When I'm free..

A child at Mali Khanda feeling FREE!

My dearest Reader,

Indeed Jean- Jacques Rousseau was right in saying "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains," But there ought to be times where we feel free, when we feel unchained from the chains of society. From the chains we chain ourselves with. 

I feel free when:

... when I wear jeans, a T-shirt, a pair of sports shoes, have the tasbih around my wrist, a large shoulder bag and I begin to walk. 

... when I am sitting on a bus, train, plane, or even on the ground and I have a pen and a notepad in my hand

... when I am sitting on a mountain

... when I am walking by the shores of the ocean

... when I look at the moon at night

... when I am around those I love

... when I make someone else smile 

I feel free every time I sit, think and dream. For my dreams and imagination can fly off the ground, can travel the world, visit the stars, go to the past and jump into the future freely, the way they want to. 

Saza - By the way every time I write a blog for tasbih-cha I feel freed

The Perfect Moment

Reading Paulo Coelho, Aleph

Dearest...

(sometimes I feel like I am writing to myself, but that's okay.)

Today I felt unwell, and usually when I feel a little down or unwell I do actually take care of myself. So, I didn't go to work. In fact, believe it or not, I didn't even leave the premise of our house (I did go to the garden outside, but that is still home). It felt great.

I actually had time and energy in me to sit with mum and dad to laugh and talk and "catch up" in front of the TV in our living room. Only after I Facebook-ed the picture on the right did it occur to me how precious the day was.

I managed to do some research, a little bit of writing, started reading a new book (Paulo Coelho's Aleph) and had long conversations with mum and dad during all this. Didn't do anything grand, didn't put in much effort but I definitely advice you to give yourself the chance to do nothing, give yourself a day a week where your diary doesn't have anything written in it. A day a week with absolutely no plans, just go with the flow. Do what your heart and mind want you to do. And as I always say, please, oh please, take the time to enjoy the simplest of things in life. Believe me they bring the greatest joy!

Saza - LL! Love Life!  

Special Moments

Dearest reader,

The best moments...

Do you ever ask yourself: "What are my best moments?"

I ask myself this question almost everyday. On Saturday I was invited at the house of one of my closest friends, B.R., her mum had cooked the most amazing food (since she is my friend, [un]surprisingly her cooking skills aren't perfect! Phew! I am not the only Kurdish girl with talent in burning down a kitchen and cooking up un-edible food) and the gathering was amazing.

What I loved most was after lunch we sat on the floor with our cha (tea) and gulabarozha as we spoke (everything from politics and how to bake a cake) I would look to my right, to my left and to those sitting in front of me. Each brilliant in her own way, each an inspiration, each a role model and each chasing a dream. These four woman have amazing hearts and are gifts sent from God to this earth.

It was a simple gathering, but the meaning was beyond what words could write. I felt I am myself and I didn't feel pressured to act or speak a certain way. I felt safe, loved and more importantly I felt I was around individuals who cared for me. We have come to live in a world where most of the time you deal with people who dislike you. People who only hope for your failure, who are washed with selfishness. To feel you're surrounded with pure hearted individuals is indeed special.

Life is not always perfect, in fact it is never perfect. But when we manage to enjoy these simple things it eases a lot of everyday stress that knocks on our door, and enters without permission.

Saza - Listening to Quraan is the medicine to my tough days! It brings a calmness, and hope. 

My VIP

Dearest reader (A.S. since you promised you would read)

Me, during one of my happiest moments (last week)

For any 23 year-old girl in my part of the world I am pursuing a dream career full of life, action, people and what better than being the "Boss".

But my dream?
No. Not an ambassador, not a PM, not some VIP (why do we have Very Important People anyway, aren't all people just as important). My dream, years down the track is to be able to wear my jeans, get into a simple top and go out and work with people who are vulnerable.

I want to write their stories and speak their voices. I want to live their life. I want to research their lives. I want to teach and pass their story to others.

I love people. To be precise, I love simple people. I love listening to people. I love smiling, and talking and asking questions. I love learning about people. For each individual can be a school, each individual is special, and each one is a VIP.

Maybe this is why when ever I feel I am becoming too stressed, and too carried away with everything that is going on in this world I dress in what comforts me and make my way to one of these VIPs.

For now good night

Saza- In the weeks to come I will tell you more about the VIPs of my heart