"I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something good in men that really yearns for discipline."
Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers Football Coach; 1913-'70
As I spend hours upon hours toiling over MCAT material and honing verbal skills, I can't help but feel how important it is to live a life of discipline; discipline of mind, body and spirit. This realization, a conclusion in the making for a sometime now, actualized in this post, is something I have yearned for a longtime, and tasted time and time again. It is by no measure an easy feat, but one that requires conviction and perseverance.
As a devout Muslim, it is not only a desire but an imperative. A Muslims day starts with the remembrance of God, in the morning prayer (Fajr), which is to be preformed before sunrise. This mandatory prayer requires implementation of proper sleep habits. While many fall back to sleep after prayers (myself included so many times before), the few that stay awake enjoy a special period of the day. The twilight hours are a unique and perfect opportunity for reflection and personal growth. The air is cooler, fresher, quieter and more serene. Actions in the early morning set the pace for the rest of the day, whether its getting an early start at work, academia, a morning run, spiritual development, whatever it is, the rest of the day just seems more fruitful. To adhere to this type of living is an achievement in itself and bound to lead to a much more fulfilling life.