#26 Reflections: Flowers or Curry

Yesterday night I slept at around half 1.

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After writing about wanting to put people first, I felt like Allah put a test in front of me yesterday to see if I really meant what I wrote. I had promised my flatmate that we’d go do some grocery and house shopping after work (yes, we’ve been in this flat for 4 months and there are still things missng). At the same time, I had another friend (lets call her A) asking if I would like to meet up after work because she wants to treat me.

I had to decline meeting up with friend A, regardless of my love for free food, because I wanted to commit to the word I’d given my flatmate.

But then at 5pm I get a calendar notification. Its friend A’s birthday today. I completely forgot. And also, why is my calendar notification on for 5pm?

It suddenly made a lot of sense why friend A wanted to go out for a meal. Now I felt like a horrible horrible friend. But I still can’t break my word to my flatmate so we head out.

On the way to the shops friend A texts me saying they plan to stay at the cafe for a while so come whenever I can.

Hmm I could just go after my shopping trip, I wonder. But I close my Whatsapp and see the looming to-do list for tonight — write blog, cook curry, website design…all this would take me well into the night.

But at that moment, I remembered Reflection #24 — no more to-do lists above people.

Ok I agree, its a bit dramatic. It’s not like my friend was in dire need or anything. It’s not she told me about this plan days ago and I’d ignored her.

But I knew how much it would mean to her if I turned up.

So I thought why not?

I bought the nicest flowers one could get at 8pm and a small Birthday Girl badge and went to the cafe they were at. As I walked in I saw her face light up with the widest grin. She had no idea I knew it was her birthday. As she gave me the biggest bear hug one could get, I knew it was the right thing to do.

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And that is why I slept at half 1.

I worked through my to-do list after I got back (minus the cooking because the kitchen was too cold for that). I’m usually someone who sleeps at like 11 so half 1 was a big deal.

I could’ve easily pushed my to-do list stuff for another day but I was being a bit stubborn and maybe it was also the effect of having coffee that late.

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Funnily enough, originally the idea of today’s post was about why sleeping late is not a good idea. My gym podcast coincidentally talked about it today too.

But it just shows how writing has a life of it’s own. It happens a lot for me. I start with an idea but as I begin typing, my fingers decide to take it somewhere else.

So we’ll leave that idea for another day.