Learn something from everyone every day!

🌈 1347 – Sunday, 4 May 2025 23:58

London

Sunday’s here – just one day before Monday, and halfway to the long weekend. The past few days have gone by in a blur. On Friday, after work, I took a nap, woke up for dinner, and suddenly the day was over. Saturday was busy: I went to the gym, cleaned the entire flat – including the stairs across all three floors – called my parents, did the laundry, ate, and before I knew it, Saturday was gone too.

Now it’s Sunday, and I feel like I want to do more. Something that feels productive. Something that gives me that sense of satisfaction, that I’m doing something meaningful for the future. Why does the future feel a little scary right now?

Should I catch up with friends so I have people around me down the road? Maybe make the effort to meet new people? Or should I just sit at my desk and work – build something, even if I’m not sure exactly what? Just do something.

I started the day around 7:30 AM with tuna salad and rice for breakfast. Chatted with my mum, and spent the morning just floating between reading and doing bits and pieces. Then a mate called and asked, “What are you up to? Want to head to the library in Euston? It’s really beautiful – you’d love it. We can take our laptops and do some work there.” I said, “That’s exactly what I need. Let’s do it.” He said it would take him 30 minutes to bike from Shadwell, and maybe 20 minutes for me from Green Park. We agreed to meet at Holborn Station and go together.

I finished what I was doing, got ready, emptied the bins, went downstairs to get my bike – and saw a text. He was already at Holborn. We had planned for 12:45, and somehow it was already 12:43. I messaged, “So sorry, I’m running late – head to the library and I’ll meet you there.” He replied, “Aw, okay, it’s fine. I’ll wait, come whenever.” He’s usually really chilled. Then he texted again saying he was going to grab us a sandwich from the supermarket and would wait there.

I finally made it – not long after. The traffic was heavy from Green Park to Holborn, and the streets were packed, being a Sunday. But I got there. He greeted me with a smile, not even slightly annoyed. He joked, “One day I’m going to tell you 12:30 when we’re really meeting at 1:00 – just to make you wait.” We laughed.

We biked over to the British Library. When he first said Euston, I thought he meant a smaller local one – but it was the British Library. Wow. It was stunning – massive, with 3 or 4 huge floors and walls lined with ancient books, collected over centuries by the British from around the world.

It’s a little sad, really. Hardly anyone reads physical books anymore – everyone’s on screens. Still, the place was packed with people, mostly young, all studying. Hundreds of tables, every single one taken with people using laptops, iPads, reading books.

We didn’t find a table, so we wandered through some of the book exhibits, ate our sandwiches, grabbed a coffee from Pret, and then headed home. It was getting colder, a little cloudy, almost ready to rain.

On the way back, we stopped by Tesco, picked up some muffins and a raspberry cake, and then just spent the rest of the afternoon at my place, catching up and working on our laptops.

Around the World

• World Peace Summit 2025 is coming up from September 14–28. It’s a virtual global event focused on engaging politicians and the public in meaningful peace efforts.

• UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin (May 13–14) will focus on how to adapt peacekeeping operations to modern challenges.

• Weimar+ Alliance has been formed by France, Germany, Poland, and the UK to coordinate European efforts in supporting Ukraine, following the U.S.’s hands-off approach.

3 Things I Felt Grateful For Today

• My friend said something that stuck with me: how lucky we are to just hop on a bike, explore a place like the British Library, and be back in an hour. So many people can’t do that.

• He carried a spare jacket. I didn’t bring one because it was warm yesterday and I thought it’d still be the same. I was wrong—it was cold today. Grateful he thought ahead.

• We got home at a decent time. The day didn’t feel wasted at all.

What would it take for you and for me to have a truly productive day tomorrow? Everything to be okay with family, friends and everyone around then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing yet a productive day so we can enjoy a meaningful final day of the May bank holiday weekend?

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Goodnight, and good luck.

– Ash Khaleem