1. Where It All Began: Growing Up in Tunisia
Born and raised in Tunisia, Northern Africa, my journey began amidst a vibrant culture rich with beauty, contradictions, and enough family drama to fill a novel. My father was a brilliant teacher who battled mental illness—a struggle that shaped my childhood in ways I only began to understand much later. In a world where mental health was either ignored or misunderstood, I grew up feeling like I was piecing together a puzzle with missing pieces.
Fortunately, I had a mother who was nothing short of a superhero. She faced every twist and turn with a strength that I once mistook for weakness. As a child, I saw her as a victim—abused, socially and financially limited. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It takes unimaginable courage to create stability in the middle of chaos, to hold everything together with love, duct tape, and a fierce will to protect her children. Looking back, I realize she could have probably run a Fortune 500 company with the skills she mastered just trying to keep us all afloat.
Growing up, I was the youngest, and my siblings did everything they could to shield me from the storm. Yet, the experience left me seeking answers and a way to break free from the constraints of shame, silence, and a society that wasn’t exactly progressive about mental health. This longing led me to study psychology, hoping to understand the human mind and to find meaning in healing.
2. Facing the Unforeseen
Armed with hope, a psychology degree, and an accent that could confuse Siri, I moved to the U.S. at 25, ready to build a life of purpose and independence. What I wasn’t ready for? Cultural shock, an abusive relationship (talk about bad choices), and the very real possibility of becoming a professional couch surfer.
Suddenly, I found myself broke, homeless, and barely speaking English. If my life were a movie, this would be the part where the somber piano music plays. But rock bottom has a funny way of making you resourceful. I taught myself English by watching news channels (they spoke proper English and loved repeating themselves) and political speeches (because, honestly, who repeats themselves more?). Also, let’s be real: Criminal Minds and NCIS definitely helped me crack the code of American slang… and maybe gave me some trust issues along the way.
But the real MVPs? Audiobooks. I spent countless hours driving to and from work, listening to words and phrases over and over again until they were etched in my mind. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked.
Learning a new language wasn’t just about communication. It was about reclaiming my voice, my identity, and my narrative. It was the first step in turning survival into self-discovery.
And somewhere along the way, I accidentally discovered a love for business. What started as survival became self-discovery, and who knew? I was pretty good at it. Design was my way of making sense of the chaos, and Curve&Verve was just a dream back then, but the seeds were definitely planted.
3. Accidental Entrepreneurship
Or How I Stumbled Into Business (Then Tried Really Hard to Keep at It)
So there I was, linguistically armed with news channel jargon, political catchphrases, and just enough Criminal Minds lingo to be mildly suspicious at airport security. I was officially bilingual… if you count phrases like ‘Breaking News,’ ‘No comment,’ and ‘Unsub’ as fluent vocabulary.
Now, you’d think the next logical step would be to use my psychology background, right? Wrong. I somehow stumbled into the world of business. And by stumbled, I mean I had bills to pay, and my charm alone wasn’t going to cut it. Survival became self-discovery, and apparently, I had a knack for strategy, design, and entrepreneurship. Who knew? Certainly not me.
I threw myself into learning the ropes—coding, business analysis, data analytics, and design. And before I knew it, I found a way to weave all these seemingly unrelated skills into something meaningful. Design became my canvas, but it wasn’t just about pretty pictures. It became a language for me—a way to blend all the tools and words my soul expresses itself with: art, storytelling, analytical thinking, entrepreneurship… and, occasionally, sarcastic humor.
Curve&Verve wasn’t born from a grand vision or a perfectly executed plan. It was the product of unexpected twists, resourceful pivots, and sheer stubbornness. It was me, turning chaos into art. It was proof that life’s detours sometimes lead to the most beautiful destinations… and that yes, watching Criminal Minds does pay off in the end.
I never set out to be an entrepreneur. But life is funny that way. Sometimes you don’t find your passion—it finds you, usually when you’re least prepared and definitely under-caffeinated.
4. Rediscovering Confidence
It’s Not as Glamorous as It Sounds
If my life were a self-help book, this would be the chapter where the hero ‘finds herself’ and everything magically falls into place. Spoiler alert: that didn’t happen.
The truth is, rebuilding confidence is messy. It’s one step forward, two steps back, and three late-night Google searches of ‘how to not feel like a failure.’ For me, the real turning point wasn’t when I mastered English or found my footing in business. It was when I stopped being angry—at my father, at my circumstances, and at the world for not handing me a fairytale ending.
I learned to trade anger for empathy. It wasn’t a lightbulb moment. It was a flickering, on-again-off-again struggle of realizing that the people who hurt me were prisoners of their own suffering. My father, who I once saw as this untouchable force of chaos, was just a man trapped in his illness and circumstances. The more I understood his pain, the less power it had over me. And just like that, I freed myself from the past.
Turns out, empathy isn’t about excusing bad behavior. It’s about understanding that hurt people hurt people. It doesn’t make it right, but it makes it easier to let go. And letting go is the most rebellious thing you can do against pain.
Real confidence didn’t come from achievements or success. It came from understanding my past, embracing empathy, and redefining strength. I didn’t become confident because I conquered my fears—I became confident because I learned to live alongside them. And, for the record, I still occasionally Google ‘how to not feel like a failure.’ Progress, not perfection.
5. A New Chapter: The Verve Journal
But my journey is far from over. The Verve Journal is where I continue to explore and share my philosophy, my art, and my evolving story.
It’s a space where creativity meets purpose, where complexity is celebrated, and where I hope to inspire others to live authentically and thoughtfully.
It’s a place for embracing contradictions, finding beauty in chaos, and daring to live imperfectly yet fully. Here, I share the lessons I’ve learned (and the ones I’m still figuring out), my inspirations, my failures, my growth, and everything in between.
It’s where I get to be unapologetically me. And hopefully, through my journey, you find the courage to be unapologetically you.
6. My Life Today: Gratitude and Growth
Today, I am blessed with two beautiful children, Noah and Sophia, and a partner who balances intelligence with sensitivity, grounded yet spiritual, and just flawed enough to be interesting.
We share a love for opposites, diversity, and a life that’s equal parts messy and beautiful. Some days are a delicate dance of chaos and calm, and on others, it’s a full-on circus. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Together, we embrace the imperfections, the laughter, the tears, and all the little moments that make life breathtakingly beautiful.
I don’t know where my journey will take me, but one thing is certain—I am committed to embracing every chapter with courage, gratitude, and a desire to bring beauty to the world around me.
Because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that life is messy, beautiful, and perfectly imperfect. And that’s exactly how it should be.
7. The Journey Continues…
Thank you for being here and for sharing this journey with me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, to witness the ups and downs, the triumphs and the failures, and the laughter in between.
Curve&Verve and The Verve Journal are not just about art or storytelling—they’re about connection, meaning, and celebrating the human experience in all its messy, beautiful complexity.
I hope that through my journey, you find a piece of your own story reflected and the courage to live it fully. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just stories in the making, trying to live authentically and beautifully. And I’m grateful to share my story with you.
Thank you for being part of this journey… because it’s far from over.
Curve&Verve – The Verve Journal 