The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!

🌈 1398 – Sunday, 1 March 2026 – 23:42 London

My dear brother sent a very beautiful picture of himself on the family group chat today. Nothing uplifts the heart more than seeing your siblings and loved ones sharing their happiness with others.

I wasn’t feeling like writing this evening, and honestly, I haven’t felt like writing for the past few days. But my brother’s picture lifted my mood in a way and helped clear some of the clutter that had been building up in my mind.

He is in Riyadh, and things in the Middle East have escalated far beyond anything most people could have imagined recently. Just a couple of days ago, on 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and now Iran is retaliating. All we can do right now is pray for our families. To all my family, cousins, and extended relatives spread across the Middle East – may God help you and keep you all safe, Insha’Allah.

That might be the reason I slept so restlessly last night. I woke up early today for Sahr, the pre-dawn meal. Today was the 12th day of Ramadan’s fast, and all I could think about was what was happening around the world. I’m here in the UK in what feels like a safe place. But I suppose many people felt safe just a few days ago too, before the world suddenly turned upside down overnight.

During the COVID period, our parents made everyone in the family turn the TV off. Dad would read newspapers and make sure my siblings and the kids didn’t follow the news at all. As a result, none of us woke up every day to the trauma of everything that was happening in the world. If only we could do that again now. Back then, it was possible to isolate ourselves from the noise of the world, but now it feels like there is no escape from it.

Sister woke me up for Sahr at 04:50 AM this morning. I ate, then walked to the Mayfair Mosque to offer Fajr Salah. The prayers were quick. I came home, sat at my desk for half an hour catching up on some admin, and then went back to bed at 06:30. At that point, I didn’t think much about the day, the time, or anything else.

Drifted in and out of sleep. For some strange reason, I woke up around 08:20, looked at the time, and thought, “Oh, I need to log in to work shortly.” Then I nodded off again. I kept waking up, checking the time, and drifting back to sleep. Finally, at 08:50, I got out of bed and went straight to my desk to log in to work.

There was some work I had left unfinished on Friday, thinking I had time and could complete it the next day. So I put my phone aside and worked from 9:00 to 12:00. During that time, I kept wondering why our work group chat was unusually quiet. No one had said anything. I thought perhaps everyone was just busy.

Something in my mind made me ask google whether today was a bank holiday that I had somehow missed. It replied that it wasn’t a bank holiday. That made me wonder even more. Only then did I properly check the date – and realised it was still Sunday. For some reason, I had convinced myself it was Monday and had worked half a day without realising what day it actually was.

That has never, ever, ever happened before, and it’s something I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life. Well, hey ho! I’m glad I can still surprise myself in strange ways.

At 12:00 midday, got off from the desk, checked the parents’ living camera and rang mother to check what the parents were up to. Mother was just sitting there, but couldn’t see Dad. She said Dad had gone out to my sister’s newly built house, where some construction work was being done.

We had a long catch-up, we were making jokes with each other, trying to make each other laugh. When someone is far away from you, those few minutes you get to speak to them on the phone should be worthwhile. Make them laugh. Make them feel good. After the call, they should feel happier, uplifted, and look forward to the next conversation.

Most people, unfortunately, just talk about their dramas or their problems – about something that shouldn’t have happened to them – and somehow it’s always the world’s fault. Grateful I’ve managed to distance myself from most people like that. It’s better to have a small circle of friends and family who are there to share happiness rather than drain your energy.

Something else came to my mind that my old boss used to say. I think it’s from AA, though I might not remember the exact wording. It goes something like this:

“God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I know I’m simply following my heart and typing whatever comes to mind. The thoughts jump from one place to another, but that’s the whole idea of clearing your mind. You should try it too. Take a pen and paper – if you’re not into typing – and just write. I promise you’ll feel much better afterwards.

Three things I felt grateful for today

• A strange start to the day, but I’m grateful that I managed to finish a lot of focused work in the morning, so tomorrow, when my actual work begins, I can take things a bit easier.

• Grateful today’s fast is going smoothly, not missed in years now, and hope to continue.

• Grateful for not being in any conflict zone anywhere in the world.

What would it take for me – and for you – to wake up ten times stronger, bigger, muscular, leaner, healthier, fitter, more energetic, confident, happy, and grateful? To wake up early for Sahr, then have a good workout, have everything okay to be with family, friends and everyone around, then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, yet a productive day tomorrow?

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Good night, good luck.

Ash Khaleem