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  • Hijab

    After the loss of my mother-in-law, my youngest daughter brought up the topic of starting to wear the hijab (a scarf that covers the hair, denoting our humbled nature towards God, and empowering our rights to protect our modesty in a world filled with immodesty). As a mother, who wanted to give my daughter a better chance at a larger pool of the ‘marriage mart’, my husband and I convinced her to wait. However, she brought up my inner need to wear the hijab myself and be a better practicing Muslim, because the hijab is a constant reminder of my connection to God. By wearing it, I’m reminded to always be grateful for what I have, not to envy what others do, work harder to achieve my desires within the dictates, rules and regulations given to Muslims through the Quoraan. I’ve also found that the acceptance I’ve received in this Western Country, Canada, was overwhelmingly positive and empowered me to stay the course of my beliefs. Now, I’m proud to say that my struggle to strengthen my belief is a daily occurrence, that I do my best not fall under its depressing weight. Struggling to unite people through the hijab is an uplifting experience, as one shares their experiences and problems, which in turn help others find solutions for their own set of issues.
    My favorite comment when people meet me, is that I have a certain glow to my face that comes from the power of my faith.

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

    Voting starts June 17, 2024 12:00am

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 3 weeks, 4 days ago

    International Writers Day acrostic

    International Writer’s Day
    Acrostic

    Internet has facilitated global connections
    Never stop the growth of writers
    That rend their hearts as their words flow
    Empowering the weak to
    Remember their worth
    Never succumbing to oppression’s
    Timely propagation that cleaves
    Intimate family members into
    Open enemity, clearly ‘Dividing & Conquering’
    Needlessly aggressive, destructive,
    Avid in mercilessly taking resources and
    Leaving nothing to the Indigenous peoples.

    Write, revel, rebel, roast, rumble the gruesome
    Reality of a world built on Materialism
    Instead of unity of humanity
    That lends compassion and succor that
    Eventually works together against the oppressor
    Ruining the ecology, separating family,
    Solidifying Darwin’s rules of supremacy

    Dealing in strength that overpowers others
    Amid illegal, inhumane practices that have
    Yet to be punished.

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

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    • Powerful words, Malak. Your passion for justice and unity shines through. Keep writing, raising awareness, and fighting against oppression. Together, we can create a world that values compassion, equality, and the preservation of our planet. Never underestimate the impact of your voice and the power of collective action.

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  • Give Up, Never!

    Give up, never!
    The challenges of life give greater
    Satisfaction when struggling to overcome them.

    Give up, never!
    Through war planes, attacker
    On our land, as my partner is an army officer.

    Give up, never!
    Through financial strains, being a mother,
    Teacher, student, niece, aunt, cousin, daughter…
    With duties and love to give as worries grow stronger.

    Give up, never!
    Going through bowl obstruction surgeries, recover
    From that alone is like moving through quick sand, a surfer
    Of intense pain, stilted, limited movements that border
    On the robotic before getting better.

    Give up, never!
    Immigrating at fourty plus is no simple matter,
    With two teens and two adults to give succor
    As the cultural, geographical, and familial reservoir
    Dwindles and altered to an extreme purveyor
    Of loss as we embrace newer circumstances in horror.

    Give up, never!
    Through each trial, the sun does shine brighter
    And belief that you’re being tested makes me stronger.

    Give up, never!
    Give up, never!
    Give up, never!

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

    Voting starts May 16, 2024 12:00am

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  • React to Darkness

    The world runs around and bucks you
    Of your trajectory with minutiea that drive you
    Up a wall, and down into darkness which blinds
    Your senses that either gives adrenaline or freezes
    You into a statue that’s blind, deaf, and dumb.

    Your vision turns into bright starts that short-
    Circuit your mind with blinding light whose sport
    Is to suppress your logic, embracing emotions
    That turn you deaf to all evidence against your passions.
    Those then steal your ability to speak your mind.

    As the world moves round and round, like a merry
    Go round, so do you try to stave off the shocks that ferry
    You into dismay as experiences are disillusioningly
    Petrifying, with their obstacles and demands
    On your taking a stand outside your comfort zones.

    Stay the course.
    Stand tall.
    Savor each experience.
    Strengthen your faith with failure or success.
    Sever negative relationships,

    And let your self-confidence emerge
    A snow white pigeon of peace and verve of life.

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • I could really picture the merry go round you described in this piece, but I love the ending:

      “Stay the course.
      Stand tall.
      Savor each experience.
      Strengthen your faith with failure or success.
      Sever negative relationships,

      And let your self-confidence emerge
      A snow white pigeon of peace and verve of life.”

      Love how you ended it. Thank you for…read more

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  • My Last 5 Minutes

    I sit up,
    Look up,
    Firing my appreciation
    To God, in whose contemplation,
    Veneration, I’m engrossed
    In my thanks to all that
    I’ve got, that’s on the spot:
    Family to love and cherish,
    Kin to pray and think of me as I perish,
    Friends who’ll miss my presence,
    As our discussions cover matters that hence
    Ruminate over social changes
    Trending through social media’s
    Imposing pressure over all genders
    And age groups who surrenders
    Their freedom to bondage
    Of our sovereignty over our charge:
    Our immortal soul, whose barred
    From its morality, replaced
    By being led to sins that destroy
    Your connection to the All Mighty. A ploy,
    To reduce believers that rebel against sins of immorality.

    malak kalmoni chehab

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    • Malak, there is so much depth and power in your poetry. You are so insightful. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of Current EventsCurrent Events group 6 months, 2 weeks ago

    I am scared and heartbroken

    Last night, I didn’t sleep well, as I had several nightmares. I was haunted by the endless images I saw in the news: A young woman’s naked, lifeless, unconscious (possibly deceased) body being paraded around as a trophy after Hamas attacked young people at a music festival in Israel, a 25-year-old woman begging for her life as she was taken as a hostage and babies whose faces were covered in dust and blood from the bombs thrown near their homes.

    When I awoke this morning, I immediately read the news to see the latest. And while the horror continues on the other side of the world, I was also disheartened to learn that hate was just outside my doorstep.

    People at rallies down the street from where I slept last night are wearing, holding, and celebrating images of swastikas and promoting anti-semitic rhetoric. For the first time in my life, I was and am scared to be Jewish.

    While I have been doing my best to educate myself through the news, friends, and online resources, I am not going to sit here and pretend I fully understand the conflict between Palestine and Israel – because I don’t. And I know that it’s natural and easy to see the world through the lens of my own experiences and identity.

    However, we all, myself included, should see and feel our humanity reflected in every person on this planet. And act accordingly.

    As I try to process these last few days, the violence happening in the Middle East is not just about me, or any one group of people or politics. This cruel attack on innocent people is about all of us. It is a threat to all of humanity.

    No child, no person, whether they share my background or not, whether Palestinian or Israeli (or any other culture, race, or religion), deserves to live or die in such an inhumane way.

    There are a lot of issues we can’t and won’t agree on in this world. But we universally should believe in and tirelessly advocate for love, compassion, and peace for all people.

    And sadly, right now, that’s not the case.

    I am scared and heartbroken as I pray for the victims of violence, our world, and humanity.

    Lauren

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    • I’m at a loss for words to describe the depths of evil for these murders of innocent people. I can’t comprehend humans committing these acts against other humans. Why with all the prayers that happen worldwide daily do things like this even happen? Please stay safe from these protests and God help the Middle East with everything you have.

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  • Advocate or Act, Both?

    Advocating for pushing beyond your
    Comfort zone is easy, it’s just words.
    Applying it to yourself is hard and requires
    A dauntless temperament that’s bolder
    Than your fear, that binds your actions.

    As an introvert who bottles up her
    Emotions and fears, confronting
    Anyone who’s hurt me has a severe
    Strain over me, anxiety flourishing,
    Sweating, combing through vocabulary that Never,

    Ever seems to fit, and always has
    The possibility of being misinterpreted
    As my clarity of thought comes
    With pen, paper, thoughts processed
    Slowly for the least hurt possible attained.

    Consequences of words spoken
    Can’t easily be taken back, and they happen
    To have a lingering effect that’s unspoken!

    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

    Voting is closed

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    • Aww Malak – Never be afraid to use your voice – whether it be with a pen or a microphone. You are a strong and beautiful person, the world deserves to see your heart. Keep pushing yourself. You got this. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed. <3 Lauren

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  • Soulful Respect (acrostic)

    ‘Who’s worthy of respect?’ Asks the
    Oh so gentle soul. ‘Me, perhaps?’
    Replying tentatively, I question whether
    The ‘me’ others see is laudable with my
    Honesty, diplomatically voiced,
    Yet still encases my faith, ethics, and friendship.

    Offering an ear, a hug, a friend, a listener
    Free of malice and judgment, that’s never a jeer.

    Resounding devotion can never
    End, as long as your true self reverberates
    Soulfully within a frequency received by
    Peers and kin who feel the same.
    Enter into the ring to battle out the
    Captivating desires leading you astray
    To a world where your worth is bound by trends.

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

    Voting is open!

    Voting ends September 1, 2024 12:00pm

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    • ‘Offering an ear, a hug, a friend, a listener
      Free of malice and judgment, that’s never a jeer.”

      This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing <3 Lauren

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 7 months, 3 weeks ago

    Twilight's Darkened Light

    The night’s fading darkness
    Is illuminated by filaments that glimmers
    With piercing reddish hues
    Into a horizon of fading darkened blues.

    With each touch of brilliant, glinting light
    The scenery is transformed, bright
    As a white pigeon in heightened flight,
    Soaring, like Icarus, too near the sun’s slight

    Heat that tenderly caresses its feathery
    Wings across all living things, bravely
    Broaching the new day optimistically,
    Knowing that man’s destruction will invariably

    Alter the breathtaking beauty of sunrise,
    Twisting its vibrancy into shades
    Of tenebrous grey, colorless, and lifeless,
    As everything becomes hopeless.

    Let each new day be your oath
    To be stronger than the sun’s breadth,
    As you emulate its depth
    Of strength, that reigns above all in stealth.

    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • Malak, I love this part: Let each new day be your oath
      To be stronger than the sun’s breadth,
      As you emulate its depth
      Of strength, that reigns above all in stealth.

      Check out our newsletter today. I will feature a link to this poem.

      Lauren

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  • My first cover letter

    Dear Mr. —

    Did you know the NFL’s Ryan Grant also participated in basketball and track and field during his time at Don Bosco Prep School in New Jersey? Did you know the NBA’s Adonal Foyle still holds the record in New York for most points in a high school tournament game? Did you know former Suffern High School girls’ lacrosse star Crysti Foote is a member of the Canadian National Team and is recognized as one of the best female players in the world? Inspired by the commitment and passion all great athletes demonstrate, I know both the technicalities of sports and interesting facts about the athletes themselves, which is why I believe if I become a reporter for MSG Varsity I will be a powerful conduit between the athletes and the tri-state community. I will ask questions the viewers want to know and receive honest answers from athletes who respect my knowledge.

    My confidence in my future success is based on the achievements of my past as well as my present occupation. As a young 21-year-old college graduate, I began writing for NBA.com and WNBA.com. With my own swagger, I entered NBA and WNBA locker rooms to interview athletes double my size among journalists twice my age. Publishing hundreds of articles and blogs on NBA.com, WNBA.com, D-league.com, NikeWomen.com, and WomensProSoccer.com, I have also had my fair share of on-air opportunities. Currently, I am a co-host for On the Mike With Mike Sherman, a weekly entertainment, lifestyle, and sports show that airs on a CBS affiliate (My33) in South Florida. Last season, when the 49ers took on the Giants in New Jersey, I was there to interview athletes and report back on the night’s events for CBS’ San Francisco affiliate. I have reported local news on Long Island and worked as a sports reporter for Artsis Media, where I shot, edited, wrote, and produced all my own stories.

    Throughout my tenure at Columbia University, I majored in sociology and focused on the sociological impact of sports. Through my 40-plus page senior thesis, I discovered that to have longevity and acceptance as a female sports reporter, you must be a sports connoisseur yourself. Voted biggest jock in my high school senior superlatives, I have lived, breathed, and loved sports throughout my life. I believe if given a chance I will be recognized and respected by the sports world for telling compelling stories and conducting in-depth thought-provoking interviews. In other words, I’m a talented young recruit with an All-American future and would love to help the MSG Varsity team work its way to the top of the game.

    Sincerely,

    Lauren Brill

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    • Wow that’s awesome! You wrote for the NBA and WNBA!!This letter is a huge inspiration because I want to do podcasting and interview sports players and artists.

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 8 months, 2 weeks ago

    Hunger to Survive

    The lion lays quietly atop an overhanging hill.
    He waits, watches in the vain fervor that his prey
    Will come to him in deadly night like a diet pill
    That will stop his hunger and permit his teeth to stay
    Sharp, glistening white, creating a shiver of fear
    Of their ferocity and ability to tear apart an arm,
    Or important extremities that flash their spear
    Of speed trying to outrun the King.

    The atmosphere of fear is so authentic
    That I can feel the lion’s eyes shifting silently,
    Watching guardedly, waiting patiently to pounce happily
    On his unsuspecting prey. His jaws are cave like
    In their imposing strength and force of bite.

    Never fear the lion, for you know he attacks
    To survive, not for pleasure.
    Fear those who appear like sheep, but are
    More serpent or fox, for their poisons
    Attack the soul and destroy lives as if doing you favors.
    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • This piece is so creative. You are so talented. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of our little family. Keep writing. You are changing the world. <3 Lauren

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  • How in the world did I end up here?

    This weekend, I was standing on top of a hill with a fortress and a lighthouse that overlooked the Mediterranean Sea in a small beach town in Spain called Tossa De Mer. It was absolutely breathtaking. And I never even heard of this place before we arrived. All I could think was, “How in the world did I get here?”

    Flashback five years ago, I was at a job in Ohio, and I was not particularly happy for many reasons. Guided by a strong intuition (and maybe my misery as well), I left my career as a sportscaster to start my own company, theunsealed.com. We are a platform that allows people to share personal stories in an effort to use writing to transform pain into power. If you know me, you know The Unsealed fuels my soul. It makes me excited to wake up in the morning and fills my life with meaning and purpose. For the first three years after starting my company, I worked every single day – most of the time, ten hours a day. No vacations. No days off. And I was perfectly happy doing so.

    Personally, I have always enjoyed dating and the attention that comes with it, but after two very serious relationships in my early and mid-twenties, for a long time, I didn’t want anything serious. I always feared that a relationship would and could hold me back, especially when I was a sportscaster, and I didn’t know what city or what job would be next. However, as I became more certain that The Unsealed was what I wanted to do and could do with my life, I became cautiously more open to the idea of a partnership.

    Then, after the pandemic, my brother sent me an online flyer for an event. It was called Miami Tech Night; a networking event held every Wednesday in Miami for people who work in tech. My brother thought it would be a great opportunity for me to meet people in my industry. So, as I usually do, I followed my brother’s advice. It was maybe my second or third time attending when this tall, handsome man approached me and asked me what I did for a living. I happily told him, and then he shared a little bit about his career. As we chatted more and more, he revealed that he had started a successful online business in his 20s and sold it. I was impressed, intrigued, and inspired. He invited me to my favorite taco spot down the street to continue the conversation after the event. We quickly realized we had similar interests and family values.

    From there, we started spending time together almost daily. Every week seemed to get better and better. So, one day, about three months into our relationship, I suggested getting away from Miami for a few weeks during the summer. Summers are so hot, muggy, and humid in Miami. I proposed L.A., and he said he had wanted for a while to take this massive three-month trip to Europe. He asked if I would be willing to come along. In theory, it sounded amazing, but I needed to work! Plus, leaving my dog for that long would not be easy for me.

    My parents agreed to watch my dog, and my boyfriend promised me I could work as much as I wanted on the trip. He’s been where I am, so he gets it. I agreed to go, and for the first time maybe ever, I am figuring out how to have a work-life balance, waking up early to work before we go out for an excursion, and finding cafes in every city to continue to put in at least eight hours every weekday. Instead of resenting me, my boyfriend pushes me to wake up early and goes to play tennis when he doesn’t have his own work to get done.

    At night and on the weekends, when we have time, we have the most incredible experiences exploring the world together, visiting castles in Portugal, wandering the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, and getting lost in the public transportation system somewhere in Europe (super grateful to the restaurant owner who called us a taxi).

    There is no way if you told me five years ago I would be here right now, I would believe you. But as I sit in a cafe in Spain and reflect, I realize I don’t know exactly where my life is headed, but I do know how I got where I am right now. And that is by personally and professionally following my heart.

    With love,
    Lauren

    P.S. Special shoutout to my boyfriend – thank you for believing in me, pushing me, loving me, and inspiring me. And thank you for speaking three languages. We certainly would get far more lost otherwise!

    Lauren

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    • I love this story. This inspires me to hold onto faith and to let things happen on its own. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. I’m happy you were able to balance work and travel.

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    • Lauren!!! I love this line “I don’t know exactly where my life is headed, but I do know how I got where I am right now. And that is by personally and professionally following my heart.” It’s exactly the space I’m in where life can be so mysterious. While that can be unsettling there is hope in knowing that by following our dreams and what we l…read more

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      • Thank you so much. I have more faith now than ever that if you follow your heart, things have a funny way of falling into place. <3 Lauren

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    • This is my favorite story

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of Chasing Your DreamsChasing Your Dreams group 10 months ago

    This is why I am making the world my workplace for the summer

    As a kid, I was adventurous, riding rollercoasters at age five, going on a plane by myself at seven, and willing to travel just about anywhere up through my college years. I am not sure if it was the pandemic or the tragedies we see daily in the news, or maybe just me getting older, but somehow, along my journey, my fearless spirit began to fade.

    In April, my boyfriend (of just a few months at the time) proposed a trip of a lifetime, three months of traveling all over Europe while working remotely. In theory, it sounded amazing. I went to Europe in my teens and early 20s and loved it. But three months is a long time away from my family and dog, and Europe feels so distant from home. I was scared to go.

    Nonetheless, knowing how much my boyfriend wanted to travel and how wonderful an opportunity and privilege this trip truly is, I agreed to go with him. However, during the three weeks leading up to the trip, I had two separate back spasms/herniated discs, and, for the first time in my life, I fainted and hit my head pretty hard. Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe not. But I definitely felt very anxious.

    Once we made it to our apartment in Barcelona, Spain, I felt slightly more at ease. So far, we’ve walked for miles and miles along the beach, not knowing where we were going or what we wanted to do. We’ve tried delicious food that was possibly worth the ensuing stomachache. And I have attempted to speak and understand a language I do not know. All the while, my boyfriend and I are beginning to learn more about each other’s quirks as we fully live together for the first time.

    As I sit here writing in a cafe in Barcelona, eating new food, working on The Unsealed, and listening to various languages in a city I don’t know very well at all, I am now hopeful that getting a little lost in this world will help me find a part of myself that I thought was long gone.

    Lauren

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    • To be able to travel all over the world is super cool and It’s a great thing that you’ve got you traveling mojo back and that you’re traveling with the one you love. Thank you for sharing

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    • Lauren I am so grateful to have seen your letter. As a young woman that desperately wants to travel but didn’t even go away for school it comforts me in so many ways to see you pushing past your fears and learning how to live in a way that’s such a genuine experience. I pray that soon I’ll be able to tell my own version of this story and I hope to…read more

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      • I somehow missed this response when you wrote it but saw it today. Definitely push yourself outside your comfort zone. It was the best summer of my life, not to mention I fell completely in love with my boyfriend. I was so scared to go and now I want to go back. I can’t wait to hear your story :). Lauren

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 10 months ago

    Stealthy Labyrinth

    A Labyrinth of life and living
    Flies by with the passing minutes,
    Striving to leave imprints,
    That are positive in their fleeting

    Flight, that they can’t be bound.
    Imprisoned by labels, categories,
    Races, and groups that astound
    In their versatility, but not humanities.

    I’ve lived in this labyrinth of life,
    Where negativity was the succor
    Given by some of my entourage, that’s rife
    With jealousy, bias, and is a bereaver.

    They suck out the optimism and
    Joy of life out of each stupendous second,
    That you fear drowing in the labyrinth
    Of fiery destruction that steals your breath.

    Instead, let the minutia of the labyrinth
    Turn into an adventurous life in stealth.

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • Your poem captures the nature of life’s difficulties and the struggle to find positivity during the confusion. The metaphor of the labyrinth is very effective in conveying the sense of being lost.

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 10 months, 3 weeks ago

    Pirouette

    I watch as she pirouettes,
    Her dress, a parachute, flies
    In waves to her flutters.

    Her sensual beauty attracts
    An audience, not for her moves,
    But for the supplication in her eyes.

    They shine with an inner peace
    That translates into a pace
    Shinier than the purest diamond face.

    My gaze is glued to her flexible
    Limbs that have divined that the rain bubble
    Ensconces her in a world where trouble

    Is an abstract concept she’s never
    Experienced, as her innocent cover
    Protects her as she adds prayer to the dancer.

    As her body flows, swings, undulates,
    She hears titters on her esthetics.
    She says: ‘Believe in a faith that provides
    Truth and dares to challenge lies.’

    They then turn away and bicker,
    Having forgotten why she was a riveting picture.

    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • This is so beautiful. I can visualize the imagery here. Thank you so much for sharing your words. This poem is a reminder to never let anyone shake your confidence <3 lauren

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    • This poem is very beautiful. And the imagery is very detailed. “her dress, a parachute, flies” is by far my favorite line because it’s so easy to imagine her dress and her movement. Thank you for sharing

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  • Thank you Grandpa Herby

    Dear Grandpa,

    It’s been nearly 25 years since I last saw you, and what I remember most about you is how you made me feel. Whether at dinner on the holidays, playing cards, or sitting in your living room telling stories, you lived with a joy and zest for life that was so effortless, natural, and contagious.

    Growing up, you were very athletic, just like me. So when I would tell you about the plays I made or the goals I scored, you’d say, “That’s my little athlete,” knowing I got my athletic prowess from you. I was very outgoing as a child, telling a stranger my whole life story within the first five minutes of meeting them. Since you were not short of personality at any point in your life, you’d always say, with a grin, “We know where that one came from.”

    When I was around you, I always felt like you loved and believed in me and were proud that I was your granddaughter. Grandpa, you always made me happy, and you always made me smile.

    For many years, you had health problems: diabetes, cancer, and heart problems. During the fall of my first year of high school, you had what felt like your 10th heart attack and passed away the Friday after Thanksgiving. I was devastated. Your death was the first time I lost someone close to me. But I pressed on.

    For years, you told me the rain was good luck. So, to cope, I looked for rain to stay connected to you – a way to know you were still there. Sure enough, it rained on the day I graduated from high school. On August 15th, 2012, which would have been your 85th birthday, I was offered my first full-time on-air sports anchor/reporter job. It was pouring outside. And more recently, when I met my boyfriend, who treats me so well and makes me laugh, I asked what his name meant. When he said he didn’t know, I looked it up. His name means the God of Rain.

    With all my heart, Grandpa, I believe you are watching over me. You know I became a sportscaster, and you love that I started a business that advocates for kindness, courage, and equality. You are so overjoyed about the quality of my new boyfriend’s character, and you think it’s funny how my dog doesn’t let anyone within three feet of me. In fact, I think you may have something to do with that.

    So more than telling you that I miss you or even that I love you, what I want you to know is how you made me feel when I was a little girl is how you make me feel now.

    Thank you for still making me smile. Thank you for still making me happy.

    Love your little athlete,

    Lauren

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    • The world is getting smaller Lauren. Not only have we worked for the same companies but I was born and grew up in the Bronx for a short time in my life. Your grandfather may have known my great grandfather and possibly my grandparents. Beautifully written letter to your grandfather, makes me think of my grandparents myself. You’re surely making…read more

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  • Mom, this is what makes you so special

    Dear Mom, Here is what makes our relationship special.

    I am not the only person in the world who thinks they have the world’s greatest mom. But I am the only one who is right. There are so many reasons why you are a great mom. Growing up, you showed up at every dance recital, soccer game, graduation, and field trip. You did my hair as a little girl, even though you had to chase me around the house with a brush and a bow in hand for 20 minutes to do so. You took me to The Plaza for tea time and to restaurants in the city for lunch dates. And you have supported every dream I have ever had. While I cherish all those moments and memories, what really makes you the best mom is that you have never let me cry alone.

    In my worst moments, Mom, you have always been there to listen to, encourage, and give me advice. As a little girl, when I was upset about school or a boy and couldn’t sleep, you would sit in my bed and talk to me until I felt better. To this day, when I am sad or stressed or just need a friend, you are my first phone call. From my first breakup to my assault to the passing of my ex-boyfriend, you have held my hand, wiped my tears and. And somehow, you always make me feel better.

    Your warmth, consistency, and wisdom make you a cut above the rest. And as a result, I move through life feeling very loved. You make hard times more bearable and good times more meaningful.

    I am so lucky to have you, the best mom in the world.

    I love you with all my heart,

    Your daughter,

    Lauren

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    • Lauren, your letter is a beautiful recognition to the special bond you share with your mom. It’s amazing to see that you hold her to the highest level and believe that she is truly the world’s greatest mom. But what truly sets your mom apart is her unwavering presence during your toughest moments. She has never let you cry alone, always offering…read more

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of Mental HealthMental Health group 11 months, 3 weeks ago

    Dear World, Here is why I am grateful

    Dear World,

    I will admit sometimes I complain. Some days, I am grumpy and exhausted and feel the world’s weight on my shoulders. When I am knee-deep in those moments, I often go for a walk or rollerblade by the beach, where I look around and take a breath, and I am quickly reminded of how lucky I am. There are so many reasons I have to possess tremendous gratitude for my life.

    I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, with a roof over my head and food for every meal. A few years ago, I discovered my purpose and was able to start and pursue a business that speaks to my soul. I am, knock on wood, healthy and happy. Also, I have the most amazing people in my life.

    My mom calls me daily to check in, asking, “What are you doing? How’s your day.” She always wants to make sure I am happy and at my best. Throughout the week, you can catch my father sharing all my business social media posts, bursting with pride, and doing whatever he can to support my dreams. My big brother, Andrew, is my lifeline. He gives me the best advice, personally and professionally. He has a way of looking at my life challenges through a clear and logical lens and can always guide me. My friends are loving, supportive, and just a phone call away. Some proofread my writing, give me business tips, or listen to me for hours talk about whatever I need to get off my chest. They want nothing more than to see me live my best life. And my boyfriend is the kind of partner that will surprise me and bring back my favorite meal. He will play with my dog and have dinner with my parents on nights when I know he has a ton of work to do. His thoughtfulness makes it clear that he genuinely cares about me.

    All the people in my life make me feel loved, supported, and joyful. My circle is the source of my strength, as I am flooded with positive energy and kindness. I know that my family and friends will never let me fall too far or hard. So while the universe has blessed me in so many ways, what I love most about my life are the people I am fortunate enough to share it with.

    Love,

    Lauren

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    • I’m so glad you have such a strong support system. They’re no better feeling in the world than to have the ones you love to also support you and your passion. Thank you for sharing.

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    • You have such a wonderful support system. And the fact that you’re surrounded by people who care about you and aren’t biased and keep it real with you is amazing. Thank you for sharing

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of Chasing Your DreamsChasing Your Dreams group 1 years ago

    Walt Disney World is a truly magical place

    Dear Walt Disney,

    Like you, I am both a creative and an entrepreneur. Your legacy inspires me beyond measure.

    See, this weekend, I visited Walt Disney World, a collection of theme parks named in your honor and developed based on many of your ideas and creations. It’s the second time I have been there just this year and the sixth time in my life. Each time I go to Disney World, I leave amazed. The parks are enormous, and yet they are so detail-oriented. On average, 58 million people visit Disney World and its parks yearly. Each day, the average revenue for Disney World is $82 million. The parks at Disney World are unlike any other amusement park in the world. And the amount of joy you have brought to people’s lives through these parks and your films is never ending and not quantifiable.

    When I look up at the castle at Magic Kingdom or the ball at EPCOT, I can’t help but think about how this entire empire started with just a vision and a simple cartoon, and that cartoon is now an American icon known as Mickey Mouse.

    While I don’t know how to draw and have no ambition to go into the theme park business, my visions are bigger than anyone else can see. And my starting point is simple. It’s not a mouse like Mickey, but rather a letter – written from one human to another.

    Through letters, I want to inspire people, unite different cultures, and catalyze productive conversations on critical social issues that impact our society. My business is still small – in its infancy. But my vision is clear and so big.

    Mr. Disney, you give me so much hope and fire to keep marching forward.

    For me, Disney World is not just a place for rides, shows, and good food. And your legacy is so much more than the drawings you created. Both are reminders of what is possible with a simple concept, a big vision, and a determined spirit.

    Thank you.

    Sincerely,

    Lauren

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    • Mr. Disney started with a small idea but a big dream and like you and many others has inspired a long line of dreamers. This letter to him is exactly what his dream was. To inspire.

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    • I love this so much, and I totally agree with you. I’ve only gone once. My daughter took me for my 40th Bday, which she was also celebrating passing the bar for the first time, so it was a great celebration for both of us, and I loved it so much. It was an amazing time, to me, like a dream. I had never experienced such joy during that trip. It was…read more

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      • Awww thank you. I hope you get a chance to go back! You mentioned your daughter before, she sounds like a really sweet person and smart as well. <3 Lauren

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    • I love your perspective of Disney World. I believe we can create any reality we want with proper planning, and patience just like you and Walt Disney. The best part about it bringing joy, and helping others discover themselves in numerous ways!

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    • It’s clear that Mr. Disney is a very inspirational figure in your life. He started with a dream just like you and he brought that dream to life and inspired millions to chase their own dreams.

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 1 years ago

    Dear World...

    I remember when I first learned of misogyny, racism and pure hate
    I had thought long ago it all reached its expiration date

    Clearly, I was wrong
    As many are still dancing to an old song

    As a young girl, they told me playing sports is a microcosm of adult life
    But in the real world, the refs try to prevent me from winning at any
    role except mother and wife

    They do so by attempting to lower my ceiling
    While reducing my existence to what I do when I am lying or kneeling

    When it comes to civil rights, I may have never seen a noose
    But the concept of racial equality is definitely still a ruse

    I know I am not black and I can’t understand racism through what I
    hear on the news or read in a book
    But I am human and I know a young innocent boy should not be shot
    because of the way he looks

    In love, we still can’t all marry the person who makes our hearts feel
    cared for or protected
    Instead we must worry and live in fear that our connection won’t be
    accepted

    In careers, many of us don’t receive opportunity based on ability
    Instead, we are held back because of our complexion, sexuality or
    femininity

    The solution is in our own evolution

    We are fighting old battles in a modern form
    A new movement where we all stand for each other needs to be born

    Men must stand up against rape and be leaders in its elimination
    Women need to speak up when different races or sexual orientations
    receive any kind of discrimination

    Our voices would have so much more power if we sang as a choir
    Going against the establishment as separate acts just lead us to tire

    Whether you’re black, white, female or LGBT
    People need to stand for people if we are all going to be set free

    Our past should not still be our reality
    It’s time for injustice to be the latest fatality

    Our children deserve a world where hate doesn’t consistently rise
    above
    Instead, I want them to experience the best of life, by living in a place
    where they can feel hope and universal love

    Lauren

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    • A fine meaty poem here, Lauren! you write so well! some of my favorite lines:
      The solution is in our own evolution

      We are fighting old battles in a modern form
      A new movement where we all stand for each other needs to be born

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    • I’m speechless. This poem is exactly what I’ve been thinking but put into words that can be universally understood. You pain a beautiful picture with your words and perspective. Never stop writing your truth. Thank you for sharing.

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