“Today could be his final day” - the doctors have said this to the family every day for the last week. My father-in-law’s health has meant years of being in and out of the hospital, but this latest stint has been the most serious.

It’s been a very emotional week for the family. I have laid low and tried to process everything as we all wait for an inevitable demise. I am not good at dealing with sad feelings, so part of the challenge was for me to sit with these big emotions while staying strong for the kids and for my husband. I’m still learning.

What’s happening isn’t easy, but I also see what a blessing it is that this man, who was a Palestinian orphan, led a fascinating life that led him to an UNRWA school, where he won a scholarship to get a masters degree in Math in the UK. Today, his hospital bed is surrounded by so much love: his wife of over 50 years (hi, Patricia <3), his five children, a handful of grandchildren and a regular rotation of friends. Isn’t this what we all hope for at the end of the day?

So thank you to the beautiful friends who have checked in on us and reminded us of the beauty of life. It’s in you, it’s in love. That’s really all that matters.

READ: Escapism

I picked up about five books and could barely read more than two pages this week. Here is one that kept me hooked to the end:

The Butterfly Box by Santa Montefiore

A sweeping love story that takes you from a sleepy seaside town in Chile to Cornwall, UK - ideal for readers into self-discovery, escapism and romance.

Write: Painful Emotions

I made myself go there; I sat with the big feels and tried to write about them. I found the best option was to ditch the laptop and go for paper and pen. Did you know that writing by hand is better for your brain? It literally activates a whole different neural network.

So go ahead, grab a post-it or a notebook, start free writing and see what comes up. You might surprise yourself!

Inspire: Planetary Alignment

A rare celestial event will take place on Feb 28 with all planets aligning - what a beautiful reminder that we are all part of a much bigger universe. Take a break from whatever is troubling you this week to tune out, tune inwards, and admire the stars.

For my fellow meditation enthusiasts, here’s a nice new moon guided meditation:

Browse: These Links

Random stuff from the WWW for your entertainment:

• London Fashion Week is a little dystopian doom and gloom

• Ramadan 2025 is around the corner: list of iftars in Dubai & AD

• YouTube Podcast consumers top 1 billion monthly viewers (watch mine here!)

• SAG Awards: best dressed stars on the red carpet (wow, Selena Gomez)

• Palestinian author’s Book of Disappearance nominated for Intl Booker Prize

Countdown to My Novel’s Publication Day:

Thanks for reading! See you soon!

With kindness,

Sara