Mira Matar

There is an expression in English that goes: "He is a shadow of his former self". It refers to a person who is no longer as useful or powerful or strong as they once were. Something ironic happens to one's shadow once they have a child. It is rejuvenated.  It is reborn. Yours and your sister's births enhanced the a shadow. In time, we'll capture shots and shadows altogether. Meantime, we'll stay in the shadow. All the while moving forward. So long as there is progress, there is life. Wishing you and your sister, development of a mindset of gratitude for what you have, and the discipline to focus (and progress) towards outcomes that you desire. As you progress, remember that the process is what makes up most of life. Teach yourself to find beauty in the process. 💕💕💕

There is a technology, that's all the craze right now, called generative AI. By the time you read this, the technology will likely be old-news (& run-of-the-mill at best). Generative AI is trained on Language Learning Models (LLMs); that essentially develop and sharpen algorithmic tools. Skipping from algorithms to rhythms. To rhythmic relatives (& a family friend) of yours: Your cousins Lina, Maysoun and Matvai (LMM) & Kismet (K) had birthday's today! A pear to share? There are enough to go around. In tune, pears are celebrating their seasonal rebirth! Congratulations to your cousins! Wishing them all, and wishing you and your sister, Many meaningful moments in the years ahead. May the years ahead be inspiring to you all. May they observe you self-actualise. May they see you all contribute to this little planet of ours. 💕💕💕 PS - guess who tried barbecued prawns for the first time today!?

Your body is dealing with something. Teething we believe. We are helping as much as we can. You are dealing with a high temperature. Your Mum has been (& continues to be) a manifest example of commitment, patience & love. I have tried (& continue to try) to lift your spirit, and draw your attention away from the pain you're dealing with. No palm trees, surf, or islands here. But we managed to get you into a hammock; to start the new day. You did not want to eat initially. But you were willing to engage in exploration. So some food made it to your stomach. I've said this before, and I will doubtless repeat it again: Wishing you and your sister the best of health. Wishing you both speedy recoveries,  when your health is facing stressors. Here for you both. As long as I live. Always. 💕💕💕

There is cognitive bias amongst many grown ups. Am illusion in fact. It goes like this: ‘older means wiser’. The implication is that kids are the students and adults are the teachers. This is more a mental optical illusion, than a fact. The reality is that you, the children, are more often than not the teachers! We learn from you what is most important in life. We learn to work on improving ourselves; given that our actions speak louder than our words. We learn to look at the world through new eyes; gaining new perspectives on the previous & the fresh. Likely due to teething, but perhaps due to something else, you were coping with a high temperature when I captured this moment. (..and you were coming of the back of a night challenging sleep). Victor Frankl would've been proud (I certainly was!!) of the way that you kept your spirits up, notwithstanding the battle going on inside of you. Thank you for the lessons, that have come from you and your sister... most of which, you are...

I love it when something, like the ginger cat this morning, grabs you. Your attention is not only captured, but enraptured! Your focus moves to another level. Then we have your curiosity; another favorite. Curiosity opens the door, & allows in discovery. Focus opens the door to both learning, and to getting things done. Together, focus and curiosity make one limitless. I hope that you and your sister retain the limitless nature, that you were born with. Never let grown ups, or anyone for that matter, derail you. Share the fruits of your findings, & of your creations, with the world. 💕💕💕

You have agency in life. You and your sister both do.  Agency will grow as you do. Don't let others fool you otherwise. There are adults who prefer their personal convenience (which comes from creating unfree minds that simply follow instruction without thought or question). Ensure that you reflect instead on your own vision, creations, & (in time) your desired positive impact in life. This goes for both you and your sister. Rebirth this glow.. Retain this glow.. I heard a fitting line today, and it is apt for you both to recall: Blossom where you are planted . In other words, you have agency . Wherever you are located, you can find a way to actualise. Creativity, ingenuity, and the searches that go with these, will lead you to blossoming. In other words, you can & do play a direct role in shaping your outcomes in your life. Only those who adopt a victim mindset think, and consequently live, otherwise. Victim mindsets are destructive to the person & to others; with the ...

There are people who believe that walking barefoot on the earth is beneficial. Placebo? I don't know frankly. What I do know is that you love to reach down, and touch the earth by hand; each time we step out of a morning. That moment ☝ was this morning. Later in the day, you were outdoors again having your nap; as Mum & I lunched together in a tent 😊 May the earth be a source of energy for you and your sister (..& may you also bring to the earth goodwill and good deeds). Hoping that those individuals who form your inner circle are also sources of energy (..& of course, I hope that it is a mutual experience). Hoping that you will find energy (and maybe even inspiration) in the interactions that we are to enjoy.. and that you will both jointly enjoy.. in the years ahead. 💕💕💕 

Whether a little child is a boy or girl is often hard to decipher. Especially if their attire is not giving off classical signals (usually blue for boys & pink for girls). There are moments however when an expression or gesture makes things as clear as clear sky daylight. One such moment occurred when we stepped out for our morning gratitude ritual today. Those eyes... I had responsibilities in the city centre to fulfill today, and mum organised things such that we met up for lunch. Mum and I ate dessert outdoors, as you napped after the main course. You and your sister's very existence adds something special (..in fact, priceless..) to your parents eyes too. Wishing you and your sister the understanding that every day counts. May the moments that you share together be many. May the love that exists towards you resonate with you both every day of your lives. 💕💕💕 Dunia: Happy 14 years and 3 months. Patience sweetheart, patience.

I heard a curious thing today: "time management is pain management". It cleverly captured a lot. Remember sweethearts, you and your sister (just like all human beings) are always: - moving from something (usually negative), or - moving towards something (usually positive), or - stunted from moving at all (usually flooded by fear). My guess is that in the instance below, you were in flow and moving towards something even more positive. The dictionary definition of cuteness inc. Jumping back to the time management question, you and your sister will need to control what you give your precious time to; if you choose to create something specific, & aligned to your own ideas, in this life. In the front yard at home, there is a tree with a hole in it's trunk. Inside that hole, a finch has built a nest; to provide protection for it's chicks. The finch is meticulous in controlling what it's chicks are exposed to. It has very clear and specific reasons for this. It has ...

I mentioned looking back, forward and sideways yesterday. Perhaps most important of all, is looking up. I mean that both literally and metaphorically. Metaphorically, it represents looking out with hope; to a future of flight! I will always be there for you and your sister. Helping you take flight; and helping you to help yourselves. Mum will do the same; and not. We help differently, but we do so with similar intent:  "serving your best interests in life".   Shadows are a curious thing. Physical shadows are alive, whilst we are. Psychological shadows however, can continue for generations. You and your sister are more capable than you imagine. Careful with anyone who says otherwise. It often happens that well-meaning adults share their own fears and limits, packaged up as advice;  as to what is 'realistically' possible. The future belongs to those who believe, and who do focused work. It belongs to those who look up and go for realizing their potential. You can both d...

I heard a song growing up, by 'Mike & the mechanics', which began with the lyrics: "Looking back,  over my shoulders, I can see, That look in your eyes" I was reminded of that opening salvo, as I looked at the photo today that Mum took of us. The song then was about love and was sad. The song's opening lyrics, applied to today, are about love and joy. Whether looking back, forward or sideways, I have big thank yous for you and your sister Life has much greater meaning thanks to you both. May you both enjoy something resonant,  in the times both here and ahead in life; and of course, when looking back! 💞💞💞

The world can be confusing some times. That is ok (when the following qualification is added). Calmly, but with speed, seek to understand. Sometimes you need to take action, in order to understand. Then you need to iterate, if the action taken didn't get you the desired understanding or result. It's hard enough for one person to try to achieve understanding and results. Imagine the probability of two people trying simultaneously!!!  Consciously choosing to help one another gain understanding is a prerequisite: understanding oneself (thanks to constructive feedback), understanding one another another (thanks to empathy, feedback and adjustments), and understanding elements of the world (thanks to unwavering support). Mum and I have committed to helping one another understand in life. For one another's sake. For your sake. Remember that in seeking to understand, and in helping understand,  conflict is natural (as no two humans are exactly alike). Critically, in this context, ...

You tried cherries for the first time yesterday. From Germany. (...btw, I tried them for taste, & was swept me back to enjoying "Ronnies" during my childhood... back home in Australia). Today you were on to mangoes! From South East Asia. Your culinary globetrotting is a delight to behold. Wishing you and your sister, the full gamut of life's tastes; in time, sweethearts. 💕💕💕

Progress is a beautiful thing. Progress is a way of life for you. Watching you & your sister progress is a joy in my life. You landed on your nine month mark today. A special milestone. You marked it by sitting upright when we visited the doctor for your monthly check-up. Whilst Mum was in position to protect you if you fell, you held your own for the most part. Magic. ..The same word could be used to describe our virtual connect this morning. Wishing you and your sister continued progress. Wishing you both the ability to sit, to stand and to do whatever life calls for. Wishing you both the understanding that you are more capable than you think. Iterate and see! 💕💕💕

It's a fascinating time to be alive. What is referred to as artificial intelligence (AI) today, is likely to be referred to differently going forward. As it becomes a part of everyone's daily life, it will be more and more real. Less and less, artificial. In thinking about how to help you and your sister help yourselves, it is necessary to think about the future, and the potential shapes of things to come. Industrialisation and machinery meant that many labour intensive tasks, no longer needed labour. What happens when human intellect intensive tasks, no longer need the human? What become the vocational roles to choose from? What become the businesses to create? What becomes of creating? I am guessing that the answer is going to be found, with those capable of asking the right questions. That's going to require a sound & diverse palette (or plate!) of knowledge to spring forth from. I promise you and your sister, that I will do all that I can to assist with formulating ...

I believe I have already share this thought. I certainly repeated it often to Dunia; beginning from the earliest days. I frame life as a competition with yourself, and with your potential. Not a competition with others. The reminder to share and re-share this idea, was triggered by something that I read today: 'The greatest killer of happiness is comparison. If you must compare, compare yourself to you yesterday." You and your sister are utterly unique and incomparably special to me. Thank you both. Wishing you and your sister the awareness to reject 'the compare game', and to instead choose development into your chosen 'BE', as the only game in town, 💕💕💕

There is an expression, in English: "At one with nature". We brought this state of flow to life. We actually went beyond. Such that.. We were not only "at one with nature", We were also: "At one. With nature." Wishing you and your sister oneness. With one another, with healthy surroundings, with nature. May love infuse itself in all that you do and blend with. 💕💕💕

It was Mother's Day in Australia today. Every day is a good day to celebrate one's Mum! We celebrated notwithstanding the distance, & the different celebration dates here. From the outside in.. To the side, and even down.. Straight on.. Thank you from every angle. Your Mum is a very special lady. My own Mum in Australia, your paternal grandmother, got to see you today. She was delighted! Ulf Mubrouk to Grandma on her Mother's Day too. May you and your sister always be received with such anticipation and joy. May you both grow with the love and warmth that a true mother gives. 💕💕💕