Pakistan on the Potomac
Being a cross-cultural parent in Washington can mean teaching your children the Koran — and then carpooling them to hip-hop class.
"She never met a stranger"
This is George, outside his childhood home in Mclean. His mom Evelyn lived here for 65 years, until she died last year at age 96. George wanted to donate all the furniture to the Afghan refuge
30 days 30 refugee stories
Each Ramadan for the past seven years, I’ve been keeping a blog to share the essence of the month. Ramadan is about so much more than just not eating or drinking; it’s about gratitude
Humans of Mother Earth (HOME) - Travel Edition
As many of us are enjoying our summer holidays, some traveling abroad, others staying closer to home, I have a suggestion. The idea came to me as I was j
Our Own Paths to God
One of my most fulfilling experiences as a writer has been a message I received from someone who had read a piece that I had written for a national women’s magazine
Remembering Beijing
On the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and on the anniversary of Hillary Clinton’s speech there, I wanted to share my reflections
My Beloved Dad
[My father passed away on March 28th, 2019. Thank you for reading his story, which I wrote three years ago on his 80th birthday.]Today, is my father’s 80th birthday.
Stirring it Up in the Kitchen
The idea grew out of the tragedy of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. A dear friend of Jewish faith, horrified at the growing intolerance and hate in the world and the comments
The Letter
For months, perhaps even for years, I had been composing in my mind the letter I was going to write to my daughter before she left for college
These Birds Walk
Stories evoke emotions. They help us cultivate a relationship and develop a sense of familiarity. By revealing personal vulnerabilities and universal longings
Meeting Mandela: A Tribute
As thousands celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, I’m grateful that the snow has slowed down our hurried morning pace to allow me to take pause too
You Have Breast Cancer
Last year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A routine mammogram led to a more in-depth one and then to a biopsy. I was certain that nothing would turn up
Revealing the Humanity of Pakistan
One of the most inspiring places on the Internet is “Humans of New York” (HONY), a blog started in 2010 by Brandon Stanton that features photos of every day
30 Days 30 Deeds: A Ramadan Blog
In an effort to share the essence of the month of Ramadan with my children, we’ve been keeping a “30 days” blog for the past three years
He's Still the One
On our 27th wedding anniversary today, I wanted to share this post from ’30 days 30 gratitudes’. Anniversary celebrations don’t necessarily have to mean romantic dinners for two.
Cancer journey in letters
Dear friends,We weathered hurricane Sandy better than expected. Lost electricity for a little while and part of our rain gutter crashed to the deck, but apart from that we’re all intact
Si and a Smile
Before we left home, I had a long conversation with Zayd, our nine year old. I explained to him that we were going to Staples to shop for school supplies for underprivileged children