Blind Spots

We were on a telcon discussing the agenda for an upcoming meeting.  The speaker says: "Mr. X won't be able to attend the meeting because his wife is having a baby at that time".

What a way of saying he is becoming a father! Is not he having a baby as well?  He says as if it is a significant event in the wife's life only and he is staying as a favor or service to her not because he does not want to miss his child's birth.

Is it me or does this phrasing sound strange to you too?

Vision

I am frustrated these days a lot about many things;  How leaders at highest levels work in survival mode, sustaining the status quo.  Those whose job is to have a vision and strategic plan, lack both.  When asked about it, there is no response; Worse, you hear the inaction at times might be by design.  Some people may think of retiring, finally.  Some may quit to find better opportunities.  Even if so, these leaders do not think what their organizations will be known for?  What values will it stand for? What repetition and respect will it have in public eyes?  Will the youth of today consider working for it tomorrow? Will it even exist tomorrow if they persist in their approaches?

Good writers

I think being a good writer and speaker, has more to do with having something of value to say and share, than it does with writing and speaking skills.

Friends

I think I have been depressed lately. For the first time, I think I really felt for people who had gone through this. I could see and feel how draining it can be. How hard it can get to do the most simple daily tasks. Me, who was full of life and passion, find it hard to put myself together and do my job. I find myself procrastinating.  It takes forever to finish a few charts.

 -"It is hard to focus and get things done these days", I told an old friend and colleague that I admire a lot.
 -"You will have better days gradually. It takes at least 6 months to a year to even get used to the idea of loss".
 I nodded.

 A couple of days ago, I found myself talking and laughing, surrounded by old and new friends in a short casual get-together. Maybe I can get back to my old self. That is what getting out of your routine, good friends and people do. They bring you out of your shell, remind yourself to you, bring you glimpses of hope. Maybe I will be all right again.

زن نوين

"
زن نوين، دختر نجیبی نیست که عشقش به یک ازدواج موفق ختم شود، همسری نیست که در خفا از خیانت های شوهرش رنج بکشد... پیردختری نیست که در حسرت عشق نافرجام جوانیش بسوزد، او قربانی شرایط رقت بار طبیعت سرکوب شده اش نیست... زن نوین قهرمانی است که مستقلانه از زندگی طلب می کند، که اعتماد به نفس دارد، که علیه بردگی جهانی زنان در مقابل دولت و خانه و جامعه می ایستد، که به عنوان نماینده همجنسانش برای حقوقش می جنگد.
"
الكساندر  كولونتاي

Desiderata

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.  Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."

Max Ehrmann,

Lost and found

I am lost,
Find me!

-------------------
Not!  The person who did asked me not to lose track of this short poem.

It is my life

Sometimes we hide behind excuses like work, study, kids, etc, to avoid participating in an event or task, when deep down we know we do not want to do something no matter what.  Sometimes we do not have the courage to admit it to ourselves, let alone to others.  Sometimes we are developed to feel ashamed of our choices by our culture, society, family, or ourselves.  We have the right to be who we want to be and live how we want to, do not we?  Why is it then such a hard battle just to live your own life?

آتش فشان خاموش

و اولين بانگ يك اذان كافى است تا تو را در هم بشكند، تا تمام دردها و غم هايت را اشك بريزى، تا همه خاطرات و زندگى ات را در بانگى مرور كنى.  يك صدا ميبرد تو را به جا هاى خيلى دور، هر چند نزديك.  صداست كه در درون ميماند و در حافظه حك ميشود. "خرم آن نغمه كه مردم بسپارند به ياد".

والانتير دى

بابا: هپى والانتير دى (خنده)

من: (خنده) مرسى، ولنتاين، نه والانتير

من و بابا

اولين بار تو دستم رو گرفتى بردى سينما.

تو به من دوچرخه سوارى ياد دادى.

تو مطمئن شدى من شنا ياد بگيرم.

اولين بار تو به من انگليسى ياد دادى.

تو دستم رو يك روز تابستان گرفتى بردى كلاس زبان اسم نوشتى در حاليكه من غر ميزدم كه تابستون نميخوام كلاس برم، غافل از اينكه تو درى به دنيايى جديد به رويم باز كردى كه ديگه نميخواستم ازش بيروم برم.

تو سرماى زمستون و گرماى تابستون من و كلاس زبان ميبردى و 1.5 ساعت راه ميرفتى، خريد ميكردى، تا من كلاسم تموم شه و برگردونيم خونه.

هر روز صبح زود تو سرما و جنگ ميرفتى نون داغ و شير  تازه براى صبحانه من ميگرفتى.

هر روز من رو مدرسه ميرسوندى.

شوفاژ قراضمون كه خراب بود و فيوزش ميپريد، نصف شب ها از خواب ناز تو سرما پا ميشدى ميرفتى موتور خونه كه يك دكمه فشار بدى.

اينجا هم كه بودى، قبل از كه من برم بيرون براى اداره، زود پا ميشدى برف و يخ  ماشينم رو برام تو پاك ميكردى

برام انار دونه ميكردى

پات كه شكسته بود و جنگ هم بود، همه شهر رو گشتى چن من براى يك كلاس دفتر  موسيقى ميخواستم، زمانى كه كمبود بود و تو همه چيز بايد صرفه جويى ميكرديم.

تو به من يك كودكى خوب و شاد دادى، احساس امنيتى كه صدام و بمب هاش از من نگرفت، تا وقتى كه خونه بودم.  اون حس ديگه هيچ وقت بر نميگرده، كه غصه هيچ چيز و هيچ كس و نخورم تا وقتى بابا هست.

هزار و يك كار  ديگه كردى براى من كه براشون بهت به اندازه كافى نگفتم مرسى.

تو هميشه بابا بودى و من حتى نتونستم از تو نگهدارى و پرستارى كنم.

مثل بابابزرگ

هر وقت ميخواستى بيشتر غذا بكشى، يا غذايى يا دسرى كه روى ميز بود را ميخواستى بردارى، اول به همه تعارف ميكردى، اگر شده بيست نفر تو اتاق بودند. اگر هم كسى نميخواست انقدر اصرار ميكردى كه يكى برداره بالاخره.  آخرش انتظار داشتى يكى بگويد خودتون هم بفرمايييد.  خودت با خودت هم تعارف داشتى، يا به خودت اجازه نميدادى كه تا كسى بهت چيزى تعارف نكرده آن را بردارى.  من هم كه دير دوزاريم ميفتاد، آخرش هم عصبانى ميشدم كه خودتون ميخواين بخورين ورداريد بخوريد خوب چرا انقدر به من اصرار ميكنيد.

سر ميز شام جزمين چهار ساله مياد سمت من با يك قوطى نوشابه.

جزمين: عمه نرگس نوشابه ميخواهى؟ 

من: نه، مرسى جزمين جون نميخوام. 

جزمين: يك كم نميخواهى؟

من: نه مرسى.

جزمين:  شايد من يك كم بخواهم.

خنده اى ميكنم و برايش نوشابه ميريزم.  جزمين به بابا بزرگش رفته اما ارتباطاتش هم بهتر از قديميهاست.

روزنامه ايرانى را برميدارم كه نگاهى بيندازم.  جزمين كه كارتون نگاه ميكند برميگردد و ميگويد: براى بابا بزرگ نگه داريم، خب؟ ميگويم خب.  هنوز تو و روزنامه هايت را يادش هست.

باباجون

"

پدرم پشت دوبار آمدن چلچله ها ، پشت دو برف

پدرم پشت دو خوابیدن در مهتابی ،

پدرم پشت زمان ها مرده است .

پدرم وقتی مرد ، آسمان آبی بود ،

مادرم بی خبر از خواب پرید ، خواهرم زیبا شد .

پدرم وقتی مرد ، پاسبان ها همه شاعر بودند .

مرد بقال ازمن پرسید: چند من خربزه می خواهی ؟

من ازاو پرسیدم : دل خوش سیری چند ؟"

ﺍﺯ ﺳﻬﺮﺍﺏ ﺳﭙﻬﺮﯼ ﮐﻪ ﺍﻫﻞ ﮐﺎﺷﺎﻥ ﺑﻮﺩ 

ﯾﮏ ﻣﺎﻩ ﭘﯿﺶ ﺑﻪ ﺧﻮﺍﺏ ﻣﻦ ﺁﻣﺪﻩ ﺑﻮﺩ

ﭼﺮﺍ ﮐﻪ ﭘﺪﺭﻡ ﺩﻭﺳﺖ ﺩﺍﺷﺕ ﻣﻦ ﻓﮑﺮ ﮐﻨﻢ ﺑﻪ ﺟﺎﯼ ﺑﯿﻤﺎﺭﺳﺘﺎن

ﺑﺎ ﺗﻮﺭ ﺑﻪ ﮐﺎﺷﺎﻥ رﻓﺘﻪ

ﺑﺎﺑﺎﺟﻮﻥ ﺧﯿﻠﯽ ﺯﻭﺩ ﺭﻓﺘﯽ.

ﺟﺎﯼ ﺧﺎﻟﯿﺖ ﻫﯿﭻ ﻭﻗﺕ ﭘﺮ ﻧﻤﯿﺸﻪ .

يك هفته گذشت و تو فردا ديگر زنگ نميزنى ....

Have a lovely 2014!

Happy 2014!  I always wish for health and happiness above all for people.  This year, I want to wish you love too.  Be it loving your neighbor, your nieces and nephews, life partner, parents, your passions or whoever or whatever else in this world.  The true love that does not only bring you pleasure and joy but the one that makes you grow, become pure, and know yourself like never before.  The one that makes you laugh all your laughter and cry all your tears till there is no drop left; and above all makes you share all those laughter and tears, without trying to hide them or pretend being happy all the time.  The one that makes you say prayers before going to sleep and express gratitude every time you wake up.  The type Khalil Gibran described in his poem:

When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth......

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.