Journal, journal in my lap
Tell me what this day will be like
Tell me what steps we’ll take toward peace and unity
A new chapter is ending and a new one beginning
There is more love and kindness in the air
A return to decency and trustworthiness
There is a sense of duty and a desire to serve
There is honesty and how vital that is
We all can breathe a sigh of relief
The breath we held for years can be exhaled
Today is a better day
My heart is gladdened
Let’s turn the page
January 20th, 2021
Here are my wishes for the new year
I wish for peace in the hearts
I wish for love among men
I wish for justice, so rare these days
I wish for laughter to bring you joy
I wish for understanding that we are one
I wish by Saadi’s wish we would abide
I wish for being kind to nature
I wish for brotherhood among men
I wish we’ll think of others more than ourselves
I wish we take the necessary steps
To build communities that thrive
I wish we each do our share to change the world
And above all, I wish you contentment!
December 31st, 2020
Success is in achieving one’s goals
It’s not living our lives based on what is expected of us
Or what society dictates
The goals we set are meaningful to us
They are usually based on what our talents are
What’s important to us
What we’re passionate about
We don’t have similar goals
We are all different people with different aspirations
I set some goals for myself early in life
Some other goals evolved along the way
I’ve been working towards achieving them
My goals may be unconventional
Unusual and not the norm
But they are my goals
They bring me pleasure
And give my life meaning
I’m learning to be content with my chosen path
December 16th, 2020
An uncertain year lies ahead
When will we have the vaccines?
Who will get them first?
When will there be enough immunity?
When can we start visiting our friends?
When can musicians sing in front of crowds?
When will the news not be about COVID?
When will the children visit their grandparents?
When can we get together with our friends?
How long will we need to wear our masks?
How long do we need to stay two feet apart?
How long before some people can go back to work?
How long before a sense of normal?
No one has the exact answers to these questions
We have to get comfortable with the uncertainty
We have to do our best to keep our communities safe
Short term pleasure will cause long term pain
We have to act based on the guidelines in place
By cheating, we are cheating no one but ourselves
We have to look beyond what pleases us
We have to realize others’ health depends on us
We live in a ‘me’ society
It’s time to change it to a ‘we’ society
November 27th, 2020
The cold and damp winds of fall are blowing
I feel the cold in my bones
The dark clouds are shedding tears of sorrow
The exuberance of summer is gone
The world seems unfair sometimes
Goodness is not returned with good
Enmity seems to have the upper hand
As a pandemic ravages the world
I still believe in goodness
I think the good will be victorious
Sometimes it doesn’t look like that
But there is more to our lives than what we see
Goodness resides in the heart
It will be with us forever
Goodness perfumes the world
And cheers other people’s hearts
Injustice is like a cold dark night
But this dark night will eventually give way to dawn
Injustice can’t take goodness away
Injustice is due to the absence of love
November 23rd, 2020
Dedicated to the Baha’is of Iran
Change happens slowly
Change takes time
Change usually happens after suffering
We don’t learn our lessons the easy way
You’d think that we would naturally learn
To behave in a correct way
In a compassionate way
In a just way
But that’s not the path we have chosen as a society
We’re heading full speed to the edge of the cliff
And no matter what warnings we get
We are too drunk with immediate pleasure
With power and with wealth, to heed them
They say you have to hit rock bottom
Before you are ready for change
I wonder where the rock bottom is for the human race
There are many wonderful human beings
Caring people, generous people
But overall there is more darkness than light
More greed than beneficence
More hate than love
More disunity than unity
But in the end, all we can do is play our part
Bring light into the darkness of the world
Bring joy to our friends and neighbours
There is no magic wand
It’s up to each of us to be the architects of change
Change will happen slowly
But what we do matters
We can make a difference
November 13th, 2020
A year has passed
And my days are still sunny
How long will this sunshine of spirit last?
I’ve become accustomed to ups and downs
How will I react to constancy?
My mood has been a challenge most of my life
The possibility of a downturn each year, well and alive
But there is nothing to do but take it one day at a time
Be grateful for my blessings
Not take my health for granted
And do what I can to bring joy to the world
November 11th, 2020
This is a new era
An era in which women can be elected
To the highest office
An era in which being a woman
Will not prevent you from contributing to society
An era in which little girls
Can have role models in decisions making positions
A step toward equality
An era in which the women of colour can rise to power
Can rise to serve
Can be included at the table of decision making
An era in which the children of immigrants can achieve
Their goals and dream
Many women have chanted and struggled for equality
The right to vote
The right to be elected to office
The right to head big and small corporations
And along with their expertise in various fields
Women can bring to the table kindness and caring
They can make decisions not just based on the economy
But instead based on the well-being of those they serve
Their psychological well-bing and their physical well-being
This is a new era
Long time in the making
May it lead to positive changes
A cooperative attitude
And decisions based on justice, compassion and equality
November 8th, 2020
Days of suspense
Days of uncertainty
Will we return to decency?
Will we promote equality?
Will we honour science?
Will we protect the environment?
This is not the responsibility of one person
We are all responsible
The building needs a strong foundation
You and I are that foundation
Life will go on either way
Our responsibilities will remain the same
Friendship with all our watchword
Cooperation is what we need
Each of us can teach by example
Each of us can serve our community
These dark days of isolation will be over soon
We will finally look outward and worry about those in need
Those days will eventually come
What we need to do is play our part
Close friendships
Are deep connections
We all yearn for connection, for love
Loneliness is known to be lethal
Through connections we grow
Friendships brings us boundless joy
In a world of trials galore
Our friends, our life savers and more
A good friend listens to what we say
A good friend shares their wisdom with us
A good friend is there in joy and sorrow
A good friend has no down side
Making good friends is an art
We have friendships of many kinds
But who do we reach out to in difficult times?
Who knows what’s really in our hearts?
For whom do we take the mask of “I’m fine” off?
With whom can we for hours talk?
This thing called friendship which costs nothing
except for time an love
Is the greatest asset in our lives
October 28th, 2020
lida's musings 