Dreams - by Nathalie Khouri

This shot was taking on one of my recent business trips to London. I loved this shot because it depicts what the harsh reality of the lives we all live. We have come to accept being told what to do even in the the smallest things. We cannot even cross a road without the reminder of where to look.Often crossroads such as the above are put to the test in our decisions. “Become a lawyer, work for Apple, he’s not good for you, wear this, eat that...”And Mohammed Saeed Harid pictured with a cardboard cutout of his cartoon grandmother.
most often than not, we listen to these people and look to the right without even a flinch. Question; what would happen if we looked to the left or even chose another road to walk on? An accident perhaps? Ain’t it a risk worth taking?
This article is dedicated to the photographer in Carla, to the pilot in Mike to the movie maker in Joel, to the rapper in Hani to the artist in Ziad and last but not the least-- to the man that once crowned me his princess.

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A year later, i find myself sitting in an apartment i always dreamed of, furnished exactly the way i envisioned and living a life i never knew i could have. It has been exactly one year--celebrating an anniversary i never imagined i would because i decided to follow a feeling that predominantly owned my heart over my common sense. How time flies by.

Exactly one year ago, my Honda was fully loaded to the roof with two things my heart just couldn't give up: my shoes and my art. I decided to leave behind a life i thought i wanted, a home i help build, a man i once loved, possessions i thought i needed all because simply: my heart was not in it.

After 29 years on this earth the only thing i had figured out the moment i drove away is that i wanted to live a life led by my heart and not my head. I was seeking something completely intangible and way out of my comfort zone. The true gambler he was, my exe told me: “I can’t believe you’re betting away what you know for the unknown!” For once i agreed with him, i was “crazy!”

My head would never approve, but i knew my heart was more important than anything else my head ever wanted. So i drove away faster.

Last week i attended a conference called TEDx Dubai. For those of you not familiar with Tedx, it’s a conference with a title that proudly claims: “Dreams do be.” Common Joes and Janes speak at this conference in front of an audience that normally is large enough for a mini rock concert.

These Joes and Janes speak about dreams they dared to follow and the happy ending of these dreams are normally a success story which leave us with a sort of a fuzzy feeling of inspiration to perhaps one day do exactly the same: grow some courage and attempt to become a speaker at Tedx-- a.k.a. follow your dream.

As i was looking around at all the different faces in this audience, it seemed that we all had one common denominator: we all had unfulfilled dreams. Speaker by speaker, went on stage for their 18 minutes of fame. From a 13 year old aspiring film producer to a man whom turned his grandmother into a multimillion dollar cartoon. These dreams weren't farfetched, they were legitimate dreams that became a reality because each one of these speakers had the courage...the courage to say: this is what i want, not sure how i will get it, but i will definitely try.

I think of my 22 year- old-intern, Christina. A beautiful, smart women who early this year graduated from the Lebanese American University with a BA in business. For 4 months i had the privilege of working with Christina. She had one dream and one dream only, to get her Masters in luxury brand Marketing in Paris--aka the luxury capital of the world!

Throughout her internship we often spoke of her career. She was anxiously awaiting for her acceptance letter. One day as i was scrolling through my messy emails, I remember Christina standing silently in the middle of my office waiting to get my attention. Her smile gave it away when she finally said: “Nat, i got in!” True to her style, Christina got accepted into Essec, Europe’s most renown university.

Her acceptance came tagged with honors and a double scholarship! Talk about a cherry on the cake! This young woman needed no one to get exactly what she wanted. I was so proud of her, a little side of me was living vicariously through her. That exact moment, nothing could stop Christina---and for some odd reason, i felt like nothing could stop me either!

Christina was on her way to transforming herself into a marketing guru for a world class luxury brand. Here’s the catch: her father only approved one career for her: a lawyer! If he knew his daughter like i knew her, the only thing Christina could ever defend is the right to wearing designer shoes in bed! After long heartfelt conversations, i managed to win her over by convincing her to follow her dreams and not forfeiting to her father. After Tedx, i was organizing a business trip to Paris and i contacted Christina to make plans for a quick catch up drink.

I was eager to find out how her studies and her new life in Paris was doing. My excitement quickly shattered when i found out Christina stayed in Lebanon and enrolled into law school. She said to me: “i didn't want to disappoint him Nat, i’ll end up doing what i want some day...its no big deal!”

So there they were....each Tedx speaker on stage talking about their fulfilled dream in front of an audience packed with people searching for the inspiration and courage to say: i too want to realize my dream without having anyone control, convince laugh or ridicule me.

I’m not looking to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and i’m pretty positive Christina needs not an accolade to pursue her Essec Masters and nor is Mohammed Saeed Harib seeking an Oscar for turning his grandma into a cartoon. All we want is to do just that, follow what we want to do: follow a dream that may or may not be applauded by an audience but at least it is applauded by our own desire to make us happy.

We dare...we dare to follow our hearts. One year later, my heart has not stop beating nor has my smile disappeared, because it is being fulfilled. It is still doing exactly what it wants....Are you?

Nathalie Khouri