Hi friends,

I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t think they’re too busy. When I was in college, I thought I was too busy. After I graduated and started working, I got even busier. Now, with a family, a full-time job, writing and a YouTube channel, it often feels like there’s no room to breathe.

That’s real… but also not.

At work, I’m not actively working every minute from when I sit down at my desk until I get up to leave.

At home, I’m not spending every moment with my family from the time I arrive until we go to bed.

When I sit, I don't write for a few hours a day.

As for YouTube? Half the time, I don’t even know what I’m doing.

When I’m honest with myself, if I sit down with a pen and paper, I can list at least five things that waste my time. I could read fewer news articles, spend less time on my phone, or stop accepting meetings that could easily be phone calls or emails.

But I don’t.

Instead, I wait until my supervisor asks about a project that was due a week ago, my wife points out my absence, my friends ask me if I have written something to share with them, or I fall behind on my posting schedule.

Then, I have no choice—I’m forced to rethink how I handle my time.

We often tell ourselves we’re too busy to avoid pursuing things we want, like reading a book we bought ages ago or picking up writing or journaling again. After so negligence, these things start to feel awkward, and the longer we stay away the harder the return.

I’m reminded of a famous Arabic line by Al-Mutanabbi that beautifully summarizes how we should prioritize our time and goals, recognizing the value of our limited life on earth:

If you set out to pursue a noble aim, be satisfied with nothing short of the stars.

For the taste of death in a trivial pursuit is the same as the taste of death in a noble one.

📖 Books I’m reading?

I just started reading The Message by Ta-Nehise Coates. Coates is an African American writer who wasn’t too familiar with what was happening in Palestine until he visited. If you read his National Book Award winner Between the world and in me, then this should be a no brainer for you to read.

Here is a glimpse of the backlash he’s received for daring to be critical, from 6-minute interview with CBC Mornings.

💎 New From Me

We often feel like we have no story ideas to write about. But I believe we’re an endless well of stories; we just need the right tools to draw them out.

I made a video about ideas and how to never run out of stories:

🔖 Quote I’m pondering

“It is much easier to change how you think

by changing your behavior

than it is to change your behavior

by changing how you think.

Act out the change you seek”

— 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