Sometimes when doing a project
You need to clear your head
Stop and take a break
Ask the universe for guidance
When you’re too close
You can’t see the big picture
You can’t see the forest for the trees
You have to let silence wash over you
You need to relax and breath
Then with clarity go forward
And complete the job you started
It’s ok to pause for a while
You’ll continue with more energy
May 9th, 2026
There is radio silence
The internet has been high jacked for over a month
Why does anyone need to be in touch with others after all?
Especially if they live abroad
It’s not as if people have relatives outside Iran
Why would they need to hear from each other during a war?
The internet has been high jacked for over a month
Who needs the internet after all?
It’s not as if people make a living using the internet
It’s not as if they purchase and sell merchandise
It’s like putting duct tape across someone’s mouth
Don’t they realize they need to eat and talk?
Relatives worry about their loved ones
Friends can’t be in touch
Businesses come to a halt
And why?
Because information is the most dangerous commodity during war
April 5, 2026
I don’t remember why I started to write a memoir
Everyone’s life is as interesting as mine
They have had challenges they have overcome
They have had dreams they have realized
So each of us should and could write a memoir
Only not everyone likes to write
Not everyone has the patience to go through the process
Not everyone has time
So I think my memoir is as ordinary as yours would be
But I have the time and the patience and I love to write
I hope these reasons are enough
May 5th, 2026
What is my North Star?
What do I want to do with the rest of my life?
Write for sure
Without writing I don’t know who I am
Without writing I will shrivel up and wilt
What else?
Be with my family and serve them
My children are adults now
That took some getting used to
I want to be in their lives
I want to be close to them
What else?
Continue to grow spiritually
That’s why we are in this earth
That’s the purpose of our lives
What else?
Serve my community
Continue serving the Shrine
The jewel of Montreal
What else?
Take care of my health
My health has always been fragile
So many ups and downs in my life
But I’m grateful for where I am
And want to continue looking after myself
March 26, 2026
The most idyllic time in my school years was my elementary school time
Grades one to grade five
The American school I went to
Boys and girls playing at recess in the yard
No uniform
Classes in English and Persian
By learning English and my introduction to the West
My world opened up
I could see beyond the confines of Iran
I could see how other people lived
What their concerns were
I learned about pollution and the plight of African Americans
I realized there was much more freedom in the West
For women and girls
I learned there was no religious prejudice against Baha’is there
We had Halloween parties
end of the year plays
Art and gym class
And all this took place is a large home where the principal of the school lived upstairs
The woman an American
The man a Persian
I couldn’t get enough of the English language
I wanted to read English books and talk to English speaking people
As if English meant freedom to me
My gateway to thee world
March 9, 2026
I walk down the stairs with my phone in my hand, blaring out the latest news from Iran
Khamenei is dead
That was yesterday’s news
What people were asking for has come to pass
Iran is leaderless and thankfully it will difficult to fill Khamenei’s shoes
He was killed in his own home in broad daylight
As if they knew exactly where he was that fateful morn
There is dancing in the streets
Cars honking till past midnight
Both in Iran and outside Iran
The person responsible for so many deaths is gone
Can it be?
And the bombing continues
Taking out military and intelligence sites
Many high level politicians and commanders have been killed
And Iran has retaliated against the Gulf states
If there is to be a regime change in Iran
We have a long way to go
Dismantling a regime that rules by force and kills its own people is not an easy feat
But I imagine an Iran that doesn’t jail its dissenters and religious minority members
I dream of an Iran that I will be able to visit one day
I dream of a country where the government works for its people
And where corruption is not the norm
I dream of an Iran were capable people run the companies and the ministries
I dream of an Iran that is not at war with the West
I dream of an Iran that is prosperous
And takes its place among free nations
I dream of the end to indoctrination
May our dreams come true
Feb 28, 2026
Guess what colors died first in my markers
The markers I have been drawing with for a long time
I was surprised but not surprised
Orange and yellow were the ones
I think I’m attracted to these colors
It makes sense
Orange, for the rays of the sun
Red for the warmth of love and friendship
It so happens that I have two favorite mugs in which I drink my morning tea
And one is orange and one is red
These colors mean happiness to me
Laughter and joy
Smiles on faces
Warmth in one’s heart
And yes, I have many red tops
And orange in my summer dresses
Orange and red
Joy and love
February 18th, 2026
Check-in before you go to the airport
Says the machine
Then a bunch of questions show up
We need your reservation number
Not to be mixed up with your flight number
Although we will need that too, later
Then you need to scan your passport
Oh, something went wrong
Try again!
Success!
What is your return date by the way?
Enter it in this digital calendar
If it doesn’t work the first time
Try again
You know how digital forms are
We need the address where you will stay
And the Zip Code is just numbers, no State required
Now your Visa information
Visa?
Actually with a Canadian passport you don’t need a Visa
But the information is required anyway
How are you feeling?
A little frustrated?
Well, you can finally check in now
Pause
Code: PDSPQ something went wrong
See you next time
January 31st, 2026
A few ways to recharge your batteries:
After a busy period of having to leave the house early to be at appointments
Or various places
Sit at your desk
With your cup of tea
Sip your tea
Focus on its taste and fragrance
And wait till you feel bored
No rush to go anywhere
Nothing urgent to do
This is your go-slow day
After you feel bored
Do something fun
Write a poem
Draw a drawing
Or whatever your heart desires
This will feed your soul
Energize you
Gladden your heart
Slow time down
You deserve days like this or at least
Mornings like these
Mornings of calm
February 12, 2026
lida's musings 