[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fT2qMAa4sYIE2y7HFt-CNme6m-0YWGlGu4Qzy5KTHXXg":3,"$f8TQQD0n7ZTh_K-xU-CqaHN1JvIuZKKr6tz_8PjK__Lk":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},82428,"Wendy Pearlman","W",25,null,"wendy-pearlman",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":77},[14,22,28,34,40,46,52,58,64,70],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3506486,"It’s been so long since I heard that someone died of natural causes.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":9},3506483,"But even a monster has hope. He hopes that someday he’ll go back to being a normal human being.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},3506481,"Blood is what moves people. Blood is the force of the revolution.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":35,"quote_text":36,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":37,"source":38,"quote_tag":39,"commentary":9},3506477,"Many people aren’t happy with the refugees coming to their country. Maybe we came illegally, but every other door was shut in our faces. What do they expect us to do? Isn’t it enough our government destroyed us and we lost everything? We would prefer to stay in our country. If you don’t want refugees, help us make peace in Syria.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":41,"quote_text":42,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":9},3506474,"This is when we lost our humanity. I’d open my phone and look at my contacts and only one or two were still alive.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":47,"quote_text":48,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":49,"source":50,"quote_tag":51,"commentary":9},3506466,"The more someone supported the regime, the more he was scared of it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":53,"quote_text":54,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":55,"source":56,"quote_tag":57,"commentary":9},3506458,"Today, the word “refugee” is used in a horrible way. It’s something either to be pitied or blamed for everything. Overpopulation? It’s the refugees. Rents going up? It’s the refugees. Crime? It’s the refugees. If you label people refugees, they remain refugees for the rest of their lives.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":59,"quote_text":60,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":61,"source":62,"quote_tag":63,"commentary":9},3506451,"I can’t sleep without the sounds of bombs or bullets. It’s like something’s missing.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":65,"quote_text":66,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":67,"source":68,"quote_tag":69,"commentary":9},3506445,"Hama today is nearly without men. There are only women and old people. My sister calls it “the Widow City.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":71,"quote_text":72,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":73,"source":74,"quote_tag":75,"commentary":76},3506437,"But I think I’m too old to dream now. In a month and a half, I’ll be twenty-nine.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nWendy Pearlman, an American anthropologist, wrote this poignant passage in her memoir \"We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria\" (2017), reflecting on her experiences as a young woman in her late 20s, grappling with the complexities of adulthood, identity, and purpose. At this stage in her life, Pearlman was likely confronting the disillusionment that often accompanies the transition from youthful idealism to the harsh realities of the adult world.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, the quote appears to be a statement of resignation, a sense of being too old to dream. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a profound insight into the human condition: the fear of aging and the loss of youthful vitality is often tied to the fear of losing one's sense of identity and purpose. This quote suggests that the pressure to conform to societal expectations of adulthood can be a suffocating force, stifling the very dreams and aspirations that once fueled our passion and creativity.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's fast-paced, often competitive professional landscape, it's easy to get caught up in the pressure to achieve milestones and meet expectations. To apply Pearlman's insight, take a step back and acknowledge the tension between your desire for stability and security, and your need for creative expression and personal growth. By acknowledging and embracing this tension, you can begin to break free from the constraints of societal expectations and tap into a sense of purpose that is authentic to your own unique experiences and aspirations.",{"currentPage":78,"totalPages":79,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":80},1,3,10]