Where are we going? We’re gone.

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.

This book arose from years of grappling with the fleeting nature of our existence, especially following my father’s passing. It examines how to exist meaningfully, influenced by memories with him, my personal struggles — professionally, in relationships, financially, and even existentially — and ultimately, by fulfilling his last wish to return to his ancestral mountains in Chouaya, Lebanon.

It’s a story of inspiration, a narrative about reconciling with our brief existence. It’s about learning to “be like Jim.”

Then comes the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent explosion of violence and the senseless killing of innocent civilians. Promoting a book with such a somber title felt out of touch amid the relentless onslaught, utter destruction, and sorrow in Gaza following the October 7 atrocities in southern Israel. However, I continually reminded myself that all stories, particularly those that inspire, are vital. We can’t succumb to despair; this world, this life, is all we have. We aren’t superheroes or gods with all the answers. Our best approach is to live authentically and be grateful for every day, especially in the face of lives lost to senseless violence and the encompassing darkness.

In many ways, the book’s title mirrors this contrast of life — it’s morbid, somewhat defeatist, yet simultaneously a compelling call to action.

As detailed in the book, given my Lebanese and Druze heritage, it’s challenging to overlook the continuous atrocities in Gaza. It’s not about taking sides; it’s about equality and human rights, about standing against the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, especially children, now exceeding 5000.

So, faced with the horrors of the past 51 days, can we still reconcile with our transient existence? We have no choice but to confront it; We’re Already Dead. 

Thank you for reading.