This morning started off in complete chaos. I overslept.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was daylight streaming in through the window.
Subhanallah! I shouted, realizing not only had I overslept for work, but I had missed Fajr too.
I jumped out of bed, quickly making my bed and scrambling to get ready.
All I could see in my closet were hoodies, and none of them seemed right for the day.
Then I spotted my daughter’s sweatshirt. Good enough, I thought, grabbing it in my rush.
After my hygiene routine and prayer, I headed out the door, still half-asleep but determined to start the day.
When I arrived at work, I pulled off my coat—and that’s when it hit me.
What the heck was I wearing?
Not only was the sweatshirt light tan with a giant yellow smiley face staring back at me, but there were stains.
Stains that sat right on my chest for all to see.
I couldn’t believe it. My hijab wasn’t even long enough to cover them!
And that smiley face? If it could talk, I’m sure it would’ve said, “Well, this isn’t good!”
For a moment, I froze, mortified. How could I, a grown woman and head of the medical unit, show up like this—training someone, no less?
Then, I decided to laugh.
All I could think was, What the heck was she eating to leave these greasy stains? And honestly, who cares?
I carried on with my day, and guess what? No one said a word.
No one cared.
The truth is, we often overestimate how much others notice or care about the little things we stress over.
We create these assumptions that we’re the center of everyone’s attention, but in reality, people are too busy worrying about their own lives to think about a stain on someone else’s shirt—or a smiley face staring at them.
By the end of the day, I learned something valuable.
The next time you’re caught up in your head, worrying about what people might say or think, remember this:
No one cares. Own it, and keep it pushing.
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