Category: Just writing

Daily thoughts, Just writing

The Eye Is First Overcome

nhpureandsimple

“ 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

nhpureandsimple

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

nhpureandsimple

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 

Just writing

That’s Pure Hokum

nhpureandsimple

This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #487: write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 34 words using the word “Hokum.”

Father works and talks to the camera.

Mother cooks and talks to the camera.

Children play and talk to the camera.

Friends visit and talk to the camera.

The camera screams:

“STOP!”

What hokum! 

With hokum thoughts,

Nahla

P.s. Finally, my piece hits exactly the 34 words! 

daily prompt, Just writing

My First Encounter With Karma

nhpureandsimple

Do you believe in karma?

My first acquaintance with the word Karma was through a Drama lecturer whose name was Karma. Back then, this name was not as popular as it is today. I was so occupied with my studies that I didn’t care much about its meaning or origin.

But, of course, a few years later, everyone seemed to be an expert on the word, including myself. We have been repeating it quite a lot.

Now, back to the real concept of karma.

It is not about whether we believe in it or not.

I think its meaning just … echoes a universal belief.

If you hurt someone out of cruelty, one day someone else will hurt you for the same reason.

What you do will come back to you. 

Does the word retribution fit into this context?

Or does justice fit better?

I’ll go with justice, because the gate of justice is open to mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

And karma is more open to kindness than punishment 

But the gate of retribution is different. It opens when there is a hopeless case that calls for urgent, unmistakable punishment.

So, I believe in justice, which may also be called karma

With karma thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Readers and Writers

nhpureandsimple

How do you write what people actually want to read?

Why would I write what people want to read?

The idea seems a bit out of place. 

Well… at least for me.

For academic or teaching or other scientific forms of writings, it certainly makes perfect sense to write what people want to read and what they want to investigate.

But for a personal blogger or an emerging writer, writing is all about inspiration, imagination, freedom of style, a unique voice, and perhaps an escape, or better put, a short break. 

If you choose to think this way, would you first think about what others want to read, or about what you want to write?

By the way, that doesn’t mean you don’t care about your readers. But of course, you do.

My point is that… different readers will find you, but you can’t satisfy all of them. 

Or, in other words, let readers continue on their journey of exploration until they find your piece.

Let them like it or not like it.

Perhaps they will feel it was written just for them.

Perhaps they will feel it wasn’t for them.

And you smile, happy, for at least your piece was read somewhere by someone.

With reader and writer thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Nobility

nhpureandsimple

Some people glow by effort,

while others glow simply by their presence.

Some strive to glow,

while others glow naturally.

Some want to glow,

while others are born glowing. 

You could say it’s simply a divine gift.

This post was inspired by this quote: 

“Common souls pay with what they do, nobler souls with that which they are.”

Sometimes we need to pause for a moment as we read to contemplate, breathe, and discover the beauty hidden behind bare words.

With noble thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

WordPress, Are You Okay?

nhpureandsimple

Dear WordPress,

I’m writing to inform you that things have been so quiet on my blog for about two weeks or even more.

Fortunately, I haven’t given up writing or blogging.

Actually my mind and thoughts have been surprisingly active throughout this stagnant period.

But,unfortunately, I haven’t received any response.

Either way, rest assured that I won’t give up writing.

Why would I?

I really wonder whether you’re in good health?

Any bad cold?

Any family problems?

Any financial difficulties?

Or are you stuck in some technical trouble?

Any issues with hackers?

Any virus attacks?

Or maybe WiFi problems?

I did my best, first to think positively about you, 

and second, to make sure my posts received at least a little reaction.

I gave my posts a like  myself as a moral support, to help them feel better.

Again, whatever the cause, don’t worry, I will keep writing.

Get well soon,

Yours sincerely,

Pure-and-simple

With speedy-recovery  thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Fig Tree

nhpureandsimple

“A fig-tree, looking on a fig-tree, becometh fruitful.”

I’ve just come across this proverb as I was reading. 

By the way, I’ve started reading both fiction and nonfiction these days.

So my mood has turned a bit philosophical, but hopefully my writing won’t be boring. 

Now, back to the proverb, it reminds me of a similar saying in Arabic.

Actually… perhaps it can be an interpretation of the same idea.

The Arabic proverb says: If you live next-door to the happy, you will definitely become happy too.

Now back to the English one: isn’t the image of a fig tree next to another fig tree so beautiful?

When one becomes fruitful, its neighbour will surely be fruitful too. 

And what a coincidence!

I had bought some dried fig just before I came across this proverb.

I’m the only fan of dried figs in my family.

My daughter tried one, but when she asked me why its inside flesh felt like tiny bubbles.

I told her the truth; “dead wasps inside.”

She stared at me and said, “REALLY”

And since then she changed her mind about sharing any with me.

Now then, as people say, happiness is contagious.

And that’s exactly what both the English proverb and its Arabic version are trying to tell us.

With happy thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

A Blank Page

nhpureandsimple

I’ve just started writing this post with no clear idea or topic in mind.

I’m just wondering how it will go, and where it might take me.

Have you ever experienced this before?

I mean the moment when you grab a pen and a blank sheet of paper, stare at them, and wait?

You wait for any inspiration to flutter around you, or for a current of some thoughts to flow into your mind.

By the way, isn’t the idea of using pen and paper so classic?

I mean the image itself seems like a piece of history. 

Of course pens and papers haven’t disappeared yet, and I really hope they won’t end up as museum antiques any soon.

But using notes on your device is also a good way to write.

Tapping on your screen or your keyboard doesn’t carry your unique handwriting, but at least it still carries your thoughts and feelings.

So, now, a blank page can be filled after all.

With blank-page-thoughts,

Nahla

P.S. the cute cat photo was taken at the Cats Café in Malaysia.