Movement

For the last couple of years it seems like we’ve been experiencing a pattern. Or perhaps it’s just that I’ve become more aware of time. In any event, during the last couple of years, each year starts out rather uneventful then around the middle of the year things really start to pick up speed. Certainly this year has been no exception. Although the world on a hold has been extremely active, it seems these activities have in some ways caused us all to stop or at best slow down. For certainly this year has been a show stopper on many fronts with the global economy dangling by a thread, tsunami in Japan, the unemployment situation in the U.S. (not to be elevated above any other countries unemployment situation—just it’s in my own back yard, so to speak), and the uprising/uprooting taking place in northern Africa to name a few. Needless to say someone, somewhere has been affected by these global events, which has caused them to stop or at best slow down. Perhaps these events have caused them to be present in their own lives for the first time in a very long time. I know on more than one occasion I’ve been halted in my tracks to stop and refocus to present time which was a true blessing, but yet at times so difficult to do when you’re so use to going a million miles another.

I’m not sure why we have this need, and possibly it’s just myself, to constantly be on the go, whether for family, work, education, etc. Even taking time for spiritual devotion (prayer) seems to be scheduled amidst all our other doings. Where did this way of thinking come from? This is not to say that I believe we should all be sitting around being unproductive, but maybe more reflective on how we spend our daily time. I think a lot of our daily living is not reflected on more than “this is what I have to do to survive”. Is that entirely true? Could we possibly live a different way and still survive?

Maybe, just maybe, these last couple of years of starting out rather uneventful and eventually progressing into more activity is nature’s way of slowing us down. Maybe it’s God’s way of giving us a gentle nudge to redirect our focus and reprioritize our lives. In any event, I feel blessed to be a part of this planet at this time of life to see the dynamic events unfold before the world as well as experience all the changes happening around us.

How do you feel about the times we are living in?

Time - My Nemesis

"Be mindful of how you approach time. Watching the clock is not the same as watching the sun rise." -- Sophia Bedford-Pierce

Time has been my nemesis this summer, for literally it feels like I’m constantly battling for more of it.

From June until the current date, we have been going non-stop. We’ve had family and friends visiting with no break in between visits to recuperate and recharge for the next round, and I’m definitely starting to feel it. We have one more week until all company leaves and then a 3-day break before Amira starts back to school.

I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or unappreciative of the visits----not at all. In fact, some of the best memories and unexpected visits I ever expected to have, which was a wonderful delight. I’m just feeling the exhaustion of no down time and irregular routine. Funny that I would even ponder the thoughts of an irregular routine as that’s never been an issue for me before; however, over the last few years I’ve made more of a concerted effort for quiet time at home, so am perhaps feeling the affects of no quiet/recharge time.

I know Amira has been feeling the affects as well as she’s had lower energy charge than usual. Aside from all the visitors, which include lots of activities, sleep loss, and over-stimulation from everything and everyone, she also attended a day camp this summer for the first time. This day camp was close to my work, which was convenient for both of us. Her activities included swimming 2 days a week, a weekly field trip, and a day of games and rock wall climbing. It was an amazing camp and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself.
Struggling for time seems so funny to me, and yet it’s the one thing that seems to interrupt the balance of our lives. Well, we are off to a wedding for a friend’s daughter. Until next time, be well. Ramadan Kareem!

Pondering the Extreme Highs and Lows

It feels we are definitely embarking on new territory as the days continue to pass. As unsettling and disturbing as some of the events are unfolding globally, I’m excited and looking forward to seeing the final outcome.

With events ranging from great excitement and joy to events ranging from grievous hardship, it can be taxing both on one’s psyche and physical being because they are occurring expeditiously as well as concurrently.

When one is grieving from such tragic hardship, are they even capable of finding that inner peace of calmness that still remains embedded in them?

When one is ecstatic from such wondrous joy, is there a part of them that feels a sense of guilt for feeling such a high because of the other tragic events of the world?

It seems as humans and perhaps because of certain beliefs held, spoken or unspoken for centuries, we can easily accept (perhaps ‘accept’ is not the right word)…..adapt or cope with the negative aspects of life more obsequiously than the positive. For it seems the moments of great joy are fleeting and expected to only last a short period of time. And yet, on the other hand there doesn’t seem to necessarily be an expected timelimit on dealing with difficult times. Why is that? Why are the struggling times painfully endurable when the joyous times spent seem so fleeting? It’s almost as if we’ve been engrained to deal with the difficult, and in some ways feel a tinge of guilt or unworthiness in celebrating our joy. Perhaps guilt and unworthiness are a little harsh, but my point is I’ve seen countless times those that are in a good place in their life almost shyly sharing their joy with their friends or family that may be going through a difficult time. In the same vain, those going through difficult times don’t seem to have such challenges in sharing with someone, whose experiencing a great joy in their life, their trials. Why is that?

Commonsense tells us that we do not all evolve at the same pace. Moreover, we do not all share the same joys or trials simultaneously. Thank God! Could you imagine? What if we were all suffering at the same time, who would be the one(s) to uplift and support us? On the flipside, how amazing would it be to live joyously and harmoniously together? The funny thing is, I know that last sentence would be received by some with a roll of the eyes and a thought of “yeah, right!” To which I would wonder, why not? We as humans are amazing creatures. We have proven time and time again how incredibly talented, smart, tender, compassionate, creative, etc., we are, so, why can’t we unilaterally tame our egos to be more supportive of one another?

Sending warm wishes and love to all.

Keep 'fear' in check

With these trying times of natural disasters, heinous violence against humans, day-to-day stressors of life, and the bombardment of news pelting us from all angles, one could literally make them self sick with worry.

Remember to take deep breaths throughout the day, say a favorite mantra or prayer, and even sing your favorite tune just to remind yourself you are alive and present. Do what you can to help which includes taking care of yourself for the sake of others.

We Are The Ones We Are Waiting For

If the Earth were only a few feet in diameter

‎"If the Earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a few feet above a field somewhere, people would come from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk around it, marveling at its big pools of water, its little pools and the water flowing between the pools. People would marvel at the bumps on it, and the holes in it, and they would marvel at the very thin layer of gas surrounding it and the water suspended in the gas. The people would marvel at all the creatures walking around the surface of the ball and at the creatures in the water. The people would declare it precious because it was the only one and they would protect it so that it would not be hurt. The ball would be the greatest wonder known and people would come to behold it, to be healed, to gain knowledge, to know beauty and to wonder how it could be. People would love it, and defend it with their lives, because they would somehow know that their lives, their own roundness, could be nothing without it. If the Earth were only a few feet in diameter." Author unknown.

Events I never imagined happening in my lifetime

My heart aches currently for the Libyan people. As I’ve been following newsreels, Internet articles, blogs and variant other means of news since Tunisia I’ve been feeling both thrilled and aghast of the daily events.

Beaming with pride for the peaceful marches being made to effectuate change in a country, nation, and even the world as we witness the power of the human spirit is exhilarating. However, at the same time witnessing the horrifying events of leaders blatantly deceiving their own people is deplorable.

Now as the world and I stand looking to Libya, I find myself sickened at the hourly, daily, weekly events that have been happening to Libyans.

Again, I find myself cheering loudly for the spirit and steadfastness of the people that are forging forward----for the great sacrifices that are being made to effectuate change. For their determination to make contact via telephone, Facebook, Twitter or emails every time there is access to technology is unbelievable. And yet, on the other hand due to the heinous acts being committed, I find it difficult to focus on a daily basis.

Even though geographically there is 6,673 miles or 10,738 km from northern California to Libya one’s hearts truly know no distance. I ache for the bloodshed, pain, suffering, and fear, which continue to remain rampant until there is a resolve. I hope and pray this happens soon.

My love, thoughts and prayers continue to diligently go out.