My Big Fat Greek Project

Photo Courtesy of Adamos Maximus

Sister Iman is the woman behind greeksrethink.com.  Below, she gives us her inspiration filled answers to some very important questions.  And for the visually inclined, don’t forget to check out the video of her project.

1.  Sister Iman, describe your project and the process you went through in realizing how important it is to you?
 
Iman:  I realized my life calling at a point in my life when everything seemed passionless. Committing to my own personal development gave me the lenses to see through the fog.  Through a process of six months of analyzing and reflecting about empowering questions, I started to unravel the life of my dreams.
 
I had this insane dream to revolutionize Islam in Greece.   I sat down one day and just wrote out a 10 year vision plan.  I kept writing and writing and I couldn’t stop.  Then I just stared at it and I remember thinking, this is insane!  But it was just an exhilarating feeling to even allow myself to take my imagination that far.  At that point, I was determined more than ever to go through with it.
 
I was scared because I was only one person and I barely knew any other Greek Muslims let alone in Greece but I did know that Greece was the only European Union country where there is still no mosque allowed in its capital city.  This is the place where every Muslim is called a Turk who “enslaved them for 400 years”.  So, you can imagine the mountain of a task in front of me.
 
 
2.  What motivates you each day as you continue to work on this project?
 
Iman:  I am motivated each and every day because I know that Allah has given me life to carry this duty out and I must fulfill my duty.  Changing my perception from thinking it is optional to knowing it is mandatory upon me makes all the difference.
 
On the other hand, practically speaking, it is proven that in order for women to feel stress-free while they are succeeding, they need to feel that they have support (which is not the case for men).  I have been blessed to find a team that works with me on the same vision and this is my backbone.
 
3.  In thinking about the scope of your project, what are your hopes for the future?
 
Iman:  I want to see religious freedom for Muslims in Greek society as well as mutual respect between people of different faiths. I hope that through our efforts, we will establish a thriving communal system that will become an integral part of Greek society.
 
4.  How do you balance this project with the other time demands in your life?  Any helpful hints?
 
Iman:  This is toughie and will always be for women.  What was so hard for me for many years was that I thought in order for me to live my life calling, I had to be out there in the workplace and that just didn’t fit with my lifestyle so I ended up giving it up all together.  Big mistake because not living your passion can totally depress a person.  Through self development, I realized what the trick is.  You have to create a way to live your passion WITHIN the reality of your lifestyle.  That way, you are living the best of both worlds. 
 
5.  There are women out there reading this who have project ideas in their heads.  They’re listening.  Talk to them
 
Iman:  You are a beautiful woman.  Dare to dream. Go beyond. Let your mind go wild.  If you want to live beyond an average life and live the life your dreams, then my advice is to go and really take your development seriously. Once you know what your life passion is and make a plan for it, the secret weapon is to keep making dua for it in the last third of the night and Allah will lead you there.  As one shaykh said, you don’t really want it if you are not praying tahajjud for it.

****
Make sure to visit and be enthralled with Iman’s amazing job at www.greeksrethink.com.  Although there’s a lot of amazing stuff in English, it will still make you want to learn Greek

Wanna start your own project?  Check this out:  http://iamsheba.com/?p=196