Reconnect with our values

As Italy begins to gradually reopen this week, after the longest lockdown in Europe, activist Anass Hanafi, co-founder of the Italian Inclusive Leaders Network, reflects on how this time has allowed him to reconnect with his values. 

It’s very interesting to have this time to know ourselves; to reconnect with our values; to try and find some answers and help others find answers. Like now, we look at this life as if it is eternal; we work in this life as if it will be forever. But we all know that it’s not – it’s like, poof – we’re all just passing. When we realize that the importance is not what you have, but who you are, as a person, then you start thinking about the relationship you have with yourself, with your family, and with your society.

For example, I had the possibility of talking with my family, of discovering many stories of my parents that I didn’t know before. Like why my dad chose to settle in Torino. He had seen a football match when he was in Morocco in 1985. Then when he arrived in Italy, he said let’s go to the place where the football match was – it seems good. He was my age when he came here, with all his dreams. I had the possibility to knock on the doors of some neighbors, as I’m not usually in my neighborhood during the daytime. It’s quite interesting to know people, to rely on them, to help them.

There are two faces to this coin – one is negative, we have this black swan that came and we don’t know how we’re going to deal with it; on the other side, we have to use this moment of crisis to understand what is our role, in society, as people, and as Islamic communities. How can we be helpful; how can we strengthen the community we’re in.

To read all '30 reflections for our times', please follow the Facebook page '30 days 30 deeds', Instagram @salmahasanali, or subscribe to the newsletter at www.salmahasanali.com.