Reading may seem like an innocuous act. We do it as children pouring over rhymes and storylines, as students trudging through the latest assignment, and as adults in our morning commutes, while squinting at the fine print, or scanning ingredient lists. However, in a world where authoritarian governments routinely carry out censorship, women are systematically blocked from attaining literacy, and lack of diversity in publishing marginalizes people of color in even the most developed of nations, reading is actually a radical act, a statement, a form of protest. That is why seeing yourself reflected in literature can be an incredibly validating act. The gravity of an author putting pen to paper and immortalizing a piece of yourself and your culture cannot be understated.

But for too long we have waited, or been forced to wait, for others to share Syria’s story. This month marks the ten-year anniversary of the Syrian revolution. Now more than ever is the time to rectify this situation and reclaim our voice. Syrians must be empowered to share the diversity of their experiences, dreams, and hopes. As we draft the next chapter of history, we must demand not only to be heard in the present, but also to pen and preserve our own stories. The truth, however painful it may be, is something we yearn to share unvarnished and pure. Only then can the generations that come after us know the culture we took pride in, the values we aimed to honor, and the unimaginable trials we faced head-on.

But taking back the Syrian experience does not have to be such a somber act. Our truth does not have to be found in one of our nation’s darkest chapters. It can also be found in moments of levity, in joyous memories like connecting with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents on the weekend, and even current successes, even if they are achieved against a backdrop of tragedy.

On this #WorldStoryTellingDay we hope you will share with us a moment, thought, or hope to encapsulate your unique Syrian experience. We are sure to be listening, and hope the world does too.