Religion?

What is religion? For me, it is something that people have created so that they could be divided, or to cause unlimited conflicts. In Lebanon, I really don't understand why some people are still so closed minded and classify one another because of religion. I just can't understand why there is so much hate between people sharing the same nation. How can we progress and live in peace when we still ask about our neighbor's beliefs?

This issue is affecting me so much lately, when at some point I thought that we lived in a beautiful world. I can't believe that under one roof there can still be many issues starting from religion. I heard my parents whispering "oh does Samira have friends from another religion? etc..." And that literally broke my heart because they're being very judgmental.

I sometimes forget to ask my friends about their religious views, maybe because I just care about them as people and not as what or where they belong to. But there is one thing for sure, I prefer being around people that consider themselves as "citizens of the world" which has no boundaries and where only love and respect exist.

I really hope that I will still be alive when Lebanese people stop classifying each other and concentrate on solidarity. Despite all this, I'm glad that I keep meeting people that think the same way, which means that the mentality change is already taking place.

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" - John Lennon.

Oh It's Such A Perfect Day!

A song that has been playing on my mind today is "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed. I've been longing for some time to have that perfect day, when I can go "drink sangria in a park, feed animals in the zoo, then later a movie too..." as it is mentioned in this song.

Due to the fact that I live in the city, and I somehow like it, I feel in need to get away from the pollution of urbanization and the noise that it causes. I think it's time for me to go and spend some quality time alone in the mountains and recharge my lungs with oxygen, walk around while listening to the birds and the frogs singing. I want to pick up an apple right from the tree, drink from the source, and run between the trees while getting lost in the forest...

I want to go, runaway, and get lost with my dear friend Solitude.

Here is the song that has been stuck in my head all day long:

Just a perfect day
drink sangria in a park
and then later
when it gets dark we go home
Just a perfect day
feed animals in the zoo
then later a movie, too
and then home

Oh it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
oh such a perfect day you just keep me hangin on
you just keep me hangin on

just a perfect day
problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
it's such fun
just a perfect day
you make me forget myself
I thought I was someone else
someone good

You're going to reap just what you sow

The Need To Write.

For the past two days I have been feeling a weird energy and an urge to write. Maybe I am encouraged by Meedo because he has just launched his blog :)

A few years ago, I used to write in French on a notebook, and I would tear every page apart and throw it away. My favorite teacher at school encouraged me to write (of course in French), and I remember her telling me that "it will make me grow". But I never really understood what she meant until recently. I really miss writing in French and I love that language, but it is very frustrating to type it on the keyboard!

Right now I am allowing myself to travel through my thoughts and what I see is a vision of Rue Monot and I don't know why (this happens to me a lot). I see myself wandering through that street during the day looking for "A Teacher". At this point in my life, I really feel the need to learn from a wise person a little bit of everything. I am very sure that I am capable of doing many things, but what is missing is orientation.

Discovering my "Gifts" is what matters to me at the moment. Maybe writing, is not among them, but I will make sure to write about them once I figure them out!

The Change Opener.

One of my favorite quotes is by Katharine Butler Hathaway that goes: "A person needs at intervals to separate from family and companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be open to influences, to change". This quote made me understand that being stubborn and hanging on to some ideas may lead to stagnation. So no change means no progress.

When the river flows its water changes, life is created, and golden lines of light shine on its surface.

On a warm August eve in 2009, I met Meedo, a man that changed my life when I saw his soul shining like crystal and reflecting wisdom into mine. On that night I remember telling my best friend Hala: "Did you see that man wearing glasses and carrying his camera in a protected case? Well I just know that all I want is to be with him". Fortunately, that is what happened. Then I prayed so I could be able to change his life and mine for the best with love.

On January 2010, Meedo decided to go on a trip to India with one of his best friends called Corinne. They stayed in Kerala - South of India - at an Ashram for one month. All I can say is that Meedo left Lebanon knowing that he was ready to open for changes. When he got back all I could see was the biggest smile he ever had. He started to tell me some stories about his life changing trip and about the great time he spent there while meeting new people, chanting, meditating, learning yoga, taking pictures, reading and so many other activities...

From this short story I can refer once again to Hathaway's quote and understand that we all need to get away from our daily routine and meet new faces so we could change our perceptions, bring new ideas, and take new challenges so we could have new goals to reach. Looking into the real world from the outside can help us see our weaknesses in it and that can be an opportunity to make us grow stronger.

The above picture was taken by Meedo in New Orleans. It shows how similar we are to this window: it can be opened or closed depending on the season. Its blurry reflections could change depending the light, people who walk by might not see it, some others might see it and be indifferent, as others might stop and think of how beautiful it is...

For me it is easier to analyse other people's experiences rather than mine, so I try to learn from them. All these stories made me realize that nobody can change you except yourself.