<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Ridvan Idara Consulting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ridvan Idara Consulting]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:08:09 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.ridvanidara.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[From the Middle Passage to the Coral Garden: A Journey of Reclamation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three years ago, in our hotel restaurant in Portugal, my husband jokingly referred to me as "Princess" as I fussed over something. I corrected him, stating that I go by “Your Majesty." A young Portuguese hostess overheard us, joining the joke. For the rest of our stay, she addressed me as "Your Majesty." It was a lighthearted moment, but as I walked through the Belem district touring the historic landmarks, the Tower of Belém and the sail-shaped Discoveries Monument that celebrate Portugal’s...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/from-the-middle-passage-to-the-coral-garden-a-journey-of-reclamation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e95de61674ad8b6e16734</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_d69e77627f0e4d2e9b860d64cbf5d072~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Service as an Antidote to Materialism]]></title><description><![CDATA[The holiday season is a time of sensory delight: festive lights, family gatherings, and the cozy scent of pine and spices. It has also come to be known as the “giving season,” driving a welcome surge in charity and volunteerism. Yet, this period has become increasingly dominated by commercialism. Following a day of gratitude (Thanksgiving), we plunge into the frantic consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Then the sudden pivot to charity on Giving Tuesday creates a surreal contrast, a...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/service-as-an-antidote-to-materialism</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e94fa3357dd2c74338c6b</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_583fe05850f042c8bfe724983c63d17d~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funding the Arts: An Essential Mental Health Infrastructure]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are living in uncertain times. But if there is one thing we can be certain of, it is the transformative power of the arts. This year, we have seen unprecedented cuts to essential life-saving services provided by non-profit organizations. When funding is cut, attention rightly turns to necessities like food and shelter, and inevitably, the arts are affected, often the first activity to be stripped from the budget. I run an arts non-profit, and we are already seeing a decrease in funding....]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/funding-the-arts-an-essential-mental-health-infrastructure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e93b23a4e4248fffebc78</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_ffca5cc336d14cd78e93ef2a67dbc6d2~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_960,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Mindful Parenting]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Personal Reflection When my firstborn was a few years old, one afternoon, I walked into my bedroom shortly after I had just cleaned it to find him in the process of tearing it down. My initial impulse was to react and solve the problem, probably by stopping him, or maybe even making him pay for this mishap and disrespect, because we are told that as parents we have to immediately correct our children’s “ills,” lest they become horrible human beings. However, something compelled me to ask...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/the-power-of-mindful-parenting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e928d3357dd2c743385de</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_237dff27e55a41d6ba8d358b9f65f67a~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reclaiming a Sense of Inner Well Being — Part II]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Case for Radical Self Care In Part I, I wrote about forgiveness, love, and compassion as acts of resistance. In this section, I would like to share an important method for surviving hardships, one that we far too often take for granted or neglect: Self Care. As 2020 tried to beat me down, I decided to embark on a journey of what I’ve termed radical self care. In order to reclaim my sense of inner well being, I had to turn inward and find my light, strength, and courage. I realized that I...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/reclaiming-a-sense-of-inner-well-being-part-ii</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e8a9cbd30a9e3e57b43b7</guid><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 08 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_01b7a25a0f034dac84f5e26f6ce29ae2~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_810,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reclaiming a Sense of Inner Well Being — Part I]]></title><description><![CDATA[Choosing How to Respond to 2020 In April of 2020, I wrote a blog called ‘Turning 50 during a pandemic.’ It was my attempt at accepting the fact that the plans I had for a fabulous birthday were not meant to be. Perhaps it was my way of preparing for the potential hardship and disappointment. Maybe I sensed the Tsunami that was ahead. But nothing could have prepared me (or any of us) for the life-altering nature of the tests that lay ahead. 2020 brought with it so much pain and suffering for...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/reclaiming-a-sense-of-inner-well-being-part-i</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e791d61674ad8b6e113b0</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_00dda5b369224f4db8af55c6e8de399f~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Next We Meet]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tis a strange time we live in. Donning masks, 6 feet apart… our new normal. Staring at the horizon on a cold spring evening. I wondered… when will this end? I sat there reminiscing of hugs from loved one lost. Dreaming of the time when we will hug each other again. I won’t turn you away when next we meet. But cherish every moment time blesses us with. Source:https://idara-ekpe.medium.com/when-next-we-meet-f287fbe18146]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/when-next-we-meet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e783f3a4e4248fffe6d96</guid><pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_caa9946ffc824fd98b70e5a23af8b19b~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_899,h_899,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I Cry...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dedicated to the memory of Tahirih Ekpe, beloved sister. (1976–2015) As I run in the woods, I cry. As I wash the dishes, I cry. As I dress myself, I cry. When the phone rings, I cry. When people speak to me, I cry. When I look at your beautiful photograph, I cry. I cry when I lay on your bed. I cry when I wrap myself in your clothing and smell your sweet scent. I cry as I sift through the papers and books, looking for some part of your soul, something to hold unto, something I’ve missed. I...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/i-cry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e64933357dd2c74330517</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_3a20e41948b0499b86b31a92f6e7891f~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Developing a Culture of Service with Your Family]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, while participating in cleaning up a local park, I felt a sense of longing for my children. From as early as I can remember, I would take them with me on every service opportunity I participated in. With both of them now older and often away from home, I miss having them along. That longing was amplified when I saw a adults out serving with their children. I hope that more people would encourage young people to volunteer, not just to accumulate community service hours for school or...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/developing-a-culture-of-service-with-your-family</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e472fc27fa722bcaac3ac</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_59ebb5a7a6e04189ada2babe8488d153~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_844,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Importance of Bringing Awareness to Feelings]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the process of raising my children, I am constantly being confronted with rather strong emotions.  My family is made up of passionate, emotional, sensitive, strong-willed, and impulsive people (myself included).  As you can imagine, emotions can run high, and what may seem like small problems or encounters can quickly escalate into full blown meltdowns. While I was growing up, I learned that it was okay to express the pleasant emotions, but no one needed to know about the unpleasant ones....]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/the-importance-of-bringing-awareness-to-feelings</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e29e7bde4c2883f534555</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 28 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_06fd6a86669740a7a8202c78b4b366f2~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_750,h_655,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Holy Ganga and the Danger of a Single Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[In February of 2018, I traveled with six amazing women to India. We called ourselves The Sisters of the Traveling Sari. I have so many wonderful memories and lessons learned from that trip, but spending a couple of days in Rishikesh by the Ganges River was, for me, the highlight of the journey. Rishikesh was the last destination before our trip back home. One of my friends and I decided to change our return plans and remain in Rishikesh for a few more days. On the morning that the other four...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/the-holy-ganga-and-the-danger-of-a-single-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e22b2bde4c2883f532f95</guid><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travels]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_2ad4d1802812406b81c039dfc3f8226f~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lessons from My Mother: Death and New Beginnings]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mom, her daughters and grandchild The day is December 31, 2006.  It is a warm summer morning in Nigeria. I wake up to my mother’s excitement about the New Year’s Eve party and fireworks that we are going to attend that evening. She tells me she has dropped off the van at the mechanic's to get brand new tires put on to make sure the car is in top shape for the journey. “You know how the roads are," she says. Around noon, we board the minivan; my husband, children, and a young girl my mother...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/lessons-from-my-mother-death-and-new-beginnings</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a58de4c38e05b9fea35a225</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_fd443ba505534a899543767eaf7ff17e~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[“Noble Have I Created Thee” - A paradigm shift in parenting.]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’d like to begin this post with a couple of questions. Take a moment to ponder the following questions and take stock of your answers and attitudes towards children. When you think of children, what thoughts immediately come to mind? What are or were some of your assumptions about children before you had your own?  Do you attribute intent to a child’s behavior? What are your beliefs about the nature of a child or a teenager? Too often, adults associate negative traits to children. We hear...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/noble-have-i-created-thee-a-paradigm-shift-in-parenting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a47bd9bfd494c5f10d57bf7</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_a8741e37172f4a849de80076ae4031fe~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_683,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Do You See the Oak Tree in the Acorn?]]></title><description><![CDATA[I often wonder what the future holds in store for the two precious beings whom I have been blessed to accompany on their journey.  When my children were little, one of the best pieces of advice I received from another mother after one of my child’s tirades was, “Ridvan, you are not raising a two year old; you are raising a human being.” That statement and the following quote have stayed with me and guided my parenting approach. “Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess,...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/do-you-see-the-oak-tree-in-the-acorn</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a46a2131552bc17797fbac3</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_53f3cc708cea468ea63e2bf0824f2deb~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[On Becoming A Conscientious Parent]]></title><description><![CDATA[When my firstborn was a few years old, one afternoon I walked into my bedroom shortly after I had just cleaned it to find him in the process of tearing it down. My initial impulse was to react and solve the problem, probably by stopping him, or maybe even making him pay for this mishap and disrespect, because we are told that as parents we have to immediately correct our children’s “ills,” lest they become horrible human beings. However, something compelled me to ask him what he was doing,...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/on-becoming-a-conscientious-parent</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a468fab316fbd62aff75f72</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_cb2c5c30d5a54e16b981c61f1e8656fd~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_682,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reflections of an Imperfect Mother]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have been blessed with two beautiful souls that I am honored to call my children. They are loving, adventurous, resilient, creative and extremely silly individuals who are a constant source of joy and inspiration. When my son was born, in 1999, I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a parent. For me, the question was not whether I could raise a child but rather, how do I raise a spiritual, emotionally intelligent, and physically healthy individual who will contribute to the...]]></description><link>https://www.ridvanidara.com/post/reflections-of-an-imperfect-mother</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a467bd1950901ce7a6b40c2</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/512e9f_c4ea2a6a1f8740a19e8e8cfdd5f824e0~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ridvan Idara</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>