Be water my friend

You left a hole in our hearts and filled yours with our tears.

Rest in peace Soheil. You are greatly missed.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the weather mild and springy. There were more people in the funeral home than it could properly host. Two big service rooms and the hall way were all full and overflowing with people sitting and standing around. Yet everyone quietly and peacefully was mourning, and crying. The atmosphere was oddly peaceful, as if you were floating around, happily greeting each and every single friend and family, the unique way you used to do. We could feel your presence and your always contagious smile and delightful gaze. We could not see you but we could easily picture you. Googoosh was singing sadly for you. Your haft-seen table was on your right, the flag of Iran on you, a big picture of you with your family to your left. Brenda had arranged everything just as you would have liked it. She had picked poems and quotations from your favorite poets and characters. Cecilia was playing around just as you loved to watch her. Everything was perfect; Except that we did not see you; Well we almost did. Your twin brother was a carbon copy of you. I do not know how many people greeted him with a mixture of sad-confused-happy look as I did. He was too kind just like you. He was playing you. He was you there, and he promised to be there for your wife and kid.

Soheil. So many of our hearts are broken; but somehow you managed to calm us down yesterday; even when you were gone. You showed us what a great life you had; How many wonderful people you were surrounded with. You were telling us, do not cry, I had a great life. You reminded us over and over "Your cup was always empty, be water my friend!"

Soheil

Soheil! What happened? Where is your beautiful smile? Your cubical is so unbearable without you. I was going to send email for our new year's outing. How can I do it without you with us this year? Soheil! I cannot believe you are gone. I got a forwarded email. I was hoping some stupid secretary made another stupid mistake when copying and pasting a name from the directory. I went to see you in your cubical. Cecilia's picture is there. Your notes, nicely organized papers are there. Your love and passion for life is there. I looked at your cubical, I faced your office mate questionably, he nodded yes, I broke down.

Soheil! What happened?

http://www.soheilphotography.com/#!/soheil

استدلال منطقى

من اگر روزى كاره اى شدم، گذراندن دوره استدلال منطقى را براى همگان اجبارى ميكنم، حد اقل در سيستم آموزشى. امتحانهايم هم اينطورى خواهند بود:

كدام گزينه در مورد اين گذاره صحيح است:

1) درست
2) نادرست
3) نميدانم


پ. ن. كم كم هم ميخواهم دم در خونه ام بزنم اگر منطق نميدانيد، وارد نشويد!

ديروز روز خيلى خوبى بود.

ديروز روز خيلى خوبى بود. خيلى خيلى خوب! از اون اول صبحش، تا ناهار ظهرش، تا نصف شبش! روزى كه هنرمند بلندتر از همه حرف زد. روزى كه خوبى، تلاش، اميد، بلندپروازى و خوب كار كردن، بر ياس و ناميدى، كوته انديشى، دست از كار كشيدن، مردن در عين زنده بودن چيره شد و به دنيا عرض اندام كرد. ديروز روز خيلى خوبى بود.

Inspire the power inside

The truth is, it is hard to enjoy the moment for the analytical mind, that cannot stop analyzing, modeling, and predicting the future based on the data that is present. It is also hard to be patient for the desired outcome. If one cannot wait for a flower to bloom, a chicken to come out of the eggshell, an idea to develop, one can easily destroy the plant by watering it too much, giving it too much fertilizer, or breaking the eggshell by accidentally dropping it or stepping on it, as a result of caring too much for it. One can easily destroy the possibilities of great innovations, outcomes, accomplishments, relationships as a result of wanting to get to a destination too fast or not wanting to participate in a slow and steady, yet rewarding, process.

I have to remind myself to enjoy the moment. To just give enough love and care, continuously and gently, before killing a flower that has not even blossomed. I also have to receive enough care and love, for the same flower can die in absence of sun light, air, or water. Maintaining this balance of give and take of energy, life, love, care, and attention is hard, but crucial to sustainability of the life of anything we aim to keep alive.

I was reminded of this fact through this quote, whose origin is unknown to me:

"When an egg breaks by a power outside, a life ends. When an egg breaks by a power inside, a life begins. Great things always begin from the power inside!"

People can be inspired to do great things, but they cannot be forced to do so.

My moon

You said you are from the Moon dynasty.
Somehow I was not surprised,
My moon.

Silence

Then there was silence.
Followed by an embrace.
Not the kind that is exchanged at goodbyes,
But the kind from the one who stays.