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I grew up in Iraq just after the Gulf War, and I believed in the United Nations, my school was partially funded by the UN. The Gulf War, as traumatic as it was for Iraq, had been authorized by the Security Council. The coalition that pushed Saddam out of Kuwait did so with a UN mandate. Even in the wreckage, there was a framework. The world, I was taught, had rules.

It took me decades, and Operation Epic Fury, to fully let go of it.

On February 26, 2026, diplomats from the United States and Iran sat across from each other in Geneva and agreed to keep talking. Two days later, the bombs fell.

Operation Epic Fury, a joint US and Israeli strike campaign across Iran, killed the Supreme Leader, targeted the president and military chief of staff, and destroyed infrastructure across the country. The objectives were sweeping: eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, destroy its missile arsenal, degrade its proxy networks, annihilate its navy, and explicitly bring about regime change. The announcement came not in an address to Congress, but in a TruthSocial post at 2:00 AM.

What the Order Actually Was

After two World Wars, the victorious powers built a set of institutions designed to manage great power competition without tipping into global catastrophe. The UN Charter. The Geneva Conventions. Nuclear non-proliferation treaties. The idea at the center was simple but radical: that states, regardless of size or power, were bound by rules. That sovereignty was inviolable. That disputes should be resolved through institutions, not force.

The United States (and the other powers) didn’t build this order out of idealism. It built it because rules-based systems serve the interests of whoever sets the rules. American hegemony with better branding. But here is the thing about rules, even self-interested ones: once established, they develop a logic of their own. The bully, in agreeing to follow rules, gives the smaller kids something to hold them to.

That agreement has now been torn up.

What Comes Next

Nobody knows. That is the honest answer.

The rules didn’t fail. They were discarded by a bully who decided they no longer applied. The world that comes after will be defined by whether anyone has the courage, and the collective power, to say otherwise.

waiting for the spark

That’s where most lives pause, not in failure, not in fear, but in anticipation. We wait for permission. For clarity. For the perfect moment when confidence arrives fully formed and taps us on the shoulder. We imagine the spark as something external; a person, a promotion, a lottery win, a sign from the universe that says now.

But fire doesn’t work that way.

Fire is not granted. It’s uncovered. maybe earned.

Every one of us carries something combustible—an idea we keep circling, a conviction we keep quiet, a version of ourselves we rehearse but never release. The tragedy isn’t that the fire isn’t there. It’s that we’ve mistaken patience for preparation, and waiting for wisdom.

The spark is rarely dramatic. It doesn’t arrive with applause or certainty. It’s usually pretty small and faint. More often, it shows up disguised as discomfort. As restlessness. As that low-grade irritation you feel when your days start looking too similar, when your potential feels underutilized, when you know—quietly but clearly—that you are capable of more.

That feeling isn’t a problem. It’s kindling.

We’ve been taught to fear burning—burning bridges, burning out, burning too bright. So we dampen ourselves. We stay reasonable. We choose safe trajectories over honest ones. And in doing so, we confuse stability with fulfillment.

But fire was never meant to be comfortable. It was meant to burn.

The people who change their lives aren’t braver than everyone else. They’re just more honest about what already burns inside them. They stop asking, What if this fails? and start asking, What if this is the thing that finally lets me live fully awake?

You don’t need a new personality.
You don’t need perfect timing.
You don’t need everyone to understand.

You need Fuel. Heat. Oxygen.

Feed the flame by showing up consistently, even when the results are invisible. Protect it—not from criticism, but from the pebbles.

Because the fire doesn’t go out when others doubt you.
It goes out when you stop tending it.

There’s a fire in all of us.
Not to burn—but to illuminate.
Not to impress—but to become.

And the spark you’re waiting for?

It’s you.

Why Spare Time Studios?

Life gets busy, and finding time to pursue hobbies and creative interests can be challenging. I wanted to create a platform that not only allows me to share my creations but also connects with like-minded individuals who appreciate the art of making the most out of their spare time. Spare Time Studios is a testament to the idea that creativity doesn’t have to take a backseat, even amidst our hectic schedules.

What Can You Expect?

By following @spare.time.studios, you can look forward to:

Exclusive Content & Giveaways: Special content for my Instagram followers, including exclusive projects and occasional giveaways to show my appreciation for your support.

[Photography/Art/D.I.Y. Projects]: Regular posts featuring my latest creations, behind-the-scenes looks, and step-by-step guides.

Inspiration & Tips: Sharing the techniques and tools I use to bring my ideas to life, along with tips to inspire your own creative endeavors.

Community Engagement: Opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share your own projects. I believe in building a supportive community where we can all grow and inspire each other.