Texan after UAE
There is nothing stronger than a woman who has rebuilt herself
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Most people are to busy thinking about themselves to think about you.
Stop worrying about what people think of you. Spend that energy thinking about
your own heart, your own peace, and the people who are truly dear to you. I left
that worry behind years ago, and when I reverted to Islam, it gave me even more
clarity, peace, and understanding about what truly matters. Life, to me, has
always felt like a book. Each chapter carries its own lesson. Some chapters stay
with you longer than others. You read them, reflect on them, and sometimes
return to them in your mind until you understand why they were placed before
you. If a lesson brings wisdom, you carry it forward. If it no longer serves
your growth, you gently close that page and continue. People are often like
chapters too. Some arrive for a season, some for a reason, and some only long
enough for God to reveal something through them. Sometimes He shows you what can
hurt you. Sometimes He shows you what can heal you. Sometimes He places goodness
in your path, and sometimes He teaches you what must be left behind. When that
lesson is complete, the page turns, and life introduces new souls into your
story. The truth is that most people are consumed by their own thoughts,
struggles, fears, and desires. They are trying to understand themselves, manage
their own lives, and carry what weighs on them. They are not nearly as focused
on you as you may imagine. That is why I believe in living truthfully, speaking
from the heart, and doing what feels right within your own soul, because in the
end, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to think deeply about
you. Some thoughts take time
before they are ready to be written, and some truths arrive only when the heart
is prepared to release them. ✨
🌿🖊️
My Final whisper: Some thoughts live quietly within us for years, waiting for the right moment to be understood, because not every truth is meant to be spoken the moment it is born.
I have much more to say, and next month I will finally write about
something I have carried within me for sixteen years. Stay tuned
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Jesus in Islam: Messenger, Not God or Son of God
In the holy Quran, Jesus, peace be upon him, is a prophet and a man, chosen by God to guide His people. God is far too great to have children, a thought that belongs only to human minds. God has no son. Jesus is not God, nor is he the Holy Spirit. He prayed to God, just as all the prophets did before him, including Moses and Abraham, peace be upon them. Every prophet turned to the one true God alone, seeking guidance, mercy, and forgiveness, submitting fully to His will. Everything Jesus did was by God’s command, just as Moses, Abraham, and all the other prophets carried out God’s plan. They never claimed divinity; they never asked anyone to worship them. They prayed only to God, just as we do. I reflect on the blessing of the Quran, the one holy book that has been perfectly preserved. Not one word will ever be changed. Thank you, God, for guiding me to this straight path, for opening my heart to Your truth, and for making everything so clear. Help me to always remember that all prayers, all devotion, and all gratitude belong to You alone, the one and only God.In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
My final whisper: O God, let me worship You and You alone. Keep my heart close to You, and guide me always on Your path.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Why I love my religion.
Why I Love Islam For 26 years, Islam has been my guide, my light, and my refuge.
It has taught me patience, strengthened my faith, and shown me the beauty of
prayer. It has honored me as a woman and given meaning to every part of my life:
spiritual, personal, family, social, and beyond. Through Islam, I have learned
to trust God completely, to surrender my heart to His wisdom, and to walk each
day with clarity and peace.
My final whisper: When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him
fully. Only one of two things will happen. Either He will catch you when you
fall or He will teach you how to fly.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
When the Heart Hurts but the Tongue Still Says Alhamdulillah
My goodness. The end of 2025 and this year have not been kind. As a Muslim woman
we are taught to always say *Alhamdulillah*, even in hardship. Still, the pain
is real and the grief is heavy. I was just told that my father in law passed
away a couple of days ago. Hearing those words stopped me in my tracks. From the
very first day I heard about him, my prayers have been with this man. Meeting
him and speaking with him was truly a pleasure. He had a warmth and kindness
that made you feel welcome right away. Those memories will always stay in my
heart. One of the things that saddens me the most is that my son never truly got
the chance to know his grandfather. We left when my son was only two years old,
and I wish they could have had more time together. That thought weighs heavily
on my heart. In times like this we hold onto faith. We remember that Allah is
the Most Merciful and the Most Just. My prayer is that Allah forgives him,
surrounds him with mercy, and grants him the highest place in Jannah. May Allah
bring peace to his soul, comfort to our family, and patience to all of us who
are grieving. Alhamdulillah always. Even through the tears. Even through the
loss.
My final whisper: Ya Allah, please forgive him and shower him with Your endless mercy. Expand his grave with light and grant him the highest place in Jannah. Bring peace to his soul and patience to the hearts of those who love him. Protect our families and ease the suffering of all those who are grieving and oppressed around the world. Ameen.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Monday, March 9, 2026
The Loudest Opinions Often Come From the Least Experience
Sometimes the people who believe they know you the most are actually the ones who understand you the least. It is strange to watch people whisper about your life as if they are experts on it, repeating assumptions as if they were facts.
The truth is that some of us have lived beyond the small walls others never leave. We have seen different places, met people from many cultures, and learned about faith and life through experience, not just opinions.
Education does not only come from classrooms. It comes from living, traveling, listening, and seeking knowledge. It is easy to judge what you do not understand, but ignorance always reveals itself.
If anyone feels the need to discuss my beliefs, my advice is simple. Learn first.
My final whisper: Travel. Listen. Open your mind. The world is much bigger than gossip, and knowledge will always expose ignorance.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
A Morning “Hello” That Lasted a Lifetime
Güero, Mr. Castillo, you were family from the first hello. Every morning your
cheerful “Hello, Kris!” brightened my day. You worked hard, laughed freely, and
raised amazing kids who grew up alongside me. Though you passed on January 15,
2026, your voice stays with me, etched in memory. I know you’re with Jesus now,
smiling, dancing with Mama Yoya and Mom.
>
My final whisepr: Güero, may God, let you rest in peace. Your voice will stay
with me always. I love you.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Friday, February 20, 2026
When Love Becomes Memory
The past six months have been a storm I never saw coming. Three hearts I loved,
three souls I cherished, gone. First, my high school friend. Her battle with
cancer ended in October 2025. Five years of fighting, five years of hope, all
slipping through my hands. Then my sister’s biological father. A man she found
peace with, a man I prayed she would understand and forgive. He left this world
leaving memories and lessons wrapped in fragile threads of connection. And now
my uncle, my father’s oldest brother, a piece of my family’s history, a part of
my heart. I hold their memories close because nothing else can bring them back.
And still I keep going, carrying the weight of what was and what can never be
again.
My final whisper: Grief is heavy. It burns. It melts. And yet it forces me to feel every ounce of love I was lucky enough to know. Life feels sharper, emptier, and more precious all at once.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Ramadan Mubarak: Moonlit Blessings, Grateful Hearts, and the Strength Within
Ramadan Mubarak to my sisters and brothers around the world.
As I sit and reflect, my heart feels so full. My son will, God willing, be 18 soon, and my daughter, inshaAllah, will be 32. Where did the years go? Watching them grow has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am also blessed with a beautiful granddaughter who is truly the light of my life, and a wonderful son in law who brings so much goodness to our family. What a blessing.
It has been almost 16 years since I moved back from the UAE, and that journey alone has been eye opening in ways I could never have imagined. Life has had its lessons, its challenges, and its growth, but through it all I remain thankful and deeply grateful for everything Allah has given me.
I will try my best to be more active here because when I write my heart feels so much peace. There is something healing about putting thoughts into words. I have also picked up the beautiful habit of reading hard covered books again, and I truly enjoy my quiet life in my humble home with my son.
Every chapter, every test, every joy has shaped who I am today. Alhamdulillah for it all.
My final whisper. Ya Allah, keep my heart soft and my home filled with barakah. Protect my children and my granddaughter. Let gratitude never leave me and peace stay close to my soul. Alhamdulillah for everything.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Behind closed doors in the Middle East.
Howdy, ya'll. My first post after returning to the states ages ago was funny to
me. If you have any thoughts, let me know. It was certainly an eye-opening
experience, and I'm happy to report that I made it out alive! and with my kids.
A sarcastic joke. When one of my friends or family asks what kind of life I
lived in United Arab Emirates, I say a good one.
But, they're really asking, what goes on behind closed doors in a
Muslim/Arab/cultured family. I immediately say, I never wore a wear my scarf
inside, I lived a normal life, I didn't live in a tent. I was treated good: I
acted silly, I talked on the phone to my best girl friends, danced in the
kitchen while cooking, sang in the shower, watched tv, had a lot of dinner
parties, went to my friends' homes, shopped until my little feet couldn't stand
anymore, went out to eat with my girl friends and. ready for this? I even drove
my very own SUV.
I didn't ride on a camel. I did all that. I wasn't beaten or talked to badly and
my in laws didn't just pop up when they wanted. We had our own villa. Everyone
respected everyone there. So, yeah none of that bad stuff y'all think happened,
happened. Or that y'all see on TV. I was a lot more social there than I am here
in the states. Meaning, we always had to be somewhere or had guest. Be it,
weddings all the time or at family events. The family life here in the States is
a lot different than over there. Weekends here in the States are more quiet than
the weekends there. I think everything in general is more quiet here and not
such a fast pace. Having been back in the States for a while now, I've gotten over the culture shock.
But I still get a jolt of surprise when I hear people say "y'all" and "fixin' to"!
I hadn't seen my childhood best friends' older sister in so many years until
they came over last night. In response, she laughed and asked, "How'd it go?" I
answered her and we discussed the differences. I find it amazing how people
assume that just because you're married to an Arab, you'll be treated poorly.
Compared to the Middle East, I've witnessed more men treating women badly here.
I'm talking about my friends' husbands and how they treat them.
There's a famous quote they have from the UAE. The saying goes, "Arrive in Dubai a woman. Leave there a princess." Did I leave there a princess? Yes, I did. Due to the fact that I have made it this far without the help of a man, I feel more like a queen now.It was an amazing experience living there. The people I met came from all over the world and then some. A lot of people I know would never be able to do what I did. The most important thing for me is that I have learned a lot about life. Respect came before love for me. Love cannot exist without respect. Those are the things that happen behind closed doors in the Middle East, my friends. At least that was my experience. You've probably heard many scary stories. My world, however, was spared by it. After all, life isn't a textbook, but my experience in the Middle East taught me to respect the people around me and to live in a fear-free environment.
My Final Whisper: But my world did not escape the endless supply of falafel and hummus! And let's not forget shawarma! I guess Middle Eastern life is delicious!
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Here I am.
I wish you all the happiness in the world, sweet souls reading my blog.
On manifesting new beginnings: People want to know more about me (we'll cover
that, too), but I know you're also interested in how my experiences can benefit
you. I'm sure I can help you. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do it.
Whenever I write, I try to express what I feel from the heart. It would be great
if you could listen to what I am saying. That's exactly how I write. Even though
it's not the best, I try to get my point across as clearly as possible. What
made writing this post so difficult? I haven't written on my blog for seven
years. These writings will be different than they were seven years ago, for the
simple reason that I have changed a lot. I just want to thank all those who have
messaged me on Facebook and are excited to see my first post. So, here it is,
but I also have my second post in the works as I type this. I'm as excited as
you are. As of now, I'm fifty-three years old, and when I started writing, I was
thirty-six years old and still living in Europe. I then moved to the UAE. Buckle
up and read. This is a small synopsis
It's great to be back!
The promise of God Whenever you ask for something, you will receive it. The affirmations my Auntie gives me are always so encouraging. There is nothing I love more than her. The woman is always right and so wise. She has such a beautiful soul.My Final Whisper: The journey from wealth to minimalism has been incredible. I am sharing my real life with you here No matter what happens in my life, I am always optimistic. Love, muchly
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Off to adult.
It’s about that time. It’s about that time that our washer and dryer won’t make your clothes sparkle. Our home won’t hear you yelling at me in the early mornings to turn the music lower. Dinner times will be two plates set on the table, not three. Twenty two years since you’ve filled our home with laughter, tears, and happiness. Now you’re going out to adult in this big, wide world. Leaving where you always felt safe.
Let me give you a bit of advice.
Always smile, laugh and know that happiness is a choice. Be happy, never sad, life is too short to be sad. Do what’s in your heart and be real about it. Always give. Remember that giving is a lot better than receiving. Don’t ever expect gratitude from anyone; do whatever you’re doing with your soul and heart. Don’t own a lot of materialistic stuff in this world , be content living a simple, beautiful life. Know that I’m just a call away and anytime you wanna talk, I’ll be here for you. Always give thanks to God with whatever He puts in your life. Know that there’s ease after hardship and know that our home will always be just that. The door will always be open to you. God bless you and just be. Live in the moment and always have gratitude.
In addition to reading literature, critical theory, philosophy, and 70's and 80's music, I love and relish cooking with ingredients most people have never heard of. I also enjoy writing creatively. Reading foreign literature, Dubai and Italy, Italian, and Arabic coffee is my favorite writing in Arabic and English and soulful souls as a writer. During the weekends, I spend time watching the sun rise over the heavens and sipping Turkish, Arabic, or Italian coffee while listening to some exemplary music. Traveling, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures. I find joy in trying out different dishes and experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Engaging in meaningful conversations with people from different walks of life is something I enjoy.
Kristina di Lodivico Simoni
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