In my debut book, “You’re Already Dead,” I take the experience and lessons from my dad’s life, and passing, and delve into some of the themes that come to define our lives. Or I should say, how we live, all intertwined with the transient nature of life. Based on his beliefs, I could have titled the book: “You Only Live Forever.”

As we mark the 162nd day of the ongoing onslaught in Gaza, the heavy weight of sadness has settled over the world, the community around me, and my own shoulders. The barrage of unending horrors, massacre after massacre, and the inaction of our Canadian Prime Minister, along with his Conservative Party counterpart, have led to a profound sense of powerlessness and despair.

Today marks not just International Women’s Day, but also the birth of my eldest daughter. She chose March 8 to make her grand entrance, a week overdue, as if aligning her arrival with the moon and this significant day…

The videos I’ve been sharing on Instagram from Beirut and South Lebanon, inspired by the themes in my book “You’re Already Dead,” focus on the beauty of everyday life. My father captured not every detail, but those ordinary moments between family and friends. It’s these scenes that now strike a chord with me…

I recently read an article from the BBC titled “Why you shouldn’t ask people what they do,” and it got me thinking about a specific chapter in my book, “You’re Already Dead,” particularly the chapter “The Things We Do for Money.” This reflection brings forth my viewpoint about the deeper significance of our interactions when meeting strangers or catching up with old acquaintances.

This guest post, written by a friend from Smoky Lake, explores the journey of finding happiness amidst grief. It recounts their personal experience of losing a father to suicide, struggling with loss and mental health, and eventually finding healing and joy. The story highlights the importance of professional help and the therapeutic power of nature, offering a powerful reminder of resilience and hope in the face of sorrow.

In “116,” I reflect on the devastating events that began on October 7, 2023, and how they resonate with the themes of mortality and resilience in my book “You’re Already Dead.” Amid personal challenges and global turmoil, I emphasize the importance of living with dignity and hope, and the responsibility to make a positive impact in a world marked by conflict and adversity.

In “You’re Already Dead,” a chapter titled “Perseverance,” which was initially written about grief and being lost with where we perceive our place to be in life, can also be interpreted for the age of social media, where the onslaught of positivity can blur our individual journeys. This chapter, and this post, serve as a reminder that our paths of perseverance and self-improvement are deeply personal…

In my recent book’s chapter on purpose, I delve into the complex interplay of existence and meaning that each of us navigates. This journey takes on new significance in our world, increasingly filled with uncertainty and turmoil. I often find myself reflecting on lyrics from the song…

In the sterile silence of his hospital room in the palliative care ward, I stood beside Bayee, Jim, his presence hanging between this world and the next. He spent the holidays here, and now, approaching mid-January 2011, he lay in a coma. The festive lights and songs of December had faded, but the weight of the holiday season lingered, its shadow extending into the new year as we grappled with the impending loss….

Today, I’m going to write about something a bit different from my last posts, but related to them in a way. First, as you know from the blog post “Echoes Of A Last Tear” I mentioned my professional crisis, existential crisis, trauma, grief, and unfinished business from losing my father. Along with the way I was born—a stubborn, entrepreneurial know-it-all—led me to find healing in writing a book…

For years, I often said, “When I finish my book…” or “One day when I write a book…” Now, that moment has extended just over 30 days, and it’s been over three months since I first announced the book’s impending release on Instagram. The world has witnessed significant changes during this time…

In my debut book, I touched on the story of a family pilgrimage to Khalwat Al-Bayada in the summer of 2001, a journey initiated by my father. This pilgrimage, while a physical journey, was deeply rooted in the virtues of my dad’s Druze faith…

As I sit down to write this, the heart-wrenching images of the conflict in Gaza, especially the innocent lives lost, weigh heavily on my mind. My recent book, “You’re Already Dead,” alongside the enduring message to “be like Jim,” finds a challenging, almost conflicting place in the face of such overwhelming tragedy…

In a world often torn by conflict and injustice, the concept of courage takes on various forms. While the bravery of individuals in their personal lives is often celebrated, there lies a profound need for courage in the political arena, especially when it comes to defending human rights universally…

I wrote, in my debut book, “You’re Already Dead,” about my recollection and experience visiting Lebanon as a seven-year-old in 1992. I hint about my current understanding of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East as a grown man, but in the chapter on community, as I recall my first-ever trip to Lebanon as a seven-year-old, it was one of childhood ignorance…

I decided to create a simple, 100-page blank journal with quotes from my debut book. Why? Because writing is important. It helps us process our feelings, reminds us of significant moments, and aids in reconciling our emotions with the world—whether it’s beautiful or devastating. It allows us to genuinely feel…

As the release of my debut book, “You’re Already Dead,” approaches, I wanted to share a curated playlist for each chapter. In my previous blog post about Kite, I mentioned the significance of U2 in this journey. So, it feels right that this soundtrack consists solely of U2 songs. My hope is that each track resonates with you and captures the essence of its corresponding chapter. Whether you listen before or after reading, allow the music to envelop you, evoking emotions and drawing you deeper into the narrative. Your mind, heart, and very being will feel it…

Finding meaning in day-to-day life, especially when confronted with the harsh realities of the current state of the world, can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Even with the constant barrage of news, opinions, and disturbing videos, it’s important to ground ourselves and our emotions…

Both of my parents left Lebanon in 1976. They were young; my father at the time was only 19. They met here, fell in love, got married, and started a family. But they both were driven to leave Lebanon—my father on his own, and my mother with her parents and siblings—because of the looming threat of the war in Lebanon…