I missed you when I never had you “A mind full of who I made you” But I lied, you are all I wanted- How I wished you saw what I did. But you’re not what I wanted. Truly, you’re not. A future unaligned with mine of divine design Dreaming of you Has become a pastime of mine No longer a desire To have our lives entwined You couldn’t love me right If you tried So I drink of the tea I made you As your cup still sits idle I reminisce our days of the summer And I find myself with a smile.

Rubeen Salem

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I create art with an aim to inspire others to allow themselves the permission to feel their vulnerabilities. Growing up with divorced parents, I had moved a lot in my youth. This made it difficult to establish a secure sense of identity. With the drastic changes in the culture and personalities of where I lived, it was hard to find a self I was secure in. I found myself pretending to be someone I’m not to appeal to new company and make friends easier. I learned that we get to create who we are, and not to play into who we think others want us to be. It wasn’t until the Fall of 2022 that I found myself having become a version of myself that I love. And I wish I knew sooner how to be myself, and how to love and appreciate that self, despite others not. Through my art, I intend to instill in others the acceptance of their true selves, the permission to feel their emotions fully, and the confidence to share that with others—sharing because we are all worthy of loving and being loved.