2021: The Experiential

As 2021 is almost wrapping up, flashbacks of reflections, highlights, and observations start coming to mind. Although it’s a reality that I prefer to forget, for the second year in a row, ‘COVID-19’ is still with us and dictating our new norms of living and interacting with our surroundings. On a positive note, despite the evolving variants of the virus, humanity is on a progressive learning curve on how to behave, adapt and move on.

2020 was a big shock to our systems, economics, and relationships with ourselves and other people. For many, it has also brought transformational changes that continue to unfold for another year. For me, the transformation started on the outside by big chopping my fake straight hair and all old beliefs connected with it and embracing my natural curly hair again.

Little did I know that this external makeover had a deeper meaning. It was the manifestation of new birth and the trigger for untapped potentials to come to life. If I have to describe 2021 in one word, I’ll say it was simply ‘experiential’. It was the wake-up call for childhood talents that I’d abandoned and the notion of connecting my genuine creative side to my grown-up version.

The voice

My first adventure for 2021 started with exploring my voice power. When I was a child, I regularly participated in singing classes and activities. I still recall my music teacher meeting my parents one day and telling them: “Your daughter has got talent!”.

I was never shy of holding a mic on a karaoke night or spontaneously singing in friends’ gatherings. But until this year, I never knew what that meant and what my voice potential was. When I took my first singing class in January, I was pleasantly surprised. After doing a short test to determine my vocal range, I discovered that I have a soprano voice and can hit high notes. Like any skill, mastering your voice and unlocking its full potential require practice and technique. I learned how to breathe correctly, open my mouth and articulate different postures, hold a mic professionally, and adjust my voice to go with my notes…high and low.

The dance

Being a music addict, dancing is one talent I’ve never left. It’s my way of self-expression and bringing my soul and energy to life. My journey with Latin and ballroom dance began in Damascus, Syria, in 2006. I learned how to dance salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha, rumba, samba, jive, and tango. Each dance has its steps, feeling, and beauty. By mid-2021, when life started to get back to somewhat ‘normal’, I opted for a new dance challenge. Since my early dancing days, I have been captivated by the sensual rhythms of Kizomba music. The origins of kizomba can be traced to 1980s Africa, with influences variably attributed to Angola. I was immersed in this new experience by learning new dance steps and body postures, re-programming my muscle memory to a different set of movements, building up my flexibility, keeping my balance, not overthinking each step…And simply enjoying the unexpected. Kizomba felt like a natural fit with my ‘new’ afro hair look.

The brush

Another abandoned side of me that came back to the surface in 2021 is ‘painting’. In addition to enjoying music classes at school, I’ve had a creative left hand that indulged in holding the brush, drawing different shapes, and spreading all shades of colors. I took part in short-term summer classes and children's galleries. I had my designer sketchbook where I created my clothing collections for every season. After almost 20 years of distance, the long-awaited reunion with the brush has finally happened in 2021…And it was just emotional and remarkable. I attended group sessions for afro art by the talented Ruth, a Dubai-based British digital artist & painter who found a way of reconnecting with her African roots through art. Refreshing my painting memory was meditative; I recalled how to mix colors and re-discover the beauty of every shade; I gave my creativity the freedom and space to explore and express myself through shapes and colors without any judgment or expectations. I ended up with two colorful afro art paintings decorating my home walls and reminding me to love and be proud of myself every day.

The wings

Lastly, after avoiding traveling for one year and a half, I was blessed with flying again and experiencing three memorable trips in 2021. In June, I celebrated my birthday in Seychelles among the palm trees, the giant tortoise, the long sandy beach, the clear blue sky, and the open sea. Who said that such a beautiful island is only made for honeymooners?! In August, my travel dopamine got to a higher level by visiting Romania. A European country with many firsts, rich heritage, peaceful green nature, and a buzzing old town in Bucharest full of global travelers and great vibes that stay awake after midnight. In November, I was charmed by the Portuguese culture. I spent days wandering around the seven hills of Lisbon, sampling its delicious food, admiring its beautiful walls decorated with white and blue tiles, and meditating with the soothing sound of Fado Music whispered through the city’s historic neighborhoods.

2021 has brought me many unexpected, inspiring, and mind-opening experiences. It has given me the opportunity to re-connect with myself inside out on a deeper level, awaken my creative being, embrace my highs and lows, and learn a new lesson in every skill and every journey that I’ve encountered. Although these amazing adventures have kept me away from the pen for one year, I realize that this was a much-needed part of the process. This was my inner calling to refuel my inspiration with many new stories to write and put me on an exciting path of self-discovery that has just begun. And there is yet more to come…Bring it on 2022!