Reflections

Last week marked my 26th birthday. Twenty six years on this planet, countless interactions with people, and a mind that never stops analyzing human behavior. As I step into this new year of life, I wanted to share some honest observations about the humans I’ve encountered and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Here’s something that might sound harsh but feels true: we’re all selfish. The difference isn’t whether we’re selfish or not it’s how we define our “self.” Some people’s self is just them. Others include their immediate family. A few expand it to the extended family. And those rare people we call “selfless”? They’re just projecting themselves into other people’s lives. We all make sacrifices, but it’s always for what we consider ourselves. It’s not necessarily bad; it’s just human nature.

What frustrates me is how opinionated people get about things that don’t even affect them. Family dramas are the perfect example. I’ve watched people try to control others when there’s literally no harm coming their way. Parent-child relationships are especially guilty of this and it’s usually intimidating and frustrating for the ones who are getting affected.

Why do we feel the need to control what doesn’t concern us? I still don’t have a good answer for this one. If I had to pick the most dangerous three letter word, it would be “ego.” I’ve seen people go to insane extremes just to protect their ego. Watching two egoistic people interact is like watching a slow motion train wreck fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I’m not immune to this. Touch my dignity or hurt someone close to me, and my ego flares up too. It’s dangerous territory, and I constantly work to keep it in check. Every decision should come from a place of sanity, not wounded pride.

Over the years, I’ve met plenty of dishonest, greedy, and unjust people. These are the truly selfish ones they only think about themselves and couldn’t care less about how their actions affect others. They talk big, have huge visions, but zero execution skills. They bluff without guilt and fake everything. You know the type.

Two things embedded in our culture really get to me: Privacy doesn’t exist. Nobody cares about it, nobody respects it. We’ve just accepted that our personal space means nothing. Your happiness is your responsibility. If you want to be happy, you need to have hard conversations and make bold decisions. It’s your job to make yourself happy while keeping your loved ones happy too. What frustrates me most is watching people carry around societal baggage always trying to please others instead of focusing on their own happiness. Why ruin memorable moments just to please strangers? My rational brain can’t process these stereotypes and expectations. One day, when I have more voice, I’ll speak up against all this drama.

My career started six years ago. I’ve done gigs, full-time jobs, run multiple businesses, and consulted for various organizations. The biggest lesson? You absolutely need a financial runway when starting a business. At least six months of salary coverage, minimum. Without it, you’re not building a business you’re just playing survival.

Despite being naturally introverted, I’ve pushed myself to help with sales and lead teams. I always tell my team to think in first principles. Strip away the noise and get to the core of what matters. As I enter this next phase of my life, I’m ending 26 years of solitude. I’m getting married. Excited, happy, and nervous all at once. I’m curious to see what being a husband feels like, what it’s like to live with the person you love most in the world.

She’s changed me already. I used to be completely selfish, but now I find myself being selfless for the people I love. Growth is weird like that it sneaks up on you. These are my reflections after 26 years. Raw, unfiltered thoughts about humans, life, and everything in between.

The next chapter is going to be beautiful, inshallah. More growth, more challenges, more learning about what it means to be human in this messy, complicated, wonderful world. Here’s to many more years of figuring it all out 🥂.