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
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 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
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
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.
As quarantine rules loosen
We are still left with the remnants
No shaking hands or hugs
No big gatherings where you can sing and talk
Travelling is much different than before
Shopping with masks on seems odd
But we are the masked people for now
Whether we like it or not
And keeping two meters away is what I’ll try to do
But it’s so cold and unfriendly too
the challenging part is that there’s no end in sight
We will have to live like this for months
Something I thought was temporary
Has become a way of life
No use to pine after the life that was
The only choice we have now is to adapt
And accept that this is what it is for now
These are extraordinary times
Ones for the history books
All I hope is that when it’s done
We’ll have experienced some post-traumatic growth
June 22nd, 2020
Leaving when not yet done
Little time left for saying good bye
Sudden departure
Unexpected
Leaving a very special spot
But isn’t that how the world works
Our plans are often interrupted
Sometimes we are blindsided
And then we have to say good bye
To things, people or plans close to our hearts
A beautiful building we had built in our mind
Crumbles and falls
And what is one to do but endure the pain
Of separation from a loved one
Or a plan not fulfilled
What is one to do but accept the situation as it is
What is one to do but to be thankful
For what remains
March 23rd, 2020
My friend told me very matter of factly
That she had had a double mastectomy
I had to take a minute to digest what she said
And yet she is the one who had gone through such an invasive surgery
She didn’t seem to feel sorry for herself
She had a serene look on her face
She said some things had actually improved in her home life as a result
I’m sure what she had gone through could not have been easy
Where did her strength come from?
The mystery of sacrifice
We give up something to gain something else
Is it fair?
Perhaps it’s not about fairness
It’s about our response to the challenges of life
If through suffering, we didn’t gain strength
That would be unfair
Our scars are the symbols of our resilience
Our fortitude
Our victory
February 27th, 2020
Life is a labyrinth
We meet people as we navigate it
We walk together for sometime
And for different reasons
We choose different paths
We keep walking down this labyrinth
With its wonders, surprises, challenges and all
And one day we suddenly come across an old friend
That we had walked with long ago
Such reunions are most wonderful
We have each grown in our own ways in the meantime
But when we meet again
We walk together as if we had never parted way
February 11th, 2020
When bounties descend on me
My heart sings a joyous melody
When I’m surrounded by beauty
My spirit soars
When I hear the melody of praise
My heart trembles
When emotions overwhelm me
The intensity burns
When life comes full circle
I feel grateful
When love surrounds me
What more can I ask?
February 2nd 2020
lida's musings 