Husain Journal

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." Plutarch There’s something sacred in the quiet moments that follow a brisk morning walk: the sharp air, the gentle hum of the world coming to life, and the soothing warmth of a cup in hand. It’s a time when the soul feels at ease, preparing for the day ahead. This morning, I found peace in the early prayers at the mosque. It set a serene tone for my day, grounding me in the present moment. As I walked back home, the cold air nipped at my face, but I welcomed it. I found solace in the simple act of holding a steaming cup of tea, my hands warmed by its embrace. But today, my thoughts went deeper than the routine comfort of tea and silence. I couldn’t help but reflect on my time in Delhi — those formative years when my journey of learning and self-discovery was stil...

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” - Seneca It starts as an innocent itch, right? It would just be a quick check, you tell yourself. But one scroll turns into an hour, and the guilt that follows is unbearable. Facebook. It was Facebook for me, but for you it could be Instagram, email, YouTube shots – or any of those attention-sucking tools – that exploit psychological tricks to keep us hooked. Facebook wasn’t adding value to my life — it was draining my time and attention. In an era where every notification pulls us away from meaningful work, protecting our attention has become the ultimate productivity hack. Yet, how often do we let distractions like social media steal our focus — and our time? For me, this struggle hit hard in 2018, when Facebook became a tremendous obstacle to my productivity. I realised I needed a change. This realisat...

"Frugality includes all the other virtues." — Cicero Managing expenses can often feel like a mental balancing act. It encourages frugal habits, motivates you to save for emergencies or special events, and most importantly, helps reduce unnecessary tension at home. Lately, I've been reflecting on my spending habits, and I've realized that the best way to manage them is to write everything down. After all, as the saying goes, "the palest ink is stronger than the fondest memory." A Clear Picture of My Spending I use the free version of an app called Spending to track my daily expenses, and it works like a charm. The app allows me to enter dates, choose categories, and add notes when necessary. Since it’s available on my phone, I can update my records while on the go or from the comfort of my couch. So far this month...

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” - Author Unknown This morning, the world feels alive in a way that only a crisp winter morning can. The air is cool and invigorating, and I’m wrapped in the comfort of warm, well-chosen clothes. As I sit here reflecting, it strikes me how easily we overlook such simple blessings. Take my jacket, for example. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary possession. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how extraordinary it is — not just for its warmth or practicality, but for the memories and meaning stitched into every fibre. This jacket is a gift from my father, chosen with love and care. It has been my companion in so many moments of life — through joyful gatherings, solemn funerals, long bus rides, and cold outdoor nights. It has kept me warm when the world around me was freezing, offered pockets to carry my essentials, and reminded me of my father’s a...

You know what’s good for your growth, and you know what’s holding you back. Yet, you often look the other way. Sure, you’ve made some progress and achieved a few milestones, but most of those accomplishments came from the progressive steps you’ve taken. And deep down, you probably know that if you’d taken even more of those steps, you’d be in a much better place today. Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get real with yourself. Ask yourself these tough questions—your answers could ignite the change you need: What foolish habits or behaviours am I engaging in that are holding me back? How can I eliminate them? What obstacles are in the way of eliminating these barriers? What small action can I take today to start moving in the right direction? Take some time to sit down in a quiet space, away from distractions. Switch off your phone and let those around you know you n...

"The person who starts the race is not the same person who finishes the race." Marathon spectator sign I’m not a sportsperson, nor a fitness freak. So my contacts view me with surprise on learning about my sudden fascination with running marathons, despite doctors’ claims that I’m visually impaired. (Note: I run with volunteers provided by Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation. ABBF team takes care of specific needs of blind participants.) January 2025, I'm embarking on an exciting journey to participate in the Tata Mumbai Marathon. While I’m looking forward to the experience and the joy of the event, I’m also approaching this trip with a deeper purpose: to learn, grow, and connect. I’m determined to take bold steps toward personal development, and I want to take a moment to outline the key areas I’ll focus on during this adventure. As I brace myself up for the occasion, I...

I’ll reward myself with a cup of tea after pouring down my thoughts in writing. Today, I don’t have a specific topic in mind to write about. Not having a clear focus might seem like a disadvantage, but when I look at it differently, I realize it's actually a blessing. Why is it a blessing? Because without a specific topic, I’m free to express my thoughts as they come to me. This often sparks my creativity in unexpected ways. Many of my blog posts have come from this kind of free, mindful writing. It’s also a therapeutic exercise for my mind, helping me calm the mental rush and clear away the clutter. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There’s more to life than just increasing its speed.” In today’s fast-paced world, the advice to slow down carries more weight than ever. So, I’m grateful for an activity that not only helps ...

Resistance: The Hidden Force Keeping Us Stuck There’s a quiet but powerful force inside us that sabotages our best efforts to create meaningful change. It’s resistance — and it’s always lurking in the background, making us second-guess, hesitate, and even procrastinate on the things that matter most. Resistance isn’t just something writers face when they hit a creative block. It’s universal. Whether you’re launching a business, changing careers, or diving into any big, bold project, resistance is there. It whispers doubts into your mind: What if this doesn’t work? What if I’m not ready? It wraps your heart in fear, holding you back when you’re on the edge of greatness. And what happens next? We freeze. We stagnate. We stand at the threshold, stuck in place, too scared to leap forward. But here’s the twist — deep down, we don’t want to stay stuck. We want to feel like we’ve done something , like we’ve taken the plunge, like we’ve c...

It’s weird, isn’t it? You’ve got all the time in the world. You’ve got exciting projects lined up, just waiting to be tackled. But… You can’t seem to fire up your engines. You can’t even get the car rolling. You tell yourself that if you push through and get to work, you’ll feel fulfilled, make money, and even take a step closer to the dreams that stir your soul. But that pep talk? It falls flat. It fizzles out like a dud firecracker, despite all the right words. And what do you do next? You start thinking you’re lazy. Unmotivated. Maybe you’re just not cut out for it. Your passion’s drained, and your enthusiasm feels like it’s vanished into thin air. But then, you remember—you’ve been here before. You’ve faced tough spots like this, some even worse. That thought gives you a little comfort, but it doesn’t quite ignite the spark—the one where the words flow effortlessly,...

Writing with Ease As I sit here writing, I'm striving for ease. I'm not forcing the words—I'm letting them flow. To make this writing process a breeze, I need to think about something light and freeing. Maybe a vacation or a retreat in the woods, surrounded by nothing but nature. A change of scene, something refreshing. And that’s the beauty of imagination—it can transform everything. It can shift the way you write, the way you express yourself, and even the way you feel about writing itself. Now, take a moment and imagine you're actually in that serene atmosphere. Picture yourself sitting in the woods or on a sun-drenched beach, breathing in the fresh air. Can you feel the calm? The clarity? It’s like a reset for your brain. Imagine the impact that environment would have on your writing. It’s not hard to guess. Writing can be fun. It doesn’t have to be this heavy, stressful task. The tone you choose—light or heavy—mak...

Great Writers and Their Craft Great writers are clear thinkers, driven by an insatiable desire to be heard. They write not to appease doubts, but to pour their thoughts onto the page, often without even realizing the act of writing itself. In that flow, they trust their instinct, yet they know the first draft is rarely perfect. Their words require constant rewriting, editing, and refining until they achieve the right form. Writing is tough. And when faced with challenges, it helps to remember this simple truth: writing is difficult precisely because it demands so much. But that’s the reality of it—and great writers accept that struggle as part of the process. What sets great writers apart is the space they create in their minds, reflected in the clarity and rhythm of their sentences. They don’t just write about a topic—they infuse their personality into their writing. Readers are drawn not just by the subject matter, but by the ...