Be realistic: Plan for a miracle!

🌈 1333 – Tuesday, 8 April 2025 23:38

London

I woke up early—mind already racing, checking the time, making sure there was enough of it to ease into the morning. It was 5:10 AM. I read an ayah from Surah Kahf, then saw a prayer message from my dad, followed by a few quiet affirmations while still lying in bed. Eventually, I pulled myself up, got ready, and left the house around 6:20 AM for the gym.

The roads were calm, the city still half-asleep. The sun had just started to rise—cold, crisp air wrapped around me as I rode to PureGym Piccadilly. It felt peaceful, that early-morning kind of silence.

I got to the gym around 6:30. Did a mixed workout: 4 sets of 11 pull-ups, shoulder presses with the barbell, lateral raises, another round of machine shoulder presses, and ab presses. It felt good—like my body was finally waking up too.

After the workout, I headed back home, showered, put on a white shirt and grey trousers new ones—got ready, and left for work by 8:35. It was my first day back at the office after nearly three months. I’d been away taking care of my mother. Coming back felt strange but warm. My coworkers were incredibly kind, welcoming me with compassion.

I spent most of the day catching up on emails – three months’ worth condensed into two intense days of reading. Had some fish for lunch at cafe downstairs. Logged off around 17:10 and headed straight home to Mayfair. I had planned to go back to the gym for a spin class but ended up staying in, talking to my mum on the phone instead. Her first radiation session starts tomorrow—and I won’t be there. I managed to be with her during chemo, but not for this part. Hopefully, just a couple more weeks and it’ll be behind us.

Now it’s 12:20 AM. I’m sitting on the bed in the living room. Lamp on to my right. It’s quiet—no street noise, no horns—just the occasional hum of the underground passing beneath, and of course, the endless inner chatter. That little voice that keeps saying, “Do something. Write. Eat. Don’t sit still. Keep going.”

The last few days have been surreal. I still can’t believe how I’ve ended up here, in this flat, in this moment.

When I got back to the UK on April 2nd, I was still staying at the old place at the Chancery Lane. There was a letter waiting for me – notice from the agency saying the landlord wanted the property back. Planning permission had gone through, and I had a month to vacate. The 3rd had to be my last day. I couldn’t return earlier because I was still caring for Mum.

While I was abroad, I secured a small studio flat in Oval – Rothesay Court. I’d lived there before, so I accepted without viewing it. Ten days after getting that notice, the references cleared and my plan was to move in as soon as I landed.

But then, just a day before flying back, I got an email—an offer for a flat in Mayfair. Not just anywhere in Mayfair… central, proper central. The kind of place where only the wealthy live. And it was only slightly more expensive than my last place. I couldn’t believe it.

I started the process straight away and asked my best mate to go check it out. Even before he saw it, I’d already paid the holding deposit. When he did view it, his response was immediate: “Just take it!” He was rushing to a movie and couldn’t chat, but he kept repeating—“Take it! Don’t ask anything, just take the fucking flat!”

I thought he’d lost it. I kept asking questions—Is there gas? Is there a fridge? He just kept yelling, “Take it!”

So on the 3rd, I got a van and moved. Did most of the lifting myself—my daily workout. And when I finally stepped into the new place, I was overwhelmed. A huge bedroom. Two bathrooms. A massive living room. Decent-sized kitchen. And all of it just off Green Park station, on Clarges Street—centre of the centre.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Was this faith being restored? Or was it faith that wavered when I doubted it? Maybe both. All I know is—things do turn around. Somehow, they do.

And sometimes I wish someone could explain why we suffer on some days and feel joy on others. Maybe those lessons really do repeat until we learn. Maybe struggle is the builder of strength.

Anyway… that was today. Tomorrow is a big one—Mum’s first radiation session. Prayers are welcome.

Around the World Today –

• Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, signaling deeper ties between China and Russia amid the ongoing conflict.

• This revelation follows North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to support Russia, with significant casualties recorded during previous campaigns.

• Copilot – At Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary event, the spotlight was on major AI advancements, especially within their Copilot platform. They unveiled a redesigned app with a native Windows interface, along with new features like Copilot Memory for personalization and Copilot Vision for real-time visual interaction. Users can now do tasks like photo editing, form filling, and shopping using their camera. They also launched Copilot Pages and Studio, allowing users to collaborate and build custom AI agents. Overall, Microsoft positioned Copilot as a game-changing shift in computing.

3 Things I Felt Grateful For Today

• I’m grateful for my parents.

• I’m thankful to God for allowing me to live where I do.

• I’m grateful for everything I’ve experienced today.

Now imagine this — what would it take for you and me to wake up tomorrow feeling 10 times more alive? Stronger, more confident, full of energy, truly happy, grateful, and completely ourselves? To hit the gym before work, feel good knowing our family and friends are doing okay, and then have a relaxing relaxing, relaxing yet a productive day tomorrow?

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Goodnight, goodluck my dear!

Ash Khaleem