Female Role Models for My Daughter

I've been trying to find female role models and heroes for my daughter, Kiana (10 years old) for a long time, in an attempt to help her see women can be powerful and cool and do great things. None of the them have been good enough for her, none of them won her over. You know what she said about Wonder Woman?  "She's naked, plus how can she run in those shoes? And she doesn't have any cool powers or gadgets!" 

Forget the Disney Princesses!  She ain't waiting for a man to save her! I've introduced her to Xena (my favorite), Black Widow (Avengers), Ryan Stone (astronaut in Gravity) Sydney Bristow (cool CIA Agent in Alias), Olivia Dunham (Smart and intuitive FBI agent in Fringe), Maryam Mirzakhani (smart and cool Iranian Mathematician with a boyish haircut who won the "Nobel" Prize for Math), Hayao Miyazaki's cool girl anime characters, Piper, Prue, Pheobe, Page (4 witches in Charmed).  You name it, I've introduced her to Kiana already!

So she has been into Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Flash, Arrow and even Hulk, cool soccer players, male Kung Fu masters, But no women! Until yesterday!  

And we have a winner!!! Yes! finally!  Drum roll please........Buffy the Vampire Slayer!  Yes! She's cool and well, Ki now wants to be the "Chosen One! Not to kill vampires but all the bad guys!!!" She even likes Willow very much! Simple and naive but smart, cute and a bitching powerful witch with a dark side!

I feel a sense of accomplishment! I know my quest to provide great role models for my girl is not over. But for now, I take a moment of pleasure knowing that we at least have a favorite for now!

I Choose Peace

I got into a huge conflict with my Soul Sister and Spiritual Warrior a month ago, and it has continued to this day. The thoughts of this conflict have consumed me. You see, her path and mine have been joined for a long time, but now, we must part ways because I am a Peace Warrior at heart and well, she chooses the path of War and Discord.

I am saddened, confused and consumed by this loss. So I pray:

Dear Angels,
Tonight I release my friend into the your loving hands. I bless her and thank her for the many conversations for healing we had, and the amazing moments we shared. May she find peace and joy on her journey to Love.

Tonight I choose my thoughts, carefully, instead of allowing them to create dis-harmony. Tonight I let go of all my anger and hurt. Tonight I focus all my thoughts. Tonight I choose Peace, again and again.

Dear Angels: Please "act as my gatekeepers in establishing a steady stream of loving thoughts."

Thank you and Namaste,
Niloo

Aging with Grace

So profound has been my metamorphosis at the age of 50, that I can hardly recognize myself.  I have finally arrived! I have come to know and accept my true Self, the good, the bad and the ugly! I'm comfortable in my own skin and body.  I have forgiven myself and others. And I have finally chosen to LIVE. Yes, to live, simply because I want to, because I enjoy it, because I matter.  I am no longer willing to forfeit my power, or to hide the beauty of my soul.

"Midlife is not a crisis; it's a time of rebirth.  It's not a time to accept your death; it's a time to accept your LIFE - and to finally, truly live it, as you and you alone know deep in your heart it was meant to be lived." Marianne Williamson, The Age of Miracles, Embracing the New Midlife.

I have finally gotten started on what matters the most to me, what I was meant to do: a Spiritual Warrior here to unite with others to become an Ocean of Love, to heal myself and the World. And now I have finally given myself the permission to live fully.

How about you, Dear One? How about you? Are you willing to accept yourself and your Light and to play full out in life? Are you willing to have the Glorious Life you were meant to live? Join me on Healers Without Borders for Conversations for Healing such as these.

Namasté,

Niloo

First Day of Yoga

 “You may keep your feet up, and you may not,” is what the Yoga instructor said.  I smiled.  Everything is as it should be.  Everything is perfect.

For years, I had abandoned my body. I mean, it was a means to fulfilling my mental and spiritual wishes! I had heard all the cliches: Your Body is Your Temple; Body, Mind and Spirit integration, etc.  But today I discovered Yoga. Oh, I had known about Yoga for years and my sister and all my friends raved about it.  But alas, I couldn’t be bothered.  Until today.

“Choose your venture,  whatever you like to do today!” The Yoga instructor said gently.

 As I struggled to keep my toes off the matt I realized that today, I took the first step to becoming the Peace Warrior I already AM! Yes! Today, I quit smoking, went to Yoga, swam, enjoyed the hot tub and felt at peace with my body in a long time.

A blessed thank you to all of you who supported me getting here, especially my beloved sister, Nooshin.

Love, Y

Niloo

Welcome to the Diaries of a Peace Warrior

Today, I closed one chapter of my life and began another. I had a blog for the past 3 years called This Iranian American Life, the musings of a courageous Iranian woman, mother, healer, poet and fighter of injustices around the world.

While I am still all those things, today I stand for Peace and I practice it through Love, Compassion, Generosity, Integrity and Joy. A whole different woman has arisen out of the ashes of the past few years. A Warrior has awakened, A Warrior for Peace. The sword of the Peace Warrior is Love and Courage. Like all my women ancestors who I will stand together with my tribe to protect the Earth and her People.

Blessed be all the teachers before me, my family and friends who continue to support and love me and all those who join me on this quest for Peace, within and in the World.

Love,

Niloo