Soul Sisters is Quiet... But for How Long?

Hey Soulies,

I know it’s been a quiet few months on the newsletter. On top of that, many of you were understandably panicked that our lovely group is (temporarily) closed. But the truth is, I needed a break - some time to pause and reflect.

For the past 12 years, I’ve been the human who shows up almost everyday for this community, but that’s just one of the many roles I play. I’m a mother to a wonderful 9 year old, a wife of 14 years, an immigrant still navigating my place in Canada, an entrepreneur working to build a small business, and, of course, a content creator bringing Conversations with Kanwal to life for the past six years.

Let’s just say, my plate has been fuller than a shaadi ka buffet.

The last couple of years have been heavy, both personally and professionally. As the realities of the genocide came to light, I found myself re-evaluating my priorities and the people I wanted to work with. It wasn’t an easy decision as many of my partnerships were with incredible individuals, but their companies no longer aligned with my values. So I made a choice: I stepped away from any work tied to them.

That choice, however, came with a challenge - I had to find a way to finance the show and my platforms. I put Conversations with Kanwal on pause for nearly two years while I figured that out. And then, Allah decided to reward me in the form of two incredible Soulies, Mehreen Asif and Sabeen Alam, who stepped in. They believed in the show so much that they became Executive Producers for the new season and helped seed the runway again.

Now, I’m thrilled to share that the season is ready - and I know many of you have seen the trailer already (also linked below - and would LOVE your support). This time, we’re talking about: love and rediscovering it, about being a refugee and coming to Pakistan in the ’60s, about loss and the fight for your dreams, about single parenting and raising strong children. Every person who stepped forward to share their story has left me deeply inspired - just as they have in seasons before. It’s an honor to host this platform for their voices.

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After all the shooting and editing, I realized something shocking - I was really, very tired! My brain was running on “low battery, please charge mode”, my body was giving me “kaun hai yeh jisne dobara mur ke mujhe nahin dekha” energy, and my soul? My soul was basically doing a slow-mo sad walk in the rain with "Tarap Tarap" playing in the background.

So, I did something wild… I took a break.

Yes an actual break. The kind where I wasn’t glued to my phone, replying to DMs. The kind where I wasn’t hyper multi-tasking, like a Star Plus saas plotting her bahu’s downfall in slow motion, with five camera angles and a thunder sound effect. Nope. This time, I put myself first.

I focused on my health, my family, and myself this last week. I batch-cooked meals for the week - daal, qeema, bhindi and rose pasta. I actually showed up to my pilates class four times (and yes, my joints are very thankful). I slept in. I went out with friends without obsessively checking my notifications. And last night, I rewatched Harry Potter - because self-care includes wizardry. Hehe.

I know, I know - why am I celebrating such ordinary things? Because when you run a community as big as Soul Sisters Pakistan, peace is as rare as an aunty (or uncle) who doesn’t comment on your life choices. Between thousands of posts, comments and DMs, it’s easy to lose yourself. So, this past week was me saying, “Hold on, let me be a human for a minute. I deserve it.”

But don’t worry - picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost! We are coming back very soon. And 2025? It’s going to be BIG. Think exclusive Soulie events, online courses, and so much more.

Until then, take care of yourselves. Prioritize your well-being. And if you haven’t taken a break lately - this is your sign. ❤️