Raneem Kayyali's Blog

“There is a beauty that inspires almost all poets.

There is a beauty and most know of it.

There is a beauty songs are written about.

There is a beauty that makes the youthful heart shout.

From history there is beauty as natural as can be,

that reaches from the tallest mountain to the deepest sea.

There is beauty all around us, it is nothing new.

But, believe me when I say, there is none like you.

For beauty like yours cannot be fathomed at will.

Beauty like yours makes the water currents still.

Even the moon shies away at such a sight.

For your beauty outshines it on the darkest of nights.

No beauty does compare to that which you hold.

Believe me beauty like yours has yet to be told.

And with a world full of blindness of where true beauty lies,

no man will ever such beauty with their eyes.

How sad and unfortunate, yet thankful with grace,

that most believe beauty is defined by the face.

For none unworthy will ever dare to see,

the most captivating, indescribable, beauty.” - © 2018 Raneem Kayyali ✏

For every night, there is a day and for every tear that escapes, there is a blissful smile waiting to emerge. Duality exists in every aspect of our reality; for how can we know true joy if the fires of rage dared not ignite. Sometimes you have to feel all the bad to know the difference when you feel the good. As much as we as humans fight the extremes that tug at us from every direction, duality is inevitably a part of who we are. Emotions are first explained to us at a young age, thoroughly felt at adolescence, and truly understood well into adulthood. Yet, how we perceive each emotion varies from one person to the other. Some may say science plays a role with the level of hormones released during vital moments in your life that helped to form your interpretation of the emotions you were taught to perceive. Some might say it is purely spiritual energy flowing through your being and redefining words that have already echoed throughout eternity. Some might say culture, religion, society, tradition, relationships, etc. but in the end how we interpret emotions relies solely on the unique differences that define our individuality and the inimitable experiences we undergo within our lifetime.

​It all began in my home in Syria. My home was my safety, my joy, my peace of mind. I valued my home very much. It was where I had my first born, where my children said their first words and took their first steps. It was where I held my dearest memories. But, I have had to endure so much in my life. Through the chaos and terror in the streets of Syria, I was forced to abandon my home and leave behind all my belongings for the sake of my family. I later learned that my home was bombed and nothing was left of it. Photographs of my children and family keepsakes that meant the world to me became nothing but ash. It was then I realized that had I not left my home when I did, my family and I would have perished with it. I broke down in tears thinking of how I could have lost my wife and children. The thought, shook me to my core.

​It took some time to find a new place to call home. I came to Indiana with simplicity in mind. I had dreams of giving my children a better future. Eventually, I moved to the Reflection. Here, I rebuilt my life. I had another baby and with the kind efforts of a generous photographer, I was able to create new pictures and new memories. I thought this was the perfect place to live until I bought the house I’ve always dreamt of owning. But all was cut short, dreams became distant, and sleepless nights ensued the day my son was attacked and my wife and children were threatened. Every ounce of safety I once felt was gone. I feared for my family. Each day my fear grew stronger as the man who terrorized us continued to threaten the life of my wife and son even outside of the neighborhood. Claiming I couldn’t sleep for nights is a huge understatement of the nightmare that has now become my reality. I am emotionally distressed and extremely exhausted all the time. I just want to keep my family safe like any other husband and father.

​I have struggled to keep my family safe for several years now. Whether it was to protect them from the terrors of Syria or the terrors I have had to face in my own home here in the United States, my family’s safety was and will always be a priority. Though I knew my sense of security and my family’s safety could not be guaranteed, I had tried everything I could to terminate my lease and leave on good terms with the apartment complex employees. Unfortunately, they refused to sympathize with me and are now penalizing me for leaving to find a safer home for my family. I am only one man trying to provide for my wife and five children. We barely cover our expenses month-to-month and I simply cannot afford to pay the penalty. Now, even though I have been burdened financially, I can put my mind to ease knowing that my wife and children are safe.

Ready for tonight’s show! Can’t wait!

Ready for tonight’s show! Can’t wait!

Ready for tonight’s show! Can’t wait!

Ready for tonight’s show! Can’t wait!

Ready for tonight’s show! Can’t wait!