals and expectations were for being at the convention. Remember that you may have fine-tuned or even changed your goals as you savored new experiences and new inspiration. That’s alright. You didn’t start with a blank slate, but used your eraser and chalk to keep yourself tuned to what this convention meant as you went along.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You experienced the convention attentively and recorded your experiences when you could, positive or otherwise. You stayed focused. When there were options, you choose a session thoughtfully. You took notes when you could, asked questions when permitted, and discussed with others after the session about what you had heard. Your objective was to understand, refine, and remember what the session was about. When possible, you connected with speakers.
And yes, you didn’t sidestep social opportunities around a lunch table perhaps or just while walking around. You were surprised at what you learned in a relaxed setting. It was a good opportunity for human connection as opposed to a screen.
Now that you have time to reflect on goals you’ve identified as worthy of your effort and commitment, fine tune them so they become specific and achievable. Have you heard about how to eat an elephant? One bite at a time, of course. Break your goals down to smaller “chewable” bites that you can accomplish. Setting goals is great; achieving them is what matters.
You know that nothing can be achieved unless we make it a habit and set up a way to schedule it in our routines. That wouldn’t be of much use, unless we also track how we are progressing toward achievement. Celebrate each significant success on the way.
But wait a moment. You’re not doing it alone. That’s where the convention experience comes into your plan again. Remember the sessions you attended, people you met who showed a similar interest, and shared your passion for making a change. Connect with them. Exchange information and aspirations. Identify those who could mentor you or whom you could mentor. Above all, pass on what you learned to those who could not attend. Share your inspiration and aspiration with them. Seek to grow your circle of associates in driving toward the goals you set for yourself during and after the convention.
Remember old friends you met at the convention and the new ones you made, whom you promised to stay in touch with. You had a good time socializing with them then; now stay connected to strengthen your friendships.
Let all this be between ISNA and you working together. Let’s hold hands and move forward in service to our community and the community at large around us, with no higher motive than to seek the pleasure of God. In the process, let this convention be a vehicle to enhance our own capacity to serve and our own desire to advance each day in service to others.
Remember the Prophet’s (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advice, as reported by Ibn ‘Umar: “One whose two days are equal is at a loss.”
Iqbal Unus is an ISNA Convention enthusiast.
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