Month: March 2026

Just writing

Yes, definitely — it’s Light

nhpureandsimple

Well.. it’s rainy and windy here in my place.

Really, the weather has been so unsettling over the last week, 

and the week before,

and perhaps the week before the week before. 

Fine. 

It’s been like that for a while,

and this ’while’ might be days, 

or months,

or even years.

But today isn’t so grey as it used to be.

The sky is bright,

not too bright,

but bright enough to show some of its hidden light.

The kind of long awaited light you expect to see at the end of the tunnel,

for you don’t want to walk along a narrow tunnel all of your life, do you?

You sure want to get out,

to breathe the fresh air,

to feel the warmth of the sun,

and the gaze at that magnificent azure in the clear sky.

It’s Light, you scream.

Definitely light, your tears roll down your face.

Perhaps your prayers for 

hope,

peace,

and…

justice. 

are finally being answered. 

With light and bright thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

New Eyes

nhpureandsimple

Has it ever happened to you, as you’re walking along the road, that something suddenly strikes you— some details that seems totally new to your eyes

But you walk the same road every day.

How come you’ve missed them?

Perhaps it’s because you always leave your glasses at home, you wonder.

Really?

But the thing you’ve just noticed is as obvious as the sun in a clear day.

Maybe you were so consumed by your own thoughts that you couldn’t really see your surroundings.

Fine, things happen.

But… have you ever considered how narrowly and vaguely you’ve been using your eyes — and for so long?

You’ve been looking without seeing.

You’ve been seeing without feeling.

Then one day, 

as you walk along the same road, 

you discover other real things—

that weren’t hidden,

that weren’t new, 

but were actually there. 

They always exist;

they just needed your new eyes to notice them,

and perhaps to contemplate them.

You look,

you gaze,

you stare,

and you finally realise you’re seeing with new eyes.

Was it a miracle?

Definitely.

A miracle that shows you how you can always have new eyes.

With new eyes and new thoughts,

Nahla  

Philosophical musings

Creditors and Debtors

nhpureandsimple

It feels like I haven’t posted in so long, though it’s only been a week or even less.

But when one gets busy, the mind can’t concentrate in too many things at once, can it?

By the way, this post isn’t about money.

They say creditors have better memories than debtors. 

And of course, that makes perfect sense in the financial world. 

The lender with the upper, steady hand would by all means save, register, and arrange all the details of the transaction. 

On the other side, the borrower, with the lower, shakier hand, would delay, delete, or even freeze any memory of what’s owed or what should be paid back.

Right.

Now… do things work the same way in the non–financial sides of life?

In those close relationships — with family, friends, neighbours, and even those brief but meaningful acquaintances who pass through our days?

Would there still be creditors and debtors?

And if so, who would you think have a better memory?

Well… things happen, right?

But let’s stay on the positive side.

Love, kindness, forgiveness, and all the other beautiful traits we offer to those close, special ones — comes with no conditions, no deadlines for return, no legal action to take, and no double interest added for any delay. 

So no— there are no creditors, no lenders in these relationships.

There are only the givers, with calm, warm hands,

who save a good memory with no alignment, no regret, and no remorse.

The receivers here are not borrowers with shaky hands.

No.

They are the blessed, the fortunate ones.

They can even hold a better memory than the givers, if only they honour kindness with gratitude. 

Sometimes we just need to think positively.

even when the world seems to focus only on creditors and debtors. 

Still, there are kind humans and grateful ones

too.

With kind and grateful thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Reading Psychology

nhpureandsimple

Well… I’m pretty sure one of my recent posts was about the change in my reading genre. 

Reading and Mood Change

So far, I am following the plan just fine—reading nonfiction. 

Recently, I’ve started reading some psychology.

My first encounter with this subject was in my final year of high school, many years ago.

Honestly I remember nothing of those lessons except the teacher herself— even her name has slipped away. I remember her loud voice and sharp gaze, but I can’t get any closer to her name. 

But I do remember the name of my teacher from my first year of primary school.

Strange, isn’t it.

I loved my first primary teacher and I wept buckets when she left and moved away with her husband. 

Anyway, my psychology teacher crossed my mind as I stole a little time for reading. Time is tight these days, with Eid celebrations almost knocking on the door.

So… according to psychology, our memory machine is not only selective, but also clever and cruel. It doesn’t come with a button we can press to “save all” or “delete all.”

No.

It works professionally, by using its own unique selective strategy. 

It mainly saves the things you like the most, hate the most, or the things that hold your full concentration and consciousness.

Memory is not like history, which keeps a record of everything, though sometimes with some alterations and even some big lies.

Memory is a trustworthy keeper. It writes the minutes of the things that truly matter in your life, even those small details, those passing emotions, or those quiet, special moments.

And sometimes, out of the blue, it brings back one of those memories from many years ago.

Something that can make you smile, cry, or simply wonder as time pulls you back in a split second.

You find yourself back in that classroom, learning psychology, having no idea that years later you would be reading a psychology book explaining why you can’t remember your teacher’s name.

Simply because you neither loved or hated her, your memory saved only what had caught your attention back then — the special tone of her voice and her sharp gaze

And… thanks to psychology, I found the little distraction that inspired me to write this post.

With these reading–psychology thoughts,

Nahla 

Philosophical musings

Seek Simplicity But…

nhpureandsimple

Can you guess the rest of the quote ?

Here’s it all:

“Seek simplicity but distrust it.”

How dare Mr Alfred Whitehead doubt the sincerity of Simplicity?

I started this blog and named it “Pure and Simple” for the sake of simplicity—and then comes this quote, accusing simplicity of being untrustworthy.

I know my philosophical musings may, sometimes, give you a headache,

or leave you a little lost,

or even bored. 

Do they?

But this doesn’t mean distrust, does it?

Oh my… 

It’s just crossed my mind that I’ve muddled things up.

Poor Mr Alfred isn’t accusing Simplicity at all.

Actually his quote is in favour of simplicity, not against it.

Simplicity is about the art of simplification.

So instead of leaving us with one whole rock, simplicity can soften it into clay—something we can handle and understand. 

In other words, simplicity gently breaks the complex into smaller, simpler pieces.

Then it breaks those pieces into very tiny ones.

They may scatter into a maze, or a little a mess, 

but they become more flexible—easier to explore, enjoy, and read.

That’s when Distrust arrives with a warning:

Don’t mistake simplicity for nonsense.

Don’t mistake it for weakness.

And definitely don’t mistake it for superficiality.

So, finally, with a big sigh of relief,

I’m happy I came across this quote today.

It feels like a little booster to stay on the path of Simplicity.

With pure and simple thoughts,

Nahla

P.S.

I only discovered this philosopher through this quote—just in case you think I’m well-versed in his philosophical works for I am not.

Just writing, Philosophical musings

The indelible Pencil

nhpureandsimple

They say this kind of pencils exists.

Have you seen or used one?

As far as I can remember, I haven’t had the honour yet.

So… whatever this unique pencil writes, draws, or even scribbles will never be erased nor changed.

Right?

Apparently, the only way to get rid of its powerful effects is to either tear the page into pieces or burn it altogether.

But just a moment… does this indelible pencil remind you of something?

What else can’t be erased?

What else can’t be changed?

What else can’t be manipulated?

Don’t think too much?

It’s Reality.

It’s been written by this indelible pencil.

Such a bold, sharp, steady word.

Some might try to hide it, erase it, or bury it.

Still, it stands clear and firm.

Without shouting, 

without lies,

without pretension, 

it waits with a smile, proud of its existence and confident in its triumph.

The indelible pencil smiles too, as it watches those pencils with erasers being binned one after another.

By the way, do you think our thoughts are written by an indelible pencil?

But that doesn’t make any sense.

Because… we can erase them, or change them.

Things might be hard,

but not impossible.

And…

don’t forget: the pencil your mind uses has an eraser.

With real and clear thoughts,

Nahla

 

Philosophical musings

Sanity

nhpureandsimple

If you’re still checking your sanity these days, you should be grateful.

Because this means you’re sane, with a sound brain, a beating heart, and a functional memory.

And congratulations

if you still have enough logic to make accurate conclusions.

if you can still see properly, not only your reflection.

if you still can hear others, not only your own voice.

if you can still feel this inner voice that reprimands, blames, or even nags you to think twice before making a decision.

Insane people have none of those capabilities.

None at all.

Truth and lies become equal.

Hate and love become equal.

Good and evil become equal.

Even worse, 

they know no morals, no respect, no dignity.

And…

they believe they are the only sane ones on this earth.

And some people applaud them, 

nod in approval,

and pray the Almighty will bless the insane.

Bless the insane?

You wonder, bending over laughing — and your sanity replies: 

Congratulations, you’ve just passed your sanity test. 

With sane thoughts,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Out of Sight

nhpureandsimple

Do you know this saying?

“Out of sight, out of mind.”

In Egypt, people say: “Out of sight, out of heart.”

Which one do you prefer?

Well… it seems to me that both sayings are talking about different things.

The first one is so true. 

If you can’t see something fully, you can’t remember it. 

It just slips from your memory,

simply, because you have no interest in it.

The second one talks about emotions, 

and about special people—

those close ones, 

the ones you love, respect, and appreciate.

According to the Egyptian saying, 

if those close ones are out of sight, 

your feelings will change 

and may become less or fade away.

But can this really happen?

What about children

when they grow up and leave the nest?

Will parents and children apply this saying

and let their existence slip out of the heart

just because they are out of sight?

Of course not.

Why doesn’t your pet, the one who died

 or the one who flew away, 

still have a place in your heart?

You still smile at their memory.

You still remember them.

What about the one who once treasured with sincere advice?

Or the one who showered you with the kindness you needed most?

That respected teacher who taught you morals before  knowledge?

Wouldn’t they always be in your heart? 

But of course, my interpretation of the Egyptian saying

cannot be applied to all people. 

Some people may push you to drop them out of sight and out of heart,

completely and without regret.

You will offer thankful prayers with utter sincerity when they are out of sight. 

As for your heart, it wouldn’t mind,

for those people would never have had a place there anyway.

So…

can we agree that the special will always be special, 

and that those dear, happy memories, 

will always be in sight and in heart. 

And.. remember 

the heart always has its own memory 

regardless of sight,

regardless of distance 

 

With in–sight-and- in –heart thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Reading and Mood Change

nhpureandsimple

Surprisingly, my reading in February was better than expected.

Perhaps it’s because my reading interests and mood have changed.

This change began not as a challenge, but as a wish to read something different.

I love fiction, with its imagery, prose, and intriguing narratives.

Is there anyone who doesn’t like stories? 

Maybe.

By the way, fiction is still my favourite.

But… sometimes a title of a certain book crosses your path and intrigues you enough to have a look.

This unexpected friend introduces you to another field, another scope of knowledge. 

You start listening while reading. 

You start wandering into a new world.

You start feeling how little you have known, 

and how many interesting topics there are to learn about and from.

They say changing habits and routines is good for your brain.

What do you think?

I agree.

This wasn’t the main reason why I decided to read nonfiction, though.

But I’m glad I did, because I’m both enjoying and learning from this temporary change.

Let’s wait and see which path my reading will follow in March.

That’s all for today,

With reading thoughts,

Nahla