The Journey of Life, Echoes of the Verse; Poetry by Dr. Ashkan Farhadi, Chapter 4

“A Playground Called Life” reflects on the world as a vast, unpredictable space where we learn, fall, rise and discover who we are.

“Forgive and Forgo” explores a deeper path to healing. the one that goes beyond forgiving others and focuses instead on forgiveness and freedom for ourselves.

“Pride Versus Arrogance” explores the fine line between healthy confidence and destructive arrogance.

“Live in the Moment” is a gentle reminder to return to the present, where life actually happens.

“Pie in the Sky” is a reflection on the fragile nature of outer peace and the lasting strength of inner peace that rests on the foundation of self-esteem and confidence.

“The Light of Freedom” challenges the familiar belief that freedom means breaking every cage but rather the option to choose our own set of commitments in a symbolic way. In other words, "freedom is the option to choose our own cage".

“Inherently Bad” challenges the belief that people are born good or bad and emphasizes that harm rarely arises from inherent evil. Instead, it shifts responsibility back to the individual, suggesting that harm comes primarily from how one chooses to handle another person’s “blade.”

“Resilience Is the Key” reflects on the strength that helps us rise each time life pushes us down. Happiness belongs to those who do not give up on themselves.

“Discipline and Beyond” explores the fine balance between structure and freedom to establish a rhythm between order and spontaneity.

“Knowledge Is Power” challenges the common belief that knowing more always makes us stronger, happier or more confident while suggesting that the strength is not in knowing more, but in knowing what matters.

“Ignorance Is Bliss” explores how unwanted knowledge can push the mind into a rabbit hole, leaving no clear way out.

“Apple's Midair” is a reflection on the delicate act of balancing life’s many priorities.