I woke up this Sunday feeling extra-Palestinian. That feeling brought to mind a story my father once shared with me: when he was young in Tiberias, Palestine, Friday mornings were a community ritual. Families and neighbors would gather outside, sweep the streets, chat with one another, and together keep their neighborhood clean.

Inspired by that memory, I reached out to the Friends of Palmeira and Adelaide and discovered they had a gardening volunteering session scheduled. I joined them, broom in hand, and began sweeping up fallen leaves. By the end, I had collected a full bag of leaves for composting.

After thanking the friendly people there and saying my goodbyes, I returned home with a lighter heart—feeling better, grounded, and even more Brightonian and Palestinian.