Prisons are usually a place to house
People who are dangerous to society
In Iran, that is the case as well
But prisons also house people who are dangerous to the regime
Writers who criticize
Environmental activist who tell it as they see it
Members of religious minorities
Those who oppose the government
Those who take part in peaceful protests
Those who lead these protests
Prisons have become the gathering place of
Those who want change and are not afraid to talk
April 28, 2023
I try to be authentic
Show my real self
Not a version I’ve created to please others
I try to be honest about my strengths and weaknesses
Not hide what may seem unpleasant
We are all human
We all have faults
We go through tough times
All of us
So showing my authentic self
Will only reassure others that
What they experience is not unique to them
It’s OK to not feel good
It’s OK to ask for help
That’s how we draw closer to our friends
We all age
Our hair goes gray
We develop wrinkles
We gain weight
That’s normal
If you look at the 60 year old who looks thirsty
Something is wrong
They are running from the process of aging
And they may make others feel less than
A few wrinkles
Our love handles
Will not make us less attractive
Beauty comes from inside
From who we are and what we do
And how we treat others
I’ll admit one thing though
I’m not ready to stop colouring my hair
April 25th, 2023
Sunny days are fleeting
The clouds always gather and rain falls
It’s like the days of our lives
We need to enjoy the sunny days
Sit outside
Go for walks
Soak up the sunshine
Because most likely tomorrow it will rain
Challenges will come
Illness may visit
Stressful situations my arise
But like real rain
These days are the days that water the ground
Of our hearts and souls
They may not be our favorite days
But they are necessary for our growth
Without rain, we don’t have lush gardens and meandering rivers
Without rain, we don’t appreciate the sunny days as much
Today is a sunny day
And I’m sitting in the sun
April 14th, 2023
No wonder people are hesitant to even use the word cancer
It used to be a terrible disease
Often detected too late
Resulting in death often
We knew so little
Treatments were new and being developed
But things have changed
Early detection makes all the difference
Treatments are better and more effective
Years of trials and research has paid off
Cancer is no longer a death sentence
But being vigilant is important
Screening is important
A healthy life style is important
Prevention is the best treatment
We need not be afraid of cancer
But we do have to be proactive
April 13th, 2023
In the quiet of the early morning
It’s me, my iPad and my thoughts
It’s raining outside, Vancouver style
It’s good to be with family I don’t see often
It’s good to be taken care of as a guest
I do think about the surgery that’s ahead
But it should be OK
I’ll be brave
I know what to expect this time
A few days of discomfort and pain
But those will pass too
And with them, my time dealing with cancer
I think of my projects to come
So grateful I enjoy writing
So grateful I can share what I write
This is something I need never to retire from
This is the love of my life
April 11th, 2023
Six months of chemo is almost finished
It seemed so long to begin with
But life goes on
Some months were easier and some more challenging
But if the result is good, it’s been worth it
My hair fell out
That was traumatic
It’s growing now
That makes me happy
My nails got dark
But I’ve painted them and they look good
That funny taste in my mouth
Does not go away
And I look forward to it being gone
Nausea only the first three months
Fatigue mostly in those months too
Maybe I was lucky to have only these side effects
It can always be worse
Now I look forward
Two operations and radiation therapy
That should be six months too
But life goes on
And it will be over before I know it
April 3rd, 2023
lida's musings 