Hi friends,

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve been here, and I could give you a dozen excuses. But I’ll skip the self-deprecating detour and just share what’s been on my mind lately.

Every few months, a certain feeling visits me, one that took me a long time to name or even understand. The closest word I’ve found for it is dissatisfaction. It could be about my career, my writing, or just my general state of being. It doesn’t always follow a specific event or trigger; sometimes I just wake up with it clinging to me like a ghost.

The truth is, feeling this way is a kind of privilege. I’m not afraid for my life. I’m not facing eviction from my apartment. I’m not on the verge of losing my job.

Still, the worst thing I can do is give in to the feeling by believing I’m worthless, that I’ve accomplished nothing, and that I’m destined to end up with a pile of unchecked to-do lists from every January in the past.

There are three things that help me on those days:

• Gratitude journaling: Just list the things you’re thankful for in your life (nothing is too small).
• Long walks: More than 30 minutes. 10-minutes barely begin to quiet the noises in your head.
• Talking: I usually talk to my wife. She helps me separate what’s real and what’s not, and how to move forward.

I sometimes think we’re wired to see the cup as half empty. Learning to see it half full takes practice.

—Mohamed

🔖 Quote I’m pondering

You are what you do. Not what you say, not what you believe, not how you vote, but what you spend your time on.

— Kevin Kelly

Source: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

📸 Through My Lens

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Thank you for reading!

Mohamed