Author: aryask@gmail.com

Traveled through 14 countries and now 10 months into China, I've gained a deepened appreciation and immediacy for identity. I’m an Iranian, California-raised storyteller and my root curiosity is consistency. Using comfort as a prime currency, I’m in the business of remembrance and value creation. So right around new year I considered the following question: “If you had an endless supply of money, what would you be doing?” I realized not much would change. I would keep teaching, writing, and doing events. The following month a group of us did a show titled Looking at Itself, centered around improv, music, and poetry. Part of the aim was to grey the divide between performer and audience. This would be my first performance in China and far from what I had planned, the show developed into musical madness…

One of the best decisions I have made is to be simple and direct with myself and not depend on impressing others. I live for curiosity and self-expression. I live to create destiny. You can create yours'. If I'm in your way, you have permission to confront me or kindly shove me aside, which people often do and I graciously accept. Creativity is a birthright, one thing to not forget.