My Team Didn’t Need Fixing. My Management Style Did 2
What community theatre taught me about trust, play, and leading software teams.
Twenty Years as the Only Woman in the Room 2
The companies changed. The titles changed. The rooms changed. Yet one detail remained remarkably constant: more often than not, I was the only woman there. This is the story of what that taught me about leadership, confidence, and the quiet power of claiming your place.
All The Shoes
All The Shoes is a sharp, heartfelt, and page-turning novel about identity, responsibility, and what it truly means to walk in someone else’s footsteps.
Unreasonable Hope When the World Burns 1
My hope isn’t a naive belief that some benevolent force will magically intervene to save the day. My hope is a fire lit by the undeniable, fierce, and growing resistance to this evil.
20 Years of Blogging: How Writing Consistently Transformed My Life in Unexpected ways
Twenty years ago, I called my life “a joke in search of a punchline.†Today, it’s a mosaic of wonder, stories etched not on clay tablets, but in pixels and hearts. To the readers who turned my soliloquy into a chorus: the punchline was never the end. It was the only the start.
How I am Decolonizing my Mind 1
Decolonizing my mind began with confronting internalized beliefs shaped by colonial history in Iraq, and in Canada, Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s reflections, I examine how suffering is normalized differently.
Mastering the Art of Handling Rejection  2
As the querying begins in earnest, I prepare myself for the onslaught of rejection.
Advice from an Iraqi to a Canadian on How to Survive the U.S. InvasionÂ
Are you Canadian? Polite? Here is an extremely relevant guide, an Iraqi shares survival tips for your future after US invasion.
Sleeping on Spinach: Balancing Creativity and Happiness
How reading a story by Rumi helped me find a path towards balancing happiness and creativity in my life.
Making Peace with Shopping: A Guide to Mindful Spending
For years, shopping felt like a cycle of guilt and deprivation. I swung between impulse buying and strict frugality. Here’s how I made peace with shopping.
Returning to Tech After a 12-Year Break
After a 12-year career break, I went back to work as a software developer. Here is a summary of how I went about it.
Orientalism in Movie Casablanca
Exploring the hidden dimension in the the movie Casablanca with some suggestions on how to address it.
Story From Rumi: Three Brothers who Fall in Love with a Portrait
The last story from Rumi’s poetry. Discover the transformative power of following your passions.
Things I No Longer Believe In
Shedding outdated notions can open doors to more authentic and fulfilling life.
Reviewing Oud Fool Roses from Montale + The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 2
Oud Fool Roses from Montale led me to reflect on The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and I end up creating heaven on earth.
Searching For The Cemetery of Forgotten Books In BarcelonaÂ
As I stepped off the plane and into the vibrant city of Barcelona, I felt a thrill of excitement. This wasn’t just any vacation; it was a literary pilgrimage inspired by Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s enchanting novel, The Shadow of the Wind. My mission? To find the elusive Cemetery of Forgotten Books, […]
Story of Qais and Layla
Discover the legendary tale of unbreakable bonds, poetic madness, and a love that transcends all.
Books About Palestine – From Somebody Who Has Actually Lived There
Novels, history book, cook book, YA, graphic novel and more. A list of favorite reads about Palestine collected from a life time of reading.
How to Care Less About Things that I Care About?
The story of how receiving praise led to unexpected realizations.
Love letter to 2023 3
My dearest 2023, It has been a little over a week now since we first laid eyes on each other, and already you have set my heart aflutter with the gossamer wings of your captivating promise. As we enter this new partnership, my shiny new 2023, I am filled […]
How to build a woman from scratch 2
Start with a heart: red, square, and click-tight. Add laughter bricks, dreams, and wit. A whimsical woman built from Lego bricks.
How to Dance with Paper Streamers
I set myself a dance challenge. Dance with paper streamers. Without knowing ahead of time what will come out. I filmed myself for hours. In the end, I take the interesting bits and place them in a video. Watch what happened. Since paper streamers are fragile and dancing is a […]
Frame Stories: The Art of Stories Within Stories Explained
What draws us to stories within stories? From ancient epics to modern tales, frame stories create layers of meaning that captivate and surprise. In my latest post, I explore how this timeless device reflects our quest to find order in life’s chaos.