🌈 1356 – Tuesday, 10 June 2025 23:13

London

I wasn’t planning to write anything tonight. But after the run I had this evening, I couldn’t let the moment pass without noting it down. It wasn’t just a run in the park – it felt peaceful and opened up something inside me. So here I am, sitting at my desk, thinking back before the day ends.

Woke up early today! did not look at the time.. Had slept well. Read dad’s morning prayer message on the Group chat, did affirmations in bed, and then sat the the end of the bed, Sun from the window on me, meditated to Surah Al-Fatiha 40 times.

It was 7:00 AM then, I was out the door and on my way to the gym at Piccadilly. Had a really, really really, really, really good workout, did 4 sets of 11 reps of pull-ups, incline dumbbell presses, flat bench presses, lateral raises, front raises, hammer curls, then Abs presses on the machine.

Got back home, had a quick shower, prayed Fajr Salah, got dressed in a white shirt and blue trousers, and biked to work. The weather was just perfect – sunny, mild, with a soft breeze. It felt like summer was slowly arriving.

Work day went well. Spent most of the time working on invoices. At lunch, went to Itsu for sushi, ate alone with my head in the phone. Back to desk, sat until 17:30, it was still so nice outside that I didn’t want to go straight home. I stopped just outside, wanted to hangout but I had my backpack with me and dressed formally, so headed home, changed into shorts and a t-shirt, put on my running shoes, and headed out again.

Started at Clarges Street, Mayfair, ran through Green Park, and saw Knightsbridge Station on my left. Then went through the arch into Hyde Park, and it was full of life – people playing football, skating, or just enjoying the evening. I passed a trampoline area, then saw the Prince Albert statue on my right, and the beautiful Royal Albert Hall on the left.

I just kept running. I felt like seeing the whole park, so I decided to run the full loop around Hyde Park. I passed Queen Victoria’s statue, then by Kensington Palace, Queensway Station, Lancaster Gate, and then back toward Marble Arch. It was about 4.3 miles. My legs were tired, but my heart felt full.. And felt so good, on my way back!

When I got home, around it was 18:50, two missed calls – one from Mother and one from a friend. I called Mum first since it was almost midnight where she was. She was in bed but still awake and happy to talk. She was telling about her sister, then everyday things. Then I called my friend – we laughed a bit and caught up quickly.

Then made dinner was simple but filling – vegetable soup. After that run, it hit the spot.

Not sitting down, here I am again, back at this desk, taking a moment to reflect and write – because if I don’t capture the quiet magic of a day like this, it might just slip away. So I’m putting it into words, reaching out to the world and asking: What did your day look like? Did anything move you? If not now, when? And if you don’t write it down, how will you ever remember?

Quickly, quickly go write something. Anything. Just begin.

Around the world –

• Russia is still invading Ukraine – Russia launched one of its largest overnight aerial assaults yet, deploying roughly 315 drones alongside missiles across multiple cities, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa.

• Israel and Hamas war – Meanwhile, Israel’s navy launched its first-ever strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting the port of Hodeidah, reflecting the widening regional dimension of the conflict

• AI advancement – agentic AI—autonomous software agents capable of decision-making and task execution without human prompts—is emerging as a top innovation driver in 2025. (Forbes)

3 things I’m grateful for today –

• Grateful for living near a park where I can run freely.

• Grateful for brother staying with parents for a few days, caring for them.

• Graeful for the sheer ability to move, to breathe, to run.

What would it take for me and for you to wake up 10 x times bigger, thicker, learner, muscular, more energetic, confident, happy, grateful, wake up early, make to workout in the morning, have a good workout, start work sharp, everything to be okay with family, friends and everyone around, then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, yet a productive day tomorrow?

Sign up for the monthly letter below!

Goodnight, and good luck.

—Ash Khaleem