Kissing 2019 Goodbye and Finally Taking Our Own Advice

12/25/19 • 69 min

In Episode 40, we’re kissing 2019 goodbye. Ma3a salama!
We sit down to answer all of your questions. Some are intense and raw, like “What stands between you and becoming a happier person?”
Others are a bit more silly, like “What’s the stupidest thing you’ve been dared to do?” You guys are not going to believe Dounya’s answer!

We discuss stress, dealing with conflicts, mistakes we’ve made in the past and all things in between. We laugh, we (almost) cry and we let it all out.
In this episode, you’ll also come to find out just how hypocritical we are. Yup, we don’t practice what we preach. We’re calling ourselves out and putting it all on blast. This also ties into our announcement at the end of the episode.

You’ll just have to listen to find out.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making 2019 a year for the books. We could not have made it to this point of our podcasting journey if it wasn’t for you and your support. You have made the handwork, sleepless nights, stress-induced acne and dark under-eye circles worth it all!

But on a serious note, thank you for making our small circle much bigger than we could have ever imagined it to become! This sisterhood is here to stay!
We have so many incredible things planned for 2020, so make sure you stay tuned for Season Two!
Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered

Previous Episode

Finding the Silver Lining Within Our Hardships and Embodying Gratitude with Lina Bettayeb

In Episode 39, Lina Bettayeb joins us as she dives into the family trip that had completely changed her life.

At the age of 16, Lina and her family embark on a journey to Umrah. Her memory jumps from a joyous van full of her loved ones on their way to complete their pilgrimage to waking up in the hospital connected to several life-saving machines.

Although, she still can't piece together the memories of what happened that day, Lina tells us that her dad was the one to fill her in: A reckless driver crashed into their vehicle leaving Lina and her mother both paralyzed.

Lina spent one year in the hospital and was told by multiple health professionals that she would never be able to walk again.

But she didn't let that stop her from trying. She spent her time in the hospital with her nose nuzzled in books, conducting her own research and working on a rehabilitation plan that was best suited for her.

Through this experience that had shook the core of her livelihood, Lina explains how she trained her brain to see the silver lining within this hardship and how she truly connected to her faith for the first time and strengthened her relationship with God.

Lina's message to the world is to truly believe in the power of our mind. She explains to us how our positive thinking and overall attitude towards life's situations has a real impact on the way our body heals.

As you listen to Lina share her story and her message, we hope that you can take away a new definition of gratitude.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Lina on Instagram: @linathedreamer

Next Episode

Domestic Violence: From Victim to Survivor

*Trigger warning: We discuss domestic violence in length throughout this episode. If you feel the content discussed may be triggering, please either proceed with caution or feel free to listen to any one of our previous episodes.*

In our first episode of Season Two, we are joined by an anonymous guest who opens up about her experience with domestic violence and the impact it has had on her life to this day. We respect our guest's decision to remain anonymous due to her children not knowing the extent of their father's abuse.

Sometimes our minds are so clouded by love that we're blinded to what's really going on around us. Other times, no matter how vigilant we are, abusers can be extremely deceitful. It's important to realize that when we find ourselves in similar situations - it is never our fault.

Our guest walks us through her engagement period and describes the red flags she didn't realize were early warning signs. She discusses her first few years of marriage when the physical abuse first began alongside the pre-existing emotional/verbal abuse, and how the mind games slowly trickled in.

Several failed attempts of repairing the marriage, multiple pregnancies and a plethora of mental, physical and spiritual abuse, our guest spent years dealing with a nightmare she had only wished she could wake up from.

She also opens up about the moment that will forever be etched into her memory of what finally made her decide to stand on her own two feet and leave the abusive relationship once and for all. This life-changing decision was also potentially a life-saving one.

We hope this episode will raise awareness in regards to the stages of abusive relationships, how a victim can find his/her way out, how we can collectively prevent a loved one from facing abuse and in what ways we could be of assistance to those who are facing domestic abuse.

Important Resources!

We have listed out credible resources below to help those who are struggling in a domestic relationship to get the help that they deserve. Remember to also seek assistance from your local mosque, women shelters, and licensed mental health professionals.

1. PEACEFUL FAMILIES PROJECT: WWW.PEACEFULFAMILIES.ORG
A national organization devoted to preventing domestic violence with a focus on Muslim families of all backgrounds, through education and interventions.
2. THE ASIAN PACIFIC INSTITUTE ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: WWW.API-GBV.ORG
A resource center for sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence in Asian communities. They provide training and technical assistance with the help of advocates, community based service programs and both legal and mental health professionals.
3. PROJECT SAKINAH: WWW.PROJECTSAKINAH.ORG
A program that assists with community efforts to grow healthy families that protect women, children and men from neglect and homes broken by violence.
4. KHALIL CENTER: WWW.KHALILCENTER.COM
A spiritual wellness center which applies the traditional Islamic spiritual healing methods to modern clinical psychology. Services include: religious consultations, immigration evaluations and premarital coaching. They also have a crisis hotline: 855 543 5752
5. TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER: WWW.TAHIRIH.ORG
Their mission is to protect immigrant women and girls who refuse to be victims of abuse by elevating their voices within the community, courts and Congress. They also provide free immigration, family and civil legal services, and they help their clients rebuild their lives, safely.