Festive Wishes

As we put on the colorful new garments for this wonderful festival of Eid ul-Fitr, may we find in our hearts the strength to seek forgiveness and to forgive, to accept and respect each other as equals, to come together making this a truly meaningful and colorful celebration.

Oh, may we find in our stomachs the ample space to stuff ourselves silly with the delectable spread of festive goodies too.

Walk With Me

Sometimes you just need someone to walk with you. Everything will be easier, lighter and clearer.

Everything will be better.

Paris Surprise

We hurried into Centre Pompidou to shelter from the downpour. As we left, the sky turned grey and the rain resumed. The rain certainly dampened my excitement and enthusiasm to enjoy Paris city. It seemed that my day, my only day in the beautiful and vibrant city was going to be a wet and gloomy one.

But as my friend Parisian, V and I walked towards to his motorbike, we came across a quirky fountain next to Centre Pompidou. What caught my eyes were the brightly colored cartoonish sculptures in the fountain. Then to my surprise, the music came on and the sculptures came alive, moving about the fountain, swirling and dancing to the music while spraying water, like the far away fantasy land in the children's books. It was simply fun and cheerful. 

See, if you look close enough and carefully enough, you will surely find beauty in any place, under any circumstance.

Running And Paying

My friend Y telling me that he's training for a marathon. It got my funny bone tickled. No, I mean running bone. Running a marathon has been always on my to-do list. It's always a dream. So far it reminds as one still. One beautiful dream. Hearing him going on about his training programs, getting new shoes and equipment, registering for prep races etc. got the amber in the back burner stoked again.

While the flame of desire and passion, for running a marathon that is, was burning hotter and brighter then ever, I climbed onto the treadmill on Friday evening for a good ol' hamster run. One solid hour later, I logged exactly 11 clicks.

I was pretty happy. Proud indeed.

Then, over the weekend, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs or step on the gas without cringing (in my heart of course) over the tormenting spasm in my thighs and quads and feet.

Not too happy anymore. But still proud though.

Gone In 60 Seconds

Waking up to a beautifully sunny Saturday morning.

Wanting for some comfort food breakfast, something tasty, something sweet, something heavy, something greasy, something high calorie, something unhealthy, something sinful...

Then I slaved myself in the kitchen cooking away. OK I 'fess up: I used pancake mix out from a box, but all the whisking and frying were tough work. And the result...

5 minutes later

I was happy.

A Better Place

On this very same day seven years ago the world changed for ever. Unfortunately, not for the better. With the change came along pain so tremendous and suffering so great. Are we ever going to recover from that terrible and dark episode?

So, on this day, cry your eyes out, grieve for those who parted, remember those we loss for both the sorrow of such abrupt departure and the joy we had with them, light a candle, say a prayer, have a moment of silence.

Then, count your blessings, learn about the lives of the others, embrace the difference, respect the diversity of values and perspectives, have faith in humanity, kiss your family, hug your friends, wave to passerbys, smile to strangers, trust each other, love each other, be brave, live life, just LIVE.

The world can be a better place.