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The Full Midnight Journal: February 28, 2026 I. The Setting (Block 15, Karachi) The night air is thick with the smell of diesel and late-night street food from the nearby vendors. Even at 11:20 PM, the yellow streetlights of Block 15 cast long shadows on the pavement. I can hear a neighbor's generator humming and the sharp whistle of the area’s security guard. This is the Karachi I know—noisy, stubborn, and always awake. It’s hard to find a moment of "pure" silence, but I’m learning to find it in the spaces between the sounds. II. The Social Pulse I saw a post earlier about the new road connections being planned for Gulistan-e-Johar. It’s funny how much our moods are tied to the city’s infrastructure—hoping the traffic at Johar Mor gets better so my commute doesn't feel like such a drain on my energy. I missed a call from a friend today; I need to stay connected better. It’s easy to retreat into my own bubble when the city feels like too much. III. The Emotional Inventory Dominant Feeling: Productive exhaustion. I’ve done a lot, but my "battery" is flashing red. The "Naming" Exercise: I’m not just "tired"; I’m feeling overstimulated. Using a Feelings Wheel helped me realize that what I thought was anger is actually just a need for quiet. Gratitude: I’m grateful for the electricity staying on tonight and for the quiet corner of my room where I can actually think. IV. Processing & Grounding When my thoughts start to spiral about work or the future, I’m trying to use grounding techniques. I can handle this. This feeling will pass. Tomorrow, my goal is to practice gratitude before I even get out of bed.