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Eileen Manassian Biography

I guess you could say I'm a citizen of the world. I've traveled....and I've lived parts of my life in Iran, Lebanon, the US, and Cyprus. I am proud of my Armenian heritage. I was born in Tehran, Iran and soon after that, my family went to the States for my dad to work on his MA degree and many years later, to work on his Ed.D. I have a lot of the Middle East and the West in me, and at times....I feel confused about my identity. I do, however, cling to my Armenian roots and am outspoken about recognition by the world of the Armenian Genocide that took place over 100 years ago.

Since my parents had no common language, the language spoken in our home was English. Yes, I am most fluent in English, and I think, dream, and converse in that language, though I do speak 5 other languages to varying degrees! :)

I am melancholy/sanguine by nature and feel everything very keenly. My highs are SUPER HIGH...and my lows...SUPER LOW! I guess you could say...I'm INTENSE. I'm passionate about poetry to the point of obsession.

The events that have colored my life are the death of my mother due to MS and the war in Lebanon. As a child, it was hard for me to come to grips with the fact that my mother was ill, and to see her go from being a vibrant, well-loved teacher to a wheelchair bound, isolated woman was a very harrowing experience. I do believe, though, that there is a resurrection day and that, by His grace, I will see my Mama fully restored...free of wheelchair, able to sing, laugh, and smile again. The war in Lebanon...bombs landing all around, nights spent in bomb shelters.. has also scarred me to some degree.

What I'm most proud of? That would be my daughter...Shereen Natalie Ghali. She is the light of my life. Her name in Farsi means SWEET! :)

Currently, I teach English at Middle East University in Beirut, Lebanon. Poetry Soup has been a haven for me....most of the time! ;) I've developed amazing friendships here that are very genuine and real. My dream is to one day have my name on a volume of poetry! One can always dream....Thank you for making the effort to get acquainted. God bless!

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Do Motives Matter?

Blog Posted by Eileen Manassian: 6/26/2014 2:21:00 AM

Well? Do they? Does it matter WHY we do what we do, say what we say, and write what we write? I mean, give a hungry man a meal, and you've done a good deed. He's happy. He doesn't care that you did it to show off, or to get brownie points in heaven? His hunger is appeased....he's glad. Shouldn't that be all that matters?

You give a gift...the recipient is thrilled. Is it a show of love, or a way to earn love? Does it matter?

You post a comment on a poem...the poet is thrilled! Is it to show how talented he/she is or how caring you are? Does it matter?

Why do we do the things we do? Well, will we ever know? NO. Should we second guess? Well...these aren't rhetorical questions. What do you think?

Motives count. That's my opinion. If my heart tells me something isn't genuine....I'm cautious. I accept the gift, graciously, but keep my heart safe until I've learned to trust the giver/doer. Is that wrong?

Then again, at times, we are encouraged to do things for others, even if our motives aren't in the right place...hoping, the motives will come along eventually. We help because it's expected. We visit to reciprocate. We give, because we have been given. Are the motives always based on those finner values like love, compassion, and empathy? No, but iff we wait for our motives to be in the right place for every single thing in life, hardly anything will ever get done! We strive to be genuine, and if we aren't there yet, we do what's right and hope it's a blessing.

One little note...motives matter to God. Sometimes prayers don't get answered because the motives of our hearts in asking aren't what they should be.

James 4: 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Motives matter to God. Just saying.

Hugs,

Eileen

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Richard
Lamoureux

Date: 7/18/2014 6:57:00 PM

A few more good comments since last I checked out your blog. Hugs Rick.

Paul
Callus

Date: 7/5/2014 8:53:00 AM

To be honest, most of the things we do in life are done either on instinct or for a reason. Instinct can easily show us for what we are.....cowards, heroes, kind, cruel, caring, repulsive, etc. Motives come as a result of some afterthought, some genuine, others not. Personally I have always tried to avoid showing the opposite of what I feel or mean, even if at times I am tempted to. We are all human, after all, but holding on to high values will help us to make the right decisions.

Paul Callus
Date: 7/18/2014 6:55:00 PM

Thank you Richard! At least mine is not a lone voice shouting in the desert!:)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 7/18/2014 6:52:00 PM

I agree Paul, well said!

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 6/27/2014 1:47:00 AM

Motives-Since We are born We are taught to live with 'motives'.Poo in the potty and you get a star,misbehave and you go in the corner.Every deed We do have a motive and a consequence.I always believed that you give is what you give is what you get in the end,so thay short verse motivates me to try and act in the best way I can.Many times a bad moment or a moment when my emotions are acting in anger or mal,Im motivated to act mean,but there is the other side of my mind and reason which is motivating me to calm down,So its about listening more to my inner whole so that my motivations wont lead me to regret.Re poetrysoup,my friends here motivate me to love them back,if it stops feeling this good,I wont be here.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/29/2014 10:33:00 AM

Oh sweetie....as long as you come back to us. I had a bit of a break between semesters. Summer classes start tomorrow. It should be interesting in this kind of heat! GRRRRRR

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 6/27/2014 3:32:00 PM

Hey sweet Eileen...Life is very busy momentarily ,but my intention is to do my best and keep in touch with you and other special friends like you here ,who share the same passion for poetry..So hope you re here.I to stay dear.I do need to email some soupers whom I havent got in touch with for a while...Big hugs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/27/2014 2:03:00 AM

Have I do things out of wrong motives? Of course I have...and will continue to do so because I'm human, but that is no excuse. Awareness counts and a willingness to try to change. Sincerity and purity of heart always shines through. I'm glad to have you here, Charmaine. I have missed your tender heart and spirit. There are many whom I miss, and at times when I feel like leaving, those who remain and appreciate me are the staying power. Hugs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/27/2014 2:00:00 AM

My dearest Charmaine...I was going to write to you because I missed you around here so much. There you have it...Good intentions, but I didn't follow through. Forgive me! You know I Love ya! I agree wholeheartedly with everything you wrote, my dear. The Bible says "Let others lips praise you and not your own." We are blessed by sharing with others and making them feel wanted and needed.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 6/27/2014 1:53:00 AM

Motives..Intentions,till now when I visit someone s poetry-When it comes to newbies is to encourage them as I was encouraged when I first joined here,Others whom I ve known for years here,I visit cause I consider them friends whom share my same hobby.Intentions make all the difference in everything We do.Re charity,giving ,helping and telling everyone about it is only charity with ourselves.We should give in silence and then happiness will fill our hearts in loud cheerful noises.My humble opinion sweetie xx

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 6/27/2014 1:24:00 AM

Eileen. Before I came to Soup, I was at several other sites(with no contests or point system like here) and I can honestly say my motives are mainly to repay kindness with kindness. When someone reads me, I read them back. Even if I may not like their style, it does not matter. They are participating in the process here and I owe them a comment. I was raised to say thanks and also my obsessive personality compels me to reply to every single person who comments to me. Even when I know they are probably not even reading my poems, I still go to their poems and say something. This takes away from my time to explore "new poets" and other poems I might really enjoy. Wish I had time for them all!!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/27/2014 2:32:00 AM

As for the new poets, I must admit that I am remiss in this area. I know that PD and some others are looking out for the new poets and that is a good thing as it makes them feel welcome and builds loyalty to those welcoming them and to the site. I usually will visit a new poet who has visited me and sometimes will click on poets that are new to me, but I need to do more in this area....it's true.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/27/2014 2:10:00 AM

Andrea....I don't read all your poems, but when I do read, I know what I will be getting...beautiful flawless poetry. I also like to visit those who visit me, though I don't get to all of them. I try my best and am a bit obsessive as you are, but don't get to all. :( No excuse for that. I should work on it to improve.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/27/2014 1:29:00 AM

Here is another thing that drives me: seeing comments is like "physical proof" that my poems are actually being read. I know in my heart that some poets are not truly reading my work, but I think all of us here want people to read our poems; otherwise, why are we here? I guess I just live for the "hope" that I am truly enjoyed!!! And I have many favorites here whose poems I certainly adore!

Tim
Ryerson

Date: 6/26/2014 4:53:00 PM

Eileen - The verse below may not have much to do with the subject of your blog but it was just what came to mind. Yes indeed, motives matter to God...

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/27/2014 2:04:00 AM

Hello, my dear friend and partner in crime! ;) The Bible is ALWAYS pertinent, if you ask me. I understand the gist of the text...Yes, motives matter. When we trumpet what we've done...it looses some of its value. Thanks for the post and your kindness to me.

Tim
Ryerson

Date: 6/26/2014 4:49:00 PM

Here's what Jesus said: "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.…

Robert
Lindley

Date: 6/26/2014 8:47:00 AM

Motives matter in many ways. However in regards to commenting here it is best to know that giving praise on a poet's offering should be genuine and sincere. For if reading a poem that does nothing for the reader then simply not posting praise is easy and does no harm. Then we have the need to welcome new members, new poets, to inspire them to stay and contribute. There again motive could be questioned but why? Is it not good to praise to encourage goodness in others. To encourage and inspire hope! Are we free to pick which writes we praise? Myself , Ipick carefuly but so many to choose from I miss so many!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 10:15:00 AM

Your posts resonate with me, Robert. We all have different tastes. Some like rhyming others think that's archaic. We read what we like and what moves us. We try to encourage because we ourselves thrive on encouragement. I went through a dark period here because I found out what modern publishers want isn't what I write. It hurt, but I appreciate those who pointed it out to me. Honesty can save you from having unrealistic dreams.

Robert Lindley
Date: 6/26/2014 9:30:00 AM

If the motive is to inspire to help the author for me it is ok if done solely to help. Additionally, I know just because I do not favor a write does not mean it is not good or even great. For we all have different tastes and I am myself certainly no expert. I am just a humble poet seeking to learn from others. And it does not matter if the other person is a rookie or a great poet! Learning is learning. More than just learning is to me the message in a poem. I am big, very big on messages sent!

Robert Lindley
Date: 6/26/2014 9:29:00 AM

My writes are as honest as the day is long. I fail to see any reason a poet would or should write their offerings with anything but their honest feelings/thoughts. Commenting here does require tact and I can see where encouraging others with some kind words is ok. For who knows how great the recipient may someday become!??

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 8:58:00 AM

Sorry for the typos.... My fingers get away with me sometimes I type so fast.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 8:56:00 AM

Hi, Robert. We get acquainted here. I must say I have not read your work, nor you mine. Of course it is good to praise and encourage others. I'm all for encouraging and praising others, within the boundaries of honest praise. If we read my comments below you will understand what I mean by that. I'm know I'm no Elizabeth Browning, so I take superfluous praise with a grain of salt and try to be honest in what I write as well. Thanks for the post.

Richard
Lamoureux

Date: 6/26/2014 7:24:00 AM

For me motives are everything, but I guess at the end of the day if I am starving and some person who doesn't really care about me gives me a sandwich, I'll gladly eat it. It would be great to live in a world where people did things out of love and not out of selfishness or to gain something in return.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 8:42:00 AM

As for soup, yes...there are people I visit because they have visited me and I want to return the visit. They aren't on my favorite poet list, because their poetry doesn't resonate with me that way. However, I try to find something positive to write from the poem itself that I can write honestly about. If it doesn't touch me at all....I just might move on.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 8:40:00 AM

We have had discussions about this in our Bible study group, Richard. Should good deeds be done if the feelings aren't there yet? Yes, we do the good deed, the person is benefited and we hope that the feelings will follow in time because we know it was the right thing to do. Motives are important...and are usually easy to discern.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/26/2014 7:30:00 AM

So now with regards to the soup how shall I examine my own motives. I comment and read other peoples work because I enjoy interacting with them. Still there is the underlying part of me that wants them to also see and connect with me. At the end of the day we all want to be seen and heard. I think that is why this site is so popular. Without reciprocity it would not be able to survive.

Deb
Wilson

Date: 6/26/2014 2:53:00 AM

I do believe that motives matter a great deal.If your heart isn't in the right place and your soul is askew then your karma will not be good and our Creator will not be pleased...So I try to only do things especially for others that feel right and pure. not saying I always get it right ....I am far from perfect !! But trying to do the right thing for the absolute right reason is always a good thing ... Hugs...Deb

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/26/2014 8:38:00 AM

I applaud you, Deb. It's always best when things are done out of true motives. It also has a lot to do with culture...In the Middle East we have a world that translates into "Obligations". Sometimes, you have to do something that culture obligates you to do, though you may not feel like it. You do it, and hope that the feelings come along. :) Thanks for the post.