Livinglovingandexploring!

Me: How did your family and friends react to your book?  

Soheila: My family, my kids and friends loved the book, it has been a great success in my community in California as well as New York. My mother is very proud and actually read the book. Just my younger sister told me way before, “you know I will never read your book” Which I replied, “It is not for you!”

Me: What’s your favorite pastime?

Soheila: My favorite past time is spending time in nature, and taking pictures, if you look at my Instagram pictures you will see. I work out, paint and read a lot.

Me: Will you write another book? (If the answer is yes, sign me up, please!) 😊

Soheila: I am doing research now for my second book. As I mentioned before, I took a lot of pages out that were important to me. But I want it to be an inspiring book as well.

Me: How long, from beginning to end, did it take you to get the book together and get it published?

Soheila: It took me 5 years, Not because I was behind the computer for 5 years, It was just difficult to face all those hardships again and again.

Me: You’re Jewish – how do you feel about the rising anti-Semitism in the world due to the COVID-19 virus? (By the way, I’ve had my DNA tested, and I am also part Jewish – which explains how I’ve always been extremely fascinated with the Jewish culture, history, and world and how I can’t stand anti-Semitism. Though I was baptized and am Catholic in reality.)

Soheila: My jewish virtual friend, 🙂 Anti semitism has always been there and it always will. People Love to hate Jews for their problems and shortcomings. It feels good to blame a minority for the problems that they couldn’t manage or take care of. Just dump it on someone else, then you are free of any responsibility. The misery and hatred that they feel in their cores has now a place to project it on! The Jews! They have all the money that we should have!

Me: Do you and your family still go to Synagogue? What branch of Judaism are you? If I remember correctly from my studies, there are 3 branches?

Soheila: We are sephardic jews, not religious at all. we observe the high holidays, but I have not gone to a synagogue for the past 12 years. I see my God in nature now. That needs no explanation, convincing, a huge ornate building or proof. The nature is the most amazing thing and God lives there.

Me: You said you want to get this book out to as many people as you can so you can help them – are you planning any conferences or tours (book tours, things like that) to discuss your book in the states? (Obviously once the majority of the lockdowns are lifted)

Soheila: Kelly, that is my goal, that my ‘Horror story’ changes in to a ‘Inspirational story’. When it makes people think, ‘maybe our problems are not so bad! if she can handle her life like this maybe we can too.’ I just want to focus on public speaking. (And that happens only if the book gets out there to a wider audience) After each book signing, people get in touch with me with their challenges and they tell me ‘if you can do this so can we’ which is what I exactly want.

Me: IF it’s ever safe, would you go back to Iran to visit where you grew up?

Soheila: I got my Islamic passport three years ago and a ticket to go back to Iran. I thought why not? But when Trump became the president I got scared to go back. There is no law in that country.

Me: You still get visits from Stephen; do you also get visits from your brother, Fariborz, or sister, Zoreh?

Soheila: I do, but not as many. Stephen’s messages are very direct and clear. I also often go to mediums.

Me: Are you safe at home in CA now, or did you get stuck in the lockdown elsewhere?

Soheila: I am home in LA, which is a blessing because I have my backyard for gardening.

Me: Where will be the first place you travel to when you can?

Soheila: I was supposed to be in the villages of Italy now!!!!!!! For my annual girls road trip. Damn Corona! We travel from village to village looking for beautiful nature and stay in Bed and Breakfasts. (check my Instagram)!

Me: You and your family seem to love traveling; do you try to go to new places, or do you always stick to the same favorite spots?

Soheila: I mostly stay with the same places, my favorites are, Italy and Turkey. Love those two places. If you want to rent a cute villa in the middle of Tuscany to go to with your family, contact me. La Gigliola is heaven on earth.

Me: What would you say to someone who is at their lowest low and doesn’t think that life can go on?

Soheila: That Life is all about challenges, that you have to look for the ‘Whys’ in your life and not the ‘Why nots’, that ‘this shall pass too’ whether you like it or not, that life is all about changes, the only constant thing is change, that life goes on, ALWAYS, and you HAVE to go on with it. That no matter what ….there is still beauty in life. It is still worth living.

Me: What are you looking to accomplish in say, the next five years?

Soheila: I want to travel and talk to people about life and it’s challenges, I want them to look at me and think with everything that she has been through there is still hope for me. Everyone has problems, hopefully not as tragic as mine, but everyone does. This is part of my speech at a book signing.

Read below, a part of my speech, That is what my belief is; 

“My third accomplishment,. My most difficult accomplishment, was keeping my smile on, in spite of everything! No matter what curve ball life has thrown at me, which were plenty, No matter how many heartbreaking and tragic chapters were added to my book of life, which whoever was writing it I am sure was on acid, No matter how many times I was placed in the position of a life changing test and trial, which at times it felt like a cruel game, I managed to keep my smile on. I woke up, dressed up, kept my chin up and wore my smile. And that is what I want to speak about tonight. smile, Going through life and its challenges and never loosing your beautiful smile.

Let’s start with a fact,

On August 21st, 1911, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci was stolen from the Louvre. During the 21/2-year period before it was recovered and restored to its home in the museum, more people came to stare at the empty space where the famous masterpiece once hung, than visited that mysterious smile in the ten preceding years and view the painting itself. 

There are many ways to spin this remarkable story, but it partly reminds us of the power of nostalgia. Doubtless the people who came to see the blank wall dreamed of how wonderful it would be if only the canvas was restored. They imagined the painting back on the wall and visualized the enigmatic smile. They looked at the blank space and tried to envision how magnificent the masterpiece must have looked. Countless visitors walked past the empty wall and shook their heads in regret. The famous smile was no more.

We all suffer from stolen painting syndrome. It is worthwhile to remember that when whatever we yearn for is with us, we tend to take it for granted. May being reminded of this hopefully help us cherish what we have, rather than stare, longingly, at a blank wall. May it help us live for the “Whys” in our lives and not the “why nots!” May it help us let go of the life we have planned and expected versus accepting the one that is waiting for us. May it help us deal with unforeseen change and help focus our energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”