Dear Fellow Warrior, I wrote this poem on the way back from Busboys and Poets Open Mic Poetry in Washington, DC, yesterday. I feel this ties together a lot of what I have struggled at a personal, systemic level, embracing my post-PhD “Identity Crisis”, navigating both intimate and systemic surveillance, judgment, and resistance towards “Invisibilization.”…
Posts Tagged with breaking barriers
The Rebellion of Being Hated: A Call for Courage
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” – Albert Einstein Dear Fellow Warrior, I hope this finds you well. There is so much I need to say to you. But I have not been silent, as you would suspect. I hope to share some reflections with you soon. But I wrote this…
When I Choose Love…
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu Dear Fellow Warrior, More to say soon. For now… here is a poem for the moment… When I Choose Love When I choose love over fear,When I believe in humanity,With…
On Suicide Prevention Month
“This life. This night. Your story. Your pain. Your hope. It matters. All of it matters.” — Jamie Tworkowski Dear Fellow Warrior, It is the end of National Suicide Prevention Month in America. On October 19th, I will walk for the 10th year in the Out of the Darkness, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Community…
When You Know …
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Kahlil Gibran Dear Fellow Warrior, When you begin to see things clearer…see the truth… when you begin to learn more about what “mental health stigma” and what “mental health bigotry” looks like across all domains… in the family,…
Rising Above Adversity
“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” – Aristotle Dear Fellow Warrior, Sometimes, when I go out, maybe to the grocery store or run an errand, my mind tends to think that I still look like the person I was “before.” Before the pandemic. Before this grey zone – ‘identity crisis’…
Re-Introducing Dr. Elsa, “The Warrior KQueen”
Why I Claimed the title, “The Warrior KQueen,” and Why I Continue to Embrace it in the New Decade of my life. “She wasn’t looking for a Knight. She was looking for a Sword.” – Atticus Dear Fellow Warrior, I hope you had a fantastic summer. August is over, and we are now in the…
A Love Letter to the Buree Nazar (Evil Eyes)
Dear Fellow Warrior, I had written this letter to the Buree Nazar, a few years ago, after I finished my PhD. I lost that poem, because it was handwritten somewhere on loose-leaf paper, unfortunately. I will share another article that explains what the “Buree Nazar” concept is in the near future, should you not be…