Islam gave me purpose

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته This might be a messy post, sorry in advance. My head's all over the place, so thanks for reading. I don't usually post online, so I'm just sharing this from a throwaway mindset. A bit of background: I grew up in a conservative, religious community and have always tried to be a practicing Muslim, even if I'm far from perfect. I slip up - I’ve been guilty of drinking and lying at times - but I never abandoned my duties. I tried to pray, give zakat, and look after my family. I avoided things that openly harm others, like zina. I was born in the U.S. but raised in a Gulf country where religion was more than personal belief - it was a social fabric. We had real duties to one another: helping orphans, supporting widows, caring for those with disabilities. You felt needed and accountable in a way that mattered. Later I moved back to the U.S. for work as a software engineer. I landed a high-paying job and for a while things seemed okay. Then I was laid off. That layoff broke something. It showed me how lonely life can be here. The discrimination during job searches, the isolation, the constant sense of being tolerated but not truly accepted - it hit me hard. I blamed myself for weeks. Eventually I found another job that paid twice my previous salary, but mentally I was a mess. I started drinking more. Outwardly I kept up prayers and other obligations, but inside I felt empty. No real purpose, no social responsibility, no sense that my life mattered beyond producing and paying taxes. I fell into deep depression and at one point even thought about ending my life. I’m honest about that because I wouldn’t be here today without Islam. I ended up quitting that job. For context, it was bringing in about $210K after taxes, yet I was miserable. Lately I’ve rediscovered a love for history, especially Islamic history and the Abbasid era. I read constantly and dream of teaching it one day. It feels more meaningful than any professional achievement I’ve had. So my point is this: for fellow Muslims thinking about leaving your home country for the West, please reflect carefully. The U.S. and Europe won’t automatically fix what’s broken inside. Wealth and taxes don’t replace being part of a community that cares. May Allah have mercy on us and guide our steps.