Grief is such a complicated emotion. It comes with so much uncertainty. One minute you’re laughing and feeling great, and the next minute, everything turns dark, pain sets in, and all of a sudden, you are overwhelmed with emotions. Then you’re laughing again. I’ve experienced so much loss in my lifetime. I’ve lost my home on many occasions, I’ve lost my most precious possessions, I’ve lost friends, I’ve lost family members, and I’ve even lost my home country. Everything I lost was outside of my control. I grieved all of it and moved on. Not because I wanted to but…

My grandmother Marna was ten years old when she traveled from Iran to Iraq, alone, with strangers. Marna’s aunt had broken her leg and needed someone to take care of her. In the Middle East, it is customary for the family to step up and help each other when necessary, especially if requested by an elder such as Marna’s grandfather. This was a bit more cruel than usual as the aunt took advantage of Marna. She deprived her of an education and forced her young niece to give up her childhood to become a full-time caretaker, who was responsible for…

Two months ago, I told you about the changes my family and I were embarking upon. As we packed our car and drove to Idaho, a state we knew very little about and only visited a few times. My family faced one of the most drastic changes yet as we drove into the unknown with excitement, fear, and a little bit of anxiety. Saying goodbye to our loved ones was just as challenging. We didn’t have a house or an apartment, and we had no plan. All we had was the certainty that this was a step my family needed…