Reflections of 73 Years: A Word from the Publisher

At the age of 40, I started a little publishing company. Mid-life crisis or fighting for a dream? I still haven’t figured that out. 

What I do know is that this small venture soon led to something bigger than I could have imagined. One of our first projects was an anthology for Barfi Books. We sent out a call for submissions, and the response was overwhelming. Many contributors mentioned that they had heard about it from Aunty Amina, whom we had met at our Hayati author’s meet-and-greet. She had posted about it in the Friends group, spreading the word far and wide. 

Among the responses, one stood out – Aunty Z. She first enquired about the project, then sent in a piece. Then another. And another. And another. Each submission was beautiful, filled with depth and wisdom. Eventually, we asked if we could save her pieces for something more. She agreed. 

One day, I opened the file containing all her submissions, and it hit me – Wow! It felt as though this woman in her 70s was speaking directly to me about what’s next in life. The 40s are a time of change, questioning, and even doubt. As I read her words, it felt as though they were written just for me, as if she had reached across time to share her experiences. Then I thought, I can’t be the only one feeling this way.

If Aunty Z had felt this way in her 40s, and I feel this way now, then surely her reflections are universal. Her writing was exactly what I had dreamed of publishing – thoughtful, introspective, and rich with wisdom. It was the kind of voice I wanted to preserve, a literary photograph to return to again and again. This was what I had envisioned when I spoke about uplifting literature in our community. 

When I approached Aunty Z about turning her pieces into a book, she was hesitant at first, then excited. We took it step by step. She sent in her raw pieces, we edited them, sent them back, and slowly, a book began to take shape. Our 65-year-old editor read the manuscript and found it deeply resonant. Our mid-40s proofreader felt the same. Each person who read it saw themselves reflected in its pages. 

And now, here we are, looking back in amazement. Allah SWT made this happen, aligning each step perfectly for us. SubhanAllah. 

May this book bring wisdom and warmth to everyone who reads it, just as it did for me. 

More than just a collection of reflections from a gifted soul, Reflections of 73 Years is a gift. A gift of wisdom, of gentle reassurance, of understanding that every stage of life has its lessons, its beauty, and its purpose. 

At this moment in my journey, it has been the guiding light I needed to navigate the chaos of life. I pray it offers the same to every reader. May these words remind us all to embrace life as it unfolds, to cherish the present, and to walk forward with intention. 

Thank you, Aunty Z, for this gift to me. I hope I have paid it forward, and that it becomes a gift to every reader as well.