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Kul am wa inta bikhair

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  Why People Say “Kul ʿĀm wa‑inta Bikhair” During Ramadan If you spend any time around Arabic‑speaking communities during Ramadan, you’ll hear a warm, melodic phrase exchanged again and again: “kul ʿām wa‑inta bikhair.” It’s one of those expressions that carries more than its literal meaning. It’s a blessing, a wish, and a gesture of affection all at once. What the Phrase Literally Means In Arabic, the words break down simply: kul ʿām — “every year” wa‑inta — “and you” (or “wa‑inti” when speaking to a woman) bikhair — “in goodness,” “in well‑being,” “in a good state” Put together, it means something like: “May you be well every year.” Or, more expansively: “May each year find you in goodness, health, and peace.” It’s not tied only to Ramadan—you’ll hear it at Eid, New Year’s, and other milestones—but Ramadan gives it a special resonance. Why It Matters During Ramadan Ramadan is a month built around intention: caring for others, softening the heart, and practicing ...

Available on pre-order: Breakthrough Alzheimer's Care (WIlson)

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Available now on pre-order:  Breakthrough Alzheimer's Care  by Mark Wilson. Use coupon code FF 25 for 25% discount. Also available on Barnes & Noble and, coming, Amazon. Book Description Pathways to Inner Peace  offers a guiding light of hope in a world too often filled with stress, disconnection, and uncertainty. Blending scientific insight, spiritual wisdom, personal stories, and practical exercises, this book helps readers cultivate peace of mind and deepen their connection—to themselves, to others, and to the natural world. Inspiring and accessible, it’s a companion for anyone seeking greater clarity, calm, and meaning in daily life. Keywords inner peace; mindfulness; emotional well-being; stress relief; spiritual growth; personal transformation; self-awareness; holistic healing; mind-body connection' guided exercises; peace of mind; connection to nature; self-discovery; practical spirituality; daily calm; clarity and purpose; mental health; resilience; inspi...

Precerpt from My 20th Language: L2 Latin - Fourth Grade

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  Latin, L2 Latin was perhaps my second language. Perhaps French was. It would be difficult to say since I grew up in a monolingual English household in a French-English bilingual community. French was “around” but had not arisen to a level of awareness by the time Latin came into my life—and stayed there for a lifetime.   Fourth Grade My father never completed high school. The oldest of six living children (a set of twins died right after birth), he had to drop out of school during the Great Depression and take a job to help support the family. He always wanted to finish, and he even signed up for a correspondence high school course. With eight children, however, he had his hands full feeding, clothing, and raising them. He was still working on that correspondence course when he died of a heart attack at the age of 58. Not having a formal education never held him back from intellectual activities. Neither did his daytime job as a shoe cutter nor his all-consuming wo...

Rejoice in Hope

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We rejoice in hope in troubled times by rooting urselves in the same spiritual posture the Church has urged at every threshold moment: gratitude for what God has already done and trust in what God has yet to reveal . That pairing—thanksgiving and hope—runs through papal teaching as 2026 approached, especially in the reflections gathered by Vatican News. The heart of Christian hope Christian hope is not optimism or denial. It is the theological virtue that anchors us in God’s fidelity. Pope Leo XIV, closing the Jubilee Year of Hope in December 2025, insisted that hope “does not finish” when a holy year ends; it continues because hope is generative , something that “gives life” and “generates” new possibilities even when circumstances look bleak. This is the Church’s starting point: hope is not a mood but a participation in God’s own life. St. Paul describes the inner mechanics of this hope: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces...