This is a guest post by Taher Suratwala.

This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, a month of fasting. I have been dreading the impending fast full of long, long summer days, the absence of coffee and missed summer lunches.

Sitting down to write this has given me some clarity and pause to think about why I fast in the first place. It is a very introspective time spent re-focusing and becoming centered. Life is filled with distractions like work, money, deadlines and all the other things that seem important.

It can be easy to lose sight of what is important. Ramadan is a yearly reminder to think about what really is. What I have been thinking about today is potential. I am going to spend this next month reflecting about right now and the future. I am going to spend it reflecting about all the potential I have right in front of me and before me. I am going to spend it thinking about my family and what it means to have a balanced life.

The greatest thing I will do in my life is do my part in shaping my two kids. The people that they become and the contribution they make to the world will be my biggest contribution. With each Ramadan, it becomes more clear to me that I will have such a short time to do this. I take to heart that with each fast I will become a better me for them.

Taher Suratwala is a husband to his beautiful wife, a father to his two wonderful children, and a son to his wise parents. During the day, he makes use of his math, statistics and economic background as an actuary and occasionally writes on his blog, Like Water.