Your comments and ideas or contributions are most welcome, either on my Message Board, or via email to: Fari-Lodge@farilodge.org
2/11/12
It is always profoundly sad to lose a major talent.....When I was younger and Whitney Houston was in the prime of her stardom, I could not listen to her songs because her amazing range of voice was too overbearing for me! How we learn to appreciate true talent as we grow older!
2/10/12
"Happy" is an enlightening documentary worth watching.
1/1/12
Let us always remember how fragile we are.
Let us wish for Love Life Harmony and Peace.
12/25/11
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year May love and laughter follow your every step. ♥♥♥
12/22/11 A star is born!
12/15/11
"Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact, and that is, everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you ... the minute that you understand that you can poke life ... that you can change it, you can mould it ... that's maybe the most important thing." - Steve Jobs
12/3/11 "In art, as in life, everything is possible if it is based on love" - Marc Chagall
12/3/11 "Painting is a kind of window through which I escaped from all that surrounded me." - Marc Chagall
11/26/11
A Little Light
For everything a reason and a season under the sun; every puzzle has its answer that is not uniquely our own.
Nothing remains a mystery in the light of life's experience, or hurts like the awareness we cannot live it over again.
Yet nothing is ever lost if we pass such wisdom to one another; no life lived in vain, that sheds light on the path for a brother.
Carolyn Brunelle
An addictive song!
11/19/11
Knowledge
A knowledge if shared, likely grows to abundance.. if keep to self will be lost!
Marvin Brato Sr
11/19/11
Lost
Lost dreams When youthful ambitions have been broken. Lost thoughts The most intelligent words never spoken.
Ian Kevin Curtis
11/15/11
"Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations, for if you do, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live"- Henry David Thoreau
Sunset from above.
11/11/11
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.Boldness has genius, power and magic in it" - Goethe
A Broken Heart
How do you mend, a broken heart? Where do you begin and where do you start? How do you face another day? What do you do and what do you say? It's never easy, getting back into the swing, there's no doubt, it will take it's toll. You have to be strong and forge ahead, then, things will start to roll. Just give it plenty of time, as others have done before. Then you'll be ready to start again and open, another door!
Audrey Heller
Autumn 2011
10/9/11 With all my love and wishes for a healthy and fulfilling life. ♥♥
10/9/11
Above The Clouds
The moon is always smiling against It's darkened shroud the stars are always dancing to the abundance they bow the clouds are always laughing so elegant and proud
So if your heart is broken and you are feeling down and you can't find good reason not to scream to God aloud O'God why have you forsaken me underneath this darkened Cloud
then just Run out side right now, go now
Dance with the Stars! Smile with the moon! Laugh with the clouds!
and just remember this:
the sun is always shinning you need only rise above those clouds
- Paul Cutting
10/7/11
"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world" - Oscar Wilde
10/1/11
"I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers." - Khalil Gibran
9/17/11 Every now and then a voice and a song comes along and sits right in your heart.
9/17/11 Once again the warm weather is coming to an end...
9/17/11
A Deaf Musician
As though a deaf musician, I am part Of some great orchestra I cannot hear. The only notes that fall upon my ear Are those which rise unbidden from the heart And offer teasing glimpses of the art Of harmony. Yet have I heard, in clear, Still moments of perception, what appear As distant drum-beats; pulses that impart A rhythm to the cosmic melody. Then, with a quick'ning joy, I see that I Am moving to creation's symphony. As birds that wheel and dart across the sky To secret music, so it seems that we Can sometimes see the patterns as we fly.
- Mary Spain
9/5/11
"In life, Growth follows every heart-wrenching experience as we discover strength from within.
We build ourselves up not with man's accoutrements but with devine energy which comes from within
The withinness of life is the secret told for when we look within and listen for guidance our lives respond and good is evident; we find our true friend: our own selves.
Our confidence is raised and our concept of life changes and we come into our own; for knowing one's self is the greatest gift one can give to others." - Unknown
8/27/11
"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair."
- Jack Layton
8/17/11 Warmth on ice...
8/7/11
I took a break from Farilodge to attend to the hectic life only to realize how much I missed this little hobby of mine!
8/7/11
"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent Van Gogh
8/7/11
The supreme object of life is to live.
Few people live. It is true life only
to realize one's own perfection,
to make one's every dream a reality.
- Oscar Wilde
8/7/11
"It is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential." - President Barack Obama
8/7/11
"We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time." -T.S. Eliot
8/7/11
Witness
the glory the brutality hollow without flux
strength in solitude, yes yet a glimmer of union mystery embraced
endless openings for the bendable heart
release avec assurances none
how can we forsake even a moment being friend auntie sister mummy lover....yes by my nephew 2/99
8/7/11 A Tale re-told:
How Heart came to the World
A long time ago, in the beginning of things, Worldmaker made the world. Worldmaker made the earth and stars and water and creatures. Man and women were given intelligence, but they did not possess Heart.
One day Worldmaker called Sun, Moon, Darkness and Rain and said: "my children, I have almost finished making the world. Soon the time will come for me to leave. I am going to send Heart in my place before I leave you. I would like to know what you plan to do when I have gone. You, my bright Sun, what will you do?"
Sun answered: "Worldmaker, I will become hotter and hotter, and shine upon the Earth with all my strength." Worldmaker spoke to Sun and said: "No, my child, that is not a good idea. You would burn the world with your heat and dazzle it with your brightness. No Sun, here is what you must do. Take turns with Rain. After you warm the Earth, let Rain come and refresh it. That is the proper way to be. And you Rain, what did you have in mind?"
"Oh, Worldmaker, I want to pour and pour and pour and pour upon the Earth, and cover it with my waters!"
"No again, my dear one. If you flood the Earth, all the creatures will be swept away. Instead, take your turn with Sun. You will cool and water the Earth in the proper season, and Sun will warm it again. How about you Darkness, what do you intend to do?"
"I want to rule forever!" Shouted Darkness.
"Child, this cannot be. If you ruled forever, the creatures of the Earth would not be able to look upon the loveliness I have made for them. No, Darkness, you will rule only when Moon is in its last quarter. Only then will you have your dominion. And as for you, Moon, my sweet, strange child, the night will be yours to shine in. Sometimes you will shine full and round, sometimes you will make a thin crescent of light. Up and over you will go, cutting loose dreams. So it will be forever, my children. But my time has come to leave you and this world that I have made. I will send Heart in my place."
So saying, Worldmaker disappeared. Not long afterwards Heart came into the world. Heart was small and red, about the size of my fist. Heart was crying. Heart came to the children of Worldmaker and said: "I am looking for the one who made me. Tell me where I can find the one who made this world."
Sun, Moon, Darkness and Rain replied: "we do not know where Worldmaker has gone. We do not know where you must search." Heart said: "I long to meet the one who made me, but since Worldmaker has gone away, I will enter into Man and Woman, perhaps through them I will find the one I seek."
And so, ever since then, every child of Man and Woman has been born with a longing to meet the one who made the world. And that is what we call Heart.
This bittersweet tale is a re-telling of a Ugandan story which was first published in 1963. Unlike many how and why stories which explain the way the natural world came to be, this tale describes how our inner landscape took its uniquely human shape. Storyteller, Dan Yashinsky included this story in his book of Storyteller at Fault. This is one of the stories a father tells his son when the little boy no longer wants to hear "happily-ever-after" stories.
2/11
How to recognize Aquarius
"In spring, when woods are getting green, I'll try and tell you what I mean; in summer, when the days are long, perhaps you will understand the song"
"A lot of people like rainbows. Children make wishes on them, artists paint them, dreamers chase them, but the Aquarian is ahead of everybody - s/he lives on one. What's more, s/he's taken it apart and examined it piece by piece, color by color, and still believes in it...."
1/17/11
"An individual has not started living until he can rise Above the Narrow Confines of his Individualistic concerns to the Broader Concerns of all Humanity" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
1/1/11 Happy and peaceful 2011 for all.
12/24/10 At this Holiday Season and for 2011, I wish everyone's life would be as beautiful and peaceful as the silky and smooth waters of the Caribbean sea.
May you have warm words on a cold evening. A full moon on a dark night. And the road downhill all the way to your door. - an Irish Blessing
12/19/10 Sailing by the sun..
12/16/10 One of the best descriptions of "life" that I've heard: "Mystery, magic, majestic, miracle". And if I may add, sometimes "misery", then the description is perfect.
10/31/10 It is very empowering to realize and acknowledge that we are all vulnerable...
10/23/10
I've been holding my love for so long for you to come along to sweep me off the ground enfold me in your arms and take me where I belong to a place where I've only seen in my dreams.
10/16/10
The harshness and pessimism of certain people's opinions is making me weary, in particular those who do not even have a valid reason. It upsets me to hear some who only see the ugliness of life and not the beauty of this vast universe. Music has never hurt me - I find solace in music and this piece is a good example:
10/13/10 A frosty autumn day. A day 33 miners were rescued back to the surface of the earth..
10/02/10
A true friend is the one who can share your joy and happiness with you, and not only your misery..
9/21/10
A Calendar of Sonnets: October
The month of carnival of all the year, When Nature lets the wild earth go its way, And spend whole seasons on a single day. The spring-time holds her white and purple dear; October, lavish, flaunts them far and near; The summer charily her reds doth lay Like jewels on her costliest array; October, scornful, burns them on a bier. The winter hoards his pearls of frost in sign Of kingdom: whiter pearls than winter knew, Oar empress wore, in Egypt's ancient line, October, feasting 'neath her dome of blue, Drinks at a single draught, slow filtered through Sunshiny air, as in a tingling wine!
- Helen Hunt Jackson
9/5/10
Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts? - Gabrielle Roy
8/22/10 A timeless song:
Heart of Gold "I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold I've been in my mind, it's such a fine line That keeps me searching for a heart of gold And I'm getting old" - Neil Young
When Neil Young wrote these extremely beautiful lyrics, he was in his 20s! Did he really know what growing old really meant?!
8/8/10
Marriage A-La-Mode
Why should a foolish marriage vow, Which long ago was made, Oblige us to each other now When passion is decay'd? We lov'd, and we lov'd, as long as we could, Till our love was lov'd out in us both: But our marriage is dead, when the pleasure is fled: 'Twas pleasure first made it an oath.
If I have pleasures for a friend, And farther love in store, What wrong has he whose joys did end, And who could give no more? 'Tis a madness that he should be jealous of me, Or that I should bar him of another: For all we can gain is to give our selves pain, When neither can hinder the other.
John Dryden
8/7/10
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate... on the present moment" - Buddha
7/31/10
And now dearest mine - let us just imagine that I am near you, with my arms clasped around your neck, my cheek against yours - what would I say to you were I to come over instead of this letter?.... - Dec. 13, 1906 letter from Beatriz d'Arneiro to tenor, Edward Johnson
let us just imagine that I am near you
7/25/10 I often think how empty life would be without our interests that bring so much joy into our lives. For me, enjoying Sting perform with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra........I have posted a few photos.
7/19/10 For Flamenco lovers - a visually passionate delight!
7/7/10 Sometimes a shot becomes unexpectedly special.
7/4/10
Walk through a dream today with childlike footsteps that only know the limits of a young imagination. Walk through a dream today until you reach that place inside where wishes are made and magic is born. - Unknown
5/22/10
Life
LIFE, believe, is not a dream So dark as sages say; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day. Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, O why lament its fall ?
Rapidly, merrily, Life's sunny hours flit by, Gratefully, cheerily, Enjoy them as they fly !
What though Death at times steps in And calls our Best away ? What though sorrow seems to win, O'er hope, a heavy sway ? Yet hope again elastic springs, Unconquered, though she fell; Still buoyant are her golden wings, Still strong to bear us well. Manfully, fearlessly, The day of trial bear, For gloriously, victoriously, Can courage quell despair!
Charlotte Bronte
4/10/10
It was only yesterday when I was a kid trying to learn the game of life while it looked more like a puzzle than a game when it seemed impossible to play.
By the time I thought I had the last few pieces in place, I was no more a little kid the innocence was lost and so was the youth.
When I thought I figured what the puzzle was all about, the remaining pieces were taken away with a tornado, hence the puzzle was never completed.
I wrote this a year ago in a moment of despair..
3/20/10
Happy Spring new day, happy life; new magical roads to travel..
3/7/2010
After All
"The brooding ghosts of Australian night have gone from the bush and town; My spirit revives in the morning breeze, though it died when the sun went down; The river is high and the stream is strong, and the grass is green and tall, And I fain would think that this world of ours is a good world after all.
The light of passion in dreamy eyes, and a page of truth well read, The glorious thrill in a heart grown cold of the spirit I thought was dead, A song that goes to a comrade's heart, and a tear of pride let fall -- And my soul is strong! and the world to me is a grand world after all!
Let our enemies go by their old dull tracks, and theirs be the fault or shame (The man is bitter against the world who has only himself to blame); Let the darkest side of the past be dark, and only the good recall; For I must believe that the world, my dear, is a kind world after all.
It well may be that I saw too plain, and it may be I was blind; But I'll keep my face to the dawning light, though the devil may stand behind! Though the devil may stand behind my back, I'll not see his shadow fall, But read the signs in the morning stars of a good world after all.
Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl -- you have driven the worst away -- The ghost of the man that I might have been is gone from my heart to-day; We'll live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows fall; My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all."
Henry Lawson
2/15/10
"It Is Not a Word"
It is not a word spoken, Few words are said; Nor even a look of the eyes Nor a bend of the head,
But only a hush of the heart That has too much to keep, Only memories waking That sleep so light a sleep.
Sarah Teasdale
2/14/10
"Our lives are like a garden......never blooming the same way twice." Unknown
1/17/2010 My heart is aching for the people of Haiti as I am watching the unspeakable catastrophe that has hit their country. Watching with great sadness, it reminds me of how small and fragile we are in the face of life - a reason to remember to come out of our boxes and be mindful and grateful of our blessings. At the same time, it is extremely heartwarming to see the extent of the help some nations and some people have provided, as well as the faith and the courage of the people of Haiti.
1/1/2010
Happy New Decade
As I bid farewell to an important decade of my life - with so many bitter-sweet experiences - I will fondly remember the lessons learned and memories to cherish. And on this first day of a New Decade, I wish everyone good health and plenty of good memories to carry over; and above all, strength to overcome the challenges life has to offer.
I wish that you will see many many more sunrises to lit up your world every morning, with peace all around..
12/24/09 All my best wishes for the Holiday Season to all my family and friends. I wish each and everyone of you good health, peace, and warmth in your hearts. Enjoy this lovely video and music by Sting.
12/17/09 I saw the "Flame of the Torch", a very special moment - once in a lifetime chance that I never thought would ever come my way..
12/13/09 "When you are no longer compelled by desire or fear.....when you have seen the radiance of eternity in all the forms of time......when you follow your bliss......doors will open where you would not have thought there were doors.....and the world will step in and help." - Joseph Campbell
11/13/09
"If It Be Your Will
If it be your will That I speak no more And my voice be still As it was before I will speak no more I shall abide until I am spoken for If it be your will If it be your will That a voice be true From this broken hill I will sing to you From this broken hill All your praises they shall ring If it be your will To let me sing From this broken hill All your praises they shall ring If it be your will To let me sing
If it be your will If there is a choice Let the rivers fill Let the hills rejoice Let your mercy spill On all these burning hearts in hell If it be your will To make us well
And draw us near And bind us tight All your children here In their rags of light In our rags of light All dressed to kill And end this night If it be your will If it be your will"
- Leonard Cohen
10/11/09 There are always other avenues to turn to - different turns bring different twists; often though we assume there is only one road...
9/12/09 "Life is a handful of short stories, pretending to be a novel" - Unknown
9/7/09
There is always light after the storm, dawn after night and even at the darkest hours of the night, the moon shines from above, if we persevere and don't give up on hope.
Image:
8/23/09
Instants If I could live again my life, In the next - I'll try, - to make more mistakes, I won't try to be so perfect, I'll be more relaxed, I'll be more full - than I am now, In fact, I'll take fewer things seriously, I'll be less hygenic, I'll take more risks, I'll take more trips, I'll watch more sunsets, I'll climb more mountains, I'll swim more rivers, I'll go to more places - I've never been, I'll eat more ice creams and less (lime) beans, I'll have more real problems - and less imaginary ones, I was one of those people who live prudent and prolific lives - each minute of his life, Offcourse that I had moments of joy - but, if I could go back I'll try to have only good moments,
If you don't know - thats what life is made of, Don't lose the now!
I was one of those who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, without a hot-water bottle, and without an umberella and without a parachute,
If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the beginning of spring till the end of autumn, I'll ride more carts, I'll watch more sunrises and play with more children, If I have the life to live - but now I am 85, - and I know that I am dying ...
- Jorge Luis Borges
8/3/09
A great talk by the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
8/2/09 A great talk by UK PM, Gordon Brown.
8/1/09
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the smaller ones, And soundness of spirit to know the difference. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." - Victor Hugo
A very special Birthday wish to a very special person in my life, with love.
7/12/09
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning how to dance in the rain." - Unknown
"In Our Darkest Hour In My Deepest Despair Will You Still Care? Will You Be There? In My Trials And My Tripulations Through Our Doubts And Frustrations In My Violence In My Turbulence Through My Fear And My Confessions In My Anguish And My Pains Through My Joy And My Sorrow In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow I'll Never Let You Part For You're Always In My Heart" - Will You Be There, Michael Jackson
7/3/09
"The true beauty is in what we are and not what we try to be." - Arline Malakian, Fashion Photographer
6/13/09
Alone From childhood's hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring. From the same source I have not taken My sorrow; I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone; And all I loved, I loved alone. Then- in my childhood, in the dawn Of a most stormy life- was drawn From every depth of good and ill The mystery which binds me still: From the torrent, or the fountain, From the red cliff of the mountain, From the sun that round me rolled In its autumn tint of gold, From the lightning in the sky As it passed me flying by, From the thunder and the storm, And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view. - Edgar Allan Poe
6/7/09
"If for an instant God forgot that I am just a puppet and He gave me one more piece of life, I would take advantage of that time, the best I could.
I would probably not say everything I think, but definitely think all I say.
I would value things not for what they are worth, but for what they represent.
I would continue where others have stopped and I would rise when others sleep.
If God allowed me one more piece of life, I would dress simpler, would wallow in the sunlight, leaving uncovered not only my body, but also my soul.
I would prove to men how wrong they are to think that they stop falling in love as they get older, since they actually start getting older as soon as they stop falling in love.
I would give wings to children, but I would leave the children alone so that they could learn how to fly on their own.
So many things I have learned from you.......I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain, forgetting that it is how we climb is all that matters.
I have learned that a man has the right to look down on somebody only when he is helping him to get up.
There is always morning where life gives us another opportunity to make things good." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5/13/09 "Music is my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head that only I can hear."
- Shane Fitzgerald, Dublin University Student
5/12/09 "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are."
- Max DePree
5/10/09 Falling in Love One of the most beautiful songs ever made (Boogie Street). I have fallen in love with this music and its creators! We would be very fortunate if we were aware that we are also capable of "falling in love" with so many different things other than just another person. Life would be much easier and happier then. Anything we love and the capacity to love is what really counts.
5/8/09 “To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the earth together, sisters and brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold.“ ~ Archibald MacLeish
5/3/09
A Dream Within A Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand- How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep- while I weep! O God! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? O God! can I not save One from the pitiless wave? Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream? - Edgar Allan Poe
4/25/09 "Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." - Chief Seattle, 1855
4/18/09
CREATIVITY
My lovely niece forwarded this very interesting talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of "Eat, Pray, Love". When I read this book two years ago during some very tough times - and before it became a mega best seller - the book made a tremendous positive impact on me. Ms. Gilbert's fearless writing about her emotional experiences was most captivating. And her talk about creativity and fear in this video is very inspiring.
I believe every person is born with some level of creativity and depending on the life circumstances, some present itself later in life and sadly, most never do. And a lot are buried due to fear.
4/13/09
A Fairy Song
Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire! I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon's sphere; And I serve the Fairy Queen, To dew her orbs upon the green; The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy favours; In those freckles live their savours; I must go seek some dewdrops here, And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. - William Shakespeare
4/4/09 Sometimes life is way too short...
A tribute to one of my best friends - a very special woman - exceptional in every way.
"Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things" - Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal
4/3/09 A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP
"1. You came to me this morning And you handled me like meat. You´d have to be a man to know How good that feels, how sweet. My mirror twin, my next of kin, I´d know you in my sleep. And who but you would take me in A thousand kisses deep?
2. I loved you when you opened Like a lily to the heat. I´m just another snowman Standing in the rain and sleet, Who loved you with his frozen love His second-hand physique - With all he is, and all he was A thousand kisses deep.
3. All soaked in sex, and pressed against The limits of the sea: I saw there were no oceans left For scavengers like me. We made it to the forward deck I blessed our remnant fleet - And then consented to be wrecked A thousand kisses deep.
4. I know you had to lie to me, I know you had to cheat. But the Means no longer guarantee The Virtue in Deceit. That truth is bent, that beauty spent, That style is obsolete - Ever since the Holy Spirit went A thousand kisses deep.
5. (So what about this Inner Light That´s boundless and unique? I´m slouching through another night A thousand kisses deep.)
6. I´m turning tricks; I´m getting fixed, I´m back on Boogie Street. I tried to quit the business - Hey, I´m lazy and I´m weak. But sometimes when the night is slow, The wretched and the meek, We gather up our hearts and go A thousand kisses deep.
7. (And fragrant is the thought of you, The file on you complete - Except what we forgot to do A thousand kisses deep.)
8. The ponies run, the girls are young, The odds are there to beat. You win a while, and then it´s done - Your little winning streak. And summoned now to deal With your invincible defeat, You live your life as if it´s real A thousand kisses deep.
9. (I jammed with Diz and Dante - I did not have their sweep - But once or twice, they let me play A thousand kisses deep.)
10. And I´m still working with the wine, Still dancing cheek to cheek. The band is playing "Auld Lang Syne" - The heart will not retreat. And maybe I had miles to drive, And promises to keep - You ditch it all to stay alive A thousand kisses deep.
11. And now you are the Angel Death And now the Paraclete; And now you are the Savior's Breath And now the Belsen heap. No turning from the threat of love, No transcendental leap - As witnessed here in time and blood A thousand kisses deep.
12. I’m turning tricks, I’m getting fixed, I’m back on Boogie Street. I guess they won’t exchange the gifts That you were meant to keep. And quiet is the thought of you, The file on you complete, Except what we forgot to do, A Thousand Kisses Deep." - Leonard Cohen
Happy Nowruz - Happy New Day with love, peace and joy ∞
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade" - Charles Dickens
3/15/09 THE BIRTH OF FARILODGE It was a year ago on a cold and snowy January day, I was walking through a very long and sterile looking corridors of an airport, when a large poster on the wall called "Winter Lodge" caught my eyes. The picture of the lodge brought an instant warmth to my heart and reminded me of my intention to create a website. At the time though the intention was more like a dream..... But it was at that moment when I thought "farilodge" would make a good name for my website. And two months later "farilodge" was published.
As I have been developing "farilodge", I have tried to maintain the same warm feeling for it that I felt when I saw the large poster at the airport. And I've tried to stay away from dark stories despite what has been going on in the world. I hope every time you visit this Lodge, it continues to bring the same "warm" feeling it's been intended to.
3/8/09
"- IF ..... IF you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, ' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"
- Rudyard Kipling
Today I'm celebrating the day of one of the very special people in my life, and wish him a wonderful Birthday and a year full of joy.
2/21/09 MOMENTS As time goes by, I become more convinced that the true pleasure comes from precious moments that have profound impact on us. The moments of joy which can be cherished till eternity and make life's challenges and hardships worthwhile.
The moment after the birth of a child, a heavenly hug or a kiss; seeing your hero from close distance; watching your child's accomplishment; hearty laugh with family and friends; hearing a kind word or a magical eye contact; and a special "hand shake" that its "warmth" stays with you forever.
2/14/2009 WORDS There are two magical words: "inspiration" and "motivation". We do not always feel them but when they come to us, we must surely be grateful and work hard to get positive result from them. Mine comes from the seemingly small unexpected joyful events, talented minds, music, and arts in all forms created by people and the nature.
2/8/2009
POEM Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, The name of human you cannot retain. - Saadi
2/1/2009 THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN "MALE AND FEMALE BRAIN" A very interesting program on this fascinating subject based on scientific research, by Steve Paikin of "tvo", sent to me by a friend.
My personal point of view in my own plain language is that of course male and female brains are different and ruled by different types of hormones. Nature knew exactly how to create; men were born to be the "hunters" and "providers", hence the "protectors"; and women to be the "child bearers" and "nurturers", hence more capable of showing compassion and be in tune with their emotions. And there is no better or smarter - how can there be when both species were needed?
1/20/2009
When the world needed most, one man with the help of the people who believed in him, proved that hope is true, dreams are real, optimism is possible, and inspiration is magical.
1/17/2009 REFLECTION - A PATH TO SELF-AWARENESS Can we travel through life without real reflection - reflection on ourselves, our past, and our lives? Some people do, either unconsciously afraid to face themselves from within, or try to be "happy go lucky". Some live in turmoil because facing themselves and their past may be too devastating. Some become self-destructive, either because of "reflection" or the lack of it. And some simply do not have the luxury of being able to reflect because their lives are too hard and too painful. Although sometimes "pain" becomes a vehicle for reflection.
I am pondering now which is better and because I have experienced both - to reflect and not to reflect; I have come to the conclusion that "reflection" on ourselves, our lives, and our past outweighs a life without self-awareness. A life without self-awareness is a life with a big hole and a big lie.
1/11/2009 "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." - F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
1/1/2009
Happy New Year with new hopes and new dreams; new beginnings and new blessings. ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥
12/24/08
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
I wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season together with Joy and Love. With the hope that 2009 brings goodness to everyone's life and peace to the world.
12/22/08
LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS COLOURFUL...!
All of my entries on this page have been for most part on a positive note, alas today I would like to share not so positive feelings. Today I am physically in pain, totally exhausted by the extreme freezing temperatures, frustrated over irresponsible people, and totally out of whack. As the purpose of this website was to share my world and my thoughts, it is appropriate to sometimes express my sad feelings as well. The good news is, however, I have learned feelings do not stay and change all the time.
12/12/08 HAPPINESS "Happiness is contagious, and the more people you know who are full of good cheer, the more likely it is that you're also happy, a study of our social connections suggests. In Thursday's online issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers analyzed data from more than 4,700 participants in Framingham, Mass., who took part in a heart study from 1983 to 2003.
The research trove included information on births, marriages, death, divorces and contact information of close friends, co-workers and neighbors of the volunteers, allowing Nicholas Christakis a professor of medical sociology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and his colleagues to assess happiness.
"What we are dealing with is an emotional stampede," Christakis said.
"Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behavior and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
The above excerpt which was posted on Yahoo News, under the title: we must avoid negative people, caught my eyes. While I totally agree that negative people bring negativeness to our minds, I also believe that in reality there is no such thing as "happiness". In my experience "happy, sad, excited, upset, hopeful, angry, etc." are all part of our "emotions" as human beings. All these emotions come and go based on experiences and events in our lives. Nobody can ever completely be in a state of "happiness" and avoid other feelings. How can we appreciate happiness if we do not experience sadness? As long as we are afraid of our emotions, we cannot be in peace with ourselves and that is when we helplessly run towards a mirage. If there is such a thing as "happiness"...... it only comes with the inner peace. And peace comes when we accept ourselves, love and respect who we are, and break the barriers within us; be open to what the universe has to offer; recognize our limitations and our share in life and be grateful.
11/27/08 "Thanksgiving Day comes by statute once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." - Edward Sandford Martin
And this is my addition to that great quote: When we learn to be thankful for what we have and don't constantly dwell on what we don't have - our lives will be full and our hearts will be warm. Above all, we must be grateful for "life" itself which sometimes we tend to take for granted.
11/16/08 "In the endless verdant garden of love, sorrow and joy are not the only fruit. Love lies higher than the trees, than these two, remaining through all seasons green and fresh" - Rumi
I'd like to add that the true beauty of love lies in its many faces - love for so many people, for nature, for creation, and for whatever gives us joy.
11/07/08 HOPE After my travels through the winding roads of life and after my share of good experiences and difficult ones, I've come to believe that hope, optimism and enthusiasm prevail over cynicism, criticism and pessimism. And I wish more people would come to this conclusion at some point in their lives.
How can life possibly be without hope?
11/05/08 We often learn about history by reading books written by historians. It is rare to actually experience it. As I watched with the rest of the world history being made, I tried to capture those amazing and touching moments from my own living room and share it here on my website. It is truly a privilege to have seen this day.
11/04/08 Amid adversities and challenges, life is full of wonderful surprises only if we believe and trust.
11/02/08 "Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself" - George Bernard Shaw
10/28/08 This piece was written to a friend of mine by someone I have also briefly met. As it is very close to my own thoughts, I'd like to share it here. And would like to thank him for letting me. This is to all those who may be in a difficult relationship, or with a broken heart:
"You need to realize that when people reveal themselves, they are showing little pieces of who they are, what they feel, desire...so on. These are gifts in a sense, for us to learn and discover not just about others, but about ourselves too, and this brings us closer to realizations concerning many things. Just watch, learn and listen...and move on when you feel you must. Being here on planet Earth is all about learning and discovering...sometimes good things... sometimes not so good things. Look for the 'signposts' that speak to you and act accordingly.
You walk a very specific road and that is a bright, sunny road with lots of birds, plants, goats, fish, fuzzy bears, crystals, temples, fruits, and friends. One person is never important enough to drag you off that road. And when you find the right person - they will walk with you." -David K.
I love this last sentence!
10/26/08 LEARNING FROM YOUNGER PEOPLE Have you experienced the gratification of learning something from those who are much younger than you are? To see the world through their eyes - the fresh and positive perspective they can offer that sometimes eludes us?
I asked from a young friend and received the best advice I could have hoped for. The advice is to continue my site with its positive theme and avoid adding dark stories - as there are enough in the world around us. That reminded me to add the below which I wrote three months ago:
Remember to cherish the joy of the moments which are brought upon you by simple unexpected pleasures. As simple as they may seem - they hold the spices of life. And they warm our hearts in the cold days and nights.
10/19/08
MOVING FORWARD
From my own personal experience I've learned that one essential way for growth is not to fear the ambiguity of unfamiliar, and to be able to come out of a rot and move forward. We often tend to grab to familiarity and a lot of times are afraid to let go - thinking our only life line is what we know. We stay in a marriage that has turned into misery, a friendship which has gone sour, a relationship which will go nowhere.
Not having the courage to free ourselves from the rot and trust that in front of us there is a vast land of opportunity, which will enable us to grow without the debilitating ties to the current situation.
Fear of loneliness is another preventive factor which often forces us to stay in a rot, not being aware that it is in fact more lonely than being on our own and free. Not being aware of the blessings of freedom.
There are always new friends, new partners, and new chances. One can only continue to learn and grow from new and from going forward.
10/14/08 I am very pleased and proud to be able to add this poem to this page. This beautiful poem was written by an eleven year old whose older sister has been suffering from a rare disease, and whose journey and challenges through her illness has touched so many lives and hearts:
"The Secret Hiding Spot On The 15th Floor
Deep in the hotel You and me both know The secret club house Down beneath the spa Is the greatest thing you and me have ever seen Candy over here Laptops over there Clothes to our right Flat screen to the left How you get there, that's a different question Go down the hall Go up the elevator to the 15th floor Turn right turn left There you will see a dead end with 5 windows and one door I know what you are thinking No brainer go through the door Not right my friend But choose the window with the golden curtain Behind that curtain is your dream Your dream of a lifetime The new kids world " - Madeleine 7/2008
10/7/08
GRAND CANYON
Every country, every city and every spot is special in its own way and has its own beauty and wonder, but I felt closest to God when I recently visited the Grand Canyon and I feel privileged to have been able to. "So fertile was your grace.....that all things came from it".
Below is the best description of this wondrous creation:
"No language can fully describe, no artist paint the beauty, grandeur, immensity and sublimity of this most wonderful production of Nature's great architect. Grand Canyon must be seen to be appreciated." - C.O. Hall, Grand Canyon visitor - 1895
I would like to share some of the photos I took.
9/21/08 "Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." - Buddha
9/20/08
MEMORIES
Can you ever picture life without our memories? We all have memories - some painful, some wonderful. The painful ones we have learned from (hopefully), the happy ones warm our hearts when remembered. Memories which were caused either by events out of our control, or by our own actions. Five years ago today I lost a chance because of my own action. At the time the chance was significant but I learned more about myself than all the other years of my life had taught me. Today the loss is only a memory - a memory to reflect on and remember the good things that it helped surface as a result. Wouldn't life be like a blank page in front of our eyes without our memories?
9/16/08 Tribute to Richard Wright of Pink Floyd 1943-2008 (an immense loss to the music world)
"Richard joined the great gig in the sky, of this he can be sure. he is untied, beautified and loved for evermore"
9/5/08 MUSIC A younger relative of mine recently borrowed my latest album of Mark Knopfler and wrote me this message: "I fell IN LOVE with it after I listened to it. I rarely come across music that touches me deeply. I'm so grateful for it. I envy the relationship you have with music, you have found and collected so much of it that fits you and speaks to you. Well, I guess this is an addition to my small but increasing collection".
And because music is a big part of my life, I found her note very touching and this is my response to her: I do consider myself blessed as my love for music has been a major element to sustain me through some turbulences of life over the years, and I cherish this gift.
8/31/08 I just wrote this to a friend of mine then I thought I might as well add it to this page:
You must remember that one heartbreak should NOT keep you down for a long time and that it is part of life and living. You must prepare yourself for few more heartbreaks throughout your life. These are the experiences that make life interesting and remind us that we are ALIVE! These are called the "spices" of life. We are actually lucky if we experience heartbreaks, as it means that we are capable of falling in love...
Can you imagine life without love?? How flat life would be if the only experiences to be the real challenges of survival - without those occasional fast heartbeats when blood rushes into our faces - and which are the only factor that even age cannot prevent them from happening?!
One of the biggest challenges of life is to be able to feel "alive" and not just to "live".
8/29/08 "I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail - sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
8/17/08 I read this line in the blog of a mother whose child is critically ill, yet her strength and courage has deeply affected me which I'd like to share: "The worst can actually happen, but the best is always still to come".
8/16/08 “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life -that word is Love” – Sophocles
8/8/08 A poem sent to me by my friend in NY:
Traveler "From whence do you come? And where do you go? The moon has set, But the sun has not yet risen. In the chaos of darkness before the dawn Seeking the light, I advance To dispel the dark clouds from my mind To find a great tree unbowed by the tempest I emerge from the earth."
8/3/08
"We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Through the unknown, remembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; At the source of the longest river The voice of the hidden waterfall And the children in the apple-tree Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Quick now, here, now, always- A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything) And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well When the tongues of flame are in-folded Into the crowned knot of fire And the fire and the rose are one." - T.S. Eliot
7/25/08
Amid the challenges, and ups and downs of life - after a hard day at work; what is more pleasurable than a good and solid rock concert?
- A good and solid rock concert!!!
Where few thousand people become one with the music. When for 2-3 hours the sense of time and place cease to exist and nothing matters but the sheer and power of the music and the musicians capable of delivering such magic...
The day you were born, a bright new star lit up my world...
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥
Today I celebrate that magical day, and you.
7/12/08 Four months ago when I published my website, the following was what I wrote on this page:
"We were having dinner with a young friend of mine and discussing love and relationship (what else is new?). She was hesitant on whether it is possible to love someone for what the person may be underneath and probably afraid to show. This was my one cent worth to her: when you love; love them for who they are and as they are. Don't love anyone for who they may be underneath, or who they may become later. "Underneath" may never surface, and "later" may never come. She didn't quite agree though and the subject is pending further discussion."
We did not discuss the subject since, until few days ago when she emailed me the following:
"I came to your conclusion. You are right and to further explain it to myself, I remind myself life is all about the present moment. So, if what I love to see in a person is not there - it is simply not there."
This is very touching to hear because it takes courage and maturity for a younger person to overcome her pride and say what she said. It also makes me happy for her because when we are in a relationship, we often waste our time by expecting, hoping, anticipating and not quite focusing on what there is and what is real.
7/4/08 "The constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness, you have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin
6/30/08
LOVE
A good friend of mine just reminded me how precious "love" is, and of course it has not been described better than below:
"When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you, believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you, so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth, so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant. And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you, that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart. But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears." - Kahlil Gibran
Beautiful - though it had never occurred to me that "love" is a "he"...
6/15/08
I've come to believe that some of the people we encounter in our lifetime, are each a different mirror reflecting a piece of us - some a larger piece and some a tiny piece. Therefore, I'd like to add this lovely story to this page:
"Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty, was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. When he died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears. - Why do you weep? The goddesses asked. - I weep for Narcissus, the lake replied. - Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus, they said, for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand. - But ... was Narcissus beautiful? The lake asked. - Who better than you to know that? The goddesses said in wonder. - After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself! The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said: - I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that he was beautiful. - I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected." - Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
6/8/08
I see life as the sea and the people all passengers on a ship sailing through, trying to reach the shore.
When sometimes in life it seems nothing is going right, there is tightness in our chests - we only see darkness on the horizon; when we feel the walls are caving in and there is no room to breathe; we are lost and afraid to make any decisions - uncertain of the future; that is the time to have faith in the waves of life, and let the sails take us where we are supposed to be. And trust that we will reach the shore and will be in a good place.
Isn't life a voyage after all - sometimes on the turbulent waves and incurring wrath of the sea? And by the same token, a lot of times sailing through smoothly without the powerful waves?
5/25/08
PASSION
Some people say it's money that makes the world go round; some say it's love; others say it's sex; and some may say it's ambition. I say it's passion - passion for who we are, for people we love, for what we do, what we eat, see, hear, and for our dreams. Passion for the beauties of the world - for life. Nothing is more alluring than passion that travels within us and surfaces through our emotions. Lucky are those who are not afraid to show their passion and can live by it.
5/18/08 I received this link today and thought how perfect and appropriate it is to what I experienced and wrote a week ago.
5/10/08 One of the most rewarding experiences in life is when people around you recognize and appreciate you for who you really are - when they can see through you and acknowledge your qualities; knowing of course that we all have our weak points. A fact always known to me, but an incident last week reinforced how profoundly touching and invaluable this is. Because it is very rare.
5/15/08 A beautiful contribution to my site from a friend in New York:
A Stranger
"My mind wonders aloud, it says, what are you? Can you hear trumpets blowing? Short bursts mixed with deep long notes that cling on the edge. I don’t recognize the melody, do you? It creeps through the passages in my mind. With each beat I feel my senses slowly stirring. Is it the longing which was missing in years of passing? I say in silence, not moving lips, and who are you? Do I want to explore this sensual beating slowly filling my mind?
This stranger that teases my essence I do not want. Be gone stranger. I yearn not to explore new feelings. You are not needed in this space of time. Confusion I want not I repeated. Quickly distance myself, hurry before it blankets and consumes me. Block the passages with distance thoughts. Let in rage and sorrow to quell new feelings. I pray in silence let me go.
It’s too late this darkness befalling. I am captured, losing my strength to this stranger. Be gone I repeat. Why do you do this? What good am I to you? The grand stage you play I am no prize. Release me I beg you dark stranger. There are others worthy of your attention.
Have you heard my pleas? I see beams of lights seeping through passages in my mind. Are you releasing me I pray?
I turn, who opened the damn door? I’ve changed my mind. I’m yours you creep!"
5/2/08 "Out of this noise here comes stillness, out of this chaos here comes the order, out of this language, out of these words, ............ out of patience, out of deep - out of courage, out of me, out of reason, out of truth, out of courage.........." - L.Rain
After a tough day, what other words can have such calming effect?
5/1/08 "The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been." - Unknown
4/22/08 "Not knowing everything can be an asset when you are creating, because you are not limited by what you think is impossible" - Jaime Hayon
4/15/08
"My soul turned its face to that happy place, The land of peace where questioning cease; The mystery, that till now from me, Thousand veils concealed, my soul revealed." - Rumi
3/29/08 CONSERVING ENERGY It's half hour into the Earth Hour and I'm sitting with lit candles and my computer unplugged, listening to songs from iTunes. I hope all those who were able to honor the Earth Hour to conserve electricity, have done so. It is in fact quite enjoyable. How wonderful it is to be able to sit with candle lights and still be connected to the rest of the world! I hope we practice this great cause more often.
3/21/08
SPRING
I picked up a book from my book shelf today of Shakespeare's Sonnets, to look for a particular one which I love, to add to this page. I opened the book, and the book opened to this Sonnet. How appropriate I thought since it's the beginning of spring.
This is for all those who are dear to me but far from me at this time of the year:
"From you have I been absent in the spring, When proud-pied April (dressed in all his trim) Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing, That heavy Saturn laughed and leapt with him. Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell of different flowers in odour and in hue, Could make me any summer's story tell, or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew; Nor did I wonder at the lily's white, Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose; They were but sweet, but figures of delight, Drawn after you, you pattern of all those. Yet seemed it winter still, and, you away, As with your shadow I with these did play."
- Shakespeare
3/16/08 It was a year ago on a cold February day - I met with a friend and he said he was thinking to write lyrics for a song for his musician son. He said he wants to write about the "wind". I was surprised : "Why about the wind?" I exclaimed! After we parted, I wrote this and to this date I don't know where it came from! Considering that I am not a poet, it is worth having it on this page:
THE WIND My mind is blown away by the sound of the wind coming my way reminding me of its way when I was missing you so much today. And the wind whispering in my ears, it will blow my wish your way, whispering in your ears the secrets my heart has to say, while you are so close to my heart and yet far away. Yet the wind has promised to make its way and I've put my trust in the wind - knowing it's the only way to bring my precious love close someday for true love fails to ever fade away.
3/15/08
While I was building this site over a month and a half, I've been contemplating on how to begin this page. I'd like to share a recent experience.
We were having dinner with a young friend of mine and discussing love and relationship (what else is new?) She was hesitant on whether it is possible to love someone for what the person may be underneath and probably afraid to show.
This was my one cent worth to her: when you love; love them for who they are and as they are. Don't love anyone for who they may be underneath, or who they may become later. "Underneath" may never surface, and "later" may never come.
She didn't quite agree though and the subject is pending further discussion.
