Ah yes the Pomegranates! The Iranian symbol of abundance and fertility, the sweet bitter taste that purifies the blood.

It all began with the search for the ultimate juice press! The one that can create a perfect nectar.

Not by me, I happily drink  and enjoy. But by my husband who has been a man on a mission, insisting that one day he would find the perfect juice press. 

If you were ever in Istanbul, you would know that you find fresh juice stands a bit all over the city. There is always a crowd around those stands, patiently waiting  for their turn to quench their thirst with one of the seasonal fruit juices. Most of the time the juices are done manually. There is nothing better than a freshly squeezed juice.

And so finally, my husband announced that we were going to buy the ultimate pomegranate juice press at the Spice market. 

You just have to say the word spice and I’m there. Not that I was going to buy a lot of spices. I still have spices from Iran that always bring back the most warm memories. But it is a chance to not only be surrounded by all the wonderful scents but also be a part of the bustling activity of the market. 

You know you are close when suddenly you are surrounded by dozens of people running around in all directions. It is not by chance that we say a market in the Middle East is the heart of a city. 

There is this special rhythm of feet and bodies moving in unison but in all directions simultaneously without literally bumping  into each other. 

It doesn’t matter how crowded it gets. There is always a way to squeeze in or suddenly change direction without breaking the harmony. I wish life would work that way too.

So all you can do is choose one direction and go with the flow. But if you regret it and decide to choose another path, you need to be fast. You never know when your path may get blocked and you will fail to reach your intended destination. 

Often I take a step back and just observe. I take myself out of the equation and become invisible to those following their daily path.

Life slows down and you can now see the bigger picture in a new light.

And it doesn’t need to be perfect, sometimes the little imperfections make it even more special.

You learn so much when you take a step back and see life unfold before your eyes.

And then it is time to step forward and become part of the crowd once again.

The perfect juice maker is coming along. The spices stay behind lingering, waiting until they can spread their scent in somebody’s home.

What path to follow? When in doubt, look up and ask the skies …