an itinerant observer

It began with someone else’s unease. My rooh ki saheli (soul friend)  had messaged earlier that morning. She was leaving for her six-hour-away destination in interior Sindh and wrote about her travel anxiety. The restlessness before departure, the ache of transition itself. I thought about it as I packed. Why am I not anxious anymore? I, who once turned every journey into mild existential drama. That question stayed with me as we left Fujairah.  I sat in the passenger seat while my three travel companions chatted in the back. AirPods in, I drifted into my own world. HAEVN’s The Sea filled it: songs that float between melancholy and surrender. “Back in the water, I feel like myself again,” the lyrics said. A chaddi buddy , childhood friend I’d recently rediscovered, had introduced me to the playlist. It felt like a small dedication, a familiar tide returning after years apart.  The road wound along the coast, sea glinting on one side, barren hills of Sharjah on the othe...

Introduction In a world filled with endless possibilities, our personal journey takes shape through a series of transformative moments that mold us into who we are. This holds true for my own story, as I reflect on the words I penned on my LinkedIn profile: "I see patients, I do research, I teach, I create/innovate, and I reinvent myself every few years." Little did I know then that these words would perfectly capture the essence of my ongoing journey of transformation. Immersed in the profound teachings of Bildung, I have come to realize the incredible accuracy of those words. Bildung is an intriguing German tradition of self-cultivation - a lifelong process in which mind and heart facilitate personal growth through self-reflection. Looking back, it becomes evident that my life has been a constant process of reinvention, leading me on a path of purpose and personal growth. Turning Points and Transformative Phases To truly comprehend the transformative nature of my j...

In the center of my existence lies a visual life ring, a captivating symbol of the interconnectedness and profound significance of various domains that shape my journey. This vibrant tapestry encapsulates the very essence of my being, reflecting the pursuit of fulfillment and the relentless quest for growth across five transformative domains. Asad’s Life Ring . Powered by inner life (or inner realm) as the hub, my life ring includes four spokes emanating outwards, each with its specific touch points. The life ring exercise was from a Coursera course called Creativity, Innovation and Transformation that I completed in December 2020. The 2 nd version (V2.0) of the life ring was triggered by the unexpected passage of my friend Dr. Amir Shariff, one of the coolest general surgeons ever! Hence, it is dedicated to him. A detailed explanation of this figure accompanies the text.   At its core, the inner realm beckons me to rediscover the boundless wonders of life through the eyes of...