Mary Blessings

May It Be a Happy Birthday

2007-09-21T12:42:00.000+03:30

Just another year has passed, and seems like I've grown another year. I've seen another 365 days, and made many other memories. The feeling of entering the third decade of my life is strange and at the same time, worthy of deliberation. Every year when my birthday comes I wonder how I've lived and what of done in this other year of my life! This time, I think, is the first time that I am to some extent satisfied with myself. Don't know what I should say, the only feeling is that I am not the same Maryam anymore. Many things have changed in me during the last year. And I just don't know why but I feel like I'm near to the end of the story…. Wish me a happy ending.
I got nothing more to say just some sentences to thank God. First of all I thank God for the chance of loving Him and having Him. Then I thank God for the chance of living another year, I thank Him for the chance of having good friends. I thank God for the chance of having such a good mother; I thank Him for the chance of my pilgrimage. And finally I thank Him for everything that I might omit in writing!!!

Did You Know?

2007-08-20T16:45:00.000+03:30

A statue in a park with a soldier on a horse with its 2 feet in the air means the soldier died in combat. If the horse has only 1 foot in the air, the soldier died of injuries from combat. If the horse has all 4 feet on the ground, the soldier died of natural causes.

When the English settlers landed in Australia, they noticed a strange animal that jumped extremely high and far. They asked the aboriginal people using body language and signs trying to ask them about this animal. They responded with ’’Kan Ghu Ru’’ the English then adopted the word kangaroo. What the aboriginal people were really trying to say was ‘’we don’t understand you’’, ‘’ Kan Ghu Ru’’.

Each King on playing cards represent a King in real history:

Diamonds: Julius Cesar

Spades: King David

Clubs: Alexander the Great

Hearts: Charlemagne

During historic civil wars, when troops returned without any casualties, writing was put up so all can see, which read "0 Killed". From here we get the expression "O.K." which means all is good.

The muscles in your heart have the strength to shoot your blood 10 meters in the air?

Multiplying 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

The body’s strongest muscle is our tongue.

Statistically, people are more afraid of spiders than they are of dying.

All polar bears are left handed.

Crocodiles cannot stick out their tongue.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

A cockroach can live 9 days without it’s head. It only dies because it cannot eat.

A duck’s quack has no echo, and nobody knows why.

It is impossible to sneeze with your eye’s open.

Starfish have no brains.

Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark.

The word "cemetery" comes from the Greek koimetirion which means dormitory.

It is impossible to suck your elbow.

Mosquitoes have teeth.

80% of the people who read this will try to suck their elbow.

An Architecture Called God

2007-08-20T16:39:00.000+03:30

Some impatient workers were making a wall. They put one brick on another inelegantly and unintentionally.
They hummed a poem that smelled of indisposition and it seemed as if the sky was cheerless, the earth was tired, and the sparrows were insensible and faint. Suddenly one of the workers saw the architect who was secretly looking at them. He informed other workers with some hints; when they all knew that the eyes of the architect were looking at them, they warmed up and rejoiced.
Their songs became warm and strong. It seemed as if the sparrows were happy, the sky was no longer cheerless, and the earth was no longer tired.
The bricks were put on each other fast and the wall was being made quickly. It was a beautiful struggle and an enthusiastic endeavor, because every body knew that an eye saw them and every body wanted to be the best in that eye. The architect looked at them and smiled.
When the sun set the wall had gone up more than any other day and the workers were less tired of ever. The architect came to them and kissed their hands and said: all this attempt and happiness was because you knew there is an eye seeing you.
But I wish we knew and believed that world also has an architect who looks at us without us being conscious, over all the moments and seconds. The life would be so cheerful and happy then, a lovely effort in front of the eyes of an architect called God!!

By: Erfan Nazarahari

Translated by: Maryam

Pilgrim's Progress in Summer

2007-08-18T13:37:00.000+03:30

Kaaba

Most of the summer has passed and the university, the classes, and all the apprehension are going to start again. I never liked summers and vacations and always wished them to pass as soon as possible. But this time I was so tired that I really needed such a time to rest. And now for the first time in my life I am sad that the university is beginning soon…
This summer was the best summer I've ever had; I had the best time ever. At the beginning, some days after finishing my exams, I and one of my close friends, Leili, had the best trip of our whole life together. In the middle of the last semester there was a draw for students who wanted to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, and eventually Leili and I were selected. The feeling was inexpressible. We couldn't believe that!! Anyways, we prepared ourselves little by little and the great time came.

From left to right: Leili and me

We went to the airport with our family members, in the early morning, and said goodbye. That was such a dramatic moment, seeing all parents waving hands and many of them trying to hide their tears. Then the feeling in our hearts, when leaving everything behind and going to a place where we knew we wouldn't feel lonely or alienated. We knew we were going to the most familiar and most pleasant place. We spent one week in Medina and one week in Mecca. All through the journey I couldn't believe where I was; I couldn't believe that I had finally gone where I always wished. I couldn't believe I was in a place that whenever I saw it on TV tears came rolling from my eyes.

From left to right: Leili and Fatemeh (our other roommate)

The first look at the green dome of prophet's mosque, the first look at the Kaaba (the house of God), and also the last look at both of them shake you. Those moments become eternal and are engraved in your heart for all time. Time flied as all the times that you are having a good time and you are enjoying life. So the pilgrimage was over and we had to leave the city of love, peace, and everything good. We still couldn't and can't believe that we are pilgrims!!

The green dome of prephet's mosque

After coming back to our own country I still give my right arm to go back to that time, to all those good and memorable days, to all those lovely moments. I am still itching to say my prayers there, in front of the Kaaba, to put my head on its walls and cry. The interesting point was that during those two weeks I did not miss any one, and did not think of coming back to my home. Every thing was completely fine there. It was as if all those whom I loved, where by my side. I did not feel the lack of anything and anybody... No matter how much I talk about it, it will never suffice. So I will end talking about it here.

After coming back to Iran, I had a very full and busy schedule, since everybody came to see me and then I had a trip to the north and I visited some friends and relatives there. Then again I and my friends gathered here in our home and next week we are going to gather in Leili's house. It was fun to see friends after so long. Now we just have one more month to rest and relax, and then we must get down to studying again.

Fake Friends and Real Friends

2007-06-23T20:47:00.001+03:30

Yesterday I read something about friends somewhere, and I thought I'd share it with you.

FAKE FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
REAL FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

FAKE FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr/Mrs
REAL FRIENDS: Call your parents DAD/MOM

FAKE FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.
REAL FRIENDS: Would sit next to you saying "Damn ... we messed up ... but that s*** was fun!"

FAKE FRIENDS: Never seen you cry.
REAL FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FAKE FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days, and then give it back.
REAL FRIENDS: Keep your things so long they forget it's yours.

FAKE FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
REAL FRIENDS: Could write a book about you with direct quotes from you.

FAKE FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that is what the crowd is doing.
REAL FRIENDS: Will make the whole crowd that left you pay.

FAKE FRIENDS: Would knock on your front door.
REAL FRIENDS: Walk right in and say "I'M HOME!"

FAKE FRIENDS: Are for awhile.
REAL FRIENDS: Are for life.

FAKE FRIENDS: Will take your food away when they think you've had enough.
REAL FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say "Yeah, eat the rest of that, you know we don't waste any s***."

I Can Never… You Can Never…

2007-05-20T01:09:00.000+03:30

Looking into your eyes,
Searching for words,
I know nothing can reveal how I feel!

Standing in front of you,
Trying to talk,
I know nothing can reveal how I feel!

Listening to your voice,
Struggling to concentrate,
I know you can never feel the way I do.

Telling you that I love you,
Seeing you smile,
I know you can never feel the way I do.

Hearing you speak about the ones you love,
Wishing to be one of them,
I know I can never tell you what I want.

Saying goodbye,
Seeing you go home,
I know I can never tell you what I want.

By: Maryam

Hello all...

2007-05-13T13:49:00.000+03:30

Hello all,
The last two weeks were such hectic times and it seemed like everything wanted to be a mess. I didn't have time to post anything new to my blog, not even to have a look on it. One of my cousins who is very close to me has had an operation on her knee and I had to stay with her at the hospital and help her. Then I had to stay awake at night and study some of my lessons, until morning. I thank God that it is over and she is at home after all. Ofcourse she isn't completely fine yet!! On the other hand my examinations are coming soon and there is a huge load of studies to do. I feel too tired to start studying, but there is nothing I can do to change the situation. I pray to God to hold me tight and to keep me from faling...

Hijab, the Purity

2007-05-06T03:35:00.001+03:30

I think Hijab (the veil) is a sign of God's love to His creatures. It is as when you have a precious and valuable thing and you try to protect it from any hurt or disturb. The veil which is indispensable for the Muslims is such a protection to keep the high value of a woman and avoid her from becoming a means of pleasure for men. Hijab in Islam doesn't only belong to women and to the appearance. It is also about the inner self, the spirit, and keeping it away from any bad thing and any sins. And at the same time it is associated with men.
The kind of veil for men and women is different. As God knows human beings and their weak points better than anyone; He helps them control themselves in those aspects and not to let those weak sides take their control. I think the point that God doesn't want us to lose our values is that He cares for us and He loves us, so whatever He does to keep this worth is out of His unconditional love and kindness. The veil for men must be in their eyes, as they must keep their eyes form the scenes and things that instigate them to evil thoughts and feelings. And the veil for women must be in their clothing, as they must wear kinds of cloths that cover most parts of their body.
Many people think that the veil is a kind of captivity that stops women from improvement. But I think just the superficial people might think this way. Because as can be seen in our country, there are many women who have a complete Hijab and they have achieved many successes. The other reason why I think Hijab isn't a captivity, is that captivity has always sort of an obligation in it, but it's a fact mentioned in the holy Koran that nothing is obligatory in our religion.
It is a fact in Islam that people have authority and power to decide and choose. But I think this power is like the power a patient has to choose her/his medicines. S/he might be able to choose a good one but there are also some possibilities for her/him to make mistakes. But if s/he does what the doctor tells her/him, it will be the best way and the best cure. God is the doctor in our life who shows us the best ways and the best cures, all we have to do is believe in Him and know that He wants nothing but our goodness and well-being.
I think lack of enough awareness about something, in a society like ours, and then the force and obligation of the government to make people obey it, makes everything worse and has a totally different influence on them. So, I believe what the governors and the authorities must do is to help people know about Hijab more, and somehow make them more interested. They must describe various aims of the veil and its advantages. The other thing I think they can do is to create and set up miscellaneous types of cloths and garments that attract people, especially the youngsters.
I think Hijab isn't the most important part of Islam whose lack might mean that you are not a real Muslim. You can't find it anywhere in the holy Koran that the ones who don't have a good Hijab are not Muslims, whereas it is said that a liar is God's enemy. So there might be people with a complete Hijab, who tell lies. And some others with a less complete Hijab, who never tell lies.
Wanting to have a perfect and complete Hijab seems difficult to me and I think it will take me a lot of time to decide to do that. To have the complete veil, needs a lot of patience and strength that I can't find in myself yet. But I'm sure I won't ignore the prescription of my doctor, my God.

Because You Loved Me!

2007-04-30T09:38:00.000+03:30

For all those times you stood by me

For all the truth that you made me see

For all the joy you brought to my life

For all the wrong that you made right

For every dream you made come true

For all the love I found in you

I'll be forever thankful baby

You're the one who held me up

Never let me fall

You're the one who saw me through, through it all

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith 'cause you believed

I'm everything I am Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly

You touched my hand I could touch the sky

I lost my faith, you gave it back to me

You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall

I had your love, I had it all

I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe I don't know that much

But I know this much is true

I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were always there for me

The tender wind that carried me

A light in the dark shining your love into my life

You've been my inspiration

Through the lies you were the truth

My world is a better place because of you

To the dearest friend of mine!!

(By the way, I don't know the poet!!)

Is Copyright Good or Bad?!

2007-04-29T02:20:00.000+03:30

It is a well known fact that copyright is necessary and very important, nowadays, to preserve a work of art or whatever you've spent a lot of time for. There are many reasons why there must be copyright for different things such as films and literary works.
Provided that there is a copyright for a film, the rights of the film maker will be protected. When a professional work is done, all its outputs are assessed and estimated. So if we don't respect its rights, the ones who have invested their capitals will sustain a loss.
Putting ourselves in the shoes of a writer or a film maker, we can see how terrible and dreadful it can be. Just assuming that it might happen to us too, we will never agree to do such things to others. Copyright is a crucial factor in avoiding from censorship or adding a finishing touch to the works. As a result, what people can find in the shops are exactly the same as the original one.
When we copy a literary work or a film, without respecting the rules of copyright, the quality of the product will fall. And this reduction in quality causes the owner to feel bitterly disappointed and sad. Respecting others' rights is a very important issue these days that has to an extent led to a standstill in the world of art and film. In addition, we can see that the entire world is taking the part of copyright. So we must not go in an opposite direction.
For reasons already stated, I think copyright is a truly useful and essential law which helps everybody to protect their rights in a literary work or a work of art. This can be helpful to have the original product rather than one which has changed and has a bad quality.

An Adventure or a Risk?!

2007-04-14T00:58:00.000+03:30

Three years ago when I was 17 years old, we had gone on a picnic with all the relatives. I went somewhere I had never been before and it was such a frightening experience.
It was noon when the elders were taking a rest and the children were playing. I felt bored and decided to go for a walk and wander around the villa. As I was preparing to leave, two of my cousins who were bored too said that they would accompany me. One of them was a girl of the same age as me, Nassim, and the other one was a
7-year-old boy called Amir.
We left the house without letting our parents know. It was boiling hot, the midday sun was shining brightly, and an old chamber could be seen at the other end of the plain, behind the tall green bushes. There was nobody there and you could hear a pin drop. Being so unruly and unmanageable, I told them that we must go to that chamber. They accepted as they saw that I have stars in my eyes. So we headed for there and the further we got the quieter it became. We were all feeling a kind of fear deep in our hearts but neither of us wanted to be the first to admit it.
After some fifteen minutes we made it to the chamber and decided to go in it. Looking at each other, we were waiting to see who the brave volunteer was! That couldn't be anyone but me. So before long I breezed in the room and they came after me. We all took a look around as we were holding each others' hands. The air was full of the irritating smell of camphor. In no time at all, we understood that the chamber was a place where the dead were washed. We were all scared to death seeing the washing tools; so we all ran out of the other door of the chamber in a flash.
Just in front of that door there were lots of graves. We got to know where we had gone and seeing the gloomy, isolated, and doleful cemetery we all burst into tears. We ran away from that place, trying to get to the villa or at least to where there were some other people. We felt like being in the middle of nowhere, but we ran as fast as we could.
When we got near to the villa, we washed our faces. Nassim and I, who were older, told the poor little boy, who was in a state of shock, to keep everything secret. We went in the house and told our parents that we were playing nearby. Later that day, my mother called me and told me that we shouldn't have gone there; she knew everything. Being ashamed, I went toward Amir, and looked at him angrily. And I promised myself not to take anyone with me in my adventures!!

Music I Heard with You

2007-04-13T12:16:00.000+03:30

Music I heard with you was more than music,
And bread I broke with you was more than bread;
Now that I am without you, all is desolate;
All that was once so beautiful is dead.

Your hands once touched this table and this silver,
And I have seen your fingers hold this glass.
These things do not remember you, beloved,
And yet your touch upon them will not pass.

For it was in my heart you moved among them,
And blessed them with your hands and with your eyes;
And in my heart they will remember always,
They knew you once, oh beautiful and wise.

Conrad Aiken

Persian Wedding Customs

2007-04-12T23:06:00.000+03:30

Having a very old and rich history, Iran has many customs that are of interest. As a member of this history and culture I know many of the customs but unfortunately not as detailed as I should. So when I wanted to start writing about one of Iranians' customs I had to search the internet and ask my mother lots of questions. Finally I decided to write about the Persian wedding customs and traditions.
Persian marriage takes place in two stages that are usually held on the same day. The first part is called "Aghd" through which the bride and the groom get married, signing a contract. Then two of the bride's relatives and two of the groom's sign the contract as witnesses. The second part is "Jshn-e-Aroosi", which is the wedding celebration.
The ceremony is passed off in a decorated hall which is full of flowers and seats for the guests to sit. Usually the first stage, "Aghd", is in the house of the bride's parents but these days there is a separated room for this stage in the wedding hall. Before "Aghd", the couples' parents and close family members greet the guests and help them to get seated.
In "Aghd" there is always a spread on the floor which faces the east, where the sun rises. When the couple sits at the head of the spread they face the east which symbolizes the light. This spread which is called "Sofreye Aghd", is usually made of a luxurious fabric such as silk or cashmere. After the guests get seated, the bride and the groom enter the room and sit at the head of the spread.
There are various things on this spread that each of them stand for something. The different items include:
* Mirror and two candelabras on its two sides. The mirror is representative of a bright fate and the candelabras are representative of light in the couple's future life.
* A tray that contains seven multi-colored herbs and spices which is meant to guard the bride and the groom against the evil eye and to put the evil spirits to flight. The seven colorful herbs are:
1. Poppy Seeds (Khash Khaash)
2. Wild Rice (Berenj)
3. Angelica (Sabzi Khoshk)
4. Salt (Namak)
5. Fennel (Raaziyaane)
6. Black Tea (Chaay)
7. Frankincense (Kondor)
*A big platter of flatbread (Noon Sangak), feta cheese, and fresh vegetables which are shared with the guests as a symbol of happiness and prosperity.
*A basket filled with decorated eggs and another basket filled with decorated almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts as a sign of fertility.
*A basket of pomegranates and apples which stand for a future full of joy.
*A cup of rose water got out of a special Persian rose (Gol-e-Mohammadi) to spread a good smell in the air.
*A bowl made of crystallized sugar (Shaakhe Nabaat) to sweeten the couple's life.
*A brazier (Manghal) having burning coals and wild rue, "Espand" (a popular incense), in it to bring health and keep the evil eye away.
*A bowl of gold coins as a sign of wealth.
*A scarf or shawl made of a fine fabric like silk which is held above the heads of the bride and the groom by some happy married female relatives.
*Two sugar cones (Kalle Ghand) to be grinded together above the bride and the groom's head over the scarf which means sweetness and cheerfulness.
*A cup of honey that is meant to make their life sweet. After the bride and the groom are married each of them must dip their little finger in this cup and feed it to the other one.
*A needle and seven strands of colored thread which is used as a figurative sign to sew up the mother-in-law's lips from speaking unpleasant and annoying words to the bride. And it is sewed in one corner of the shawl.
*The holy Koran. The couple opens a page of it and start reading till they are married and the "Aghd" finishes.
*A prayer carpet (Sajjadeh) is usually in the center of the spread to remind the couple of the importance and magnitude of prayer and remembrance of God.
*Dishes full of different kinds of sweets such as sugar coated almond strips (Noghl), Baklava (a sweet flaky Persian pastry (Baaghlavaa)), Mulberry-almond paste made in the shape of mulberries (Tout), Rice-flour cookies (Noon-Berenji), Chickpea-flour cookies (Noon-Nokhodchi), Almond-flour cookies (Noon-Baadoomi), and Honey roasted almonds (Sohaan Asali).

After the "Aghd" is over the second part starts. At this stage further relatives come and they greet the couple. Then there are some music and dance and then they serve dinner. After dinner the couple slices the wedding cake and share their happiness and joy with others.

By: Maryam (some information taken from http://www.farsinet.com/ )

No Memories?!

2007-04-12T23:04:00.000+03:30

Hello folks.

I must write a memory as an assignment for this week. Just wanted to share the feeling of lack of memories and memorable times!! I always believed that there are many memories in my life but now that it has come to it, I can't think of anything special which is worth sharing. As I go through my life, there are many times and days that I enjoy remembering but still nothing that will be interesting for others. I think I need to give it a lot of thought…

Till then,
Maryam :-)

The Island and the Star

2007-04-11T23:20:00.000+03:30

Once there was an island; empty, friendly and warm. He was like a chest for people to keep their secrets. He was so dear to them and he thought his life to be whole. Until the night a star came… Walking to his heart she left the pains of love in him. His heart was turned upside down under her look and every little beat of his soul was filled with her love. As the star breathed the island got out of breath so all his friends told him that he was in love. So the star became the core of his life and they became so close to one another. He lost his heart to the star and his interest and affection for her grew more and more. Gradually, as the night ended the star left the island and his heart and disappeared. She left him in the light of the day and started her journey in the night of other islands. He kept waiting for the night to come again but she didn't come back the next night and no other night. He became so dejected, wistful, and hopeless. He lost all his friends and there were no more trees and flowers in him. He passed his life very depressingly and his alienated heart still loved the star. After some years the island became so sick and he was dying; so his only friend which was a bird decided to bring the star to him and give him the chance to see her once more. The bird made him promise to stay alive until he brings the star back. So he flied to far islands and finally found the star somewhere. He told her about the island and asked her to go to visit him that night. On the other side of the world the island felt so sick and most parts of his body were covered by water, he was drowning. The night had begun but the bird and the star could not be seen. He lost all his hope and surrendered himself to the sea. With his last breath he called the star and died. In less than no time the bird and the star appeared but there was no trace of him. So they cried with each other and the star regretted why she hadn't understood his love while he was there, alive.

By: Maryam (according to an old story)

I Wish...

2007-04-04T02:17:00.000+03:30

I wish I could be that little bird in your hands.
That little bird which could be with you,
When my biggest wish was to see you…

I wish I could be the clouds above your head.
Those clouds which can see you,
When my biggest wish is to know where you are…

I wish I could be the trees in your alley.
Those trees which know where you are,
When my biggest wish is to hear your voice…

I wish I could be your guardian angel.
That angel who hears your voice when you pray,
When my biggest wish is to know how you feel…

I wish I could be your kind heart.
That kind heart which knows how you feel,
When my biggest wish is to be a small part of your life…

By: Maryam

Do They Really Hate Me?

2007-04-03T03:45:00.000+03:30

Do they really hate me?
Is it true, what I feel?
I can not find out,
If it could be real.

They don't think of what I say.
They don't care for what I do.
I bravely say, neither of them.
No, not even you!

I live here with all of them,
I walk in the crowd.
I see them looking at me,
All of them so proud.

But I wish I could see their hearts,
To see what they need.
If only I knew what they want,
I'd provide them indeed.

There is something on their mind,
I wish I could know.
How could they do this to me?
How could they just let go?

I can see it in their eyes,
They don't really care.
Nothing changes in their life,
If I am not there.

I know that life goes on,
And the world keeps turning.
But I have a fire in my heart,
That doesn't stop burning.

I feel so far from them,
All of them are apart.
It seems like there's no
Light of love in their heart.

By: Maryam

Commencez Maintenant!

2007-03-28T22:28:00.000+03:30

Vous qui cherchez l'étoile
Vous qui voulez toutes les fleurs.
Vous qu'avez le cœur brisé
Pourquoi vous êtes tristes et désespérés?
C'est le printemps et la nature a devenu fraîche.
Vous devez nettoyer votre cœur et le remplir avec le bonheur et l'amour.
Nous devons se préparer à commencer une bonne vie avec le commencement de la nature.
Depuis que nous avons ouvert nos yeux, nous utilisions toutes les choses que la vie offrait.
Mais maintenant, c'est le temps pour nous d'être productif.
Nous devons produire l'amour et l'amitié.
Nous devons étendre la paix et la bonté.
La nature et les fleurs peuvent être les meilleurs motifs pour nous de se changer…
Ainsi, pourquoi vous attendez?
Commencez maintenant!

By: Maryam

Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow!

2007-03-28T22:17:00.000+03:30

Yesterday I met a stranger…

Today this stranger is my friend.
Had I not taken the time to say hello, or return a smile, or shake a hand, or listen; I would not have known this person.
Yesterday I hugged someone very dear to me.
Today they are gone… and tomorrow will not bring them back.
Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew tomorrow would be here?
But this is not to be, so take the time today to give a hug, a smile, and an "I love you"…
Just for today,
…smile at a stranger.
…listen to someone's heart.
…drop a coin where a child can find it.
…learn something new, and then teach it to someone.
…tell someone you are thinking of them.
…hug a loved one.
…don't hold a grudge.
…don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry".
…look at a child and tell them how great they are.
…don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way out.
…look beyond the face of a person into their heart.
…make a promise and keep it.
…call someone for no reason, just to say "hi".
…show kindness to an animal.
…stand up for what you believe in.
…smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind.
…use all your senses to their fullest.
…cherish all your todays!!!

Author Unknown

With thanks to my friend, Toktam, who shared this with me.

Farewell, the Year 1385!

2007-03-20T20:09:00.000+03:30

Another year has passed and a new year is coming. I think what makes a year or a period of time lovely is the memory of it. The good and bad memories, the happy and sad times that you've had, will always remain.
In contrast to most of people, I am always sad in the last hours of each year. I cry while everybody else laughs. Every body thinks of what they are going to do in the coming year but I think of what I've done in the past year. And whether I remember good memories or the bad ones, tears roll from my eyes and I feel like someone who is losing an important part of her/his life.
After the sun of each year sets, I think of the things I've learnt, I think of how I have grown spiritually, and I think of those people whom I've met and those whom I've lost. I remind myself of my wishes that have come true, of those times I've been blessed by not achieving something. I think of the times I've been with my loved ones and I pray to God to give me more opportunities to be with them. I blame myself for the mistakes I've made and for my sinfulness. I ask God to forgive me and to accept my apologies. I ask Him to give me the chance to make it up to Him.
At the transition to the New Year, people pray for themselves and those dear to them. But I usually forget to pray for myself and even if I don't forget, I fail to remember what I should say when praying. Now as the last hours of this year are passing and as the year is leaving our life, I am so heavy-hearted. I miss all my good and happy times, I miss the ones I've been with but now I am far from them, and I cry instead of laughing…

It's nearly the time to say goodbye to this year and all it has had for us. I want to thank God for another year of blessing, favor, and easy life. I want to thank Him for all those times of hardship and difficulty which made me and my soul stronger. I want to thank Him for He opened the doors for me to make good friends, to love others, and to see His light and beauty in everything and everybody. I want to thank Him for always being there. And I also want to thank one of my friends- still looking for a phrase to stand beside her name- whose name I won't mention. (Probably she will guess herself! ;-) )
I want to thank her for all her absolute and unrestricted love, help and attention. I want to thank her for all she has done for me, at times unconsciously. I am grateful for her friendliness and wisdom, for her guidance and tolerance. I'd like to tell her through this post and at these last hours of the year, that I do love her, that I am much obliged to her, and that I am absolutely devoted to her. May God bless her with everything good!

And finally, Happy New Year to everybody. Wish you all a year full of love, success, and health.

Wake up, it's spring!

2007-03-19T23:30:00.000+03:30

"Wake up! You have no time to sleep anymore," said God to the flowers. "It's spring, you should all grow and show your beauty to everybody."
So all the flowers woke up and got ready to come to life in blossoms. Little by little all trees were covered with cute blossoms in different colors. They started their new life and they believed in their own beauty, because God always praised them and told them how nice and pretty they were. After some days passed they felt sad and hopeless as nobody praised them on earth. People were so busy and they had lost themselves in their everyday life, so there was no time to look at the nature and admire it. The flowers flattered themselves with the attention of little children whom about God always talked. One day one of the flowers who was so disappointed said to the others, "Why should have God done this to us?! We had a good life with Him and His angels. Here nobody gives a hoot about us, nobody cares that the spring has come." The other flowers which were sad as well agreed with her and they all called God and wanted to talk to Him.

They said, "Dear God, we don't want to be here, in this world, anymore. Your human beings don't love us and they don't mind whether we are here or not. Why do you love them so much while many of them have forgotten you?! Why do you care about them while many of them can not see your beauty in us…?"
God replied to them with a calm smile and said, "My dear flowers, here is the difference between me and most of my creatures. I love all of my creatures without expecting them to love me back. I know that they need you and the beauty of the nature, although they might have forgotten it. I know their needs better than themselves and I will provide them with all the necessities so that they can have an easier life."

One of the flowers asked, "Why don't you deprive them of the beauties and their requirements? Then they will learn to appreciate you and your blessings."
God answered, "Darling, I don't need their appreciation and thanks. Their hearts leap when they pray and they talk to me but some of them fail to remember this joy and are looking for happiness in other things in their life. However, they will find out someday what the real joy and happiness is. Don't worry and do what you must do. Play your own role to its fullest. And don't forget that you are not alone on earth and my angels, the sweet children, are with you and they exactly know the loveliness deep inside you."
So the flowers felt tranquil again and tried to do their best to attract human beings, to reveal and indicate God's pure love and His extreme selflessness. From that day on, flowers exposed themselves much more attractively so human beings could not ignore them anymore. They could not be careless about the spring and any other seasons. They knew how God dresses the world in such beautiful blossoms. And they thanked Him for all His unconditional love.

By: Maryam

The Sky Is Yours!

2007-03-16T16:20:00.000+03:30

How pure you are,
And how rigid I am!
You are a bird
And I am a tree.
The sky is always yours,
The clouds are under your wings.
But I am always stuck…
You arrive on time but it's a long time that I've been late.
Good for you who fly…

By the way, why don't you take your old friend- the tree- with yourself?
I think there is room for a tree in your sky
Because nobody has closed the door of the sun's great garden to us.
Either come and bring a piece of sky for me,
Or take me and plant me in your blue sky.

I have seen in my dreams that
My hands turn to be your nest.
My little heart, drop by drop, turns to be your seed and water.
At night all the stars swing on my branches.
My thirsty roots drink water from the pond in God's house…
But I have always dreamed!
Indeed, have you ever thought how beautiful a tree looks in sky's garden?!
Although our roots have stuck, dreams and wishes can come true…

By: Erfan Nazar Ahari
Translated by: Maryam

God Has the Answer to All Questions

2007-03-12T23:05:00.000+03:30

One day I decided to leave everything behind; my job, my friends, and my life. I went to a forest to talk to God for the last time. I asked Him if He could bring a reason for me to continue living!! And His reply surprised me...
He said: Do you see the ferns and the bamboos?
I said: Yes!
He said: When I created these trees I looked after them so well. I gave them enough light and food. It didn't take long that the fern grew and acquired all the earth but no bamboo could be seen. Nevertheless I didn't despair of it…
In the second year the ferns grew more and gave the earth a dazzling beauty. But still no bamboo could be seen. I didn't leave the bamboos. They didn't grow the third and the forth year either but I still didn't despair of them.

There appeared a small bud of a bamboo tree in the fifth year. It was so tiny and short in contrast to the ferns but after six months its height became more than a hundred foot. It had taken five years for the bamboo roots to become strong; the roots which strengthened the bamboo and provided the things the bamboo needed for life.
Then He added: Do you really know that you were fortifying and bracing your roots through all these years of hardship and trouble?! I didn't abandon you during all these times as I didn't abandon the bamboos. Never compare yourself to others… Bamboo and fern are two different plants but they both add to the jungle's beauty. Your time will also come and you will grow up too.
I asked Him: How tall do I grow?!
He asked me in reply: How tall does the bamboo grow?
I replied: As much as it can.
He said: You must grow as much as you can, too.

Author Unknown
Translated by: Maryam

Happy Birthday to My Blog!

2007-03-09T20:07:00.000+03:30

Today is my blog's first birthday. It has lived the days of one year with me and my love for it grew stronger each day… From the first day I searched for a word of thanks to my ever dear professor, Dr. Marandi. But it was always hard to put my feelings into words. During all these days I have been thinking of writing something as an introduction to myself. But more and more I felt like I need to know myself better. So until this day I didn't do either of them.
When I woke up today and looked at my calendar, I thought to myself that it is time to add an entry to my blog to introduce myself and express my thanks and gratitude to my professor.
It is not the easiest thing to do yet… But here goes…

As I guess many of you must know by now, my name is Maryam Ahmadzadeh. I am a 20-year-old sophomore in English literature at Alzahra University. I do love my course of study and my university. I am known as a very naughty girl, usually with an impish grin. I always make an effort to look happy despite all the problems. I constantly try to help others all I can; of course there are times when things come out wrong. I think all people have the makings of loving others but many of them aren't conscious of it. And somehow I'd like to evoke this precious gift of God in others' hearts. And I will fight to the bitter end. I guess that’s it for a short introduction.

Now is time for the extreme and immense thanks to dearest Dr. Marandi. It is always so hard to thank those of great value. I think I can use this opportunity to thank her as I have always wished to. I thank her for all her care and attention, for all the energy she spreads and for all her responsiveness. She is all sweetness and light... May God bless her! I have run out of words and I don't know what other things I should say. So I think I'll end it here.

All the Time with Me!

2007-03-01T13:08:00.000+03:30

The days of my life go on
And I know that there is one
Who is all the time with me
And all my pains He does see.

The hours of my day pass by
And I don't even know why
This life could be now and then
So much beyond our ken.

With every breath that I take
I try not to be a fake
I try to wear my heart on my sleeve
And I want love to be all I give.

I try hard to keep the peace,
And I try earnestly not to miss
The chance to tell the ones I adore,
Each day that I love them more.

All these things I wouldn't do
If I only never knew
That there is someone near me
And all my pains He does see.

Poem by: Maryam

I Am Back after So Long!

2007-02-23T13:12:00.000+03:30

There was a star in the sky
Which was always very high.
I could see her every night
Because she had so much light.
She would always wink at me
It gave me pleasure to see
My star out in the blue
With such a beautiful hue.
Although she is still there
But I can't easily see her.
Because she is there while,
She doesn't anymore smile.
I don't know which clouds are
Simply taking my star.
But sure anything I would do
If merely I knew;
How to end being on the rack
And take my shining star back.

Writing after so long I have a strange feeling. It seems to be a kind of fear but I must write after all. During this long time I was so busy with my studies and exams. Thanks God that they are over!!! Of course our new semester has begun and again there is a lot to do.
I missed blogging so much and there was always a kind of desire in me to write… But I really had no time! Before starting to write I had thought of many things to say but now I feel I've run out of words. I just would like to let you know that I have started writing some poems and some short stories. It feels so wonderful… And of course I should mention that the poem above is actually my first one; so I hope you'd be kind enough to excuse me for my immaturity!!

To the Companions' Orchard

2006-10-06T00:29:00.000+03:30

صدا کن مرا

صدای تو خوب است

صدای تو سبز ینه ی آن گیاه عجیبی است

که در انتهای صمیمیت حزن می رو ید

در ابعاد این عصر خاموش

من از طعم تصنیف در متن ادراک یک کوچه تنها ترم

.بیا تا برایت بگو یم چه اندازه تنها یی من بزرگ است

و تنها یی من شبیخون حجم تو را پیش بینی نمی کرد

و خاصیت عشق این است

کسی نیست

بیا زندگی را بدزدیم آن وقت

میان دو دیدار قسمت کنیم

بیا با هم از حالت سنگ چیزی بفهمیم

بیا زودتر چیزها را ببینیم

بیا آب شو مثل یک واژه در سطر خاموشی ام

بیا ذوب کن در کف دست من جرم نورانی عشق را
و من در طلوع گل یاسی از پشت انگشت های تو بیدار خواهم شد

و آن وقت

حکایت کن از گونه هایی که من خواب بودم و تر شد

و آن وقت من

مثل ایمانی از تابش استوا گرم

...تو را در سر آغاز یک باغ خواهم نشانید

"سهراب سپهری"

Call me

Sweet is your voice

Sweet is the foliage of the strange plant grown in the farthest edge of sorrow.

Within the space of this silent age

Lonelier am I than the taste of a song within the scope of the alley’s conception.

Come, let me tell you how vast is my loneliness?!

My loneliness didn’t predict this ambush of your stature

And this is the characteristic of love...

Nobody is here

Come, let us steal life and then

Divide it between two meetings

Together let us pore the morning of the state of a pebble

Quick, let us see things

Come, melt like a word in a line of my silence

Come, melt the bright weight of love in my palms!

And I will awake, at the blossoming of the jasmine from behind your fingers.

And then

Tell me of the cheeks that grew wet with tears when I was sleeping.

Then I,

Like a faith warmed by the tropic sun will lay you on the threshold of an orchard!!

"Sohrab Sepehri"

ON BEYOND ZEBRA!

2006-09-27T13:30:00.000+03:30

Said Conrad Cornelius o’Donald o’Dell,
My very young friend who is learning to spell:
“The A is for Ape. And B is for Bear.
The C is for Camel. The H is for Hare
The M is for Mouse. And the R is for Rat.”
“I know all the twenty-six letters like that…
… Through to Z is for Zebra. I know them all well.”
Said Conrad Cornelius o’Donald o’Dell.
“So now I know everything anyone knows.
From beginning to end. From the start to the close.
Because Z is as far as the alphabet goes.”

Then he almost fell flat on his face on the floor
When I picked up the chalk and drew one letter more!
A letter he never had dreamed of before!
And I said, “You can stop, if you want, with the Z.
Because most people stop with the Z.
But not me!!!
In the places I go, there are things that I see
That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z.
I’m telling you this ‘cause you’re one of my friends.
My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!”

“My alphabet starts with this letter called YUZZ.
It’s the letter I use to spell YUZZ-a-ma-TUZZ.
You’ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found
Once you go beyond Z and start poking around!
So, on beyond Zebra!
Explore!
Like Columbus!
Discover new letters!
Like WUM is for Wumbus,
My high-spouting whale who lives high on a hill
And who never comes down ‘till it’s time to refill.
So, on beyond Z! It’s high time you were shown
That you really don’t know all there is to be known.”

“Then just step a step further past Wum is for Wumbus
And there you’ll find UM. And the Um is for Umbus
A sort of Cow, with one head and one tail,
But to milk this great cow you need more than one pail!
She has ninety-eight teats that give milk quite nicely.
Perhaps ninety-nine. I forget just precisely.
And, boy! She is something most people don’t see.
Because most people stop at the Z
But not me!”

“If you stay home with Zebra,
You’re stuck in a rut.
But on beyond Zebra,
You’re anything but!
When you go beyond Zebra,
Who knows…?
There’s no telling
What wonderful things
You might find yourself spelling!”

“Like QUAN is for Quandary, who lives on a shelf
In a hole in the ocean alone by himself
And he worries, each day, from the dawn’s early light
And he worries, just worries, far into the night.
He just stands there and worries. He simply can’t stop…
Is his top-side his bottom? Or bottom-side his top?”

So you see!
There’s no end
To the things you might know,
Depending how far beyond Zebra you go!

The places I took him!
I tried hard to tell
Young Conrad Cornelius o’Donald o’Dell
A few brand-new wonderful words he might spell.
I led him around and I tried hard to show
There are things beyond Z that most people don’t know.
I took him past Zebra. As far as I could.
And I think, perhaps, maybe I did him some good…

Because, finally, he said:
“This is really great stuff!
And I guess the old alphabet
ISN”T enough!”
NOW the letters he uses are something to see!
Most people stop at the Z…
But not HE!

By: Dr. Seuss

It's My Birthday!

2006-09-21T20:02:00.000+03:30

Today is my birthday! I've turned to twenty now and I like it…
Today as I was thinking of my life, my family and the things that have happened to me. I remembered a sentence I've heard thousands of times.
“Everybody chooses his or her family before they are born!”
DO THEY???!!!
Then I gave it some thought. I thought of those who are fed up with their family and the people around them. Those who envy others' lives. Those who complain of their situation!!!
I was confused… Couldn't judge…!
By that time I thought of myself and my family…! I think human beings are never pleased with what they have and they always look for more and better. I am not an exception!!! I thought of the “more and better” that I want. I thought of how I felt about my life and my family. It kept my mind busy for a long time…
In the end I came to the conclusion that regardless of how we feel about our life and our family we should thank dear God! And we should believe that He wants the best for us! We should believe that although we might not get what we WANT but we certainly reach what we NEED. He knows our goodness better than ourselves… So I thank Him for the gift of life, no matter how, where and with whom I'm living!
I'm not sure if I'm deciding in favor of this sentence or against it and I'd be glad if you'd let me know what your idea is!!!

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles!

2006-08-22T03:58:00.000+03:30

Today something happened to me that spelled a good lesson. I learned to look at pains and difficulties as roads which lead to God! I believe those with good faith have more painful lives. And that pains build up one’s soul. So when things go wrong, don’t hit the roof and remember there’s somebody checking on you! There are times when it seems to be impossible to bite the bullet. These are exactly the times when you should hold your horses and believe that God does help those who suffer and don’t make a complaint!!

The Rest of My Album!

2006-08-20T02:18:00.000+03:30

Hope you enjoy seeing the rest of my photos.

What do you say when you have nothing to say?!?!

2006-08-12T17:38:00.000+03:30

Today I have nothing to say!

An Album!

2006-08-04T16:15:00.000+03:30

This post is going to be like an album inwhich I want to share some photos of Guilan, the northern province of Iran. It has such beautiful views that I hope you enjoy seeing!!

To be continued...

A Better Time Is Sure to Come!

2006-07-29T09:47:00.000+03:30

During life different events of good or bad happen and both groups affect us. But science has proved that the effect of bad events lasts longer and bothers us more. We get too much engaged with the bad events and sadnesses and we find it hard to get rid of them. Once one of my teachers told us that life is like a movie and we must be like the screen of the cinema. This way whatever happens at the movie does not have any effect on us. She said that if we try to be like this, through out all kinds of events we can control our feelings. We don’t become too sad, facing bad events and we don’t become too happy, facing good events. We learn that both good and bad, happiness and sadness pass and we have to face with them all. We learn that without experiencing sadness, happiness has no meaning.
Life passes! If you don’t like the way it’s going change it just by changing your own attitude towards it...

Live at the Present!!!

2006-07-13T15:56:00.000+03:30

Certainly you’ve been told many times to live at the present and at the moment… It is one of the most important ways to have peace of mind. We are always thinking of the past or the future. But we should know that the past is gone for ever and the future has not come yet. We should live each moment to its fullest.
When walking we think of many things except the act of walking. When eating food we don’t concentrate on eating and our food, instead we think of other things. As a result we are never living at the present, we never eat food correctly and we never walk correctly. We should learn to focus on what we are doing at the present, not what we are going to do after it or what we’ve done before it. That seems simple but when it comes down to it you’ll see how hard it is to put your mind to what you’re doing. Although it is hard, it’s worth trying. You got to start at some point… why not starting now?!?
After some time you’ll see how enjoyable it is to eat food and to walk and little by little you’ll learn to enjoy whatever you do. So you will give all your attention to every thing you’re doing at each moment. You must know that thinking about what you’re going to do in the future is useless and thinking about what happened before does not change anything. So you should try to live your present; not making the mistakes you made before, and making it a good past for the future…!

For sure as you are reading this you will think of many other things and then later when you’re doing something else you will think of what you read here… This way you lose your “present” and live in the past or the future. Lets try to rack our brains about each moment!

Teamwork!

2006-07-09T04:17:00.000+03:30

There were four people named EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, and NOBODY.
There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Author Unknown.

2006-07-07T15:33:00.000+03:30

RED and YELLOW card!

It was an English referee who first thought of using red and yellow cards. Ken Aston was in charge of the referees at the 1966 World Cup. During England’s quarter-final against Argentina at Wembley, Antonio Rattin, the captain of the Argentina team, refused to leave the field after being sent off by the German referee Rudolf Kreitlien.
Aston talked a little to him in Spanish, tried to persuade Rattin to leave the field, so the game could continue. Driving away from the stadium later that day, Aston began to think about the problem of how referees could make their decisions clear to players without having to speak their language. At that same moment, he stopped at some traffic lights and saw the red, yellow, and green lights. And that’s how the idea of using colored cards was born.

Source: www.footballculture.net

Something between You And God!

2006-07-06T23:54:00.000+03:30

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.
By: Mother Teresa

What Kind of Soul Are You?

2006-07-05T12:13:00.000+03:30

***You Are a Dreaming Soul***
Your vivid emotions and imagination take you away from this world. So much that you tend to live in your head most of the time. You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult.
You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.
Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul.
What Kind of Soul Are You?http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/

Who saves love????

2006-07-03T23:51:00.000+03:30

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love. One day all of the feelings understood that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to save the island until the last possible moment.
When the island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then richness was passing by in a big boat. Love asked, “Richness, can I come with you on your boat?” Richness answered, “I’m sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat, and there would be no room for you anywhere.”
Then love decided to ask pride for help who was passing in a beautiful boat. Love cried out, “Please, help me please.” “I can’t help you” pride said. “You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat."
Next, love saw sadness passing by. Love said, “Sadness, please let me go with you.” Sadness answered, “Love, I’m sorry, but I just need to be alone now.”
Then love saw happiness. Love cried out, “Happiness, please take me with you.” But happiness was so overjoyed that he didn’t hear love calling to him.
Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, “Come love, I will take you with me.” It was an unknown feeling. Love felt so delightful that she forgot to ask his name. When they arrived on land, he went on his way. Love realized how much she owed him. Love then found knowledge and asked, “Who was it that helped me?” “It was time” knowledge answered. “But why did time help me when no one else would?!” love asked.
Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom answered, “Because only time is capable of understanding how great love is.”
(Author unknown)

With you!

2006-07-03T20:17:00.000+03:30

Today started with you. Today, in me, started with you. And it’s so sweet; the feeling that I have. And it’s sweeter because I know that today is better than yesterday.
Today started with you and it has taken its sweetness and freshness from you. And I am happy that I’ve started my day with you!
Today whatever I have, I’ve taken from you. Today my every smile, my every look is for you! Today my every word, my every “I love you” is for you! Today my every gift, my every love is for you! Today my life is for you!
I swear that on another day that is started with you, all your wishes will come true…! The tears come rolling from my eyes and I can’t stop them… And I love the tears that come from my eyes for you! I love the smiles that are formed on my lips for you!

Maybe one day –like today- that is started with you; in a sky that has only one moon and one star we will make our dreams come true. In a day like today…!

The Little Prince

2006-05-25T16:29:00.000+03:30

“The Little Prince”, a story which tells you what you want to hear,but in an unusual way. I myself after reading the book felt a kind of peace deep within. The feeling was like finding what I was looking for all my life. I love the sentences of the story and the way they transfer the moral
of the story!

The story accentuates the importance of self-exploration and the differences between the perspectives of children and grown-ups. At different parts of the story you can see very complicated facts of life put in the simplest words.
For instance, somewhere in the story the writer points out the differences of values. There you can see that something that is very important to you might seem so foolish to someone else, but this doesn’t mean that what you care for is really foolish and unworthy. The prince and his love for the flower was funny for many people but the writer shows how important this can be, no matter how funny it appears to be!

You can see it in the part which says: “If some one loves a flower of which just one example exists among all the millions and millions of stars, that’s enough to make him happy when he looks at the stars. He tells himself, ‘my flower’s up there somewhere.’ But if the sheep eats the flower, then for him it’s as if, suddenly, all the stars went out. And that isn’t important?” Some where else the prince draws a picture that looks like a hat but is meant to portray a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. Whereas children use their imaginations and see the hidden elephant inside the boa constrictor, adults offer the most dull, unimaginative interpretation and see the picture as a hat. Here, the writer uses this drawing to see whether an adult retains any of his noble childhood perspective??! And this proves the fact that being a grown-up is a state of mind, not a fact of life!

The fox in the story is something we all need to have in our life. The prince has learned the fox’s lessons on his own. All the fox does is to spell them out for him. When the fox leaves the prince he says a nice sentence that I’d like to mention. “Goodbye,” said the fox. “Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes. . . . It’s the time that you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important. . . . People have forgotten this truth,” the fox said, “But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose. . . .”

It simply reminds us of the truth we have forgotten. At first the prince’s ideas sound silly but little by little the reader feels “what could be more important than these?!!” After the prince goes back home the narrator of the story looks up at the sky and wonders whether the sheep has eaten the flower, he realizes that the answer to that question changes the way he sees the entire sky. What you care for makes you look differently at things. And sometimes very little things might change your whole life. (Look up at the sky. Ask yourself, “Has the sheep eaten the flower or not?” And you’ll see how everything changes. . . . And no grown-up will ever understand how such a thing could be so important!)

At the end the prince’s personal perspective on the universe proves to be more serious and right than the perspective of adults . . . !
After reading the story I thought to myself and wondered if I had the perspective of an adult or a child!!!!

Ironic

2006-05-25T13:29:00.000+03:30

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn't it ironic...don't you think??

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought?... it figures

Mr.Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
"Well isn't this nice..."
And isn't it ironic...don't you think??

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a fuuny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up in your face

It's a traffic jam when you're already late
It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic...and yeah I really do think...

By:Alanis Morissette

Who is to adapt ?

2006-05-24T09:28:00.000+03:30

There are those who fight with the world and the people around them.They await others to accept what they say and do what they want. They persist in trying to adapt the world to themselves.Threfore they lose the years of their life not knowing that all progresses depend on the one who tries to adapt himself to the world . . .If people know that the world will go its way regardless to how much they try to change it, they will try to change themselves instead and adjust to it !
There are times when life looks like a high mountain to climb.At such moments one feels more tired so he sees the pick further and he surely loses his hope to go on climbing.One might even close his eyes not to see the pick...
It is sometimes better to do so but you might fall this way and even you might go the wrong way.

So I think it's better to face the difficulties and try to cope with them instead of losing the hope or closing the eyes . . . ! :)

Gotta Lose Something ...

2006-05-18T15:52:00.000+03:30

Do you believe that for gaining something we should first lose something else?! Whether it is right or wrong it has happened to me at times that I had to get myself to give up something I loved just to get something else I loved more!! Maybe it was accidental …! And maybe not…! Who knows??
No matter how hard it was but it felt like a good experience for me. Because I had to decide what I wanted more and what was more important for me!! Though it is usually difficult to decide in such situations but its difficulty is mixed with a kind of sweetness.
The sweetness of making a decision, deciding between two important things. It is nice when you have to prefer one thing to another; especially when you don’t exactly know which one you like more or which one is a better one.
At such times I somehow got to know myself and my values better. I got to know which things are more important for me and which things I care about more.
Ofcourse not all the time it feels good. There might be times when it is impossible to choose or decide. These are the times when I get mad and prefer to close my eyes to everything and let come what may!!!!!!!

Why Not Believing in Myself ?!

2006-05-17T11:55:00.000+03:30

I've heard somewhere that everybody has an equal chance in the world,to try it all and be someone. To show what he has inside.A chance to shine,to experience different things, and to reach out for the stars. But to what point you think it can be true?!
I ask myself if the first man on the moon was the same as me and you?! And I see that he was. The only difference he made was that he used his chances and opportunities in its best way. The next thing that came to my mind was that why I don't do so?! There was no answer...! It turned to a big question in my mind. A big qustion mark!

I thought about it so much and finally I came up with the idea that maybe what I needed was something else. Maybe I needed to believe in myself and my abilities. If I believed in myself, I would take my chances more seriously. Then I would try more to reach my goals.Not believing in myself, sometimes I see it impossible to gain what I want !!!!!!!!

Now I see how important it is to have a kind of belief deep in the heart. It makes it easier for one to imagine one's goals as possible things to reach. It gives hope... It can do alot. But how can I find this vital need?!?!

Sick Sick Sick

2006-05-11T16:41:00.000+03:30

Sick, sick, sick! When things go wrong, when every thing seems to be a mess, and when nothing is the way I want it to be; I feel very sick at heart.
Now I have a strange feeling…! I feel like I should go. I should go somewhere so far and I should take my lonelinesses with me. I hear a voice calling me and asking me to go! Although right now I think there is nobody caring about me but I can hear the voice calling me. Is there someone looking for me? Someone caring about how I feel?! I don’t think so…!
In such a big world what a difference it makes how I am? Who cares? Who bothers to think of this little piece of creation whose being has no use?

At this time of gloom and doom I need a light here beside me, to guide me through the way I am on! Now I see how important a little bit of hope can be! How it can save me from where I am, and how it can pick me up!!I really need to feel God’s love at the moment. I truly call for Him and His great helping hand. I know He can hear me and He can see me when I cry. So I beg Him to relieve me …! I know it’s not hard for Him to do so. So I look forward for His helping hand. I know He won’t keep me waiting…!

(With a little hope you will survive, with a little love you will get by.And with a little care you will make a start...!!)

Dreams...

2006-04-23T12:37:00.000+03:30

Many times our lives are based on dreams and illusions.Dreams that will never come true.And illusions that are even hard to imagine.During such times although we know it can't be true and it can't be the way we want it to be, but we go on dreaming! Although we know dreaming will not change anything but we like the feeling of just imagining the things as we wish them. In my opinion sometimes it's necessary to close your eyes to reality and see the things in the way you like them to be.It might sound foolish but it really works.It gives you a kind of hope and willing to go on.And gives you a feeling that always tells you everything is possible,only if you believe in dreams! This way, you feel that you have the things you're looking for; although your hands don't touch them,your eyes don't see them and your brain doesn't find them.But the important fact is that your heart feels them.

Dreams can play an important role in our lifes.They can help us face our problems better, pass the obstacles of life easier,and tolerate the pains in a simpler way.

It might seem that dreams make us far from the real life and its factualities.But it's just the way it seems.Actually they make us nearer to the life we're living.It is only a means to see the things in the way we hope for.

At the end I want to add a piece of poetry by Langston Hughes ( 1902-1967 ) :

" Hold fast to dreams

for if dreams die,

Life is a broken-winged bird

that can not fly.

Hold fast to dreams

for when dreams go,

Life is a barren field

frozen with snow. "

Time Flies

2006-04-23T10:37:00.000+03:30

The days of life pass one after another and they take us towards some unknown things.We feel like we're waiting for a special thing to happen or a special day to come.
We're having the wait for a long long time.But...There's no problem with the waiting itself,but what makes the situation complex and difficult is the fact that we don't know what exactly we're waiting for.

The days come and go and we might not even think of what we're going to do the next day.The days pass and we might ignore many important facts of life.The days flow by and we might not know our purpose yet.We might get so much involved with our everyday life and its problems that we forget very essential but simple things in life!!!

Many times we don't pay attention to the people and the things around us and we don't even feel their presence till the day comes when we lose them.Then we regret the times that are gone and the chances that are lost.

Why not taking some of our time to think of the things and the people around us, before they are gone forever?! Why not caring about every little event in our life?! Why not seeing the things more painstakingly?! Maybe they are what we're waiting for, not knowing that we have them!!!!

"Sheikh Bahayi`s Public Bath"

2006-04-04T18:49:00.000+03:30

I wanna talk about one of the greatest historical places of Iran which is located in Isfahan.
Unfortunately this intelligent and beautiful piece of architecture is ruined now and if you go to see it,all you find is a ruin.
This historical masterpiece is called "Sheikh Bahayi`s Bath".It was built in 10th hejria century by the great scientist of Iran;Sheikh Bahayi.There is something very interesting and unusual about it that makes it what it is.(not ofcourse on these days).
The strange thing about it is that there is one candle in it that heated the weather all during the day;when people were using the bath.And I should mention that the candle doesn`t work anymore.For years scintists of different countries were thinking of the secret of that single candle heating such a big place and they turned it off just to find out how it works.Although It cost them losing the candle but they finally understood the mystery.After all researches It was proved that the candle burnt the gas produced by the wastewater.And this way it heated all the area . . .
Knowing these,made me think that Sheikh Bahayi wasn`t just anybody.He was somebody . . .
And I felt really proud of living in this country with such a great history it has!!!

Celebrate The Spring...

2006-03-13T13:22:00.000+03:30

Days pass by and we get ready to say goodbye to this year and start a new year with all it has to bring...! The spring is coming and it is a good chance for refreshing our souls as the nature takes back its freshness...
What a better time than this for forgetting the sadnesses and problems and wishing a brighter future?!
What a better time than this to make others happy?!
The spring is coming so let`s celebrate the touch of love on nature`s face...
Let`s celebrate the sunshine although it shines every day...
Let`s thank God for all the good things we are blessed with...
Let`s take the chance of spring for making new friendships...
Let`s spread happiness and felicity every where...

Thinking of You!!!!!!!!

2006-03-11T20:09:00.000+03:30

I think of you often
From seconds to hours,
I smell your perfume
As I walk by the flowers.
I wait for the chance
For those wonderful days
When I will be blessed
By the sight of your face.

( adopted from www.blesstheday.com)

My Life Has Been Touched !

2006-03-11T19:27:00.000+03:30

Ever since the day we met,My life has been touched...
My dreams have been more beautiful
The stars shine brighter than before;
The sun seems so much warmer,
Since I've someone to adore.
You've changed my life in many ways,
My heart has grown so strong,
It's all because of you, my love,
It has been all along.
I'm sure you know I Love You,
I just want to thank you too.
I have no idea where I'd be
If it wasn't for meeting you.
(for the best inspiration of my life...)
( adopted from www.blesstheday.com)

Four Quick Tips For A Happier Life !

2006-03-09T11:21:00.000+03:30

If you live by just a few simple guidelines,
you can seriously change your outlook on life -
AND the way that people perceive you as well!

1.Don't ever take anything personally...
When you are happy with who you are
it shouldn't matter what anyone thinks anyway!

2.Don't worry. Worrying never solves anything!
Whether you have control over something or not,
you shouldn't waste your time or efforts on unnecessary stress.

3.Always do the absolute best you can do - and always tell the truth!
The more effort you put forth,
the more you learn and the less regrets you'll have.

4.Don't expect too much.
Don't even expect to receive as much as you give,
it only opens the door for disappointment.
Be happy with what you do for others
and be pleasantly surprised if they do the same (or more) for you!
( adopted from www.blesstheday.com )

You Are An Angel

2006-03-09T11:09:00.000+03:30

It would take an angel to make
others feel happy all the time,
to make the gloomiest day seem sunny,
or to find anything to be thankful for
for no reason at all...

Excuse me,
but I think your halo is showing!

Thank you dear angel of mine...!!!

God`s Cake

2006-03-09T10:53:00.000+03:30

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

( adopted from www.blesstheday.com )

Once In A Lifetime

2006-03-09T10:17:00.000+03:30

Once in a lifetime you find a friend who touches not only your heart,but also your soul.
Once in a lifetime you discover someone who stands beside you,not over you.
Once in a lifetime if you are lucky you find someone as I have found you...
A very special person we can be ourselves with,talk with,laugh with,hope with and believe with ...!!!