Resiliency in Building Bridges
I know a lot of wonderful entrepreneurs and leaders in the construction industry. I’m using the metaphor of building bridges here because there are things we can do as humans to create stronger relationships despite difficult issues and times. There are also, sadly, individuals and institutions that will do whatever it takes to destroy whatever bridges we can build.
I’m going to take you on my personal journey. I am aware that it can be difficult for some to face the reality, but it’s important to understand that what is actually happening on the ground does not match or align with your imagination or the news feeds you watch.
As a Palestinian-American who has worked all my life to ensure bridges are being built, I’m fascinated to hear how some people want to shut those bridges down. What I mean by that is this: you don’t have to tell me to be quiet, but I can tell that you want me to be quiet when I speak of it.
I share that with you because throughout your personal journey, you’re going to face difficult choices. Growing up in the Palestinian culture, the reality that I lived in was always to be quiet and not say anything about the pain you may experience because others have just as much pain, if not more. And that culture is still embedded in me today.
