Focus on what’s in your control.

🌈 1205 – Monday, 17 June 2024 22:47

London

I have been in bed for a couple of hours already today. I wonder how I had so much time today: the first day of the week. Mondays offer a fresh beginning—an opportunity to embrace new possibilities and approach the week with renewed energy.

Woke up early, around 05:28, to a text from my cousin Tippu. The last time I spoke to him was on Eid day during Ramadan, and today was the day of Eid ul Adha around the homeland. He was wishing me Eid Mubarak. I replied and tried to sleep again, but I couldn’t fall asleep.

At 06:02, my brother texted from KSA. Since I replied to the cousin’s group chat, he asked me, “You’re up early today?” and I said, “Yes, wonder why. I have the alarm set for 07:20, but I’m already wide awake at 5:30 AM.” We chatted for a bit, just this and that, speaking about the weather, family, and then jokes.

I sat at the edge of the bed and meditated with 30 affirmations. Got ready, wore only shorts and a vest, left home, and went to the gym around 07:10. Monday morning it was packed, but I found what I was looking to do. Did an upper body workout; yesterday I had done legs, and I’m still not walking straight after a good workout.

Today I did 4 sets of 8 reps of pull-ups, flat bench dumbbell presses (28 kgs), incline bench dumbbell presses, shoulder presses, and lateral raises. Had a decent long shower, walked back home from the gym at Piccadilly Circus to Oxendon Street, about a 3-minute walk from door to door. The sun was out bright, blue, and glowing beautifully.

Got back home, offered 2 rak’ahs of Salah to Fajr, then 2 rak’ahs of Salah to Hajat, and left home. Ate breakfast—kebab and spaghetti—after a good workout and a heavy, filling meal. Ironed blue trousers and a light blue shirt, dressed, got the bike out, and left home to go to Westminster. Got the Bloomberg Daybreak Europe on the headphones, and got to work by the beautiful St James Park around 10 past 9.

Nothing stays permanent and nothing lasts permanently. Work went well; most meetings were from 10 AM to 11. Worked on creating 3 assessment forms most of the day. A friend asked me to go for lunch up to the palace to meet another friend. We walked up there and had a long lunch and catch-up. I usually want to avoid those long lunches that involve lots of talking, but I was glad I went for one main reason: I got to sign another friend’s 60th birthday card. I was so happy to have gotten a chance to do it. I wrote, “Here’s to another year of health and happiness, HBD cake.” Walked back to work around 14:40, and sat at the desk finishing work until 17:00 sharp. Left work; the weather was still so good, warm, and sunny.

At 17:30, booked a spin bike class at the gym. Got home, quickly changed clothes, and went to attend the class. Sweated quite a bit there but had a good session. Had a second shower, walked up to Tesco, and phoned a mate while I was there to see if he was joining for dinner, but we just had a quick catch-up. I got quite a bit of groceries and walked back home, took the stairs up 7 floors, breathing but getting used to the stairs.

Made dinner listening to some silly book on the headphones; I can’t wait for that book to finish. Ate leftover spaghetti while watching Suits on Netflix for a bit, then made some chicken and salad. Sat for a bit in front of the telly watching this and that. Chatted with my mother. Bhaiya is at his desk, Papa busy, Hamid going to sleep, and Mother off to bed too, and it’s midnight in KSA. I said I’m in bed today already and heading to bed shortly, and we bid farewell.

Around the world today –

Ukraine gained €50 billion ($53.5 billion) in aid, fresh US security guarantees and commitments to help rebuild energy infrastructure. But the Ukrainian president’s bid to broaden international support at a Swiss summit fell short. India, Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia opted out of signing the summit document, while China didn’t attend. The failure to win over nations from the Global South shows Russia remains far from isolated.

3 things I felt grateful for today:

Grateful for 2 great workouts of the year.
Grateful it was Monday but not stressful at all.
Grateful the morning meeting went well, and I don’t have a lot left to do on that task.

What would it take for me and for you to wake up 10 times bigger, thicker, leaner, stronger, more energetic, confident, happy, grateful, rich, wealthy, make it workout in the morning, and then get to work on time and sharp? Everything to be fine with family, friends, and everyone around, and then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, yet productive day tomorrow, and all negative patterns, please get removed.

Goodnight, good luck!

Ash Khaleem