“Why don’t you just go back to your country?”

“Go back and fix your country.”

Words often uttered so flippantly, disregarding the essence of what they mean as they are delivered and meant with venomous xenophobia.

Yes. We should feel proud of where we come from. Yes. We should seek the best for our home country. But it is far from straightforward.

I find that those who utter the words above do so from a point of privilege and fear. Privilege because they know not what it means to come from a place where dreams go to die. A place which offers zero to no hope for a bright future that peers from other corners of the world get to enjoy. Fear of those who are ‘different’ and have come into their space seeking solace and sustenance for their existence.

When you ‘belong’ to a place where dreams go to die, you are constantly faced with this reality. You are asked to play small, bowing humbly in gratitude for any opportunity outside of what you were ‘destined’ to. You are asked to soothe and appease the egos of those who come from places where dreams are possible. You are asked to uphold the stereotype of impoverished 3rd world citizen. You are asked to daily remember and express your unwarranted ‘luck’ to have different.

When you come from a place where dreams are lofty ideals that need to be buried 6 feet deep in order to survive the realities of your norm, anything you get – no matter if its the driest crumb that even the dogs refuse to eat – you better lap it up and say “thank you, master”. Because, after all, you don’t belong anywhere but in the harsh reality of where you were born.

When you ‘belong’ in a place where dreams go to die, you are often afraid to want or seek more. Because that’s just greedy. And you are lucky you are getting this involuntary intermittent-fast type of life. Don’t you dare desire a 7 course Michelin star experience.

When you express any inkling of desiring more than is laid out before you, you are reminded of your lack of gratitude. Dreams well-up in your soul but if you dare utter them, prepare for them to be squashed under the 6-inch heels of the “haves” who have it beyond good.

But, still, those dreams dare to live. They refuse to die. In fact, the more you suppress them, the deeper their roots grow – pulling at your heart strings, desiring to be heard. The more you ignore them, the louder they get.

And somehow, when you ‘belong’ where dreams go to die and you escape that place, you know – good and well – there are others who would kill for these opportunities. Those who yearn for more than their reality. And you don’t take your privilege lightly.

You work hard. You excel. In spite of the discrimination and sidelining. Knowing that this could easily be taken away from you. Usually, to support and help out those left back home.

But, I also say to you, if you – like I – belong where dreams go to die, why not seek to make those dreams of your heart come to life? After all, you’ve already soared above the adversities you’ve had to face. Why not take your life all the way and make your mark.

Whether its starting that hobby, business, travelling, exploring new opportunities, telling stories, making magic. Whatever it is.

Know that dreams – just like you – don’t choose to be born let alone where to be born. They just exist. Don’t they – like you – deserve a fair chance at existence?

dreams – just like you – don’t choose to be born let alone where to be born.