Dear Fellow Warrior, On my birthday this year, July 9th, I wanted to gift myself an exit from my community on Facebook, and ultimately from the way I showed up on all my social media platforms. Not because anything was wrong with it. It just wasn’t working for me anymore. It wasn’t serving me, and…
Intersectionality
A Love Letter to My Ajnabi
“Eh Ajnabi, Tu Bhi Kabih, Awaaz de Kahin Se” I’ve written many letters in my life. This one is different. This one is for the ghost of a love I never met, and for the woman I have become because of it. Thank you for reading. Dear Ajnabi, Where do we begin when we don’t…
Defining Moments and Personal Milestones: A Mid-Year Video Update
“My Voice is Not an Apology.”– Nayyirah Waheed “The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.”– Mohamed Najumi Dear Fellow Warrior, I filmed this video last month, shortly after my last poetry performance on June 10th. It took me some time to edit… someday, I’ll have…
The Train: A Reflection for Minority Mental Health Month
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”– Carl Jung Dear Fellow Warrior, The ideation of jumping in front of the train returned to me again today. I don’t get out much and take the train often these days, but when I do, that’s the first thing that comes…
The Art of Survival: A “Prisoner of Conscience” Speaks
Dear Fellow Warrior, The featured painting, called “Prisoner of Conscience,” connects to my poem (Prisoner of Conscience: An Ode to Solitude) that I wrote earlier this year and recently published in The Memoirist on Medium. The painting is actually also inspired by the original feature photo I chose for that poem. I’ve always preferred using…
I Finally Dreamed of My Wedding… and Woke Up to Stigma
“All the lovers I know who are not loved back, are women who have tried to write their own story.” – Warsan Shire Dear Fellow Warrior, The other night, I had a dream that I was getting married… It was the first time in my life, from what I remember, ever having a dream about…
From the “Walk of Shame” to the Path of Mercy
“Whoever tells others about the blessings of Allah has shown gratitude.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (Tafsir ibn Kathir on Surah Ad-Duha) Dear Fellow Warrior, That night, after my last open mic poetry performance, as I walked back toward the metro, I reflected on all the adventures I had on U Street over…
If You Ever Miss the New “Old Elsa”…
Dear Fellow Warrior, If there is anybody in my “previous life” who happens to miss the new “old Elsa,” the Elsa before her recent inward revolution … It is hard to believe there is, considering when things got bad, most people disappeared from my life. But if you did once love her or care about…