Make sure you love you!

🌈 1305 – Friday, 24 January 2025 23:41

London

I woke up to a knock on the door. My dad was ready to leave, as I’d promised to drop him at the station nearby. He was heading to attend his brother-in-law’s funeral, who had passed away the previous day. It was a somber start to the day, and I could see the weight of the news on my dad’s face.

The night before, after Maghrib Salah, he had received a call from one of his sisters. She asked how things were and how my mom was feeling. Only then did she share the news of their brother-in-law’s passing. Dad listened quietly on the phone and didn’t say much afterward. Later, we went to pick up some tailored clothes from the shop. He handled everything calmly, speaking to the tailor, collecting the clothes, and paying him. On the way back home, he sat silently on the bike. Once we were home, mom made him a cup of tea, and when we were alone, he softly asked me, “Should we tell your mom about this?”

My mom had just undergone chemo a few days ago, so we were being cautious about sharing any stressful news. I told him it would be okay; she could handle it. Just then, my mom entered the room and asked, “What about?” My dad broke the news gently, and I was amazed at how composed he had remained through it all.

At 7:30 AM, I dropped my dad off at the station, where he caught a bus to meet our cousin, who would take him the rest of the way. The traffic back home was chaotic—peak Friday morning rush hour, with people heading to work or out of the city for a long weekend. I couldn’t help but grumble at the sheer population and wondered when traffic on this planet would ever be under control. Maybe aliens could step in with some solutions!

Once I got back home, I felt glad I had woken up early and had a long day ahead to plan. After breakfast, I decided to tackle cleaning the chandelier in my parents’ house. It’s a massive piece from Riyadh with about 800 crystal balls that need careful cleaning every year. I managed to clean about 300 of them before deciding to finish the rest another day.

Later, I made beetroot and carrot juice for my mom since her hemoglobin levels were low. She doesn’t like it, but I told her I’d check back to make sure she finished it. Moments like these make me feel grateful—to be able to take care of her the way she took care of us growing up. Watching her eat or drink what I prepare for her brings me so much joy.

The rest of the day was a mix of prayer, small tasks, and reflections. After Maghrib Salah, I got a text from my dad asking me to pick him up from the station. The traffic was unbearable again, but I waited for about 20 minutes before he arrived. Instead of heading straight home, Dad suggested we stop for some snacks since he hadn’t eaten all day. We shared pani puri and cutlets at a street shop, a simple but satisfying meal.

Back home, my parents chatted about their day—Dad talked about the funeral and catching up with his sisters, while Mom shared how she was feeling and what she’d eaten. I quietly stepped away to give them some privacy. Sitting at my desk, I decided to write all this down, maybe as a way to process everything and preserve these little moments.

To my dear uncle, Ain-ud-Din: you will be missed. Dear Aunt Zakya, your nephew sends you prayers and love.

Around the rest of the world today

• Israel Hamas War – Israeli hostages were released as part of a multi-stage ceasefire deal negotiated between Israel and Hamas. Initially, 33 hostages will be exchanged for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, with stage one starting last Sunday and lasting 42 days. Four female Israeli soldiers have been reunited with their families after 477 days. Negotiations for the second stage will seek a permanent ceasefire and the release of more living hostages. (Sunday Times).

• Russia still invading Ukraine – Ukrainian forces conducted a large series of drone strikes against Russian defense industrial enterprises and oil refineries, targeting facilities in multiple regions. In response, Russian air defense units intercepted several Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow, with no reported damage or casualties. (Institute for the study of war).

• Significant technological advancements have been reported across various fields. In artificial intelligence, generative AI continues to evolve, enabling the creation of sophisticated content across multiple modalities, including text, images, and audio.

3 things I felt grateful for

• Grateful for motorbikes; they’re such a helpful invention. Hopefully, they’ll go electric soon, but for now, I appreciate what we have.

• I’m deeply thankful for my siblings – my biggest allies, always loving and caring for me through everything.

• Grateful I managed to write something and heading to bed peacefully.

What would it take for me and for you to wake up 10 x times bigger, muscular, thicker, stronger, more energetic, confident, aligned to our goals, everything to be okay with family, friends and everyone around then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, yet a productive day tomorrow?

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Goodnight, good luck!

Ash Khaleem