Dima Ghawi | Transform Fear into Power
Dima Ghawi - Take Action
Broken glass and shattered ceilings: This is the inspiring true story of how one woman took control of her own destiny. This is how you overcome fear and become a successful individual.
Transcript:
A girl is just like the perfect glass vase. If it gets cracked for any reason, you can never fix it or glue it back. It will always be seen as cracked. This stroy has been passed down for generations, from my great-grandmother to my grandmother to me. And it became an overwhelming obstacle in my life when I followed all of that. I did exactly what was expected of me.
When I was 19 years old I got engaged through a family introduction to the most eligible bachelor in the community. My parents were thrilled. His mom was the one who arranged the introduction. She introduce us. We got married. And we moved together to San Diego, California to follow his career aspirations. I thought that with this marriage and the move to the US I could finally be allowed to discover my identity and be respected for who I truly am.
But to my shock, the expectations never left. They were actually bigger. And I was expected to do more and more to maintain the perfect image. I felt living in it like a property. I was expected to just serve him and his family. I wasn't even allowed to speak to my parents other than 20 minutes a week. I was terrified of staying in that relationship, but I was also afraid to leave. I felt that my life was over. There was nothing to live for.
And I wasn't even 25 at that time. And that was the moment that I decided that I'm going to feel the fear and I'm going to take action anyway. I packed and I left. I went to bed that night knowing that I cracked the vase. And as terrified as I was, I knew that I made the right choice. Not only did my family disown me, but one attempted to have me killed to save the honor of the family. And if you're wondering who is the person who has attempted to kill me and who is trying for that 16 years? That's my own dad.
Because he feels that I brought shame to the family and my blood, shedding it, would be the only way to clear that shame. I needed to move on. I couldn't live in the past anymore. I needed to create a new satyr. A story of empowerment. A story of self-discovery. I just didn't know how to do that. I was barely surviving and my only way that I knew of in order to move forward was with education. I enrolled at the University of San Diego.
Less than a year later, I decided to start applying for jobs. And I just wanted to practice interviewing skills. Every single company I applied for, they gave me an offer, including IBM, to their Leadership Development Program. I was so terrified. Terrified of leaving San Diego. Terrified of leaving the past behind. Terrified of proving myself in this big company. But the same intuition kept telling me, "Feel the fear and take action anyway."
And I did. And that's when the world opened up for me. I got to work and travel around the world with IBM. I lived in Japan for over a year. I got to work on projects with them at the United Nations in South Africa. I got to lead global teams. And every day I would wake up, I would remind myself to feel the fear and to take action anyway. And all kinds of people from around the world would send me messages telling me about how they related to my story. Men and women, all kinds of ages, different religion, different professions, different everything resonated with the message of being perfect, of being afraid constantly of making mistakes, worried of being judged, and aspiring to be perfect.
To my grandmother, the pure, perfect glass, it represents the unrealistic limitations that I choose not to obey. What vases are you living with? Who told you not to follow your dreams? Who told you not to be yourself? What is holding you back? We can continue to live in fear and keep the glass vase perfect or simply feel the fear and take action anyway. Smash it with all the fear, the worry, and the shame that it represents.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.