two wings

"God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites, so that you have two wings to fly, not one." - Rumi

Hopefully, i'll fly in the direction which suits me best. My apologies to everyone that suffered because i could not but fly with two wings only. My greatest apologies to myself who always "tried to dim the lights so that someone else could shine". No more of that.

simple pleasures

"When we lack proper time for the simple pleasures of life, for the enjoyment of eating, drinking, playing, creating, visiting friends, and watching children at play, then we have missed the purpose of life. Not on bread alone do we live but on all these human and heart-hungry luxuries." - Ed Hayes

Today, I thought about the simple pleasures in my life and how I neglect them from time to time, especially when I am in a hurry: allowing myself to stay at home after a tiresome week full of work and work and more work, free weekends to sleep long hours, coffee, Sade, a warm bath with Lush Ginger Soap which Deli got me from Paris, my fluffy black new sweater, my cashmere v-neck pullover. Pure delight!

On top, a couple of days ago, I discovered that I can do my own Haiku poem on the web site of the British Council. It's nice to let simple words flow to see them build a wonderful line of thought. It does not have to be meaningful. It's you who adds meaning to it anyway, so it does not matter whether it makes any sense. If it makes sense to you, it's fine. Very fine.

i have started something new

I have started a degree in Conference Interpreting two months ago. It goes something like this: "Well, your posture seems self-confident, but cut the sentence, deliver the meaning, don't think too much about terminology for the time being, don't worry, you are at the beginning, everything will work out fine, but do on-sight and record yourselves every day, think about your target audience.." Although so far, it has been taking up all my energy, don't forget I luckily still have my bill-paying-day job, but i am fascinated by the variety of subject matter you have to deal with. Truth be told, i am so happy. If you are interested, you can have a look at Boğaziçi University or AIIC. Worth reading anyway.

a few quotes

I love quotes. Simply because, sometimes, they sum up the gist of life so perfectly. Here are a few of them.

"I hate writing. I love having written." - Dorothy Parker

"Insan yaşlanır, sonu yaklaşır, her an gitgide kıymetlenir ve anılarla kaybedecek zaman yoktur." - Milan Kundera / Bilmemek

"Sevgi, bir kişinin bir başka kişinin varlığına gösterdiği saygı ve hassasiyettir." - Alain de Botton / Statü Endişesi

"..insan eğer mutlu bir yaşam sürmek istiyorsa işverenine bel bağlamayı bir kenara koymalı, kendi hızına göre ve kendi mutluluğu için, kısacası kendisi için çalışmalıydı." - Alain de Botton / Statü Endişesi

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

My fav so far:

"Fucking up is part of it man. If you can't fail, them, um, I guess you always have to win. And I don't think you can always win." - Elliott Smith

All this has been gathered after a looooongish morning session of what will I do's, what can I do's, what should I do's. Along with a mug of coffee and a cigarette. And some Coldplay. Maybe putting on a little lipstick will do. Crossing the bridge. Making it to my tutorial session in a cafe in Taksim. Preparing for my two speeches tomorrow on Turkish economy. And my sim class. Cleaning the house, or maybe not. I start with the lipstick.

cutting your losses

"I'm a believer in cutting your losses. If after giving it all you can give and it's not working, let it go. Whatever it may be. Be it a friendship, a job, a lover, a poem, a website, a diet, whatever. Some people find the urge to keep dragging dead weight because it's comfortable. It might be bad but at least it's reliably bad. It shouldn't be that way. Ever." - Alex.

By far the loveliest and most naive love letter i have read in a long time. Perfect!

Dreams vs Reality

Sometimes i wonder whether i am missing out too much on reality simply because i like to dream a lot. But then i tell myself that reality for me becomes only bearable unless i dream enough. Life is a state of mind, and mine is dreamy. Extremely dreamy.