Hi friends,
I turned 30, or maybe 31, this year—who’s counting? My parents got my birthday all mixed up. They lost my birth certificate, then issued a new one years later and had to make up a date.
Anyway, turning 30 doesn’t feel like a big deal. It feels kind of cute, like becoming 18 again. Not that I can suddenly do things I wasn’t allowed to do before. But now, I can complain about my knees and back, and people would take me a little more seriously.
A lot happened in the past decade, some of which were life-changing events, like getting married, becoming a father, and changing careers. There’s also a list of goals that still stare at me, waiting for me to begin. That used to worry me, delaying the things I vowed to do to become the person I imagined I should be.
Not anymore.
It’s not that I’ve lost my ambition. But I’ve let go of being chained to a timeline.
This might sound strange, but this comfort with the future didn’t come from growing wiser with age. (I’m reminded of a Yemeni saying: Someone who is older than you by one day is wiser than you by a year).
It came from the genocide in Gaza.
There is a young man my age…
He wants to become a writer.
He dreams of marrying the neighbor’s daughter.
He plans to move into his own apartment.
But all of it—the goals, the dreams, the ambition, the apartment— was turned into rubble. And now his life is on the line.
One day I will die.
One day you will too.
So what’s really worth worrying about?
I often forget this truth, and it’s during those times that I feel paralyzed. But whenever I’m lucky enough to remember, I’m also reminded of past worries that have since become kind memories.
There was a time I feared leaving my house in Yemen because of the neighborhood kids.
There was a time I spoke no English.
There was a time I prayed my firstborn would be a girl.
Our goals are only worth chasing if they’re fueled by gratitude for what we already have.
Mohamed
📖 Books I’m reading?
I’m rereading this book, maybe for the 10th time. It’s the book that inspired me to start sharing my thoughts and writing journey through this newsletter, the YouTube channel, and my online presence. The author calls it: “a book for people who hate the very idea of self-promotion.”
It’s called Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
💎 New From Me
Recently I noticed, at least on my YouTube feed, there were many people posting about things the regretted from their 20s. So I felt like creating a video about the big decisions I made in my 20s that brought me where I am today. Here is the video: Things I’m Proud of from My 20s
🔖 Quote I’m pondering
Before you are old attend as many funerals as you can bear and listen.
Nobody talks about the depart’s achievement.
The only thing people will remember is what kind of person you were while you were achieving.
— Kevin Kelly
Source: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier
📸 Through My Lens
Please give me feedback on the newsletter by replying to this email. Do you find it worth your time? What do you want more or less of? Or other suggestions?
Thank you for reading!
Mohamed