Gratitude

Sep12

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Not to take life for granted
Not to take health for granted
Not to discount the amazing opportunity that is aging
Not to wait to do what one wants to do
These are the gifts of a disease like cancer

Gratitude for the treatments that are available
Gratitude for the support of friends and family
Gratitude for the strength that comes from the spiritual world
Gratitude for managing another challenge in life
Gratitude for the lessons these challenges teach us
Gratitude for deep conversations I’ve had with friends as a result
Gratitude for the love I feel from so many people
Gratitude for learning to live life purposefully
Gratitude for the warm embrace of friendship
These are the things I’m grateful for

September 12, 2023

Instagram smile

Sep2

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Do we go around telling people of our challenge, our struggles, our health issues?

No, we all have our Instagram face on

We smile and it seems like everything is fine

But you have no idea what each person is dealing with

What difficult news they may have just heard

What their family concerns are

What financial issues they may have

So we assume

We assume that all is fine with everyone

And we are the ones with problems

But as soon as your share one of your challenges with some one

They share theirs with you

And then you realize this bubbly person has lupus

Or this friend is struggling with anxiety

Or this acquaintance can’t find a job he likes

It’s just good to be aware 

That life’s troubles visit everyone

Even the ones who seem to have no problems at all

And we are not alone 

And we need to be kind

September 1st, 2023

A maybe to-do list

Aug29

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A maybe to-do list!

What a wonderful concept

To do lists are very necessary

I make them too

But they can be stressful

Because what you need to do stares at you

Each time you pass it by

Some items on the to-do list are harder to cross off

They seem to be permanently there

After a while you don’t see them anymore

Maybe because they are not urgent

Or maybe because you don’t want to do them

Many years ago I learned to put taking care of myself

On the top of the to-do list

Just to make sure I’ll have time for it

I don’t actually write it on the paper

But it’s there in my mind

And I try to do something that is rewarding and enjoyable each day

Mostly writing 

But a maybe to-do list takes the pressure off

These are things you hope to do

But if you don’t 

The world will not fall apart

The tasks merely stay on the list till you get to them

August 29, 2023

You are victorious

Jul27

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I see your long black beautiful hair moving side to side

As you walk with your back to the camera

Sometimes your hair is blond, sometimes curly

Sometimes mid-night black

Strong like you

Luxurious

Unabashed 

Confident 

I see you standing up for your rights

Fear has left you 

Intimidation does not alarm you

Unlawful laws don’t deter you 

A few angry men cannot control you 

I see you walking tall

I salute you, the women of Iran

And the men who support you

Times have changed

And the dictates of a regime in turmoil

Cannot stop this evolution 

You are victorious 

July 19, 2023

Not religious

Jul25

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He told me he is not religious

But he believes any good thing you do for others comes back to you

Karma, I guess

I thought to myself

I think that’s exactly what being religious is about

Doing good deeds and helping other without wanting a reward

Otherwise, what good comes of being religious?

If religion does not make you a better person

If religion does not teach you to help others

If religion does not tell you about the importance of selflessness

What good is religion?

If you call yourself something but you do something else

You are an imposter

You are just pretending

It doesn’t do you or others any good

If you call yourself a peacock

But act like a chicken

Then, you are a chicken 

It’s not about what you call yourself

It’s about how you live your life

July 25th, 2023

Road map

Jul12

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My chest looks like a road map

What with all the scars and green marker lines for radiation

Criss-crossing each other

It’s a road map

A road map to where?

It can be to somewhere wonderful

Somewhere beautiful

Somewhere inspirational

I decide where the destination is

So, I look at the road map on my chest

And see a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert

With trees, and a pond

And birds bathing and drinking water

And green grass around the pond

That’s where I’m headed

July 12th, 2023

Today

Jul7

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Today will not return

Tomorrow will not return 

We sometimes anticipate something wonderful

That will happen in the future

And count the days till we get there 

Not realizing we are not appreciating the present

These days that will not come back

Each day is precious 

Each day should be acknowledged and enjoyed 

No one knows what will exactly happen in the future

That future that we are waiting for 

So let’s know the value of today

And make it a worthwhile day

July 7, 2023

On writing

Jun28

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Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
No one to see
Quiet surroundings
Only the sound of the birds
Me and my thoughts
Those are the conditions of writing for me
Once a phrase is there
I start and see where it goes

Time is needed
Can’t be rushing all the time
Need to sit for a while with my thoughts
Contemplate
Connect to that deep place in my soul
Where meaning roams
Where emotions dance
Where ideas emerge

In that solemn space
Words appear out of seemingly nowhere
And flow across the page

June 28th, 2023

Ten shining souls

Jun27

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It would have been better to be executed

Than continue to be in prison under those conditions

It was the early days of the revolution and 

Many Baha’is were imprisoned and a number of them were executed

There were no social media back then

No online campaigns

These dark deeds took place 

Without the knowledge of others

Only the family of the prisoners and their friends

Would find out their fate after it was too late

Illegal arrests and imprisonments

No lawyers

Sham court proceedings 

Torture 

Asking the prisoners to recant and be set free

Asking them for money to spare their lives

Unspeakable acts 

The prisoners’ only refuge 

Their Faith

Their support for each other 

Their determination to stand firm 

To hear the moaning of other prisoners in pain

To witness the result of the torture of their friends 

To be insulted and humiliated 

It was easier to be executed and set free of those terrible conditions 

But Olya was released 

And she did was she promised the others

She told the story of the ten brave women of Shiraz 

Now the whole world knows what went on

During those terrible days and

The sacrifices that were made by these pure souls 

They were released from this mortal world

And their spirits soared towards their Beloved

Their suffering ended 

And they proved their love and devotion

Those were dark days 

But the light these souls shine 

Will illumine our world forever 

June 15, 2023

Inspired by a talk by Olya Roohizadegan  

about ten Baha’i women killed in Shiraz in 1983

Summer time

Jun24

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Summer time

When the days are long

It’s light when we wake up

It’s light long after dinner is done

When we can sit in the garden and read

Or enjoy a cup of tea

When the birds are happy

And let us know with their songs

When the grass is green

And flower pots are out again in the back yard

Summer time

When I can wear dresses every day

When it doesn’t take ten minutes to prepare

To get out of the house

When morning walks are pleasant

And neighbours can stand outside and chat for a while

Summer time

The time to travel

To broaden one’s horizon

To meet friends who come from abroad

Summer time

Crabapples on the tree

Mint in the garden

And raspberry time

Summer time is relaxation time

June 24th, 2023