tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life this is
your one wild and precious life this is
your one wild and precious life this is a line from a poem by world-renowned
a line from a poem by world-renowned
a line from a poem by world-renowned American poet Mary Oliver speaking of
American poet Mary Oliver speaking of
American poet Mary Oliver speaking of poetry and writing my husband once asked
poetry and writing my husband once asked
poetry and writing my husband once asked me if I were forced to choose between
me if I were forced to choose between
me if I were forced to choose between him and writing which one would I choose
him and writing which one would I choose
him and writing which one would I choose before I got the chance to answer him
before I got the chance to answer him
before I got the chance to answer him he told me he already knew what I was
he told me he already knew what I was
he told me he already knew what I was going to say so of course I didn’t
going to say so of course I didn’t
going to say so of course I didn’t disappoint him I told him I would choose
disappoint him I told him I would choose
disappoint him I told him I would choose writing over him and that’s when he
writing over him and that’s when he
writing over him and that’s when he asked for a divorce and that was the end
asked for a divorce and that was the end
asked for a divorce and that was the end of that I’m just kidding what actually
of that I’m just kidding what actually
of that I’m just kidding what actually happened was that he looked at me and he
happened was that he looked at me and he
happened was that he looked at me and he smiled and nodded at my expected answer
smiled and nodded at my expected answer
smiled and nodded at my expected answer and the point is is that he understood
and the point is is that he understood
and the point is is that he understood that writing was something that I could
that writing was something that I could
that writing was something that I could not live without that it was so a part
not live without that it was so a part
not live without that it was so a part of who I am and who I was that not
of who I am and who I was that not
of who I am and who I was that not writing would be like I was consciously
writing would be like I was consciously
writing would be like I was consciously choosing to go against my nature he also
choosing to go against my nature he also
choosing to go against my nature he also understood and he told me this that I
understood and he told me this that I
understood and he told me this that I was lucky to have found my calling most
was lucky to have found my calling most
was lucky to have found my calling most people didn’t or don’t and they end up
people didn’t or don’t and they end up
people didn’t or don’t and they end up in situations or places where for the
in situations or places where for the
in situations or places where for the most part they had little to do with it
most part they had little to do with it
most part they had little to do with it wasn’t always the case though what I
wasn’t always the case though what I
wasn’t always the case though what I mean to say is that it wasn’t always the
mean to say is that it wasn’t always the
mean to say is that it wasn’t always the case that I knew that I wanted to become
case that I knew that I wanted to become
case that I knew that I wanted to become a writer it was not a realistic option
a writer it was not a realistic option
a writer it was not a realistic option while I was growing up you see other
while I was growing up you see other
while I was growing up you see other people did that other people published
people did that other people published
people did that other people published poetry and books other people wrote
poetry and books other people wrote
poetry and books other people wrote plays and acted in them and composed
plays and acted in them and composed
plays and acted in them and composed music and albums and fashion labels and
music and albums and fashion labels and
music and albums and fashion labels and art other people created things
art other people created things
art other people created things platforms initiatives spaces I was
platforms initiatives spaces I was
platforms initiatives spaces I was merely a passive recipient or a mediator
merely a passive recipient or a mediator
merely a passive recipient or a mediator of sorts I was able to discover this
of sorts I was able to discover this
of sorts I was able to discover this passion this calling so to speak as an
passion this calling so to speak as an
passion this calling so to speak as an adult only in the past decade and a half
adult only in the past decade and a half
adult only in the past decade and a half thanks to a series of experiences along
thanks to a series of experiences along
thanks to a series of experiences along the way experiences that had iris
the way experiences that had iris
the way experiences that had iris I would not be the person I am today
I would not be the person I am today
I would not be the person I am today experiences which I allowed to take me
experiences which I allowed to take me
experiences which I allowed to take me by the hand and lead me in the darkest
by the hand and lead me in the darkest
by the hand and lead me in the darkest of fog into another kind of future or
of fog into another kind of future or
of fog into another kind of future or three what I had originally planned for
three what I had originally planned for
three what I had originally planned for my one wild and precious life was to
my one wild and precious life was to
my one wild and precious life was to become a high school English teacher
become a high school English teacher
become a high school English teacher thanks to my undergrad degree in English
thanks to my undergrad degree in English
thanks to my undergrad degree in English literature as well as my teaching
literature as well as my teaching
literature as well as my teaching diploma for that exact purpose this was
diploma for that exact purpose this was
diploma for that exact purpose this was my life plan I thought at the time a
my life plan I thought at the time a
my life plan I thought at the time a path my parents thought was good for me
path my parents thought was good for me
path my parents thought was good for me as a woman in general and as an Arab
as a woman in general and as an Arab
as a woman in general and as an Arab woman in particular my mother a biology
woman in particular my mother a biology
woman in particular my mother a biology teacher herself thought that
teacher herself thought that
teacher herself thought that schoolteachers had the best vacation
schoolteachers had the best vacation
schoolteachers had the best vacation opportunities you see they took off
opportunities you see they took off
opportunities you see they took off during the school holidays and they had
during the school holidays and they had
during the school holidays and they had the whole summer to themselves to spend
the whole summer to themselves to spend
the whole summer to themselves to spend with their families as wives and mothers
with their families as wives and mothers
with their families as wives and mothers Thank You King patriarchy for the fixed
Thank You King patriarchy for the fixed
Thank You King patriarchy for the fixed and preconceived roles for each gender
and preconceived roles for each gender
and preconceived roles for each gender with a whole set of expectations in
with a whole set of expectations in
with a whole set of expectations in other words limitations but not to get
other words limitations but not to get
other words limitations but not to get too detailed I did teach as a high
too detailed I did teach as a high
too detailed I did teach as a high school English teacher for a while in
school English teacher for a while in
school English teacher for a while in Lebanon but then life took me to other
Lebanon but then life took me to other
Lebanon but then life took me to other countries and other places and the key
countries and other places and the key
countries and other places and the key thing is in retrospect is that I did not
thing is in retrospect is that I did not
thing is in retrospect is that I did not resist
resist
resist for instance life took me to the United
for instance life took me to the United
for instance life took me to the United States where I lived in Iowa City for a
States where I lived in Iowa City for a
States where I lived in Iowa City for a while and I still kind of held on to the
while and I still kind of held on to the
while and I still kind of held on to the belief that I would teach English at
belief that I would teach English at
belief that I would teach English at American schools nevermind the irony
American schools nevermind the irony
American schools nevermind the irony that one of my friends joked and said
that one of my friends joked and said
that one of my friends joked and said wait you mean you an Arab are gonna go
wait you mean you an Arab are gonna go
wait you mean you an Arab are gonna go and teach English to people whose first
and teach English to people whose first
and teach English to people whose first language is English yeah but it did not
language is English yeah but it did not
language is English yeah but it did not quite work out the way I had in mind
quite work out the way I had in mind
quite work out the way I had in mind because I soon found out that there was
because I soon found out that there was
because I soon found out that there was a whole set of rules and regulations and
a whole set of rules and regulations and
a whole set of rules and regulations and coursework that I needed to consider in
coursework that I needed to consider in
coursework that I needed to consider in order to be certified as a teacher in
order to be certified as a teacher in
order to be certified as a teacher in the state in which I lived and this was
the state in which I lived and this was
the state in which I lived and this was because I was foreign educated so during
because I was foreign educated so during
because I was foreign educated so during the time that I was supposedly seeking
the time that I was supposedly seeking
the time that I was supposedly seeking to be certified as a teacher I worked in
to be certified as a teacher I worked in
to be certified as a teacher I worked in various other fields jobs that I never
various other fields jobs that I never
various other fields jobs that I never considered with my degree but I did them
considered with my degree but I did them
considered with my degree but I did them anyway
anyway
anyway for instance I folded clothes as a sales
for instance I folded clothes as a sales
for instance I folded clothes as a sales associate and I practice my smile even
associate and I practice my smile even
associate and I practice my smile even and especially with despicable customers
and especially with despicable customers
and especially with despicable customers thanks to that job I try not to be that
thanks to that job I try not to be that
thanks to that job I try not to be that despicable customer myself I also had my
despicable customer myself I also had my
despicable customer myself I also had my bag investigated as a sales associate at
bag investigated as a sales associate at
bag investigated as a sales associate at the end of my shift
the end of my shift
the end of my shift each time I checked out at the end of my
each time I checked out at the end of my
each time I checked out at the end of my shift this was standard protocol I was
shift this was standard protocol I was
shift this was standard protocol I was told and I shouldn’t have taken it
told and I shouldn’t have taken it
told and I shouldn’t have taken it personally but I did I couldn’t help it
personally but I did I couldn’t help it
personally but I did I couldn’t help it I couldn’t help feeling hurt and
I couldn’t help feeling hurt and
I couldn’t help feeling hurt and offended by the so called standard
offended by the so called standard
offended by the so called standard protocol I folded bras and underwear at
protocol I folded bras and underwear at
protocol I folded bras and underwear at a famous American lingerie outlet that
a famous American lingerie outlet that
a famous American lingerie outlet that lasted about two days before I said
lasted about two days before I said
lasted about two days before I said thanks but no thanks I also worked as a
thanks but no thanks I also worked as a
thanks but no thanks I also worked as a bookseller at a famous American
bookseller at a famous American
bookseller at a famous American bookstore and I loved every minute of
bookstore and I loved every minute of
bookstore and I loved every minute of that being surrounded by people and
that being surrounded by people and
that being surrounded by people and books and people who loved books and
books and people who loved books and
books and people who loved books and reading as much as I knew that I did for
reading as much as I knew that I did for
reading as much as I knew that I did for some reason no one investigated my bag
some reason no one investigated my bag
some reason no one investigated my bag at the end of that shift because really
at the end of that shift because really
at the end of that shift because really who would steal a book it’s not The
who would steal a book it’s not The
who would steal a book it’s not The Consumerist capital of the world
Consumerist capital of the world
Consumerist capital of the world but all the while I wrote long emails
but all the while I wrote long emails
but all the while I wrote long emails back home to family and friends long
back home to family and friends long
back home to family and friends long intricate carefully constructed emails
intricate carefully constructed emails
intricate carefully constructed emails about my life in that Midwestern setting
about my life in that Midwestern setting
about my life in that Midwestern setting I wrote about my longing for my homeland
I wrote about my longing for my homeland
I wrote about my longing for my homeland and I wrote about my perception of the
and I wrote about my perception of the
and I wrote about my perception of the world around me as a woman as a
world around me as a woman as a
world around me as a woman as a foreigner and as a post 9/11 immigrant
foreigner and as a post 9/11 immigrant
foreigner and as a post 9/11 immigrant in the United States and with time
in the United States and with time
in the United States and with time people my friends and my family and
people my friends and my family and
people my friends and my family and friends of friends who might never met
friends of friends who might never met
friends of friends who might never met who had somehow received my emails began
who had somehow received my emails began
who had somehow received my emails began began to write back to me and tell me
began to write back to me and tell me
began to write back to me and tell me how much they enjoyed my stories and
how much they enjoyed my stories and
how much they enjoyed my stories and that they were looking forward to more
that they were looking forward to more
that they were looking forward to more it became obvious that something was
it became obvious that something was
it became obvious that something was happening people other than my mother
happening people other than my mother
happening people other than my mother actually wanted to read my crap it also
actually wanted to read my crap it also
actually wanted to read my crap it also became obvious how much time and energy
became obvious how much time and energy
became obvious how much time and energy I was investing in composing these
I was investing in composing these
I was investing in composing these stories and I began to realize that
stories and I began to realize that
stories and I began to realize that really I wanted nothing more but to
really I wanted nothing more but to
really I wanted nothing more but to spend the rest of my time doing just
spend the rest of my time doing just
spend the rest of my time doing just that to write this was a scary thought
that to write this was a scary thought
that to write this was a scary thought because this was not part of the
because this was not part of the
because this was not part of the original plan of becoming a high school
original plan of becoming a high school
original plan of becoming a high school teacher so I took that scary thought and
teacher so I took that scary thought and
teacher so I took that scary thought and I went with it and I applied for a
I went with it and I applied for a
I went with it and I applied for a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative
Master of Fine Arts degree in creative
Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing at one of the top schools in the
writing at one of the top schools in the
writing at one of the top schools in the city when I asked about the application
city when I asked about the application
city when I asked about the application process I told I was told that I needed
process I told I was told that I needed
process I told I was told that I needed to be published first that’s when it
to be published first that’s when it
to be published first that’s when it struck me me published as an I do the
struck me me published as an I do the
struck me me published as an I do the work and someone likes it enough to make
work and someone likes it enough to make
work and someone likes it enough to make it public on beautifully bound sheets of
it public on beautifully bound sheets of
it public on beautifully bound sheets of paper to me it felt impossible but I
paper to me it felt impossible but I
paper to me it felt impossible but I kept at it I kept at the writing and
kept at it I kept at the writing and
kept at it I kept at the writing and some time later and various jobs and
some time later and various jobs and
some time later and various jobs and years later I reapplied for an MFA in
years later I reapplied for an MFA in
years later I reapplied for an MFA in creative writing and I got accepted into
creative writing and I got accepted into
creative writing and I got accepted into the University of Missouri st. Louis
the University of Missouri st. Louis
the University of Missouri st. Louis that’s when a whole new world opened up
that’s when a whole new world opened up
that’s when a whole new world opened up around me my being the only Arab in the
around me my being the only Arab in the
around me my being the only Arab in the English department was irrelevant I was
English department was irrelevant I was
English department was irrelevant I was surrounded by people who loved and
surrounded by people who loved and
surrounded by people who loved and appreciated words and language and
appreciated words and language and
appreciated words and language and writing as much as I did
writing as much as I did
writing as much as I did and it was a natural expectation to
and it was a natural expectation to
and it was a natural expectation to produce work that had the potential of
produce work that had the potential of
produce work that had the potential of being published during that time I also
being published during that time I also
being published during that time I also got introduced to poetry journals and
got introduced to poetry journals and
got introduced to poetry journals and magazines and poetry and literary
magazines and poetry and literary
magazines and poetry and literary readings where people would stand up in
readings where people would stand up in
readings where people would stand up in front of an audience and they would
front of an audience and they would
front of an audience and they would share their art they would share their
share their art they would share their
share their art they would share their work and no one in the room thought this
work and no one in the room thought this
work and no one in the room thought this was a complete waste of everyone’s time
was a complete waste of everyone’s time
was a complete waste of everyone’s time I felt at home not only was it not a
I felt at home not only was it not a
I felt at home not only was it not a complete waste of everyone’s time
complete waste of everyone’s time
complete waste of everyone’s time but people including myself felt
but people including myself felt
but people including myself felt something their words mattered words
something their words mattered words
something their words mattered words could change people perceptions life
could change people perceptions life
could change people perceptions life paths it was a powerful tool I knew how
paths it was a powerful tool I knew how
paths it was a powerful tool I knew how much it had changed me as a lover of
much it had changed me as a lover of
much it had changed me as a lover of books and readings but I never thought
books and readings but I never thought
books and readings but I never thought that one day I would possibly become a
that one day I would possibly become a
that one day I would possibly become a producer or a creator of books and
producer or a creator of books and
producer or a creator of books and reading myself with time I began sending
reading myself with time I began sending
reading myself with time I began sending my work out to be published in various
my work out to be published in various
my work out to be published in various literary magazines and I got a zillion
literary magazines and I got a zillion
literary magazines and I got a zillion rejection letters before I even got a
rejection letters before I even got a
rejection letters before I even got a glimpse of publication so during my time
glimpse of publication so during my time
glimpse of publication so during my time in the u.s. I was not only a potential
in the u.s. I was not only a potential
in the u.s. I was not only a potential thief
thief
thief remember the sales associate protocol I
remember the sales associate protocol I
remember the sales associate protocol I was also someone whose voice would
was also someone whose voice would
was also someone whose voice would easily be dismissed or muffled
easily be dismissed or muffled
easily be dismissed or muffled intentionally or not intentionally and I
intentionally or not intentionally and I
intentionally or not intentionally and I don’t mean my literal voice I mean my
don’t mean my literal voice I mean my
don’t mean my literal voice I mean my voice of being you see not many people
voice of being you see not many people
voice of being you see not many people whom I met at work or at school really
whom I met at work or at school really
whom I met at work or at school really knew where Lebanon was on the map and
knew where Lebanon was on the map and
knew where Lebanon was on the map and very few people seemed to care where I
very few people seemed to care where I
very few people seemed to care where I was really from and then later on when I
was really from and then later on when I
was really from and then later on when I got naturalized as an American citizen I
got naturalized as an American citizen I
got naturalized as an American citizen I was actually told on more than one
was actually told on more than one
was actually told on more than one occasion to no longer say that I was
occasion to no longer say that I was
occasion to no longer say that I was Lebanese I was expected to become fully
Lebanese I was expected to become fully
Lebanese I was expected to become fully American it did not sit well with me now
American it did not sit well with me now
American it did not sit well with me now maybe I’m a difficult person but I felt
maybe I’m a difficult person but I felt
maybe I’m a difficult person but I felt boxed in and trivialized into a an
boxed in and trivialized into a an
boxed in and trivialized into a an identity so immediately without warning
identity so immediately without warning
identity so immediately without warning or clarification
or clarification
or clarification so I decided to take my voice back even
so I decided to take my voice back even
so I decided to take my voice back even in the smallest of ways so for instance
in the smallest of ways so for instance
in the smallest of ways so for instance during my master’s program by writing
during my master’s program by writing
during my master’s program by writing did not include characters whose names
did not include characters whose names
did not include characters whose names are Jack and Jennifer and Donald
are Jack and Jennifer and Donald
are Jack and Jennifer and Donald definitely not Donald
definitely not Donald
definitely not Donald they included common Arabic names like
they included common Arabic names like
they included common Arabic names like Laila and Selma and Ziad they included
Laila and Selma and Ziad they included
Laila and Selma and Ziad they included flavors from my kitchen
flavors from my kitchen
flavors from my kitchen the weather and Beirut street names and
the weather and Beirut street names and
the weather and Beirut street names and jargon from my ancestors in or in other
jargon from my ancestors in or in other
jargon from my ancestors in or in other words they included things that I cared
words they included things that I cared
words they included things that I cared about politically and socially and
about politically and socially and
about politically and socially and intimately and ironically the more I did
intimately and ironically the more I did
intimately and ironically the more I did this the more I felt like I belonged and
this the more I felt like I belonged and
this the more I felt like I belonged and st. Louis began to feel like a second
st. Louis began to feel like a second
st. Louis began to feel like a second home to me during my newly discovered
home to me during my newly discovered
home to me during my newly discovered life in the u.s. I felt that something
life in the u.s. I felt that something
life in the u.s. I felt that something was missing I felt that something
was missing I felt that something
was missing I felt that something related to my identity as an Arab
related to my identity as an Arab
related to my identity as an Arab Anglophone writer was dismissed most of
Anglophone writer was dismissed most of
Anglophone writer was dismissed most of the magazines and journals that I had
the magazines and journals that I had
the magazines and journals that I had become familiar with and had published
become familiar with and had published
become familiar with and had published in were produced by older white men or
in were produced by older white men or
in were produced by older white men or whites men in general or white women or
whites men in general or white women or
whites men in general or white women or people of color but who were mostly
people of color but who were mostly
people of color but who were mostly produced in the West nothing that
produced in the West nothing that
produced in the West nothing that represented me as an Arab Anglophone
represented me as an Arab Anglophone
represented me as an Arab Anglophone writer was produced in the Arab region
writer was produced in the Arab region
writer was produced in the Arab region by an Arab person so one morning over
by an Arab person so one morning over
by an Arab person so one morning over coffee and a cigarette I decided you
coffee and a cigarette I decided you
coffee and a cigarette I decided you know what why don’t I do this myself why
know what why don’t I do this myself why
know what why don’t I do this myself why don’t I start something that I feel
don’t I start something that I feel
don’t I start something that I feel would fill a gap in the Anglophone
would fill a gap in the Anglophone
would fill a gap in the Anglophone literary narrative this idea was born a
literary narrative this idea was born a
literary narrative this idea was born a while before I actually made it happen
while before I actually made it happen
while before I actually made it happen as is the natural case with a lot of
as is the natural case with a lot of
as is the natural case with a lot of ideas that we come up with fear has a
ideas that we come up with fear has a
ideas that we come up with fear has a lot to do with that delay
lot to do with that delay
lot to do with that delay but finally when I moved back closer to
but finally when I moved back closer to
but finally when I moved back closer to the region I finally made it happen
the region I finally made it happen
the region I finally made it happen thanks to several things thanks to
thanks to several things thanks to
thanks to several things thanks to technology and thanks to WordPress and a
technology and thanks to WordPress and a
technology and thanks to WordPress and a little bit of perseverance and common
little bit of perseverance and common
little bit of perseverance and common sense and a whole lot of negative
sense and a whole lot of negative
sense and a whole lot of negative opinions which I chose to ignore I found
opinions which I chose to ignore I found
opinions which I chose to ignore I found it
it
it sukoon magazine an Arab seemed a
sukoon magazine an Arab seemed a
sukoon magazine an Arab seemed a literary magazine that publishes art and
literary magazine that publishes art and
literary magazine that publishes art and literature in English and I can’t tell
literature in English and I can’t tell
literature in English and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all the
you how grateful I am for all the
you how grateful I am for all the positive feedback that I got since then
positive feedback that I got since then
positive feedback that I got since then from writers and from readers for
from writers and from readers for
from writers and from readers for starting this platform for filling up a
starting this platform for filling up a
starting this platform for filling up a much needed gap for shedding light on
much needed gap for shedding light on
much needed gap for shedding light on marginalized voices in a scarred and
marginalized voices in a scarred and
marginalized voices in a scarred and underrepresented region the reward for
underrepresented region the reward for
underrepresented region the reward for this is priceless I also want to say
this is priceless I also want to say
this is priceless I also want to say that when I began participating in the
that when I began participating in the
that when I began participating in the poetry and literary events back in st.
poetry and literary events back in st.
poetry and literary events back in st. Louis I began to have people talk to me
Louis I began to have people talk to me
Louis I began to have people talk to me about my work which represented all that
about my work which represented all that
about my work which represented all that I knew from my life from my home from my
I knew from my life from my home from my
I knew from my life from my home from my angst from a distance or my Wars and
angst from a distance or my Wars and
angst from a distance or my Wars and these people would come up and talk to
these people would come up and talk to
these people would come up and talk to me and tell me how much it kind of made
me and tell me how much it kind of made
me and tell me how much it kind of made them think about their world maybe their
them think about their world maybe their
them think about their world maybe their privileges maybe their distance they’re
privileges maybe their distance they’re
privileges maybe their distance they’re somewhat partial lends to new things to
somewhat partial lends to new things to
somewhat partial lends to new things to unexpected things happen to me while I
unexpected things happen to me while I
unexpected things happen to me while I was in Dubai as well
was in Dubai as well
was in Dubai as well after sukoon I published a I got my
after sukoon I published a I got my
after sukoon I published a I got my nonfiction collection published by a by
nonfiction collection published by a by
nonfiction collection published by a by a publisher and my poetry manuscript was
a publisher and my poetry manuscript was
a publisher and my poetry manuscript was also picked up by another publisher and
also picked up by another publisher and
also picked up by another publisher and turned into a poetry chapbook
turned into a poetry chapbook
turned into a poetry chapbook whole books my words out there in the
whole books my words out there in the
whole books my words out there in the universe I felt nauseous
universe I felt nauseous
universe I felt nauseous and incredible all at once in a nutshell
and incredible all at once in a nutshell
and incredible all at once in a nutshell I just want to say that basically I
I just want to say that basically I
I just want to say that basically I moved from my plan of becoming a high
moved from my plan of becoming a high
moved from my plan of becoming a high school teacher to my discovery of
school teacher to my discovery of
school teacher to my discovery of becoming a poet a creative writer a
becoming a poet a creative writer a
becoming a poet a creative writer a creative copywriter an editor of a
creative copywriter an editor of a
creative copywriter an editor of a literary magazine and an organizer of
literary magazine and an organizer of
literary magazine and an organizer of literary events as well as a university
literary events as well as a university
literary events as well as a university instructor I have learned so much from
instructor I have learned so much from
instructor I have learned so much from each and every step of the way from each
each and every step of the way from each
each and every step of the way from each and every turn of events that came my
and every turn of events that came my
and every turn of events that came my way I don’t think we realize how
way I don’t think we realize how
way I don’t think we realize how important it is to always keep our minds
important it is to always keep our minds
important it is to always keep our minds and eyes open to what might come our way
and eyes open to what might come our way
and eyes open to what might come our way unexpectedly we won’t know what we’re
unexpectedly we won’t know what we’re
unexpectedly we won’t know what we’re truly capable of or what we truly care
truly capable of or what we truly care
truly capable of or what we truly care about if we don’t allow ourselves to let
about if we don’t allow ourselves to let
about if we don’t allow ourselves to let go of rigid belief systems about
go of rigid belief systems about
go of rigid belief systems about ourselves first belief systems which we
ourselves first belief systems which we
ourselves first belief systems which we inherit with or without our permission
inherit with or without our permission
inherit with or without our permission even this teaching opportunity here at
even this teaching opportunity here at
even this teaching opportunity here at Finney State University which I love and
Finney State University which I love and
Finney State University which I love and appreciate came unplanned coincidentally
appreciate came unplanned coincidentally
appreciate came unplanned coincidentally around the same time that I was moving
around the same time that I was moving
around the same time that I was moving back to Lebanon after being away for so
back to Lebanon after being away for so
back to Lebanon after being away for so many years when the opportunity came up
many years when the opportunity came up
many years when the opportunity came up I went with it and I honor this path
I went with it and I honor this path
I went with it and I honor this path trusting that only positive things will
trusting that only positive things will
trusting that only positive things will come out of it so I urge you I urge us
come out of it so I urge you I urge us
come out of it so I urge you I urge us to stop staring at our phones all day as
to stop staring at our phones all day as
to stop staring at our phones all day as we tend to do these days
we tend to do these days
we tend to do these days to stop hiding behind our technology but
to stop hiding behind our technology but
to stop hiding behind our technology but instead create our own progress I urge
instead create our own progress I urge
instead create our own progress I urge you to go out there and do things and
you to go out there and do things and
you to go out there and do things and make mistakes and get angry and get over
make mistakes and get angry and get over
make mistakes and get angry and get over yourself and move forward discover who
yourself and move forward discover who
yourself and move forward discover who you are and if you don’t like that
you are and if you don’t like that
you are and if you don’t like that person it’s fine explore something else
person it’s fine explore something else
person it’s fine explore something else there’s a whole world out there up for
there’s a whole world out there up for
there’s a whole world out there up for the taking and finally if I were to take
the taking and finally if I were to take
the taking and finally if I were to take the obnoxious Liberty for the purpose of
the obnoxious Liberty for the purpose of
the obnoxious Liberty for the purpose of this talk of modifying Mary Oliver’s
this talk of modifying Mary Oliver’s
this talk of modifying Mary Oliver’s perfect line tell me what is it you plan
perfect line tell me what is it you plan
perfect line tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and perfect
to do with your one wild and perfect
to do with your one wild and perfect life I would say instead tell me what is
life I would say instead tell me what is
life I would say instead tell me what is it you plan to undo unfold discover
it you plan to undo unfold discover
it you plan to undo unfold discover explore with your one wild and precious
explore with your one wild and precious
explore with your one wild and precious life thank you
life thank you
life thank you [Applause]
”
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