Category: Just writing

Just writing

He Thought He Owned The Mine

nhpureandsimple

Some people carry this ego that swells until it bursts.

Have you ever met anyone like that?

There’re plenty of them — especially on the news.

By the way, I borrowed the title from this old saying: 

I not only thought I had struck gold, I also thought that I owned the mine.

Isn’t it so true?

After one success, some feel they are the best in the world.

After one massive profit, some believe they control the entire market.

After reaching the king’s throne, some imagine they will rule the whole world. 

Nonsense.

The predecessors of this kind — with all their knowledge, wealth, and power — left the world not only empty-handed, but with a history marked by shame and disgrace.

People remember that kind for their evils, just as a reminder, a moral lesson, a path we’re warned not to follow.

Has your mother ever warned you not to listen to the whispers of the devils?

Haven’t you ever wondered how some people have excelled the devil in his own craft?

Actually, the devil himself would be so astonished by the high level those people reach that he might apply for early retirement before his eternal journey back home to hell.

By the way, the saying above doesn’t apply to these ego-swollen humans.

Here it is again; 

I not only thought I had struck gold, I also thought that I owned the mine.

It applies to those with a nagging conscience — those ones who admit their mistakes and try not only to fix them but also to learn from them.

Though the devils know their mistakes; in fact, that’s what they live for and by, they neither fix them nor learn from them.

But for humans, it is never too late to learn.

Isn’t it.

 

With humble human thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Winter in April

nhpureandsimple

It’s April, and how it arrived so quickly, I’ve no idea.

But according to the calendar: it’s officially the first of April.

But why are you stretching the heavy blanket of winter?

You’re supposed to bring spring with its warm sun, blue sky, and colourful flowers.

Up to this very moment, it’s freezing cold here,

and rainy,

and the only colourful flowers are the ones in the supermarkets.

Not only that, you’re bringing along news of an unexpected guest: the wind.

She’s planning a short stay for two days soon, I heard.

Honestly, earlier that day, I thought it might be one of your fool tricks.

But no — it wasn’t.

You’ve just announced, clear and clean, that winter’s mood is still on.

But March announced that the summertime is already here, 

with a promise of long, bright days.

What’s wrong this year?

If you had a fight with long March,

or if you’re simply confused by the chaos in the world,

please don’t make us scapegoats for others’ madness.

Anyway, welcome April—

and thank you for the spark of sun that shone just as I finished this post.

Is this a promise of new hope.

Please be kind.

With kind and hopeful thoughts, 

Nahla

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  

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 

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

 

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

Just writing

Sophistry

nhpureandsimple

Can you believe that sophistry is considered a form of oratory? 

Well.. the book I’m reading now says it is.

And I agree.

Because both oratory and sophistry are mainly about talking while showing the ability to impress, persuade, and even manipulate others. 

Strange how a sophist, in most cases, practices his craft through manipulation, deception, and deviation. 

And stranger still, how there are so many of them these days! 

But to be fair, not every sophist is a manipulator. Some just talk nonstop, but without lies or trickery.

Their talk might give you a headache until you give up and buy what they say.

But of course this is nothing like dominant sophistry, the one that justifies using any means to reach its aim.

Do not fall into the trap of sophistry.

But it’s okay to fall into the trap of philosophy. 

At least philosophy is known for its devotion to truth.

By the way, how is the weather in your place?

Mine’s been windy and rainy for days.

 

With philosophical thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

If you’re not hungry, don’t eat

nhpureandsimple

Make sense. 

But now two simple questions rise and need urgent attention. 

First: What if you’re not hungry but craving something?

Second: What if you are hungry but you’re fasting?

Here comes the hardest challenge: to eat or not to eat.

And this is the most critical question.

But seriously, this is a drama over nothing.

Why do people make things complicated?

Food is not going anywhere.

It’s temptation that is trying to conquer determination.

But with faith, determination stands tall and strong against any temptation.

By the way, have you ever tried fasting?

It’s healthy.

It’s also part of faith. 

Ramadan Mubarak to all the bloggers observing and persevering through this holy month.

With faithful thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Practice Makes Perfect

nhpureandsimple

Really?

Doesn’t perfection have a bit of biased tone in the phrase?

Isn’t it just a figurative expression?

You have been practising writing for a while, maybe for years. Right?

Me too.

But this doesn’t mean the product is perfect.

I don’t think the works of those great, famous writers are perfect either, even with the support and help they receive.

So technically, practice is not about perfection, 

but improvement.

The more you practice, the more you improve… 

or the more you get used to and familiar with the thing.

When you’ve improved and become familiar with whatever you’re doing, you’re doing well, or maybe even very well.

If that’s what “Perfect” means that, then it makes sense.

Practising writing, for example, is great to improve your talent,

find your voice,

and probably make use of your own musings.

Practice makes none of these perfect,

but perhaps more interesting or more… creative.

And that’s what turns whatever you’re practising into an enjoyable routine, a task, or even a habit.

Practice builds consistency, improvement, and…

more importantly confidence.

So… keep practising, not for the sake of perfection, but to prove to yourself that you can do it.

That’s all.

With practical thoughts,

Nahla