In this spoken word piece, I reflect on the weight of survival, the burden of watching destruction from afar, and the urgency of speaking the truth. Inspired by my experiences as a Lebanese woman living away from home, I ask: what would you do when war, loss, and injustice define the reality of those you love?  This is a call, not for praise, but for solidarity, truth, and action.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Get ready for adventure with the Trail Running Film Festival Global Tour 2025, presented by Brooks! 🎥Hosted by Lincoln Running Co., it all happens Friday, May 16 — doors open at 6:00 PM, film rolls at 6:30 PM.It’s a free event — donations are welcome in support of Friends of Wilderness Park! 🌳Come get inspired, dream big, and kick off trail season with us!

Cookie Run every Wednesday @ 6pm

Lincoln Running Co.

1213 Q St.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠⁠⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

“A Fool I Am” is one of the most difficult poems I’ve ever written. It’s a piece born from the grief of distance, the guilt of leaving, and the heartbreak of loving from afar. Each line carries the weight of separation from my family, the silence of unspoken pain, and the complex layers of love, fear, and loss. This poem is for anyone who has ever felt torn between two worlds — the one they left behind and the one they’re trying to build. It’s raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Cookie Run every Wednesday @ 6pm

Lincoln Running Co.

1213 Q St.

Get ready for adventure with the Trail Running Film Festival Global Tour 2025, presented by Brooks! 🎥Hosted by Lincoln Running Co., it all happens Friday, May 16 — doors open at 6:00 PM, film rolls at 6:30 PM.It’s a free event — donations are welcome in support of Friends of Wilderness Park! 🌳

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠⁠⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

“Captured by My Own Shadows” steps into the depths of memory and belonging. I unravel the quiet ache of being far from home, the guilt of disconnection, and the love that lingers even across oceans. A simple moment, a name, a story—awakens a deeper truth: even as distance grows, the heart refuses to let go. This is a journey through guilt, hope, and the enduring bond to a homeland that still claims my soul.

Get ready for adventure with the Trail Running Film Festival Global Tour 2025, presented by Brooks! 🎥 Hosted by Lincoln Running Co., it all happens Friday, May 16, doors open at 6:00 PM, film rolls at 6:30 PM.It’s a free event, donations are welcome in support of Friends of Wilderness Park! 🌳 Come get inspired, dream big, and kick off trail season with us!

Mark your calendars for May 1st — it’s the second Brooks First Thursday Run of 2025!

This month’s theme is All Things Lincoln Marathon, and it’s the perfect chance to enjoy a fun, relaxed run through Downtown Lincoln, the UNL Campus, and nearby trails. The route is usually about 3–4 miles, and you can run (or walk!) at your own pace. Here’s how it works: Meet at Lincoln Running Co (1213 Q St) at 6:30 pm, where you’ll receive a map and directions to a series of checkpoints. At each checkpoint, you’ll be given a fun task or asked a question — complete it to earn a raffle ticket! Everyone will gather back at Tower Square by 7:30 pm for a raffle prize drawing, with great giveaways (including a chance to win a pair of Brooks shoes!). All are welcome, so bring a friend, enjoy the downtown vibes, and be part of this fun running community, thanks to Ann R. (She is so cool!).

Cookie Run every Wednesday @ 6pm

Lincoln Running Co.

1213 Q St.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

In “I Think I'm Stuck,” I reflect on a memory of safety, warmth, and childhood innocence—moments that once felt eternal but now exist only in the past. Through poetry and personal storytelling, I explore the contrast between the peace I once knew and the loss and destruction that followed. It’s a tribute to a place, a feeling, and a time that shaped me—and the grief of watching it all fade. If you’ve ever longed for a moment you can never return to, this episode is for you.

Mark your calendars for May 1st — it’s the second Brooks First Thursday Run of 2025!

This month’s theme is All Things Lincoln Marathon, and it’s the perfect chance to enjoy a fun, relaxed run through Downtown Lincoln, the UNL Campus, and nearby trails. The route is usually about 3–4 miles, and you can run (or walk!) at your own pace.

Here’s how it works:
Meet at Lincoln Running Co (1213 Q St) at 6:30 pm, where you’ll receive a map and directions to a series of checkpoints. At each checkpoint, you’ll be given a fun task or asked a question — complete it to earn a raffle ticket!

Everyone will gather back at Tower Square by 7:30 pm for a raffle prize drawing, with great giveaways (including a chance to win a pair of Brooks shoes!).

All are welcome, so bring a friend, enjoy the downtown vibes, and be part of this fun running community, thanks to Ann R. (She is so cool!).

Cookie Run every Wednesday @ 6pm

Lincoln Running Co.

1213 Q St.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠⁠⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

This is a poem about obsession—but not just with a person. It’s about a place, a memory, a homeland. "The thought of you" unravels the quiet ache of loving something that feels like it’s slipping away. In this piece, I reflect on Lebanon—my Lebanon—and what it means to be far from home when home is in pain. It’s a love letter, a lament, and a question I’m still trying to answer: Am I lucky to be away, or a traitor for watching from afar?

Cookie Run every Wednesday @ 6pm

Lincoln Running Co.

1213 Q St.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

“I’m Not Well” is a raw, evocative poem that delves into the struggle of concealing inner turmoil while carrying the emotional weight of global tragedy, personal loss, and fear. It explores the isolation and exhaustion that come with unspoken grief, offering a glimpse into the experience of not being well, even as life continues around me.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215⁠

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

"I Find Myself on the Verge of Tears” explores the agony of watching from afar as my home country is torn apart by war. This episode delves into themes of loss, numbness, and the profound impact of emotional expression. It also reflects on the art I create from pain and discomfort, challenging the assumptions placed on me as someone who appears happy on the surface, yet whose deeper thoughts and emotions are often overlooked.

*Sponsored by Ann Ringlein, a true hallmark of Lincoln’s spirit and vitality, and a cornerstone of the running community.

Facebook page: The Lincoln Running Co & Movement Academy Lincoln Marathon Training Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/679991056324215

Music by Grey Castro

Art collage by Thaís Jardim

You and Aya Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @you.and.aya

Truth serves as a summary for all my chapters. It is a final chapter that demonstrates how we are all connected by consequences. So, make sure you are aware of our reality. Now... are you ready to fulfill your legacy?

This episode was sponsored by The Coffee House on P street in downtown, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

https://thecoffeehouselnk.com/

Music by Grey Castro.

Chapter art by Thaís Jardim. 

Awareness is another chapter that might give you a glimpse of how sometimes all that You & I need is self-awareness to get closer to our legacy.

This episode was sponsored by The Coffee House on P street in downtown, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

https://thecoffeehouselnk.com/

Music by Grey Castro.

Chapter art by Thaís Jardim. 

Dependent is a chapter that pushes you a bit further into your legacy by demonstrating how dependent You & I can be as humans. Is full independence possible? Or should we simply be looking at being less dependent?

This episode was sponsored by The Coffee House on P street in downtown, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

https://thecoffeehouselnk.com/

Music by Grey Castro.

Chapter art by Thaís Jardim.