Tag Archive | love

A window to my past

Jun7

A window has been opened to my past,
Unexpectedly…
But don’t many things in life happen unexpectedly?

I’m now in touch with friends from high-school
Some still in Iran
Others living all over the world

We are all 35 years older now
But we share a special bond
Because of the year we spent together
In grade nine

Students from across Iran
Gathered in the Dabirestane Daneshgah
In the city of poetry and love, Shiraz

They’re now once again scattered across Iran
And across the world
In Australia, Canada and Denmark…

Messages are sent back and forth
Pictures and poetry is shared
Friendships forged years ago
Are still alive and well!

But there is one thing that casts a shadow over this joy
And that’s the lack of freedom of Afif,
One of our dear friends….
Nevertheless this sadness is mixed with thankfulness
Because at least we have contact with him

The love and friendship I feel from everyone warms my heart
The love we all have for dear Afif is evident and clear
This connection after so many years… is unreal!

Authenticity

Dec16

“Vulnerability is the birth place of love, creativity
joy, and belonging”

One has to risk rejection to find love
One has to be open to trying something new and untested to be creative
One has to have known sorrow to know joy
One has to share one’s weaknesses to be welcomed into an authentic relationship

It’s easy to show our happy, together, confident, optimistic side
It takes courage to show our pain, sorrow, insecurities, and doubts

It’s easy to play it safe, afraid of making a mistake
It takes courage to take a leap of faith

It’s easy to decide when the outcome is clear
It’s more difficult to accept the uncertainties of life

I used to want a letter from God
telling me which way to go and what option to choose
I know now that growth comes from making the best decision with the information I have
Knowing that it may not lead me to the desired destination right away
But  that eventually I’ll find my way

Life is not a straight line
It’s a jagged line
Or perhaps it’s a meandering river
Going to the right or left sometimes
But all the way adjusting its course to reach the ocean

And the way to accept this perceived imperfection in our path
Is to realize that in any case, we are worthy of love!

Lida Berghuis
December 16th, 2014

*Brene Brown

Separation cooks…

Nov13

“Separation cooks”
And this is the cooking that transforms raw ingredients
Into a delicious stew
Fire and heat bind the pieces together
To create a beautiful whole

Heat is not comfortable
It is not desirable
But it’s necessary to achieve the goal

One has to burn in the fire of trials to attain wisdom

And separation is a trial
It’s not comfortable
It’s not desirable
The fire of separation burns the heart
And consumes the soul
But what is the result?
Wisdom, forbearance, steadfastness, patience
And a more mature love!

Lida Berghuis
November 13th, 2014

*Rumi

One drop of kindness

Nov10

“One drop of kindness makes the ocean sweet”

Kindness is love
Kindness is being other-oriented
Kindness is gentleness
Kindness is the warmth of someone’s heart

Kindness requires effort
Requires that we pay attention to someone else
Kindness is the absence of ego, being self-centred

Kindness is encouraging words that bring others joy

Kindness says I see you
I care for you
Kindness says I’ll make time for you!

Kindness gives comfort
Kindness listens with care
Kindness is silent when someone makes a mistake
Kindness does not judge, does not compare

Kindness brings joy
Kindness makes one smile
Kindness is a balm for an injured heart!

Lida Berghuis
November 10th, 2014

*-Rumi

The art of life…

Oct13

The art of life…
The hardest art to master
The lessons start when we are young
And never end like any other art!

This art’s techniques are endless
Kindness, compassion, love, honesty
Generosity, curiosity, persistence and so on
These techniques we can learn early on
But to perfect them, one needs time

There are many teachers we come across
Each teaches us something new and exciting
But mastery comes only with practice
And that part is up to us!

There may be times we wish to start a piece
We are creating over again
Times when we look at an older piece
And wonder, ‘where was my head’
Some pieces take a very long time
Some pieces feel inspired and need no effort at all!

But if we persevere
If we work hard
We can create such beauty with this art!
And old pieces may not look perfect
But they were part of the process
And we never start perfect!

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by a talk by Herbie Hancock
On creativity and art

Connection!

Oct12

We are super-connected
Yet, so disconnected at times
We have the technology
But to transform the world we live in
We need to add heart!
Because when hearts connect
There’’s nothing that can’’t be done!

We have the World Wide Web and the Cloud
We are connected to each other 24 hours a day
But the connection that we need
To change the world we live in
Is super low-tech!

This connection can be made with a smile
A shared moment of joy
It can be made with an eye contact
That acknowledges the other person

This connection is made by feeling the pain of someone who is in distress
Someone who needs a helping hand
And listening ear

For this connection, all one needs is love
A sense of belonging to the whole and
Being responsible for the welfare of all

So, as we get better connected technologically each day
Let’s not forget this most important connection

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by:
Reimaging the world From scarcity to prosperity
Eliane Ubalijoro | TEDxConcordia

Judgemental!

Oct5

This is good, this is bad!
So goes the thinking in my head sometimes
I’m too late, It took too long
I was so much more productive yesterday
That must mean yesterday was good
And today is not!

I’ve noticed I judge too much!
Not only others
I judge myself too much!
I’m tired, and that must be bad!
I have to much to do, that can’t be good!
I’m bored, and that surely is bad!
Actually that hasn’t happened in a while!

My point is
I judge the situation too much
It is what is
It’s neither good, nor bad!
It’s just the state of affairs as they are
And this state is bound to change
That’s how things are in this life!

So, in the meantime
Why be so judgemental?
It is what it is on this day
And it will surely change in the days to come!

Less judgement means less stress
Fewer negative thoughts
Less worry
And much more love
For who I am now and
For what is right now!

Lida Berghuis
October 4th, 2014

The ocean of life…

Sep12

I see the ocean of life
Sometimes calm
Sometimes tumultuous
Sometimes wild

But life goes on
Despite the ups and downs
Despite the storms that come
Despite the times that we think we will not survive

We are resilient
We will survive!
The ocean will return to calm
And we’ll be so glad we persevered
Didn’t give up

The ocean of life
Beautiful!
Dangerous!
Deceivingly serene at times!
Unnervingly turbulent at times!

But life goes on
Despite the changes and chances
Despite the sorrows and challenges
Despite the periods of grief that seem to not want to end

Hope and faith
Friendship and love
These are the things that help us navigate the ocean of life

Lida Berghuis
September 11th, 2014
Inspired by a composition by Leon Alatif

On the lookout for beauty

Aug28

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On the lookout for beauty
Something to cheer my soul
Because doesn’t beauty do that so well?

A beautiful melody
A beautiful arrangement of flowers
A beautiful piece of art
A beautiful poem
A beautiful song!

All these cheer my soul
Bring me to a place of calm
I can leave my worries behind along with
My to-do list, my obligations, my responsibilities
All these can wait for a few moments as I breathe in
Deeply the fragrance of beauty

The challenges of life are many
And in the end, one of the things that sustains me
Is beauty!
In a world full of trials
Where sadness and sorrow can’t be avoided
Where we are tested each day
Where disappointment is inevitable…
Art and beauty provide a balm
A reason to go on and
To celebrate life and love

Lida Berghuis
August 3rd, 2014

Blessed!

Aug5

My spontaneity
His planning ability

My fiery nature
His cool water ways

My excitement and laughter
His calm and composure

My ability to get lost
His ability to know the way

His wit and charm
My laughter and delight

His vision of the future
My admiration

His ability to grow and transform
My amazement and wonder

His genuine nature
My happiness

My strengths, his strength
Complement each other

My half, his half
Make a whole

My love, his love
Create magic!
The impossible becomes possible
The closed door opens

My suffering, his suffering
Intertwined
His patience
Like none other I have seen

Blessed to have found
His love
Blessed to serve with him!

Lida Berghuis
August 4th, 2014