“Armenia, my dear, is waiting for you with arms wide open” wrote my sister in a recent email. She just returned after a 2 week stay. Yes, I know and I’m ripe for it. Call it a pilgrimage or a spiritual connection, I am being pulled by that which I can’t see or touch. A feeling. An ache. A desire to go and be without expectation, plan or thought. A dear friend and talented writer/actress also recently returned from Armenia and Turkey saying “I finally lived a dream.” She was commissioned to write a play inspired by her Armenian grandparents. She’s writing poems in response to her trip.
photo by Shant Mahrokhian
As I daydream about my trip to Armenia, in the ‘who knows’ future, I think about what a friend said about me – “she calls me once a year when she needs a positive spin on life.” I remember that call not too long ago and how I felt after we spoke. I was trying to figure out a way to go, how to plan it, how to afford it, and he kept saying, just go and the answers will be there. He hung the phone saying see you in Armenia. That was two months ago. And I’m still here and Armenia is there. The answers are there. How ethereal, just like the country as I remember nearly 8 years ago. Or should I say the experience was ethereal and spiritual. A belonging, a place to come from, to go back to. Answers. And the question is…
photo by Shant Mahrokhian
Am I using my God given talent to create a purposeful life and give back? We all can get caught up in the ’have to’s” or ‘shoulds’ based on what, societal rules and systems? Get a good education and a steady job. And then what? See this is what I battle with all the time. Is a job a life? It pays the bills, yes, but is that even a life? Paying bills, a mortgage, a car, stuff and stuff and stuff and then before you know it, you’re in this wheel that’s turning faster and faster and you wake up one morning and you’re 10 years older. How many examples do we have of successful inventors, artists, CEO’s who went against the norm and postively impacted the lives of millions of people? They got off the wheel and made a choice. Maybe that’s the answer. Maybe it’s make a choice to get off the wheel and not let fear or rules or people stop you.
Go to Armenia. Just go. Find a way and go.
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Your well written article has been matched with Albert’s photos perfectly, far beyond any word. I have not visited the place before, but I can feel the drive after reading and seeing this beautiful place.
Big thanks to both of you,
Dear Albert,
Thank you for the comment and also for the gorgeous photos! You’ve captured the essence and spirit of Armenia.
Best,
Anahid
well written anaht. i like to suggest to you to take a look at a few panoramas from armenia.
and i couldn’t agree with you more. every armenian should go there at least once, it’s a must, a beautiful exciting country. i’ve been there three times and wish i could go there every year. i love armenia.
i think you’ll like them: http://armenianpages.com/AP-Panoramas.htm
take care