Happy Birthday to me

Today is my 43rd Birthday.  Life has been like a blink of an eye. I was looking at my 20th birthday pictures. I could not believe time has passed so fast. I realized that if I stay alive I may go back and look at these days pictures and feel the same way in 20 years. I have to live life to the fullest and enjoy the little joys of life as much as possible. We all get cut up in daily life and our routines but sometimes should just slow down feel the moments and take a deep breath.
My plan for this year is to enjoy more, worry less and live the good moments:)

2016

I have not updated my blog for about 6 months now. I think I have been lazy and lost my motivation.
Just remembered to check in and felt like writing a post.
2016 has just started, Time flies is not enough any more to describe how fast it goes.
2015 was a good year, not too exciting but not bad at all for our family but it was bad for lots of people in the world like poor Syreans. It is so sad to see savages like ISIS are destroying their homes and killing them. I think they are the worst.

Anyway I really hope this year is a better year for the whole world and we get another Democrat president otherwise it is hard to imagine that it becomes a better world!!

I had a chance to do some good deeds during the last couple days of 2015, helping a family member and also a friend that needed my help so much. Thank god that I could be there for them. I think love, giving and compassion give us better purpose for life and keep us hopeful for future days.

Have a great 2016, try to do good as much as possible. Sometime we are tested by universe. We have to give to be able to receive.

Miss Tehran

Last time that I visited Iran was 5 years ago. I miss my brother who still lives in Tehran so much,  we were so close growing up. I wish he would live here too.
Yesterday I was chatting with one of my old friends who lives in Tehran and is still single. She is in touch with some old classmates and was talking about them. She told me how much Tehran and people are changed even in last couple of years. I felt I missed Tehran and my brother so much. We are so far from Iran! I envy people that live in Eutope, it is just 5 hours flight for them. For us is about  30 hours between the flights and lay overs!! And is expensive too. Last time that I went with my husband and kids we ended up spending $10000!
I wish I just could go myself alone for 10 days!! See my brother, some old friends go to my favorite restaurants and places and come back.
When you are married and have kids your hands in tight in any decision:(

Best Friends

Recently I have come to conclusion that my mom and my husband are my real best friends.
I can talk and nag about any thing on my mind with them and even if I am reapting myself (I sometimes do) they still listen without judging me and give their honest openion.
I may not like it but I at least know that they are honest about it!
2 very close friends that I assumed as my best friends for along time showed me over time that they were not as honest with me as I thought and overall they were very different people than me. I am not saying that your best friend should be like you but you have to have common interests and moral values. Any way I have good friends around me but the best ones are my Mom and my husband:)

Compliments and Positive thoughts

I had to see my Doctor yesterday. He is a great doctor and has a fantastic office staff. They are always nice and helpful. If you call them and need to see the doctor they will try to squeeze you in between the patients. Any how when I was checking in, I noticed that the nice secretary looked tired. I told her, "Micheal, this is the best doctor office and I really appreciate all your help"
Her face opened to a big smile and said thank you for mentioning that.
I have learned especially recently to share my positive thoughts and compliments with people.
In Iraninan culture people are not complementing overall, is either out of shyness or jealousy but in U.S. I see that most of the people are complimenting and share their nice thoughts with you.
If you have a positive thought just share it, it make a difference in other people's life and in your relationship with others:)

Nowruz

Today is the 12th day of Persian New Year. We survived the whole winter without any cold or flu
But right on the first day of Persian New year we got sick one after another and missed the Nowruz party too, it was a Nasty sickness especially for me. I hope the rest of the year is not like that. For us that live abroad the calendar is the west Calendar and although we celebrate our own New Year too but still the real New year wanting it or not is the west New Year. For immigrants from our generation every thing is mixed up and  not quite in its own place. I think this applies to the first generation of any immigrants from any nationality. You get sometimes lost between your own culture and your adopting country's culture! No matter how much you try to adjust and balancr your life. I think deep inside especially for us Iranians every once in while we wish every thing was better in iran and there was more freedom and comfort and we could live in the country that we have roots in! But thank god that I have a good life in my new adopting country and we can freely celebrate whatever we want here. Freedom is a big advantage in life that I personally appreciate snd cherish a lot.

Happy Nowruz (Persian New Year)

Happy Holidays

Another year is ending. Time flies indeed!
2014 was a fine year for me and my family. Thank god no major problem or sickness. The most important thing is that we are all relatively healthy and together.
It was not a peaceful year for the world though. I truly hope that New Year is a more peaceful year for the whole world.

I had a great vacation to Alaska this year with my family and I loved it. I read some good books and saw good movies. I enjoyed my kids and loving them more and more every day.

Where ever you are, I wish you a great holiday season and a great New year.