I learned today that the author under whom I studied last summer did not offer the same high-intensity workshop this year. A squeeze tightened in my chest as the thought ran through me: Did I attend the last session he will offer? I don't know the answer to this question, but it started me down a path of gratitude. I've sometimes wondered in the time since attending…
My Lebanese grandparents taught me to play Likha, a card game similar to Hearts, but with more ways to accidentally earn unwanted points, and no means to shoot the moon. They taught me to love Greek-style yogurt and spices with olive oil on pita bread for my breakfast. They taught me what lavish generosity looked like. They also taught my mother Middle Eastern hospitality, and she…
My sister was born in the beginning of summer and named after the feminine form of the god of war. She lived up to her fiery namesake and was a fierce little wildcat in her younger years. Later, she poured her passionate dreams into her artwork. I've watched her blow glass fearlessly, sculpt clay into dramatic forms, sketch a story in paint across a canvas and,…
I'm a bit obsessed with prioritizing. Sometimes I divide my life so carefully into priorities, I create a hierarchy of things that are "worthy" and "unworthy" of the time I can presently give. This works fine and helps narrow my focus when I'm in survival mode. It allows me to just do what I can to meet immediate needs and make sure nothing catches on fire…