So Far So Good

I have not yet reviewed 2008 or set my resolution for 2009. Ha! Three months of 2009 passed & I still don't know where I stand. Its OK I am still in my transitional period.

Lucky me in two days I have my Personal New Year a.k.a my birthday. I decided that at least I could list what I have enjoyed in life so far. Off we go:

• Traveled to 125 cities in 24 countries in 4 continents. (dream in progress).
• Swam with dolphins in Malta (a dream coming true).
• Slided down the third highest water slide in the world in Fortaleza, Brazil. Can't claim I am a super hero woman I didn't find the courage to do the highest.
  
• Played in Disney World on all scary rides “as claimed”, loved Soarin & Twilight Tower most.
  
• Went by seaplane to Victoria.
• Flew in a glider with and without an engine.
• Went for Whales Watching trip. Awesome!
• Swam in Dead Sea the lowest point on earth.
• Swam in the hot springs of the volcanic islet of Palea Kameni, Santorini and climbed to the top of the still-active volcano.
  
• Prepared Prawns for exporting with locals in Palau Ketam (Crab Island) in Malaysia.
• Rode a go kart, motorcycle, scooter, & dune buggy.
• Went in slingshot for the first time in my life three times in a Row.
  
• Walked on Capilano - the world's longest suspension bridge.
• Tried several water sport: parasailing up to 100 meter, jet ski, kayaking, surfing, & diving.
• Prayed in Mosque, Church, Hundo, temple, Chinese Temple, not sure if I did in others.
• Went camping in a tent on sea shore.
  
• Tasted yumy yumy seafood, to name a few: sardines, anchovies, mackerel, smelt, kalamari, cuttlefish, Octopus, sword fish, tuna, lobster, crab, prawn, shrimp, bream, salmon, mussels, cod, clams, sea urchin. Some I ate alive & some with head (work in progress).
• Lived by sea side for almost 6 years. (a dream coming true).
• Stayed in Acqua Verde hotel in Istanbul. My sanctuary.

I can't complain that I have not lived :-)
What's more? for sure more adrenaline pumping

• Travel, Travel, Travel
  
• Sky diving
• Punji Jump
• Safari (place not defined yet)
• Watch Cirque Du Soleil
• Sliding the highest water slide in the world! Whom I am kidding?

The best is yet to come. Cheers.

I hope you dance

No matter when or how many times I hear this song I become silent. Silent for what it inspires..

• Not to take anything or granted - I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. May you never take one single breath for granted

• To be humble - I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean

• Hope - Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. When you come close to selling out Reconsider. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance

• To live life fully - Never settle for the path of least resistance . Wants to look back on their youth and wonder Where those years have gone.

There is nothing more I could wish for anyone but to take chances and & get the most out of his/her life. Don't settle for less than what you want.

I hope you dance … Dance

A Tradition I Cherish

I owe my father for a lot of things in my life, but one of the things that brings comfort & sense of belonging to me is “Friday Breakfast”.

Friday starts by buying FOOD: Hummus, Foul, Falafel, Fatteh, Bread, Eggs, Cheese & much more. Then going home & preparing everything as a team; one would cut vegetables, another would cook Allayet Pandora, etc... We were the owner of the kitchen.

We grew up & started to find all the excuses not to wake up early on a Friday (who on earth want to!) or to prepare or even to attend. Yet, we didn't succeed! No matter what we would do somehow we ended up back in the Kitchen on a Friday Morning.

Then after passing the rebellious stage we figured out that it is better to enjoy it than to fight it :-) so we started inviting our special friends over for this breakfast. I forgot to mention that after eating until knocked down comes the magical nap - a very easy thing to happen taking into consideration the side effect of Foul & Falafel. Each one of us has his own spot on a sofa in the living room with TV switched on and if the weather permits the window will be open to let in a cool breath that lets us drift away into calmness!

Some years ago dad moved abroad for a long period ... No we didn't skip it at all :-) our friends & boyfriends/girlfriends started to be part of this ritual of graping the stuff from supermarket & bakery, preparing food, even adding new dishes & flavors.

Now, we have our second generation asking dad if today is a Friday? I think this breakfast is a witness of our life.

Me, I plan my trips back to Amman in a way that allows me to attend as much Fridays as I can. I don't leave after the breakfast I still need to to take my nap in that same sofa with TV on & all talking around me. How deep I sleep!

This ritual is one of my moments of life that I do cherish.

Jordanian Bloggers

Recently I started to read some blogs of people who live in Jordan. I admit I was ignorant & absorbed with an idea that in Jordan we just take certificates without real knowledge & intellect. And our only concern in life is what we own, how we look, and who we know. These blogs proved me wrong. I could not be happier.
I enjoyed reading these blogs because they reflect our culture, tackle our concerns, courageous, and some were really funny. Which I really miss listening to & discussing.

Home Alone..Not The Movie

Ya, I know I am a person that really enjoys herself without people's company & I am myself best friend. But I love the company of joyful, interesting friends. A tiny reason for having friends is that I enjoy laughing on my goofiness with them. Trust me I have plenty.

Being back here in Amman for such a long period (3 months) made me feel very alone. With no like-minded friends I am spending most of the time Home Alone.

I am fully aware of why I reached this stage.. it doesn't hit me as a surprise; Simply:
- I had best friends who didn't know my full story, then quitting on them slowly for a reason they have no clue about;
- leaving Jordan; &
- living abroad in two different countries with extensive business trips.

What do I expect to have friends dropping from the sky!

The issue now is:
1.Who makes new friends at 37! No comments of whats so ever
2.How can I manage to meet new people in Amman? Is it worthy! I have less than one more month here.
3.If it is worthy, where can I find such “like-minded” people?
4.How can I avoid having the same problem in Canada once I settle there?

What do I mean by “Like-minded” friends:
- Open minded & liberal
- Joyful & love to play
- Have love for culture, books, travel, other interests of their own
- Take their share of responsibility in life i.e. live for a cause
- Accept people for who they are
- I'd feel comfortable and happy around


I don't want to be desperate for friendship, I trust it will come on its own time.

My Gratitude List

I am grateful for my transitional period; for the time to relax; travel; explore; reflect and connect with people I care of.
I am grateful for my health; I have never been healthier.
I am grateful for my ability to think clearly, to grow, and to help myself.
I am grateful for my curiosity and hunger to know more.
I am grateful for my knowledge & intelligence.
I am grateful for my ability to take decisions and be in charger of my life.
I am grateful for my ability to dream & make these dreams come true.
I am grateful for my goofiness.
I am grateful for my caring Baba.
I am grateful for having someone to share my life with.
I am grateful for my relation with my nephews and niece; they are filling me with warmth & joy.
I am grateful for my sister/ best friend; for trusting me of what she values most in her life.
I am grateful for my mom for being nice.
I am grateful for the health of my family & friends.
I am grateful for Leens presence in my life.
I am grateful for my house & my financial comfort.
I am grateful for going to the gym every day.
I am grateful for the books, articles and blogs I am reading.
I am grateful for the documentaries I am watching.
I am grateful the the series that helped me to understand myself better.
I am grateful for what I have achieved so far in my life.
I am grateful to blog my kharabeesh again..
I am grateful for who I am; out of mind & total mess :-)

The Quest For My Passion

“There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few that will catch your heart . . . Pursue those.” Anonymous


I am in a stage where:
1- I have accomplished much in my life on different levels i.e. education, career, & more.
2- But now I am in a point where the dreams and goals I pursued in my life have either been accomplished or don’t seem appealing anymore.
3- I have a wonderful life and yet something is missing. Simply I am dissatisfied & restless. What shall I do with the rest of my life? How can I make the most of my years to come! (Is this what they call mid life career crisis? :-))
4- I want to use my experience, knowledge, and talent to make a difference in some way and to enjoy it!

This is my puzzle! What catches my heart?

All I know in this moment is that this passion; has to make my life satisfying and fulfilling, matters to me, is intellectual & cultural, and can make at least a slight difference in the world.

"If" by Kipling, 1895

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!

Occupation 101: Voice of the Silenced Majority

I wanted to watch Occupation 101 for some time, finally tonight I managed.
Really I will recommend this movie to everyone one whether they are ignorant of this subject or not.



The movie tackles straight forward the root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is occupation. It is one of the few movies that tells the story of the Palestinian side & starts right from the beginning of the the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880's, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, settlement expansion, the second Intifada (2000), and the Apartheid Wall. The film also details life under Israeli military rule, and the direct role of the United States in the conflict.

The credibility of the movie stems from some of the most credible Middle East scholars, historians, peace activists, and journalists, and humanitarian, including Noam Chomsky, Cindy & Craig Corrie, Jeff Halper, Amira Hass, Rashid Khalidi, Ilan Pappe, and others.

It is worth watching.
http://www.occupation101.com/about.html

Value of what we have

I am wondering why some people don't appreciate what they have in life until they lose it. How they can't be grateful and thankful... How they can not live it and enjoy it.