America Tag

Humanity, Politics, Religion / 02.08.2016

Immigrating has never been an easy journey. As an immigrant from Pakistan, in the fall of 1979, where my family was comfortable in their surroundings to the harsh, bleak winter of Chicago was an extreme change. Besides the weather, there was the language, environment, norms, holidays, and so much more to adjust to. But the most fascinating were all the different people. In Pakistan we lived in a homogenous neighborhood, but in Chicago my six-year-old self delighted in the variety of human variations. There was an Italian family a few houses down the street who gave me my first taste of...

Love / 04.07.2016

How do you wish someone a happy birthday knowing that it hasn’t been the best of years or even the best of lifetimes? Do you fake your way through platitudes, not expressing the reality of her condition- trying to “fix” her even though she just wants to talk? It’s taken me years, decades actually, to be at peace with just bearing witness to someone’s pain, their situation; holding a place of reverence for them while they are with me, not trying to “fix” anyone or anything, so I shall do just that- listen to her, love her and empathize with...