Constantly Seeking Inspiration

If You Should Ever Stumble Upon This...

If You Should Ever Stumble Upon This...

Believe it.

Farida

 

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Please Add "Love It List" To My Category Cloud

Because I have so much time to create lists and little time to execute them, I decided, on one of  the busiest evenings I have had in a long time, I would noodle around and compose a list that really would not create any anxiety. Yes, nothing to cross off and get done with. For once a list I can just throw out into the universe and walk fancy free. Finally through the miracle of blogging I bring to you my "Love It" list. So let's welcome my first "list" on my blog.

Welcome List, Nice to meet you. :)

Love it List for June 29, 2009

by Farida Rafique

1. Burning calories.
2. The extra 15 minutes of sleep after you hit the snooze button. Sleep glutton.
3. Completing each others sentences. I bet you knew I was going to say that? Right, Ditto, For sure..
4. Finding an old postcard from light years ago.
5. Rose attar
6. When someone gives you the same advice you gave them previously, word for word.
7. Gunmetal colored Italian vehicles. yes, that is art. Something so sexy about a Maserati.
8. Recreating a whole coffeehouse experience in your cozy nook; complete with whole bean fresh ground coffee, Beethoven, and my over washed comfy hoodie.
9. Citrus fruit. In all forms. Love seedless candy like oranges, ruby red grapefruit, limes in lentil soups, lemonade, lemon zest on sole, and lets not forget portable sunshine in clementines.
10. Driving down a canyon to a never ending blue ocean..
11. Embracing your inner- nerd. Nerds rawk.
12. Fluffy Maine Coons that blend into the rug
13. Camellia Japonica. In bloom right now.
14. Red lipstick. It's back. Put away for a while, but it's back.
15. Jeff Buckley "So Real" on loop
16. Handwriting; Cursive.
17. Courier 12 pt. (an oldie but a goodie)
18. Understanding a second language
19. Jig saw puzzles
20. "Life is given to us, we earn it by giving it." (Tagore)

We Are the World: Fans say Good-bye

A little over due, but still not too late. I documented these moments last month. Fans, from near and far, say good-bye to a Musical genius.

For complete photo sets please visit my flickr page:

The Day MJ Left Us  and We Are the World

I appreciate it. All of it.

Really wanted to say this today. I know I feel this way more than I say it. So if you stumble upon this post, please don't glaze over it. I mean it. Thank You.

Why? Everything that has happened up till now has been a part of my process. I wouldn't change anything ever. All the highs, all the lows, and all the in-between times are blessings. One million and one blessings. I wouldn't change one hurt, one single challenge ever, because it prompted growth.

Am I being mushy? Do I care? Does it matter? Just wanted to thank every being in my life up till now. The biggest being, the Creator, and all the Love I have ever experienced.

I am truly grateful. So Thank You. Did I close a deal? Did I create life? Did I make a profit of 15 million? Did I see miracles? Every day is a miracle. Every day is a day that speaks volumes. A day that has added to my dialogue, to my characters, to my message and to my being. Too abstract to understand? Do you read on the surface? Do you read in between the lines? Do you pick apart paragraphs? Do you deconstruct thoughts? Do you peel away layers? Think.

Gratitude. Plain and simple. I chose to express it more externally today. Why you may ask? Why not? They say a smile is contagious. I'm coining gratitude contagious. Let it spread like a field of flowers. Let it grow in our hearts. Remember, (oh, and I remind myself this too when I need it) it can always be worse. Focus on what's right, what's in control, what is working for you. Work on what's not and keep your eye on the prize, your mind on your goal and your heart open to gratitude. You will never be at loss when you share and you know you are being taken care of. Share, trust the process. Share your good thoughts, your sympathy, your help, your ears, your smile, your knowledge, your job leads, your intent, your miracles, your wealth, your spirit, share.

Abundance recycles in so many ways. Ways that work in unexpected ways. Miracles happen over night. Solutions appear in your heart. Will stronger than ever. Believe. Your life is your process. Don't concern yourself with the popular vote, the safe way, if you have that passion, the desire, it will all fall into place. Risks involve faith. Win big, risk big. If you don't get the outcome you expected, it's what is best at the given moment, that will in turn lead you to other better paths. But it won't make sense now. Trust it. Trust the process. Share. Say Thank You. Smile. Keep Charging ahead. Don't despise small beginnings. Keep the faith. Keep charging ahead. Share. Say Thank You. Smile.

It's about time I share my feelings about my own theories more publicly. How life works (well, I'm student for life, so that's a work in progress ;) )How it synchronizes meaningful coincidences in your favor; when you least expect it. Those are times that you just sit back in awe, and say, "THANK YOU".

Wanted to throw this out there. A thought that I usually don't share, but hope in time you will see what I am trying to do not only for myself; but for others who are out there living the process, keeping the faith, and charging ahead. Good Luck to each and every one of you. Wish you much success. Remember when you do get there to share, say Thank You, smile and Keep charging ahead.

With love,

Farida Ansari Rafique

Hi-Note

Photo: Hi-Desert by Farida

Quick Reminder

Note to "Future" Self

A Dose of Silly Fun

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.

Dr. Seuss

INT. Mini-Rant in a Minute

<vent>

Compassion is NOT a weakness. The ability to empathize is ONE of the reasons humanity is still going on. If you have a problem with "nice, "compassionate" people--then go screw yourself. Compassion is what is going to pick you off the side of the road, give you a drink of water, give you shade and a piece of bread to eat when you are hungry. ARGH.

</vent>

"You Do Not Hold Words in Ration"

I'm going to jump right in with my thoughts tonight. Here's a recent essay I wrote about growing up in your Thirties.

"You Do Not Hold Words in Ration"
by
Farida Rafique

Sometimes you find that what you learn in a short amount of time is more valuable, hefty, and revealing than all your life's lessons. It's a crash course into epiphany 101. Sometimes, you have so much of that to share with unknown friends and people that seem to know you, but there really is no platform or occasion to paste it out. Some of it, if not most of it, important for your own personal growth. You learn that how much your value is worth in actions and in words. You realize not all the time, every action receives an equal reaction. Sometimes you just find yourself in times of amazement at what you thought you knew and what you know now. Other times, you wonder how even in your thirties you can be somewhat of an innocent naive child; and struggle to accept certain defining truths. Cliche perhaps; but a blessing in disguise.

Time is never-ending, yet slipping through our fingers every millisecond. Here we are face to face with our deeds, our beliefs, our dreams, and our realities. Which direction do we go in? How much of our past history defines our present? How easy do you make it look? How high are your path to the top? How self-reliant are you? How much do you forgive? How much do you forget? How predictable are you? How mysterious are you? Who are You? Can you fit into a cush label? Do you seek to find your place in your brackets []? Does it matter? Has it always? Every body has a story. A story so complex, so layered, so different than yours, mine, the guy sitting next you, the lady eating across from you, and the person that just walked past you.

We say what we want to say, but not how you wish for us to. That is why we choose to speak in abstracts.* A code, a puzzle, a message, a thought form-still forming. When your head hits the pillow at night you know that it is your time that you are responsible for. You decide which direction to go in. How big is your heart? How open is your mind? How much do you believe in the power of intent? How much do you share in others' joy? How much do you console in others' sorrow? How often do you ask, "How can I help"? How often do you say, "Thank You." How often do you congratulate?

You do not walk away from everyday miracles. You open your eyes to the sun. You take refuge in air-conditioning. You sip from a filtered water pitcher. You do not give up on the heart's wishes. You do not walk away from a lost cause. You believe everything in this world responds to love and words of love. From trees, to television, to friends, to your Love, and even your Pet. Everything does indeed respond to Love.

You do not hold words in ration. They convey your thoughts. If there is anything left unsaid, it is not because there was not any time left. It is because there is nothing more to be said. Not such a bad thing necessarily. Silence speaks volumes.

Age is a label. Time is a measure. You have so much to learn. I read somewhere, "If you are not growing; then you are dying.". I will let You answer that.

-Farida Rafique

*We, the Collective We, as in Writers

We All Are.

-Farida Rafique
"You Can Quote Me on This"

Yet Another Simple Truth

Ideas need time to incubate. They need to be developed. Be patient with yourself. Ask yourself those questions that are still unanswered. What is your purpose? Whose it for? Why? Why not? How?

Sometimes it's okay to take a break from an idea and let it develop in the subconscious mind. Go out and explore. Don't invest all your energy into a block and fall prey to a rut. Let your idea develop. If after some time away you still have that passion you had when this brainchild came into being. You know you are trusting the process. Let it be and let it grow.

It works every time.
I'm breathing life into an old idea. Revamping it for 2009. I still have the eagerness to share that idea. I can't hardly wait. I'A.
-Farida

Celebrate (safely) Indie-pendence

Writing Prompt: 07/02/09

File Under:

Writing Prompts

Agree or Disagree

Ponder

Quote:

The Different Drum