Meet Fadi Y. Sitto of Fadi Poetry in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fadi Sitto.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Fadi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Fadi, and I’m a Chaldean-American Poet. Chaldeans speak the language of Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke) and we are one of the original peoples from ancient Babylon, now modern-day Iraq. My parents and extended family came to America in 1969 as immigrants fleeing religious persecution and a chance at a better life and future. I was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Arizona when I was 16 years old.

I have always had this intrinsic intuitive vivid “knowing”, even at a young age, that my purpose in life and the reason why God put me on earth was to compose and write words that free-willingly jump out of my chest, my guts and stomach. It’s a clear and tangible feeling. A maddening passion and a not so random calling, it’s as if I have no choice and I’m good with that.

The best way I can serve humanity is through my writings, and feel blessed that I’m within this gifted-sense of self-awareness, acceptance and understanding of how to truly see and listen. When in the process of composing verses, I can honestly reveal in a state of absolute, unconditional and undeniable life-moments.

I am an Arizona Poet Laureate nominee and my latest best-selling book, a collection of selected free verse writings titled Bending Serendipity was published by Bookstand Press – in partnership with Ingram Books. It’s available everywhere books are sold and has also been translated into multiple languages. A “working poet”, I also perform Spontaneous Pop-Up Typewriter Poetry at weddings/fundraisers/galas/museum openings and other social events in Arizona, the U.S. and all over the world.

Being a seasoned world traveler, I have lived and traveled throughout the world including places like Peru, Sri Lanka, Bali just to name a few. For the most part, I’m drawn to places and cities that have grit and soul because it enhances my state-of-the-heart while working on my new verse-manuscripts. On one occasion when living in Sri Lanka, I lived in a monastery and didn’t speak for 40 days straight (on purpose) while working on a poetic manuscript.

Something that I learned from my stay in that particular monastery and hanging out with the monks there, is that I connected with the reason why the monks wore the same outfit of clothing (which was a maroon-colored robe) every single day. They told me that the reason they wear the same thing every day is that it lowers their ego, because they don’t have to think about what they are going to wear on any particular day, and they can focus and devote their time to what matters. I dig that.

So, I decided to do that myself (sort of). So for the last decade or so, I’ve been wearing the same outfit/clothing ensemble every day. Always wearing a black button-down shirt, jeans and a hat (either a baseball cap or a knit beanie. In my closet right now, I have eight of the same shirt, five pairs of the same jeans and a bunch of hats. It’s mostly a symbolic thing for me, but the day to day perspective behind my reasoning for doing this is quite real and literal.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s not always easy trying to block out the outside noise pressuring one to conform within a living-state of safety, content and structure, but for me, there is not a second thought or doubt to be or live any other way. I trust my heart’s decisions and swing from the stars, wearing it all on my sleeve. True, it makes me vulnerable and I am self-aware that this philosophy of life is a blessing and a curse.

Depending on each individual’s life-circumstance, I believe that it’s almost shameful, or doing a disservice to your soul if one knows their purpose or passion in life and they disregard it or don’t go out on that limb and take that risk. Once you tell Fear to F-off, your clarity will rise beyond expectations and you’ll know the difference between the mediocrity of happiness and the soft-enlightenment of pure joy. Choose joy.

Tell us more about your organization.
My Donation Based + Commission Fee Movement/Project is called: BeCause Poetry. becausepoetry.com (going live on January 1, 2020) offers original custom-curated bespoke poems that are typed on a vintage typewriter. I do Pop-Up Typewriter Poetry at all kinds of events and donate a percentage of my booking fee to the cause/charity/non-profit of my client’s choice.

Basically, I would set up at a wedding venue or other event/location with my sweet 1945 typewriter – and the guests/attendees are invited to come up to me and request their full-length custom poem. I compose and type the custom poem up for them right there on-the-spot. I call it “spontaneous poetry”. I type all poems on unique and premium vellum paper, and their personal poem is placed inside a premium envelope.

My favorite thing about my pop up typewriter gigs is when people open up to me and tell me personal and intimate things about who they want me to type the poem for, or for themselves. After I type up their custom poem, there’s pretty much a 100% chance of smiles happening… many also cry and are compelled to hug me.

It’s a feeling of pure and infinite joy. It’s something I would do, whether I’m being paid for it or not. For me, it’s all about the process of composing and typing my verses. After the last letter of the last word is out of me, I have this odd feeling that the poem doesn’t belong to me anymore. I get an almost anxious feeling that I just want to give what I typed away asap. There are times, I don’t even know what I typed until I hand over the poem. It’s complete and utter honesty and with unselfish love, without laws or restrictions.

I also offer a 100% donation-based experience called Poems Via Post. A person can request a custom typewriter poem for someone special in their life or themselves, they answer a few simple questions and I will craft a full length original one-off custom poem.

I will then mail the poem (via post) to anyone, anywhere in the world, and the person requesting/ordering the poem just donates what they think is fair. The donation proceeds from this project supports a local non-profit that is near to my heart called the Joy Bus Foundation, with future plans of supporting national and international causes.

WHAT SETS ME APART: My Pop-Up Typewriter Poetry Concept is a one of a kind, a unique purposeful act of kindness that makes a difference through the written word. in this case the “typed” word. There’s something special and even nostalgic about this type of human interaction and connection.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck will fall on your lap when you stop asking it to. I just have blind faith and belief that when you live your day-to-day thinking about others before you emphasize yourself, the world will give back to you a thousandfold.

It’s wonderfully (good) weird though, that I often seem to be in the right place at the right time and people are eager to help me out and spread the word about my vision and mission regarding my typewriter poetry experiences/concepts. I’d like to think people can sense the authenticity and passion behind what one is trying to accomplish. Though I’ve had “haters” before, my good fortune is evident by the closest people in my life, and their support is infinite.

Contact Info:

• Website: fadipoetry.com
• Email: info@fadipoetry.com
• Instagram: fadipoetryevents

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