We say that if we knew our expiration dates, we would live life differently. Yet, it's written that tomorrow is not guaranteed and we still go on living our lives no differently.In today's episode, I sit down with Sondos Kholaki, who is a Muslim Chaplain and author, to discuss a topic most of us intentionally avoid and that is Death. But, what if we chose to view death as a gift? What if we realized that there is so much more to learn from loss and grief?In this discussion we come face to face with our own mortality and the art of grieving.Death, loss and grief are some of the things we struggle with navigating. It can be a journey filled with a rollercoaster ride of emotions and one that we may never know how to proceed without a generous amount of caution.We realize that losing a loved one is a reality check that we were never prepared for and grief becomes a part of us, something that we will never be able to escape. 

It's truly a wake up call when you realize that death is written for every one of us. But why is it that we avoid talking about it? What do we truly fear when it comes to this concept? Is it the fact that we will one day leave our loved ones behind or is it that we fear we are not fulfilling our soul's purpose?I want to thank Chaplain Sondos Kholaki for taking the time to share with us what it means to be a Chaplain and what death has personally taught her. We dive into the process of grieving and the many forms it takes on.  This is a discussion that Sondos beautifully leads with compassion and understanding.  She teaches us to not fear death but to embrace this reality and to not become overwhelmed when we find ourselves at the intersection of joy and grief, and life and death.

I would like to also take a moment to give my condolences to the family of Chaplain Sohaib Sultan, who was Princeton's first Muslim Chaplain and Sondos's first mentor. He is someone who has led a life of inspiration, compassion, kindness and so much more. May Allah grant him the highest of heavens inshallah.

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:@unsweetenedandunfilteredFollow Ch. Sondos Kholaki on Instagram:@by_the penPurchase 'Musings of a Muslim Chaplain' here:Musings of a Muslim Chaplain