You’re more than your social media

You’re not your social media account, the number of followers you have, or the likes your post received, or didn’t.

You’re not. You’re more—much more.

Don’t base your feelings about yourself on your social media stats.

They don’t make you inherently better or lesser than anyone else.

You’re a human—not just an avatar and collection of selfies and thoughts and words you hope people will like.

You have a body, a face, a will, a mind, a soul. You’re invaluable.

You’re a daughter, a son, a friend, a parent, a brother, a sister, a lover.

You’re more than a profile.

You’re a person.

These words are for your joy

Children laugh, playing and chasing one another, as time is forgotten and unattended, unencumbered by worry, drenched in innocence.

Holiday songs float from merry mouths of people who love the holidays and song, carrying the tune on silvery waves of sound, filled with the melodies of delight.

Memories retold around a table with the remnants of a well-enjoyed meal, as family and friends reminisce about this and that and of so and so doing such and such, leaving the room misty with mirth and nostalgia.

Love unending wraps around you, unashamed, fully present, and lost in the moment, blissfully encircling you in an infinite dance, twirling with laughter.

Joy.

Her naked voice will make you feel

She opened her mouth and sang,
her naked voice pure and
beautiful made the air
ache.

It was a Kurdish song with
Kurdish words that I didn’t
understand but I could feel its
meaning, echoing, as it resonated
through my body and pierced my
soul.

It was haunting—

hauntingly beautiful.

It wasn’t a scream; it wasn’t a
yell. It was pain intertwined
with hope like the morning mist
fragile, yet floating, everywhere
then disappears in the first
morning light.

Mysterious yet meaningful, moving
you in ways you never knew you
could, within you a chorus of emotions
dancing to the tune of life and death.

Lost.

Lost in the moment, searching for truth,

yearning for hope.

Sonorous reverberations lingered
longingly as I listened, mesmerized,
lost in the melody, as I found my soul
hovering, absorbed in each note, in each
word.

You who know pain can understand how
the air can ache

bringing you to tears,
shaking your heart,
tearing down the world
you love

but you stand

Defiant.

Resolute.

Yet, as you breathe,

you ache.

This was inspired by Emel Mathlouthi and her performance.