We live in a world split in two—one half crying out for freedom, the other drowning in it.
In one part of the world, children wake up to the sound of bombs, not alarm clocks. They walk miles barefoot across rubble for water. They have dreams too—but theirs are often interrupted by airstrikes, hunger, fear, and the brutal act of surviving another day. And yet, even in the face of destruction, they fight to live, to learn, to build something better.
In another part of the world—Western Europe or America—many of our children are quietly disappearing. Not from war, not from hunger, but from purpose. Armed with smartphones and unlimited access, surrounded by abundance, they’re losing themselves in a digital illusion. They chase validation through screens, barter their worth for likes, and confuse influence with identity. They are not fighting for food or freedom, but for attention in a world that rewards noise over substance, where likes are currency, bodies are commodities, and fame is mistaken for worth.
This is the great disconnect of our time.
As a mother, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor, I’ve lived through both worlds—from war-torn Iran to Silicon Valley boardrooms. I’ve faced bombs as a child and billion-dollar decisions as an executive. I’ve survived breast cancer, led historic biotech breakthroughs, and learned how fragile—and precious—normal really is. I know what it means to treasure a quiet moment of peace, to treat clean water like a gift, and to rebuild a life from ashes—twice.
That’s why I wrote The Magic of Normal. Because what we call “normal” in one part of the world is a miracle in another: a warm meal, a safe home, a walk without fear, a hug without goodbye.
And yet, we’ve forgotten. We’ve traded presence for performance. And our children are paying the price.
We must teach them that life is not about chasing the extraordinary—it’s about cherishing what is real.
TO PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD
This is not just a cultural crisis—it’s a human one.
This is not just a generational problem—it’s a parenting crisis.
We’ve handed our kids iPhones before handing them identity.
We’ve given them tools before teaching them truth.
We’ve taught them how to swipe before we’ve taught them how to stand for something.
They think money comes without effort, influence is built on filters, and beauty is more valuable than knowledge. We handed them the world through a screen but forgot to show them how to live in it with wisdom.
To every parent reading this: wake up.
The enemy today doesn’t always carry a gun—it comes in pixels.
It whispers that money is easy, that values are outdated, that attention is achievement.
But you and I know better.
Real money comes from real work.
Real success is earned in silence—in discipline, in late nights, in trying again.
Let’s remind them: Wealth can be taken, but wisdom cannot. Integrity, purpose, and the power to think—these are currencies that never crash.
Let’s raise children who use social media to spread light, not chase likes.
Let’s raise daughters who know their worth doesn’t come from filters or approval.
Let’s raise sons who measure strength not in status, but in service.
Let’s raise a generation that understands freedom is fragile—and that a voice should be used not just to promote self, but to protect others. A generation that knows having less can mean being more—more grateful, more grounded, more alive.
To every parent: your example is their education. Lead them. Show them what matters. Because in a world full of noise, they are watching you for truth. They need your presence, your guidance, your light.
TO THE YOUNG GENERATION
To every young person: You were born for more than this.
You are not just content.
You are a creator of change.
Your body is not a brand.
Your spirit is not a filter.
Your life is not an algorithm.
You were born to do more than scroll.
You were born to build.
Your life is your message—make it count.
Look around the world:
A child in war clings to their mother beneath rubble.
A child in Africa walks 10 miles for food.
A child in Afghanistan risks death for a single strand of hair escaping her hijab—and still walks tall.
These are your peers. Though your lives may look different, your value is equal. But with privilege comes responsibility.
Use your voice to lift others, not just yourself.
Use your freedom to fight for those who don’t have any.
Use your platform to give hope, not just gain attention.
Life is not about being seen—it’s about seeing others.
Not about going viral, but going deep.
We don’t need more influencers. We need more impact-makers.
We don’t need more noise. We need more meaning.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT
Here is the truth I’ve lived—from Iran to Silicon Valley to a hospital bed that changed everything:
- Money comes and goes. But knowledge? That is yours forever.
- Fame fades—but purpose endures.
I survived war. I survived cancer. I helped bring a life-saving cancer therapy to the world and closed one of the largest biotech deals in history. And I did it not because I was lucky, but because I believed in one thing:
“Take responsibility, and the ability will follow.”
This is the core of my work. The soul of my story. And the heart of The Magic of Normal—a reminder that in a world obsessed with the extraordinary, it is the simplest, most human things that matter most.
Let’s not raise influencers.
Let’s raise warriors of integrity…Of service…Of meaning.
Let’s raise a generation that knows how to rebuild what others destroy.
A generation that chooses purpose over popularity, depth over display, and love over likes.
The world doesn’t need more noise. It needs your light.