Mesmerizing Shades of Divine Beauty

It all came to me as I watched the deep Mediterranean horizon… The hot summer sun on the glistening waves. I remembered another scene. One that I had seen from the plane as I was about to land in Beirut at the eve of winter. It had just rained…The sea was a deep blue, the land was a rich green…The sky was a grayish shade with streaks of sunlight penetrating through the clouds. It was, by all means, heavenly.

A colorful Sicilian market, an Indian palace, lavish yachts in Southern France, the crystal waters of the Caribbean…

Rain in Milano, winter in London, a full moon view from the mountains, a sunset in Kuwait.

Beauty is all around. All one has to do, is know where to look.

At nightfall, sitting at a café in the free zone, I threw my head back… I couldn’t see them at first. They began to appear one at a time… I then realized how bright they were, and wondered why it took me a long time to notice them. I drifted off, thinking of many things at once. How typical of myself, being the person I was… I always multitasked, never satisfied, and constantly challenged. Then, I took a step back. It was all clear now.

Thinking back, it was the best decision I had ever made.

Sometimes, admiring what we have in front of us is the greatest satisfaction of all. Sometimes, beauty isn’t something we would have to pay money for, or go on exotic trips to see. Sometimes, beauty is what we see in people we surround ourselves with. A child’s innocence, a younger sister’s plea for help, a friend’s appreciation…

Gratitude, love, and care.

I realized that when I surround myself with those 3 things, there is no room for me to hate, to be disappointed, or to be displeased. I realized that giving out a helping hand not only satisfies me more than the 100 things I do at once, but also shows how grateful I am for being able to help.

I realized that a smile on a friend’s face is worth my valuable time. I realized that a tear of joy is worth years of sleepless nights. I realized that paying it forward is what matters. 

 

The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. More specifically, the creditor offers the debtor the option of "paying" the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds.

Explanation taken from Wikipedia.

Feel like starting with a clean slate? 

Read on...

Handbook 2009

 Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2008.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

 Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.

Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

 Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

 Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

 

Handbook: Credit goes to her for the forward. May you always be happy, healthy, and safe. May your days be filled with the same joy you have given me.