white cat on piano

Curiosity killed the cat

We often think about the future like it’s a far-away land we haven’t reached yet, right? Think again! The future isn’t just some distant dreamland; it’s being cooked up right here, right now, in the present moment. Yep, you heard that correctly! It’s all about what we’re thinking, feeling, and how we take on the big wide world around us and respond to it right … Continue reading Curiosity killed the cat

woman surrounded by sunflowers

Finding Happiness: Asking the Right Questions to Unlock Fulfillment

In pursuing happiness, we often search for external sources of joy. Yet, true happiness often lies within, waiting to be uncovered through introspection and self-discovery. By asking ourselves the right questions, we can navigate our journey toward fulfillment with clarity and purpose. What is My Purpose? The quest for happiness begins with a fundamental question: What is my purpose? This question prompts us to reflect … Continue reading Finding Happiness: Asking the Right Questions to Unlock Fulfillment

What you see is not what I see

It was the season of Christmas, when I ventured into the wild realm of secondary school education as a substitute teacher.  Imagine: I, the academic chameleon, who had always bounced between eighth, ninth, and tenth grades, unknowingly stumbled upon the grand finale during my short stint in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade. Now let’s talk kids versus teenagers – a classic showdown.  Children, with their … Continue reading What you see is not what I see

Ikigai Can Add Years to Your Life – And Life to Your Years!

Last week, I heard of some new research about Ikigai, the Japanese concept that loosely translates to your life purpose or reason to get out of bed in the morning. I’ve long been a believer in Ikigai, but the research confirms it can not only add years to your life, but also life to your years! Read on to learn how Ikigai can help you … Continue reading Ikigai Can Add Years to Your Life – And Life to Your Years!

pink and purple wallpaper

Life Is A Healing Journey

Dive deep into the inspiring journey of Anuschka Alborzian, a holistic coach who defied the odds after surviving a stage four brain tumor. Her transformative story is a testament to the power of miracles. In this interview, Anuschka opens up about her most challenging moments, the profound experiences during her health struggles, and the incredible rebirth that led her to a fully present life. From … Continue reading Life Is A Healing Journey

Crab Nebula: A Star's Spectacular Death (NASA, Chandra, 10/24/06)

Accept Me Without Strife

Before Christmas, I visited a man with whom I had kept a weekly appointment for many years. Something inside me insisted that I should visit him. It could be one of the last times I would see him. I followed my inner voice and tried to call him, but the three numbers I had for him didn’t work. So I decided to show up at … Continue reading Accept Me Without Strife

Dreaming into heart

In August 2022, I dived into the heart. I did it by visiting the Anahata Ayahuasca Retreat Centre in Pisac, Sacred Valley of Peru. I was there for my own reasons, but once again, my journey had led me to someone who had been pushed into a corner by life and forced to make a change. During my trip to Peru ( July to October 2022), … Continue reading Dreaming into heart

scrabble tiles on white surface

Who am I?

The Ramana Maharshi self-inquiry meditation inspired my “Who am I?” poem. I send massive gratitude to Ramana Maharshi for inspiring me to shape this poem. – Who am I? I was born in the city of Isfahan That’s the place my parents met They fell in love, danced the flame of love and drama kind of – Who am I? I am a daughter A Sister A … Continue reading Who am I?

Repost: The Importance of Language When Making New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year again when people think about the new year and how they’d like to make changes in their lives going forward.  We often refer to these proposed life modifications as “new year’s resolutions.” The other day, while stepping out of the shower, the idea hit me—insights come as flashes of insight and often at the strangest times—that the way we verbalize … Continue reading Repost: The Importance of Language When Making New Year’s Resolutions

rear view of woman with arms raised at beach during sunset

The Essence of Success: Reflections on Seeing, Wanting, and Daring

I read these three fundamental statements by Alfred De Musset that according to him encapsulate the key aspects of the essence of success : “Seeing is knowing, wanting is being able, and daring is to have.” This post explores the possible implications of these statements, unraveling the layers of insight they offer on the path to success. Seeing is Knowing The saying “seeing is knowing” … Continue reading The Essence of Success: Reflections on Seeing, Wanting, and Daring

man underwater looking at the sun

The art of vitality

A journey of awareness Mastering the art of vitality has been a journey of awareness for me, and this is how it started. A few years ago, I removed the “digital validation machine” that I kept under my dressing table. Every morning, when I got up, I visited that “digital validation machine” and  watched the numbers change. They grew higher and higher, and my eyes … Continue reading The art of vitality

Repost: The Real Secret to Being Happier and More Successful in the Workplace

In “What I’ve Learned about Life while Watching My Father Age,” a blog I wrote several weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d been reading On Death and Dying, a wonderfully insightful book written by Elisabeth Kϋbler-Ross.  Throughout that tome, the author argues that doctors need to take a more “human” approach while treating dying patients.  She also points out that the field of medicine stresses the … Continue reading Repost: The Real Secret to Being Happier and More Successful in the Workplace

underwater photo of woman wearing green and black dress

The Beauty Of Life

Today, I surrender to the beauty of life   Everything feels so light I woke up with a peace of mind And see no need to run or hide Today I feel free from all the  ‘Should’ve’  Musts  Or dancing between the ‘could’ve and would’ve Today I am all in And there is nothing in between  I walk around,  firmly feeling the ground Uninhibited, no longer … Continue reading The Beauty Of Life

A Tantra Way of Living

Some days ago I received an email and it gave me Déjà vu. This story started back in 2022.  I had been told that I should explore Tantra on many occasions over the years. Tantra? Should I explore sexuality with random partners and call it spiritual sex? No, thank you, that is not for me, I thought.  Maybe it triggered my ultra-Iranian origins ; who … Continue reading A Tantra Way of Living

Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Three

My greatest regret during my Peace Corps experience is that I wasn’t into taking photos at that time.  I was into living life, though, as hard as it could be lived, tiptoeing right up to the line of being wildly self-destructive.  It’s just that I don’t have much of a photographic record of all that living beyond the boundaries.  I do have memories, tons of … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Three

Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Two

If you read my first installment, you know that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and was sent to PĨock, Poland, a beautiful and fascinating city located on the Vistula River, to complete my Pre-Service Training (PST), a demanding educational regime that was designed to see if I’d be up to the various challenges I’d certainly encounter once I was sent off to the town or city … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Two

brown wooden gavel on brown wooden table

Judge Me, Judge Me Not

When I was 17 years old, I worked in a grocery store. One day a co-worker and I were pushing a giant skid full of milk cartons through the store. The skid was piled high with milk crates and was much taller than we were.  We were using a skid mover, which was being steered by yet another coworker; driver in the front, two “engines“ in the back.  Continue reading Judge Me, Judge Me Not

A life of great variety

This is an interview with Hanne Kristin Rohde, the former police chief of Oslo. She worked in the police for 25 years, the first 5 years as a police prosecutor, and the last 20 years as a manager. In 11 of these years at the senior management level; from 2008-2014 as police inspector and head of the Section for violent and sexual crimes in Oslo Police District. Continue reading A life of great variety