What a week.
I wish I could say I had this written way earlier but I am literally typing this on my phone, in a dark bus on the North-South highway somewhere in between my two cities, Singapore & Bangi. I have less than 30mins to save my streak and make the deadline.
It feels like uni days all over again - and like back then, I apologise in advance that you’ll be reading some very raw stuff. We be winging it today gang. So this week in Zaid Looks Back…
only adults talk to strangers
Here’s a story:
I was walking to a surau to do my prayers when it started storming suddenly. With no umbrella or anything to keep me dry, I was walking fast trying to get to shelter. So was another dude coming the other way, rushing towards where I came from. And somehow, in a very surreal moment, I heard him say to me walking past:
“wah, tiba-tiba hujan lebat eh bro”
“Wow, suddenly heavy rain huh bro.”
For a while after that, all I could think about was whether I was the looked like the kind of guy up for random conversations in a literal storm.
But after the week I’ve had, being almost forced into strange conversations with ex-bodyguards and property managers, adorable chinese auntie convert and her wisdomous uncle, pakistani tandoori maker, anti-capitalist grab drivers and everyone in between, I’ve begun to rethink that encounter. It wasn’t about me.
I think adults talk to strangers. Not just when they can be of use (like networking) but because they are a fellow human and you should say hello, isn’t it raining heavily, when you see one.
The allure of moral clarity
Anyone else watch the genocide trial @ ICJ live stream last week? Between them and the normal Singaporeans I met at the Singapore Palestine Film Festival, if there is one wish I could hope to have for the rest of my life, it’s moral clarity. Imagine differentiating right and wrong, being courageous enough to stand for it and remaining humble throughout.
It’s so alluring and yet miss out one part and things get ugly fast. I’m reminded that moral clarity comes from having it all: compass, actions and character. Keeping at it is, I think, one of the true tests of this life.
fitness goal: 10km
I’ve got a few things I wanna do this year. I’m sure they’ll come back as I do this so please entertain me in the spirit of public accountability and share with me any goals you have too!
The first one I’ll put here is the simplest one: before 2024 ends, I’ll run a 10km. No time standard, just log a 10km on Strava and consider it done. It’s 15th Jan today and I’ve been running 3x / week and I must say it’s less painful than I thought it would be.
So here’s to keeping consistent. Thanks for reading this and hit reply whenever you want to because I’d love nothing more.
Have a kickass week.
Zaid ✊🏽
PS Shoutout to D who wants to know when my Swiftie era was and which songs I listened to (ref last week’s email)
Sorry to disappoint you but I have never had a Swiftie era. The earliest TayTay song I can remember hearing around was Teardrops on my guitar…and the truth is at that point, I could never remember which was TS and which was Carrie Underwood (yes this is a bit racist). If we’re talking female solo artists, Avril was the only one I had on my MP3 player.
And now you know this random fact, and also that this newsletter has a mailbox segment 🤣 write in and be featured next week! peace.
PPS: it’s still Monday in Jakarta so I count this as a win ❤️