EMOTIONAL STRUGGLE AND DIFFICULT DECISION
Lebanese social media influencer Karen Wazen, currently residing in Dubai, recently took to Instagram to share her deeply personal experience and the emotional turmoil she faced when deciding to leave Lebanon amidst escalating regional tensions. Like many other Lebanese families who opted to spend their summer in their native land, Wazen and her family found themselves confronting a disheartening reality as the situation worsened.
CONFLICTING FEELINGS ABOUT FAMILY AND SAFETY
In her post, Wazen openly discussed the internal struggle that affected her and many others in similar circumstances: the choice between staying close to family or fleeing due to fears of potential conflict. “Do we leave? We have children, is it wiser to leave? What if we get stuck there? What if there is a war?” she shared, expressing her deep concerns not only about her own safety but also about the psychological toll such experiences might have on her children, including the risk of long-lasting trauma.
TORN BETWEEN HOMELAND AND FAMILY
Wazen’s sentiments reflect the emotional conflict experienced by the Lebanese diaspora, characterized by a strong yet painful attachment to their homeland. “My family… I haven’t gotten enough of them, my home, my Lebanon, we are meant to be there for another 3 weeks, my store opening? My grandma…” she added, eloquently voicing the heartache of being separated from loved ones and the life they envisioned.
HEARTBREAKING DECISION TO LEAVE
Ultimately, Wazen and her family chose to make the painful decision to depart, a choice that left her in tears for 48 hours. “I cried for all the pain that we as Lebanese have had to endure since I can remember. I cried for the injustice of it all. I cried for my family, I cried for the ones in Lebanon who have had to deal with so much trauma,” she reflected, highlighting the collective grief felt by many Lebanese during this time of crisis.
SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY FROM THE COMMUNITY
Wazen’s heartfelt post resonated widely, garnering over 140,000 likes and sparking supportive comments from both within Lebanon and from the Lebanese diaspora. Figures such as Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad and actress Nadine Nassib Njeim voiced their solidarity. “A heartbreak like no other,” remarked Nathalie Fanj, while content creator Nihal Nour Sard commented, “You spoke our feelings. In such situations, we were all debating to leave or to stay.” Reflecting on the cruelty of ongoing conflicts, Wazen posed the poignant question, “With everything that the world has been able to cancel, how are wars still a thing in 2024??”
LONGING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Amidst the chaos, Wazen expressed her gratitude for her safety while concurrently yearning for a return to Lebanon. “I, like every other Lebanese across the world, feel a strong sense of longing… to the hope of a brighter future, to the moment I will step foot back in our beautiful country.” She poignantly noted, “Being a child of the Middle East is knowing all too well what this feels like.” Wazen’s moving message captures the unfaltering love and optimism that the Lebanese people maintain for their homeland, notwithstanding the difficult circumstances they face.