Across the Brooklyn Bridge

Posted by Alif at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments   

I turn 40 years old tomorrow - Christmas Day. I can't believe it. The time went by so quickly. So very quickly. So, how am I feeling on the last day of being 39? Hmm...

Well, for starters, it's an interesting place to be. I am looking forward as much as I am looking backwards and realizing that I may have lived about half my life now. I may have less time ahead of me as I did behind me. All of a sudden it feels as though my time line just got shorter. Although people constantly are amazed to hear that I am 40, I have started to notice the wrinkles and white hairs in places I've never seen them before. Yes, I am getting older and little by little, I'm accepting it. I think this may have a lot to do with why I've been lackadaisical in my writing lately. I've been in a state of psychological, physical, mental, spiritual and emotional transition and the dust hasn't settled yet.

I am excited about what's ahead in my life. I'm doing a lot of new things and I've been really expanding my world. I've met so many good people in the past few years and I've accomplished quite a lot. I'm hoping to finally see my restaurant open in the coming year which will also take me to a whole new level in my life. It already has even without having been opened yet.

I had two experiences in 2004 which affected me profoundly:

Visiting Palestine in August of 2004. My trip to the West Bank had a tremendous impact on me in so many different ways. I saw my father for the first time in many, many years. I met 2 sisters I'd never known before, I met so many new family members and I was exposed to a kindness and welcome I have not experienced in a very long time. I witnessed the effects of the occupation of the palestinian territory. My trip touched me in so many different ways and left me transformed.

The other defining moment of the year came this past Saturday when I was given a surprise 40th birthday party by George. It was amazing. It was like "This Is Your Life" episode.

I'll write about it soon. Happy holidays everyone.

Posted by Alif at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments   

I had it this past Saturday. Details to come....

Posted by Alif at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Todays horoscope is very appropriate and just what I needed to hear:

"So many of the things you have been worrying about are phantoms of your own mind and will fade away like morning mist when the sun enters your birth sign on the 21st. Something else you must realize is that there is absolutely no need to regret anything you said or did over the past 12 months. Accept everything in your life just the way it is."

I love this horoscope.

Posted by Alif at 3:22 PM | Permalink   

I haven't been updating this blog recently with my own personal writing. A big part of it is that I am very busy these days. I'm involved in a lot of things these days which are keeping me very occupied.

Another reason could be that I've become somewhat withdrawn since coming back. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I have this innate need to insulate myself and stay in my own world when I'm alone. I'm trying not to judge this while at the same time being observant of such fact and making sure that I don't get stuck in that place. This 'place' just happens to be where I am on my different levels at this point in my life.

Posted by Alif at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Travel and Encounter: "Holy Land Trust invites you to participate in the two-month Palestine Summer Encounter, an Arabic-training and volunteer program, starting on June 12th, 2005. The purpose of the program is to create a dialogue between members of the global community and Palestinians. During these two months, participants will learn Arabic with an intensive and competitive language-training program, partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations as a volunteer and have the opportunity to participate in 8 separate weekend excursions to visit Hebron, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Haifa and Jericho, the Dead Sea and other important sites throughout the region. "

Posted by Alif at 5:09 AM | Permalink