Egyptian-born Abeer Al Otaiba is a mother of two, the wife of the UAE Ambassador to the United States and founder and creative director of the celeb-favoured fashion brand SemSem. Abeer, who now resides with her family in America, tells MOJEH about her life in lockdown.
My home in Washington, DC with my husband and two children.
Maintaining daily contact with my team. I've also set aside time in a special place within my home to reflect and design daily. Creating a daily routine for me and my family has allowed me to stay focused. Meditation is a huge help to stay centred.
These days I’m finding inspiration from the strong women who are serving on the front lines. I’ve been blown away by their strength and perseverance in the face of all the unknown. They are heroes in every sense of the word.
Yoga and meditation. Maintaining a routine helps clear my mind and take time to focus on myself. I’m a better mother, wife and business owner when I carve out some daily 'me' time.
I've been focusing on spirituality and enlightenment. I love Eckhart Tolle, I read The Power of Now, Living a Life of Inner Peace and The Art of Presence. I also read The Conscious parent by Dr Shefali Tsabary. While I have been reading more, I’ve also devoted some quiet time to large puzzles. I love the satisfaction of finishing one and moving to the next!
I enjoy listening to Ted Talks from people I admire, respect or would like to learn more about. I appreciate the format and stories from men and women from all walks of life. My favourites are: any Trevor Noah podcasts, Under The Skin with Russell Brand, and Poetics hosted by Omari Hardwick.
I love shows where I can get lost in the characters. Little Fires Everywhere, High Fidelity and The Last Dance are current favourites.
Staying home has reminded me of something I’ve always known to be true: there is nothing compared to the gift of health and family. This is what matters the most. My desire to create a safe, energetic and purposeful routine for my family has also been a welcome outcome during this time of isolation.
Take a step back. I’ve been going back to the basics and the reason I started SemSem in the first place: to create beautiful pieces while also championing the rights of women and children around the globe.
Any place with a sea view, my children and I love to be in the water. The ocean inspires me more than anything and I can’t wait to safely travel again!
