Category: Daily thoughts

Daily thoughts

Be Careful Before Opening Some Doors

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A post crossed my morning quick instagram scroll, and I lingered over it for a moment or two.

It sounded like a piece of advice, reminding us that it’s much better to shut the door on arguments than to open it wide or even it ajar.

It used some beautiful and clever Arabic sayings. 

And here I am, choosing one of those old proverbs to write this today’s post.

People say: don’t only tie the donkey wherever his owner wants, but also praise the knot.

In other words, if the donkey doesn’t mind where it’s tied, and its owner doesn’t mind either, why would you? 

Can you just guard your peace of mind?

Why look for more headaches?

Doesn’t life give us enough headaches already?

Some people would say that’s flattery, or even worse, hypocrisy.

Honestly, I had the same thought when I read it. Not only that, I imagined I was sitting under the shade of a big green tree, watching those three characters: the donkey, its owner, and the hired hand.

I could see that the hired hand was wise enough to guard his peace of mind. He tied the donkey, added a small compliment about the knot, and patted the donkey. The employer nodded in approval and walked away. Tired, the hired hand found a cool shade under a large tree, and unwrapped a small box to eat his lunch. 

Was there any flattery, any hypocrisy in this simple interaction?

Now I can say no, definitely no.

If you know what type of person you’re dealing with, then you will also know when it’s better to avoid arguing with them.

Some people will do their best to stir up problems, to create them, and to even challenge you to get involved. But there are others who get the hint just in time. Those are the ones who smile and shut the door before trouble even thinks about ringing the bell.

With be–careful thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

The Makioka Sisters

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I don’t think I have posted any thing about The Makioka Sisters, the Japanese story that I abandoned for almost a year. Have I?

Since the beginning of this month, I have been committed and determined to finish this book.

Actually, it wasn’t as boring as I first thought, and I’m delighted to announce that I have finally put my finger on the reason behind my first disappointment. 

When I first started reading the book, I couldn’t follow the narrative. By the way, this wasn’t my first time picking up a Japaneses book. I have read some, and I really found them interesting. But, I just found out that I couldn’t build any imagination of this novel’s world into my head.

I first thought it might be because there are so many characters with similar names. Still this wasn’t the first time, I had read an old book with so many characters with similar names.

So, based on the books I have recently finished, I finally found the reason behind this lack of interest: the slow, quiet rhythm of the book compared to my recent readings. 

But, the story might be worth discovering, I thought and decided to give it a second try.

As I continued reading, the book drew me into its pages bit by bit. Over the last few days, I began following the narrative and imagining its scenes. Somehow, I regained this reader’s interest and curiosity to know what’s going to happen next.

Then it just struck me, as I was writing this post, that this old Japaneses story was written in its unique culture voice, telling the story of an old world and its traditional people. The reader, me, who feels lost, bored, or disappointed at the beginning, might be the one to blame not the narrative, not the characters, and definitely not the author. 

It’s not the story’s fault that today’s pace goes faster than light. It’s the reader’s challenge to understand that, once upon a time, there were people who used their minds in a slower rhythm world, one that appreciated the virtue of patience.

With reading thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts, Just writing

The Eye Is First Overcome

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“ In battles, the eye is first overcome.”

When I came across this proverb, my mind wandered into a different context.

It’s up to you whether to accept my interpretation or not.

Apparently, the proverb is mainly refers to the first psychological defeat a person may experience when coming face to face with some sorts of power that threatens their capabilities and preparations. Once the eye, the first to perceive and assess the situation, is psychologically defeated, no one can guarantee victory.

But when I read this quote, I think differently. 

I think how appearance can be deceiving.

What takes you by surprise through showing off, fear, strength or power can easily bring you down.

But there’s a solution for every problem, right?

Perhaps all you need is faith in your abilities.

To not only see with your eyes, but also to use the power of your mind, the fight of your soul, and the faith in your heart. 

Life, sometimes, can be … a great battle. But our eyes should not be not our sole weapons.

With proverb–interpretation thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts, Just writing

September’s Plans, Surprises, and the Cheeky Squirrel

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Let me check my list:

The weather was… not great, not awful. It was something in between. But we had some beautiful, warm days. ✔️

The walking steps were somehow very good. 10,000 steps don’t seem that hard to achieve if you set your mind on it.✔️

Reading didn’t actually go as planned. Perhaps because my plan became a bit crumbled. There are more than three books on this list, and none of them seems easy to finish. One of them is fiction, my favourite genre, but it’s an old Japanese story that I abandoned for too long until I changed my mind and decided to give it a second try. 🔛

Writing was actually good on my side, but it wasn’t on the stats side. Honestly, I write because I want to, regardless of what the stats show. ✔️

Could surprises be included in your plan?

But, of course, it could. We don’t plan surprises. They just arrive in their own time.

Anyway, I’d like to add one of the most memorable surprises of Septembre:

The squirrel’s sneaky attempt to come for a visit.

It would have been a good surprise if he was strolling in the garden.

But no, he was trying to get through the window into my house.

Things began with the sound of scratching on the window glass.

I drew near and found a cheeky squirrel trying his best to get inside.

I froze for a moment or two before reaching for the window handle to shut it.

But then I realised his claws were trapped inside, and what long nails he had.

I didn’t want to hurt him. So I yell at him, but he didn’t retreat.

I kept knocking on the window until he finally gave up and jumped down into the garden.

I breathed a sigh of relief and shut the window.

As I was walking back to the kitchen, I heard those scratches again.

But this time, since I had already shut all windows, I didn’t panic.

Instead, I took a photo of him.

He had no idea he would end up on WordPress. 

It wasn’t a good surprise, but it could still count as one. 

He hasn’t come back since then, and I pray he won’t. ✔️

That’s enough about my September’s plan.

Hope yours went according to plan.

With end–of–September thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts, Just writing

Readingship

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Which relationship has taught you the most about yourself?

So before starting this post, I’d like to announce that Readingship is my new addition to the English Vocabulary. Perhaps one day, it will be accepted and added to English dictionaries. If that happens, I hope I will  be credited with full rights for making up a new and special word that connects readers and books.

Now back to this post. 

Readingship is a wonderful sort of relationship. It not only opens the door wide to let you learn about different things, but it also helps you more than you can imagine. This Readingship can help you improve yourself, your life, and even your way of thinking. This readingship offers you the kind of good company that you have almost lost faith in finding through friendship. 

And you know what? Readingship makes wonderful company; pure, simple companionship that can be better than friends who may, out of the blue, disappear or give you the cold shoulder for no sensible reason or even an insensible one. But then Readingship comes not only to the rescue, but also with comfort, reassurance, and a sense of safety. 

If you believe in Readingship, why not come aboard?

It’s all about getting into the reading ship and pretending to be its sailor.

You will find a vast sea full of different books.

You may explore here and there, or a pick a story.

A book might make you laugh, cry, or scared.

It might give you a headache or soothe your troubled soul.

You might love it or hate it.

But as you engage in this Readingship journey, you will never feel the same as when you first stepped onto the ship.

You no longer feel lonely.

You feel more and more excited.

And you surely feel safe; remember you’re the sailor aboard the reading ship.

You stop worrying  about who gets on and who leaves.

You’re on your ship, sailing into many different worlds.

With readingship thoughts,

Nahla 

Daily thoughts

Which Fictional Character?

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If you had to switch lives with a fictional character for a week, who would you choose?

I’ve read too many fictional books that it’s hard to think of a certain character to swap lives.

Some of those characters stayed with me, like Jane Eyre. 

By the way Jane Eyre was the first novel I read and studied for my English degree. I loved this book, and later I read more by Charlotte Bronte. 

I liked other fictional characters too: Anne Shirley, Judy Abbot, and others I can’t remember right now. 

But honestly, I can’t imagine swapping lives with any. My imagination can’t work on this idea. 

Perhaps it’s because these characters belong to someone else; their authors. 

I believe writers temporarily swap lives with their characters, to make them come alive on the page.

And as you read, you become an invisible guest hiding under a magical cloak; seeing things, but not seen. 

So perhaps the best option is to write a book and create your own story.

Hopefully, one day, I will.

With fiction–and–characters thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

On the 14th of September

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Every day since… I think the beginning of this year, I’ve been receiving a notification about my old posts from the same date.

But I haven’t received any today, which means I didn’t post on the 14th of September last year, or even before.

By the way, I’m not that regular with blogging, but I try my best. 

But this no post day just caught my attention.

Why?

I have no idea.

It’s hard, if not impossible, to remember exactly what you did on a specific day last year unless it was something memorable. 

And here I am, scrolling through last year’s photos.

Perhaps there was a photo on that day that explains things.

There was none.

Isn’t that strange?

No, not really.

I don’t take pictures every day.

So I think I should fill this gap. 

Shouldn’t I?

I’m looking out of the window, wondering what to write.

And what’s better than today’s four seasons weather?

It began warm, breezy, and cheerful.

An hour later, or maybe even less, it turned grey, but sill warm and cheerful.

I took the laundry out, and the rain gave me a light, gentle shower as a welcome.

I took the laundry in, and the rain shied away and left.

I’m not trusting her.

Could I have been thinking the same last year?

Maybe!

And now it’s all sunny again.

With almost-mid-September thoughts,

Nahla.

Daily thoughts

Teach to Mastery

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“Teach to mastery rather than to exposure.”

Can this quote apply for today’s education?

Many people don’t seem to know what mastery is or why it’s important.

Most learners, young and old, now follow the takeaway rhythm. 

“Am I going to read all this?”Some students, and even adults gasp in shock as if they were asked to read or write one of Shakespeare’s play.

To be honest, I used to behave just like that during my university years. But… perhaps at that age, one didn’t expect to study more. So with moans, mumbles, and sarcastic jokes, many in my generation surrendered and followed the old, hard way of studying; the libraries, our brains, our hands, and, before all, the knowledge of our teachers.

Now it seems that many students and teachers have to cope with this fast, takeaway rhythm of education. The quote above still exists, though. It’s already fulfilled, but in a more advanced, technological way. 

Now back to the quote, it’s not just for teachers, but for everyone, including parents, who are planning or trying to practise teaching.

Mastery, by the way, is about understanding, confidence, and application, without panicking about perfection or excellence.

But exposure focuses on grabbing a quick bite: learning as if you’re picking up a fast food meal. You take a bite and bin the rest. Or better put, learning by telling without showing, memorising without thinking, answering  without understanding.

But how proud would be that teacher be who teaches to mastery by the end of the academic year?

I can imagine them smiling, happy with their achievement, even if some of their students choose to stay behind, stuck with their fast food meal.

With teaching thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

Don’t Trade a Secret?

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This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #484: a weekend challenge to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 90 words using the word “Trade”.

I wish I could say I followed the instructions, but my mind and my pen had another thought.

So here’s the piece they ended with: 

People ask, always ask, so many questions.

Perhaps out of curiosity, admiration, or even envy.

And everyone has at least one secret in life.

But not every secret can be traded.

Why trade your privacy for public interest?

Isn’t privacy supposed to be one of your secrets?

Why trade trust for any gains?

Isn’t trust supposed to be a secret held between two?

Why trade your hard-earned toil for vanity?

Isn’t your toil meant to be a quiet secret for a good cause?

They say that in the professional world, every trade secret is protected by legal regulations.

So how come people trade their own secrets with no regulations, no considerations, and no sense of decency.

Kindness and loyalty still exist, and the world is not as murky as some people try to paint it.

But it’s wiser to think twice before trading a secret for anything at all.

With don’t-trade-your-secrets thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

The Beauty and The Heart

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People say that what’s hidden in the heart shows on the face.

And others say that real beauty comes from a pure, beautiful heart.

So… the essence of the whole issue is simple: beauty begins in the heart.

What’s hidden there, what lies deep inside your heart, becomes your reflection in the mirror.

People paint their faces, then look into the mirror and wow at themselves.

But what they see isn’t real, it’s only a painted picture.

They know the truth, yet they still pretend that what’s fake can become true.

They play the same trick with their hearts.

Some paint themselves as kind, trustworthy, pious, and perhaps even angelic.

But the heart fails them, because it can’t be painted.

And what shows on painted, glowing faces can never hide what lies in the heart.

The heart is the honest mirror, just like the one in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

It doesn’t lie.

You hit it.

You squeeze it.

You smash it.

Yet it still shows who you really are.

Have you ever wondered why beauty becomes so artificial?

Perhaps, because some hearts become so hard.

Rocks have no feelings, no sense of beauty.

Once the heart is obsessed with selfishness, its beauty fades.

And once its beauty fades, the face darkens and seeks some urgent artificial paint.

And then, artificial beauty glows without any real beauty, 

and the hardened hearts live without any sense of life. 

Would the Beast have ever turned back into a noble prince without the pure heart of the Beauty?

With pure-hearted thoughts,

Nahla