We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sahar Elhallak. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sahar below.
Hi Sahar, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Being labeled resilient is a complex task. I did not choose to be resilient, it chose me. My Palestinian roots scream resilience, but it’s my circumstances that deserve credit for shaping my resilience. From an early age, I faced trials that would have broken many spirits. But I emerged stronger and unshaken because I didn’t have a choice.
Born into a refugee family burdened by financial hardship, I learned the value of resilience early on. I watched my parents struggle to make ends meet while a civil war was taking place. I witnessed my mother’s tears of anguish, each drop carrying a sorrow that seeped into my own heart. I never experienced a true sense of home; there was always this lingering feeling that home should be a sanctuary, a privilege I never seemed to possess. I found myself in an arranged marriage at age 16, and when it ended after twenty-two years, I found myself homeless. As a young mother to four children, I encountered numerous obstacles. I arrived in the US completely unaware of the challenges and difficulties this country presented. I didn’t speak English and didn’t know how to navigate social interaction in this country. My mental health struggles only exacerbated my difficult circumstances.
As I journeyed through life, I encountered people who admired my strengths, yet I found myself explaining that these strengths weren’t natural; rather, they were born out of necessity for my survival. I moved countries four times, and I lived enjoying the label of expats for several years. I started from zero multiple times, undertaking a journey that few dare to attempt.
Being labeled resilient can sometimes come with heavy expectations and pressure to always be strong and overcome challenges effortlessly. It is draining!
Sometimes, being seen as resilient can lead others to overlook the depth of my struggles or the impact of my circumstances. This can feel invalidating and isolating, as it may seem like others don’t fully understand or acknowledge the difficulties I faced.
I prefer to be recognized for my unique experiences and the complexity of my journey rather than simply being labeled as resilient.
I strongly believe that gratitude nurtures resilience by promoting positive thinking, accepting things as they are, and dealing with situations accordingly.
Through this mindset, I’ve been able to cultivate the resilience necessary to navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My upbringing was far from ordinary; I didn’t experience the typical childhood. Raised amidst the chaos of a war, safety was a luxury I didn’t have. The environment I grew up in denied me the chance to simply be a child. However, I’m excited about the various projects unfolding in my life. After writing a novel inspired by my life story and facing challenges in finding an agent, I made the decision to self-publish. Determined to maintain anonymity, I established my own publishing company, www.predawnpublishing.com, to release not only my novel but also a collection of poems I’ve crafted over the years. I’m also filled with excitement about a project very close to my heart. As a refugee myself, along with a friend of mine, we founded a non-profit organization, www.rr-so.org, which aids refugees and immigrants in settling into their new country.
I’ve learned to leverage my challenging circumstances and transform them into opportunities. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to embark on this new journey with both my company and the non-profit organization.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
When reflecting on my journey, I believe the three qualities that were most impactful are resilience, adaptability, and perseverance. These qualities enabled me to navigate through various challenges and setbacks, emerging stronger and more resilient each time. My advice to those early in their journey is to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, to stay true to your values, and to keep moving forward with determination.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My circumstances, combined with a lack of options, acted as the driving force behind conquering challenges. Yet, I wouldn’t have reached my current position if I hadn’t proactively pursued every opportunity, chased leads, and persisted in knocking on closed doors. An essential skill I acquired along the journey is believing in myself and trusting that I am enough. The essential skill is to refrain from self-sabotage and to celebrate all the small achievements. It’s about continuing to learn, grow, explore, and try new things.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saharelhallak.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/at_home_with_sahar
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sahourtii
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-elhallak
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sahoura117
Image Credits
Rebecca Warner
