Strange how inspiration for writing a blog post sometimes comes from a least expected place. Today, my inspiration comes in the wake of an earlier phone conversation I had with a friend. We were bemoaning how the upcoming generation of adults seem to have an unabashed attitdue towards their peers, namely parents. Young adults haveContinue reading “The Penitent Parent”
Category Archives: blog
This Fragile Life
Only two days ago, I learnt of the passing of someone I’ve known for over 30 years. She was a close friend of my sister and through their friendship, I shared many happy moments as well as some darker days. Learning about her death was not entirely surprising because not only was she not inContinue reading “This Fragile Life”
To Be and not To Say
For a long time, I’ve often wondered what my contribution to the world could be in terms of helping others understand who I am and what I represent. First and foremost, I identify as a Muslim and that dimension of my personality is something which I hope is the salient aspect of my being thatContinue reading “To Be and not To Say”
Birthday Blues
I am deeply grateful to have recently completed yet another year of my life. Alhamdulillah. And yet, there’s a “but” that comes as a sobering appendage to that milestone or that day. It’s not about how I feel being or looking older. It’s moreso that a birthday nowadays becomes a time to assess what hasContinue reading “Birthday Blues”
Not Yet Done
As the months and years go by, I realise that there is so much I have yet to see and do. In today’s terminology, I guess these things would form my ‘bucket list’. It’s not that I know what all of them even are as I know that there are some things out there IContinue reading “Not Yet Done”
10+ Years in 6 Hours
Sounds highly improbable and confusing but that’s exactly what happened last Saturday when an old friend and I met after so many years to catch up on each other’s lives. Of course, as expected, we only just scratched the surface but the hiatus in our in-person interactions over time had done nothing to interfere withContinue reading “10+ Years in 6 Hours”
Older But Younger
It’s been a lifetime of going through long periods of low self-esteem and then short-lived bouts of positivity but finally, at this late stage of life, I feel I have finally sown the seed of confidence within. It’s the type of confidence that tells me that I don’t need validation from others; lately I’ve foundContinue reading “Older But Younger”
Hot Coals
As I continue to move through my latter life, I realise that I am surrounded by a lot of chaos and discord. This is playing out in the wider world and sometimes it feels even uncomfortably close to home. Whilst I can’t always take pre-emptive action against it, my coping strategy is to remain quietContinue reading “Hot Coals”
Soul-Searching in the Sahara
For so many reasons, 2025 was definitely the best year of my life. It had a lot to do with my travelling experiences to places I’d never been before – Prague, Shanghai, Switzerland and Austria to name a few. But it culminated in a charity mission in Southwest Algeria, to a refugee camp just outsideContinue reading “Soul-Searching in the Sahara”
Malaga Memories in London
I don’t normally post anything except on Sundays but the past few weeks have been unusually busy and the things I want to share today are already overdue. Therefore, I didn’t want to wait yet another week to write something. Last week, my sons and I welcomed our friend Dani, together with his parents, toContinue reading “Malaga Memories in London”
