Give thanks to the Almighty for all the blessings around you ...

Yesterday was the day of Thanksgiving in the United States and probably the second most important family holiday in this country. All the city was just vacant of its people in the streets ...

People usually gather at night around the thanksgiving dinner table with the family members or their loved ones and celebrate the night by eating an oven-cooked turkey prepared especially for this holiday ...

Regardless of the history behind this in the States, it is indeed a very nice tradition to spend a joyful night with the family giving thanks for all the blessings one could have in her/his life. Having this said, on the other hand, this made me really think that how much I have missed my beloved family who are living miles away from me and I who have locked myself in this country for my PhD education ...

Indeed there are many many great blessings around us to be thankful for ... but this thanksgiving should be accompanied by awareness and acknowledgement of these blessing inside and then making efforts to help as many needy people as possible ... Since it has once been well said by Sa'adi (Great Persian Poet) that:

"Being thankful for a powerful arm ... is through ... lending it as helping hand to the needy" ...

Ya Imam Reza (Peace Be Upon You) ...

Let your existence enlighten all my soul ...
In this world of darkness, you are indeed that light of hope ...

The light sent upon us from the beloved ...
In the middle of these dark ages we are living through ...

What is the secret behind this love ...
That not only us ... but also ...
All the creatures are in love with you ...

O' Imam Reza (Peace be upon you) ...
You are the true guide to Him by His mercy ...

O' The loved one ...
Guide us to the light through all these darkness we are living in ...

I did it "My Way" ...

And now ... the end is near ...
And so I face the final curtain ...
My friend, I will say it clear ...
I will state my case, of which I am certain ...

I have lived a life that is full.
I have traveled each and every highway...
And more, much more than this...
I did it my way.

Regrets, I have had a few ...
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do ...
And saw it through without exemption ...

I planned each charted course ...
Each careful step along the byway ...
But more, much more than this ...
I did it my way ...

Yes, there were times, I am sure you knew ...
When I bit off more than I could chew...
But through it all, when there was doubt ...
I ate it up and spit it out.

I faced it all and I stood tall ...
And did it my way...

I have loved, I have laughed and cried...
I have had my fill, my share of losing...

And now, as tears subside ...
I find it all so amusing ...

To think I did all that ...
And may I say - not in a shy way ...

Oh,no .. Oh no, not me ...
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught ...
To say the things he truly feels ...
And not the words of one who kneels ...
The record shows I took the blows ...
And did it my way! ...


***
[The world famous inspiring song "My Way" was first written by Paul Anka (Canadian-American Singer and Song Writer) and made into a global hit by the legendary Frank Sinatra.
It is the memories of a confident man facing the end of his life and yet he enjoys all the great things he has accomplished in his life ... based on the self- confidence and trust in himself.
This is the performance by the world 3 Tenor legends (Domingo, Carreras and late Pavarotti) as a tribute to Frank Sinatra]

For his birthday ...

In the memory of late Nima Yooshij (The father of Persian modern poetry) and as a tribute for his birthday 12 November 1896 ...

When will the sinful eyes of mine be delighted by seeing your beauty? ...

I have learned ...

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person ...


I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows ...


I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world ...


I've learned.... That you should never say "no" to a gift from a child ...


I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way ...


I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with ...


I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand ...


I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult ...


I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for ...


I've learned.... That money does not buy class ...


I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular ...


I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved ...


I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds ...


I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile ...


I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them ...


I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher ...


I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss ...


I've learned... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere ...


I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away ...


I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them ...


I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it ...


I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done ...


***
[The words by Andy Rooney, American Journalist, thanks to my dear Sam Roshdi for sharing these beautiful meaningful words of wisdom]

Innocence ...

To where you are looking this deep ...
Towards which horizon liberating your mind ...

Tell me what you are thinking of ...
Within the innocent childhood world of wonders in you ...

Tell me what you see in that far away ...
I am willing to know ... if I can understand ...

Looking at your beautiful eyes ...
Makes me feel how great soul you are ...

Tell me what you see in that far away ...
I am willing to know ... if I can understand ...




***
[Thanks to dear Mohammad and Ali Khosravi for sharing this beautiful meaningful photo named "Ma'asoomiyat(Innocence)"]

دردهای من

جامه نیستند

تا ز تن در آورم

چامه و چکامه نیستند
تا به رشته ی سخن درآورم

نعره نیستند

تا ز نای جان بر آورم

دردهای من نگفتنی دردهای من نهفتنی است

دردهای من

گرچه مثل دردهای مردم زمانه نیست

درد مردم زمانه است

مردمی که چین پوستینشان
مردمی که رنگ روی آستینشان

مردمی که نامهایشان

جلد کهنه ی شناسنامه هایشان

درد می کند

من ولی تمام استخوان بودنم

لحظه های ساده ی سرودنم

درد می کند

انحنای روح من

شانه های خسته ی غرور من

تکیه گاه بی پناهی دلم شکسته است
کتف گریه های بی بهانه ام

بازوان حس شاعرانه ام زخم خورده است

این سماجت عجیب پافشاری شگفت دردهاست

دردهای آشنا

دردهای بومی غریب

دردهای خانگی

دردهای کهنه ی لجوج

اولین قلم حرف

حرف درد را در دلم نوشته است

دست سرنوشت خون درد را با گلم سرشته است

پس چگونه سرنوشت ناگزیر خویش را رها کنم؟

درد رنگ و بوی غنچه ی دل است

پس چگونه من رنگ و بوی غنچه را ز برگهای تو به توی آن جدا کنم؟

دفتر مرا دست درد می زند ورق

شعر تازه ی مرا
درد گفته است

درد هم شنفته است

پس در این میانه من از چه حرف می زنم؟

درد، حرف نیست درد، نام دیگر من است

من چگونه خویش را صدا کنم؟

قیصر امین‌پور