Why do we write?!

I wonder why do we write? What is the purpose of writing? Have you ever noticed people who cannot express their feelings? Have you ever been in a situation that you wish to recall a proper word to describe an action to group of friend/people. You say: I know the word; it is right on my tongue!
I believe writing is a great practice to improve someone's ability to express his/her feelings. Many times I have lost my ability to express a meaning to someone! However, I have noticed writing provides a practice to improve my ability to communicate with other. Keeps me updated of language abilities and use of words without getting angery.
I believe people who are getting angry and use profanity are the ones who can not express themselves as well as their feelings, properly.
I recall when I was going to university we had a professor in machine design course who made us to explain every design we did in essay type of answers. It was quite difficult at the beginning for me. I had come from a country, which no value was given to essay writing in many aspects (I tend to believe you’d agree with me:-).
I recall that professor went on once, because of tremendous objective he was receiving to his methodology, by saying, “imagine you are a best engineer ever and you have designed many items needed by people around you. You are an excellent engineer with ability of Albert Einstein when it comes to calculation of nonlinear systems! But imagine you can't express all those wonderful innovations of yours to the public!! How would you ever make people aware of your invention? How are you going to make money out of those inventions?" After carefully listening to those words, I concluded that writing is a tool that we all should be equipped with!
*******
And rain keeps coming and coming in Tehran!!!... Like energizer battery keeps going and going!!:-)
I have no car to go home this afternoon, so I will be one of those pedestrians who should hid from fast drivers!!:-)

Happiness in Life!

Today was a day with lots of precipitation in Tehran. I stayed about an hour in a traffic in Parkway area couldn't go fore or back! This was an opportunity to realize with so many small ponds in Tehran’s streets I prefer to see the rain from 12:00 am to 5:00 am! So, by the next morning everything is drained to the ground and the ponds do not exist!! As a result, a passing car would not wash up a poor pedestrian who has no where to hide!!

Moving on, I am running out of topics for a write up! So, anyone wishes to give an opinion by all means.:-)

Today in traffic I was thinking:

Happiness in life is based on four ingredients: Love, trust, indulgent and, Hope.
If we lose the Love, our happiness can still be built on trust. However, if we lose the trust then indulgent becomes something that can’t be given any thought on and the hope gets lost in no time!!

Lovely day :-)

Finally, we got rain in Tehran. I am not sure if we should dance to the rain sound of music like Inuit people do in North America! Today morning, the fresh air is seductive. I wish I could go out of the city and enjoy this lovely, fresh and, foggy day! enjoy it as it last.

Partner to be or not to be?!

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who has recently broke up with a boyfriend. She has been quite sad and telling me she still has feeling for his boyfriend. She wondered if this feeling grows, she would have a difficult time to brake away from past.

I give her the following advice. I told her:
It is quite difficult to forget someone you loved. In my humble opinion, the only way that someone may be able to say a complete good bye to his/her past is to close that chapter of her life. I don’t mean killing yourself or anything close to it! Not at all. I mean you have to come to a peace of mind with yourself in regard of your past. On the other hand, you must take away the pain before you start your life again.
You have to see why you broke up with your partner. Was it for a good reason? Did s/he break one of the factors that you praised? Does s/he care for you as much as you care for her/him? Did you both draw the same conclusion not being able to stay together? Were you able to compromise and you didn’t? Have you been fighting for a long? Does your original reason worth fighting for?
If you could answer all the questions stated above, we may come to a peace with ourselves. Consequently, we close this chapter of our life. No need to further thinking of it. We meet people all along our life, we may fall in love, however, our soul mates may be somewhere else standing waiting with an open arm for us!!

TROY

For all Brat Pitt lovers and who love legendary stories, apparently a new movie is going to be released in US, soon (May 2004) which is called Troy by Wolfgang Peterson. This is a love story upon Helen and Paris Greece figures. I recall watching this movie in Black & White many years ago and get impressed with it.

The story-teller explains the story like this:

There is a legend 28 centuries old that tells of a Queen who betrays his king and a worrier he called upon to lead a war for vengeance, If love is worth fighting for…

Enjoy the clip here. You have to go there pick view trailer: small, and then wait for few minutes if you have a dialup connection to load the clip!

Common law vs conventional marriage!

Listening to Norah Jons live in Chicago with that mellow jazz rhythm and I started to think which one supposed to be better? Common law or conventional marriage! This is a discussion that is taking place in my mind for so long. I always wondered what are the cons and pros of later and former! What I am referring to as a common law marriage is living together that two opposite sex decide to do without any ceremonial procedure.
According to many psychological data and literature references man as a hunter (referring to primitive man) must pick the women of his wish and then woman usually tend to develop love and dependency towards his partner. As time matures this mutual dependency grows and we have, volià, a family by definition! Many say the base of this family is man however; the column of this family is based on either some legal papers or sensational connection or many other reasons.
Of course, the legal papers are conventional marriage. Just recently, I read in one of the Tehran’s local newspapers that from every four people who get married in Tehran one is getting divorced! I truly, feel if a common law relation can last for more than a year or two, then we have a real marriage that can last until the death make them apart. However, marriage based on papers which make both sides to stick together because of some prenuptials papers or what they have exchanged (i.e. money wise I mean) is something fragile or just both parties are taking each other because of worldly connections! Or may be take one another as granted. Therefore, Having said that I draw this conclusion that being common law with a partner you love may be an answer to many today family problems that end up in a court and divorce!

***************************

Different point of view

Talking about messy room, in the Alex the girl it is this story that has put up and tells us how to look at things from different point of view. I guess this is an excuse for me about my messy room :))...
....
She decided one day that if she couldn’t tell me that my room was a mess and was in need of a good clean that she would show me. Without my knowledge, she took a picture of my room, took the film to the store, and waited anxiously for the messy photo shot to develop. She was certain that when the photo was ready and she showed it to me, I would instantly want to make my room over into something from a glossy magazine.
read the rest here the writing for 26 of November 2003

Mourning for Siavash

First see this lovely photo. Thanks goes to a good friend who kindly forwarded this photo for me.

Last Friday, I went to see “Siavash mourning” in main hall of City Theater of Tehran. This work was directed by Pari Saberi a well known theater director whom his style reminds you kind of Broadway show cases like Lion’s King and Phantom of the Opera, etc.
I am a big fan of Broadway shows specially when there is a story-teller (Naghal) involves!
The entire story was myth of Siavash, from Shahnameh (i.e. book of Kings of Ferdosi) whom was son of Kavos a great Iranian King. The story develops based on love and hate and as usual the dark side and light side. It develops by the relationship between Iran and Toran zamin.
It is interesting that almost in all stories, including this one, the good side prevails! One of the most interesting things was Rostam, the legendary Iranian commander, sword when he went to revenge for Siavash’s blood. I personally did not know that Rostam and Emam Ali sword were similar with two sharp picks. Something I learned.
The music the dance was typical Ms. Saberi work and his stamp could have been seen everywhere. The mourning music and happy songs were picked well based on Iranian taste with convolution of western spice!
Overall, a B+ is my mark to this work of her. I think this work compare to the Josef and Zoleykha was a little subordinate in overall performance.

Time to enjoy life

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a
silk paper wrapped package: "This, - he said - isn't any ordinary
package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and
the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years
ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I
guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to
the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house,
his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:
"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is
a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up
to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses
every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel
like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it
whenever I want to.
The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my
dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do
it now.
I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she
wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have
called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make
peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.
It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my
time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would
meet, letters... letters that I wanted to write "One of these days". I would
regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons,
not times enough at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring
laughter and joy into our lives. And, on each morning, I say to myself
that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute, is
special.

A Potential Girl Friend (GF) checklist!!!

This is a list I complied for past few days! It came to my mind that we all list whatever we wish to have, why not a GF or BF!! you may add more factors as you wish. :-)
(This is just a check list, don't take it in some extend very seriously!!:-)
Listed in order of importance

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

Alive not just breathing!
Heterosexual!
Doesn't smoke or take drugs
Has a nice smile!!
Age: 22 to 29
Not adverse to outdoor activities!
Fit

Emotional and Characteristics

Loyalty and honest
Not arrogant
Motivated
Passionate
Thoughtful and serious at times
Extroverted when appropriate
Funny and Silly
Independent
Has initiative
Has romantic tendencies
Sensitive, but not excessively sensetive!
Busy, but not excessively busy!
Has a wild child streak
Tolerates
Nice, but not boring
Generous but not tightfist

Interests

Theatre, art, music, movies
Skiing
Travel
Dinning
Reading
Cooking
Sunsets and moonlight
Oceans and mountains
Likes to dance (Specially ball room dancing)

Social Status

Has a job or in process of getting one (A good job holder has priority)
Have finished an undergraduate degree at university, or be in the process of

obtaining one
Single
Does not have an ex-husband
Does not have any children

Materialistic

Fashion sense (when necessary)

Timing

Wish to know her as soon as possible!! Qualified people send in their C.Vs.!!!

These are the days of our lifes!

Today I don't feel cheerful!
I feel being in the downfall where there is no turn back!
looking back into the Journey of my life
I wish I could do something about it...
I suppose Fredy Mercury put it in the nice words:

Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days...long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect...you know
The days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shinin'...we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately...I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you

You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it with your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately...I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow
Cos' These are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now, but somethings remain
When I look and I find no change

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing's still true
When I look and I find
I still love you
I still love you

Ethical Issues and Morality

I know of four fundamental ethical theories that I wish to share them here; in my opinion all these four cover many of today’s issues around us:

Mill’s Utilitarianism: This theory was stated most clearly by John Stuart Mills (1806-1873). Utilitarianism states that the best choice in a moral dilemma is that which produces the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people.

Kant’s duty ethics: The theory of duty ethics or formalism was put forward by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), who proposed that each person has a fundamental to act in a correct ethical manner. He evolved his theory from the belief or observation that each person’s conscience imposed an absolute, categorical imperative (or unconditional command) on that person to follow those courses of action to follow. For example everyone has duty not to tell lies, since, if lying were to be done by everyone, then no promises could be trusted and our social fabric would be at risk of un raveling.

Lock’s Right Ethics: The rights-based ethical theory comes mainly from the work of John Locke (1632-1740), and states that everyone has rights that arise from one’s very existence as a human being. The right to life and the right to maximum possible individual liberty and human dignity are fundamental, and other rights arise as a consequence of personal rights.

Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: One of the earliest and most durable ethicsl theories was proposed by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), who observed that the goodness of an act, object, or person depend on the function or goal concerned. For instance, a “good” chair is comfortable! The one quality that humans have, above all other animal, is power of thought; therefore, Aristotle stated that true happiness would be achieved by developing qualities of character through thought, reason, deduction, and logic.

Lost happiness…

Somebody told me once my happiness was like an early fruit which I tasted its arrival, now its season is passed! This is quite similar to water had been poured on my hands’ palm where the water is slowly dropping though my fingers on the hot soil and getting disappeared!

A start with an End!

I used to hear for every start there is an End, and for every Ending there is a new start!
moving on, I came across this poem of Mehdi Akhvan-Saales with the name of Winter.
Enjoy:-)

Winter

They are not going to answer your greeting
Their heads are in their collars
Nobody is going to raise his head
To answer a question or to see a friend
The eyes cannot see beyond the feet
The road is dark and slick
If you stretch a friendly hand towards anybody
He hardly brings his hand out of his pocket
For the cold is so bitter
The breath coming out of your chest
Turns into a dark cloud
And stands like a wall in front of your eyes
While your own breath is like this
What do you expect from your distant or close friends?

My gentle Messiah, O, dirty dressed monk
The weather is so ungently cold
You be warm and happy
You answer my greeting and open the door
It is me, your nightly guest, an unhappy gypsy;
It is me, a kicked up, afflicted stone
It is me, a low insult of creation, an untuned melody.

I am neither white nor black
I am colorless
Come and open the door, see how cheerless I am
O, my dear host, your nightly guest is shivering outside
There is no hail outside, no death;
If you hear any sound, it is the sound of cold and teeth.

What are you saying, that
It is too late, it is dawn, it is day?
What you see on the sky
Is not the redness after dawn
It is the result of the winter's slap
On the sky's cheeks
O, partner go and get the wine ready
Days and nights are the same

They are not going to answer your greeting
The air is gloomy, doors are closed,
The heads are in collars, the hands are hidden,
The breaths are clouds, the people are tired and sad,
The trees are crystallized skeletons, the earth is low-spirited
The roof of the sky is low
The sun and moon are hazy
It is winter.

Next Generation or Generation X in Iran

Last night I went to Superstar fast food restaurant by Parkway intersection for a bite with a friend of mine. The time of our arrival was around 7:30 pm. Superstar was quite empty to my surprise. “It is Ramedan month and people may be fasting”, these were my explanation to friend of mine. However, after 20 minutes being there I saw arrival of tons of teenage fellow who were only between ages 13 to 16! These boys & girls contrary to my generation were quite comfortable with one another. They were all with fashionable cloths with different style you could tell they wish to make statement.
What you could see and it was quite obvious among the teenagers of these generation is tendency for civil obedient. Two employees of superstar were in front of the entrance door and trying to tell the teenagers to cover themselves more properly and according to Islamic rules. However, they were aggressive enough to refuse what they were told! It was quite obvious and with these types of cloths and acts they were trying to fulfill two aspects of their life. First, their desire for showing off and getting to know the opposite sex. Second, a statement that the government has been incompetent to deal with new generation and showing young people disobedient with current government.
We are getting changed this is obvious, however, how long will it take until we become costume to these changes and how the older generation and we will react to these changes is something remain to be seen.

A sunny Morning!

This is a story that was written by a good friend of mine about a while ago. With her permission I edited and asked her to publish it on my weblog. So, here it goes…

On an early morning, before stars disappear from the beautiful autumn sky, completely by coincident I joined friends who leaded me to see someone who for the first time I felt for! I don’t know whether it has ever happened to you or not. But it was a strange experience. Seeing your soul in another body! At first, I got really confused!
But when I looked closely I realized she is thinking, dancing, and even acting similar to me. She was responding to any actions of mine with a spontaneous and energetic reaction similar to them. This person was in any possible way compatible to me even in very small things that normally no other person may pay attention to.
I tried my best & used all my energy to send her capturing signals, but because of the some known and unknown interferences, my signals were received with setback!! At last, signals were intercepted, when I got to know the person on the other side, I draw a conclusion that a miracle has happened!!! Finding someone who is compatible with me in all existing ways must be a miracle and she must be my soul mate! I dreamt all days & nights; imaging my soul mate in different places with me. I felt without that special person something is missing in my life. My soul mate was source of energy, enjoyment, calmness, and all good effects that a man can ever imagine. I could imagine this one was the one send by god to complete my lost half.
When I closely focused my eyes on her, I realized that she is a mirror, but not just any ordinary mirror on the wall. This was a mirror, which was reflecting all my lost years. A mirror with ability to make my soul transparent something that it was hard to ignore it. I tried to own this mirror. However, there was a problem, the fact was that I couldn’t hang the mirror on my own wall, because it was owned by another person!!

I thought of two possible options:
1. To steal the mirror from its current owner! This, of course, is an illegal act which I choose not to do, because I feel no gentlemen would do anything like this!
2. The second solution is to ask politely from his owner to remove her from the wall, give up the possession of her and hand her to me! This is an impossible solution though because I experienced the desire of the owner towards his mirror!

I finally decided to ask my mirror if it was possible for her to live on MY wall, and to be close to me. Unfortunately, my mirror silently refused!

Considering all options, I realized did not have any chance to win her back!
While I was distancing from her, her silent and calmness made her comparable to a beautiful mountain. It was a rainy day; even sky was crying and seemed sad!

I was distancing myself from my soul. I closed my eyes and tried to remember and record every refection that she emitted on my soul. I took her reflections to my heart and soul where no person could see or understand it. I won’t delete those gorgeous pictures.
I still hear reverberation of her voices in my ears… I know time will heal the pain.

Love & attention!

He said: that my lover doesn’t pay attention to my love!
I said: the problem is that you have focused on the "attention” word! If you focus on “love” word then no matter what she does as long as she is happy you must be happy!!

Yesterday

A work by Beatles that ....

Yesterday , all my troubles seemed so far away ,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay ,
Oh I believe in yesterday .
Suddenly , I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh yesterday came suddenly ...
Why she had to go I don't know . She wouldn't say.
I said something wrong , now I long for yesterday ,
Yesterday , love was such an easy game to play ,
Now I need a place to hide away ,
Oh, I believe in yesterday ...

Life goes on!

Listening to Fantasia on Greensleeves a work byVaughan Williams a British composer , my journey in past few weeks flashes in front of my eyes like a day dream! The music makes you flow through the air in such a speed that you see all the laugh and cry you had for the past few weeks!
There are times in your life that you cross your finger and hope for the best and expect the worse!! So, be it, I usually say, it could be better, but it is not that bad either!
Things usually gets better or tend to to move towards what is meant to be!!