Your life is a gift! 

🌈 1246 – Friday, 16 August 2023 23:27

London

I want it all.. I want it all.. I want it all… and I want it now..

dventure seeker on an empty street Just an alley creeper, light on his feet A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt With the pain and anger can’t see a way out It ain’t much I’m asking, I heard him say Gotta find me a future move out of my way I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now

Listen all you people, come gather round I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground But just give me, huh, what I know is mine People do you hear me, just gimme the sign It ain’t much I’m asking, if you want the truth Here’s to the future for the dreams of youth

I want it all (give it all I want it all) I want it all (yeah) I want it all and I want it now

I want it all (yes I want it all) I want it all hey I want it all and I want it now

By Queen’ is playing on the radio, and I finally found the missing plug. Now I’m back to enjoying FM radio again. Sure, there are occasional ads, but I don’t have to pick songs, browse, or search. It’s like a surprise box—sometimes a song comes on that really resonates. I often find myself hoping for a good song just before turning it on, and more often than not, it’s a lovely old romance track.

Looking forward to a plan-free weekend—just going with the flow and following my heart. I’ll write, read, eat, and let life take its course. Hoping to be challenged or inspired by life’s lessons, not in the literal sense, but you get the idea.

Today was a good day, better than most. I woke up early on a Friday, the last day of the week, feeling cheerful. I got ready for the gym but realized I hadn’t checked my work shirts for the day. So, I decided to iron a few and try them on. Since it’s summer, I wanted to wear a light, cotton shirt for Friday, but it took me a while to choose the right one. I was trying to match the shirt’s color with the weather. It was sunny when I woke up, but by the time I started ironing, the sky had turned grey.

They say you can’t trust the weather, women, or your job in the UK. I heard that when I first arrived in London, and while I can’t speak for the other two, I can definitely say it’s true about the weather. One minute it’s sunny in England, and the next, it’s raining.

The family group has been unusually quiet today since a photo of a lost nephew was shared. It must have stirred up emotions among the family members.

Let’s talk about something else, let’s talk about how do we feel now? how do we feel right now?

Tummy feels a bit tight—probably shouldn’t have eaten that last extra bite. They say to stop when you’re half full, but sometimes the heart and mind get carried away while you eat.

As for my mind, it’s craving adventure. It wants to do something—go out, party, play, run, anything—but it can’t seem to find its peace. What can I do? How can I help? I miss one of my best mates who’s been away. We thought distance and time would be good for us. God, give us the courage to follow our hearts!

Unexpected and unplanned, I ended up going to Jumma Salah today with a workmate. The Friday prayer is the most important one for a Muslim. Another colleague had asked which mosque I usually attend on Fridays, and I mentioned the one in Soho. He told me our other friend goes to the small mosque in Westminster and asked what time I planned to go. When he said he was going at five to one, he invited me to join, and I agreed. Friends who eat and pray together will stand together. It’s about a sense of belonging and connecting to a higher spirit—whether it’s there or not, it’s about believing in something and hoping for something good.

Finished all my work on time for Friday, headed straight home, and took a sharp 30-minute nap. When I woke up, my mind was all over the place, throwing tantrums about this and that, getting unnecessarily angry at people I should be grateful for, and feeling frustrated about a life I should be happy with. I managed to calm myself down and left for the gym. It was pretty quiet for a Friday evening. Just as I was going in, some guy rushed out and we brushed past each other—adding a little bit of humor to my Friday!

I did an upper body workout—four sets of 10 reps of pull-ups, 22 kg dumbbell press, lateral raises, and front raises. After a good shower, I headed home. The weather was so perfect that I spent the next few hours wandering the streets of London with no particular destination in mind. As I explored, each street connected to another, so I knew I wouldn’t get lost. I kept walking until hunger kicked in and it was time to head back home.

3 things I felt grateful for today

• Grateful for my funny but reliable bike, it was 10 min to start work and I was still on time..

• Grateful for living at the place I live, so close to everything and doen’t make you feel that lonely tbh.

• Definitely grateful for who ever guy came up with this song.. ” You say, you wander your own land But when I think about it, I don’t see how you can

• You’re aching, you’re breaking And I can see the pain in your eyes Says Everybody’s Changing, and I don’t know why

• So little time Try to understand that I’m Trying to make a move just to stay in the game I try to stay awake and remember my name But Everybody’s Changing, and I don’t feel the same”..

Around the world today –

• Kyiv’s allies are largely withholding judgment over the stunning Ukrainian into Russian territory amid uncertainty over the ultimate goal of an operation that’s sought to redraw the map of the Kremlin’s 2 1/2-year war. Several NATO allies have backed Ukraine’s decision to send troops into the western Kursk region and called the operation a legitimate form of self-defence against Moscow’s war of aggression, in which Russia has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians and is accused of a wide array of war crimes including mass killings of civilians. (Bloomberg)

• Israel began talks with international mediators about a proposed cease-fire in Gaza to douse tensions between the Jewish state and Iran.

• Israeli air strikes have left more than 42 million tons of debris across the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations. ( guystop fighting!)

What would it take for me and for you to wake up 10 x times more energetic, controlled mind in peace, happy, healthy, and organised, wake up full of energy, have fun in the weekend, everything to be okay with family, friends, and everyone around and then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing yet a productive day tomorrow?

Goodnight, Goodluck!

Ash Khaleem