This morning, Joe’s Box posted an interesting list of his “bloggers’ confessions” and invited others to follow suit. After spending the whole day brainstorming and reading Farrah’s take on it, here are several of mine.

- Writing is the only activity I have been doing for as long as I remember. When the internet gave people a space to express their thoughts, I instantly jumped on the bandwagon. I can recall posting my poetry online as early as 2005- and from then on, I’ve progressed onto other forms of writing and writing online.
- Beyond Beirut initially started as my way of documenting my experiences as a graduate student in the Netherlands. It breaks my heart, though, that I didn’t write as much about it, or didn’t write about events as they happened, as I should have. I feel like I lost an important record of the most fundamental and life changing experience I had gone through.
- The name Beyond Beirut is a remnant of those old days but is not at all reflective of my current content- I regret that I can’t change it now.
- Not writing enough about the Netherlands was the main basis for my daily writing challenge last year.
- When I read older entries about the wedding, the move, or my relationship with Ahmad, I am glad that I put in the effort. These posts make me realize that I have come a long way in such a short time.
- After a year of writing about my wedding, I am now averse to the word. I even play a game as I write, where I challenge myself to go the longest possible in a piece without mentioning the W word. If it comes up when it doesn’t belong or too early, I will restart the writing process.
- I am not proud of every single post I wrote. Some were written while I was half-asleep, or commuting back home, or while at the gym. Let me call this my hard-learned lesson in quality over quantity.
- This blog has taught me to be more aware of my surroundings and a better listener.
- I have an unpublished post entitled “TOPIC LIST” in my draft box. Whenever I think of something, I jot it down there.
- Hitting publish accidentally is a huge fear of mine.
- Sometimes I find myself using easier words and expressions for the sake of the readers. I know that I can do much better linguistically, but I don’t want to come of as pretentious or lose my voice just because I know my way around a dictionary.
- The current state of the Lebanese blogging scene in making me very weary. I have always considered myself to be an outlier with my very personal content and longer posts- and this feeling only seems to be increasing as many others have become brands.
- I’m always looking for ways to write about my own unique experiences. So you won’t find me writing about the latest happenings in the country, restaurant and film reviews, and controversial issues- unless they have directly affected me.
- I don’t like writing about Lebanon.
- Honestly, I wouldn’t have kept publishing had it not been for Ahmad’s support (and sometimes insistence).
- He’s also my proofreader.
- Speaking of support, I wish more people would interact, especially by leaving comments and starting a conversation. Nothing makes my day like a comment notification.
- Since making friends post-college has been difficult, I would love for this blog to be a vector for meeting new people.
- My “coming full circle” moment was when I was featured in Outlook, AUB’s student newspaper, as I had been a staff member during my own student years.
- I still doubt myself and my writing abilities.
What would you change the title to if you could? What wound be a better reflection?
I haven’t given much thought to what the new title could be since I can’t change it. But it would definitely not be location specific.
I love what u write Tala i always read when u share on fb. I love how obviously true you are
Thanks Nivine! Means a lot to me to know that you’re reading and enjoying!
Btw, I still remember when we worked on the mosaic in school!
I think the title is still pretty suitable – it’s not literally beyond Beirut but it is in the sense that you write about things beyond the city itself and the crappy parts of it that the general population pick apart on a daily basis. In a way, you’re still beyond Beirut because you’re focusing on life and things that truly affect you, regardless of location.
You know, I have never thought of the title in the way you put it but it makes perfect sense. I did laugh at the mention of this “the crappy parts of it that the general population pick apart on a daily basis. ” It’s definitely true that we only seem to pick at the scabs- with no intent to change or improve the situation.
Thanks for the new perspective!
I so enjoy reading your posts as your blog is quite different than what’s on the Lebanese blog scene! Keep writing and challenging yourself.
Hello, it is the first time that I read your blogs, I am planning for my wedding too 🙂 and I am searching so many websites online because I have a low budget, can you tell me please the price ranges in the venue you rented, many thx
Hi Soumaya,
I’ve replied to you by email. Thank you for reading the blog and I hope you find the information helpful. Congratulations in advance! 🙂