by AnnSheybani | Feb 4, 2013 | Boundaries, Cultural Issues, exotic cultures, expectations, Iran, misinterpretation, people pleasing, Saying no
We make commitments to others in order to appear nice, and then we kick ourselves when they are inconsiderate enough to take us at our word. When I lived in Iran I often found myself irritated by tarof, traditional Iranian etiquette. Stopping by someone’s home...
by AnnSheybani | Jan 7, 2013 | adventure, alpha chick, Authenticity, Confidence, dating, exotic cultures, Gala Darling, Honesty, people pleasing, personality disorder, role model, running, self-image, Ted Talk
Walt and I went to see the movie Silver Linings Playbook about a guy who moves back in with his parents after 8 months in the loony bin. I know. It sounds totally depressing. (The moving back in with your parents part, which I’ve done, not the loony bin...
by AnnSheybani | Dec 1, 2011 | adventure, Africa, connection, developing world, exotic cultures, Kenya, love, Mindie Kniss, recovery, Restart Your Heart, risk
This is a guest post by Mindie Kniss There are risks you must be willing to take when traveling in Africa. For me, the greatest of these was not malaria, typhoid or dengue fever. It was love. He was a handsome, young Kenyan with eyes that twinkled in the Nairobi...
by AnnSheybani | Apr 14, 2011 | Authenticity, books, Cinderella, Codependency, exotic cultures, extreem dependency, goals, husband, identity, Intimacy, Islamic Fundamentalist, marriage, Muslim, pregnancy, Prince Charming, trapping a man, Uncategorized, virgin, virginity
When I was in first grade, I wanted more than anything to be Cinderella. I found the picture book character, one I’d come across in the school library, the embodiment of glamour. From her sparkling full-length yellow dress, to her pair of smashing, see-through pumps;...