Some people don’t like to share their cancer story
I understand that
It’s a personal matter
And often not easy to talk about
But for me, it has been the cause of
Connecting with old friends
And receiving a lot of support and love
It’s hard to be vulnerable
Less than perfect
But revealing our vulnerability has many rewards
We get everyone’s love and support
And their prayers for healing
We can connect to others on a deeper level
It’s a win win in my opinion
But it took some years for me to be this open
With my challenges in life
I had to learn to trust
To know that others will only give me their unconditional love
I had to understand the value of community
Of reaching out
And I’m so grateful for all of your love
January 27th, 2023
Tag Archive | Life
Blessings
Every situation in life can bring sunshine into our lives
Even the most challenging ones
The outpourings of love I receive continuously is a gift
I keep receiving because of my cancer experience
Talking to friends I haven’t talked to for years
Feeling blessed for having so many good friends
Being comforted and strengthened by their kind words
Receiving their prayers and well wishes
I’m not saying it’s all fun and games
Of course there are difficult times
Of course it was a shock
Chemo is no walk in the park
Surgery involves pain and a slow recovery
But when all is said and done
Any difficult situation brings with it gifts as well
And the best gift I have received so far
Is the onrushing deluge of the love of my friends
January 26th, 2023
On my mother’s back
I am the baby on my mother’s back
I still sport a baby-do
My mother is a proud African woman
She feels secure and self-assured
She carries me on her back and a bowl on her head
She can do many things at once
She holds her head up
As if saying, I’ve got this baby
Stay close to me and I will take care of you
The world can be a scary place sometimes
But It it full of loving people too
We rely on the goodness of others
We rely on the spirit of our ancestors
And we take one strong step after another
On this journey called life
It is OK to be scared sometimes
It is OK to feel pain and sorrow
Those things are part of life too
But for now, I’m here for you
To help you and support you and love you
At the beginning of your journey when you need my strength
November 10th, 2022
Love is what life is about
Love is what life is about
The encouraging words of a friend
A thoughtful gift sent in times of illness
A phone call to see how you are
And even though these things happen sometimes
During challenging times
The love one feels
Makes one feel alive
And cheers one’s soul
Love is what life is about
October 29th, 2022
Woman
Woman, life, freedom
Zan, zendegi, azadi
The cry of not only women
But also men who support them
Because lifting up women
Will lift up society, which includes men
Women are centre stage
Women lead
And when women lead
Things are bound to change
Their passion, their conviction
The wrongs they have suffered
Have fanned the flames
Flames that are spreading like wild fire
And burning the structures that have
Tried to keep them in their place
October 1st, 2022
Crossroads of change
At the cross roads of change
Scary times
Exciting times
Anxiety provoking times
Constructive times
Change is never easy
It upsets the exciting order
It makes us uncomfortable
But change is necessary for growth
And growth is often painful
With open eyes
And an open heart
On can proceed on the path of life
And from time to time
Move to a different highway
Toward one’s destination
January 28th, 2022
Ambiguity
Is there a right answer?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no
There are many roads that lead to Rome
Should I be worried about taking the wrong path?
I used to
But now I know any road I take
I’ll manage to make it work
Or else I’ll chose another path
Are there precise answers?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no
What works for you won’t work for me
What’s perfect for you won’t suit me
Are there answers to all questions?
I don’t think so
Somethings will remain a mystery
I’ve come to terms with not knowing
I can live my life despite it
We need to manage our expectations
We need to come to terms with ambiguity
Some questions have many answers
Some questions have no answers
But questions will always be with us
And the need to know and understand
January 22nd, 2021
Success
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
Soul work
When we say music nourishes my soul
What do you think that soul is?
When we say may his soul Rest In Peace
Where do you think his soul is?
Soul in intangible
Can’t be measured or seen
Soul is mysterious
Can’t be comprehended easily
But soul is essential
Soul is vital
Our soul is what creates
What solves problems
Our soul is what dreams
What creates magic
Our soul is responsible for all the good we do
Joy is a quality of our soul
I think we should pay more attention to our souls
Contemplate what nourishes them and helps them grow
Because I hear our soul is eternal
And as such, our efforts will be worthwhile
August 30th, 2020
Our group
Why do I spend so much of my time
With my friends around the world
On our WhatsApp group or on Zoom?
Why do I try to read every post?
Why have I done that for the past five years without fail?
OK, during two trips I was delinquent
There is a bond that connects us that goes far back in time
New bonds have been created in recent years
The space in which we meet is a positive one
With words of wisdom
With poetry and song
With artistic photographs
With chit chat of good friends
With laughter and joy
Why would I not want to go back?
In this world full of challenges
We need these kind of spaces
Safe spaces
Kind spaces
Happy spaces
Where we can express ourselves
Widen our horizons
Learn new things
Or simply be with our friends
So much love and effort
Has been put in this space over the years
It’s like a building that has been built
A fortress
A fortress to keep us safe during difficult times
This fortress is made of love
August 9th, 2020
ps: This group of friends is made of over one hundred classmates who went to high school together is the late 1970’s in Iran. Now, we live all over the world, spending time together in the virtual world, as well as coming together in person.