Category: Just writing

Just writing

Not soft-drinks

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Years ago, I started taking my daughter to a tennis club. Of course, there would be a fun day for parents and children during the Christmas holiday. So far, so normal.

One year, at this sepical occasion, as I was sitting with my daughter, waiting for my husband to join us, a couple joined my daughter and me at the table. After “would you mind” and brief greetings, my daughter and I turned to watch others playing on the courts. So far, so normal.

It wasn’t until I heard the pop of some cans when I turned to the couple at the same table. I didn’t look at them; I mainly focused my gaze on the drinks which, of course, weren’t  soft drinks. Why? How? I wondered, feeling so angry. But that wasn’t becuase I, as a Muslim, felt I was the odd one out. No. That was becuase it was mainly a children event. Is this how people raise their children? How can you encouge a child to play sports and be healthy while you drink in front of them? I was deep in thought and didn’t realise I was gazing at the drinks on the table for more than enough. It wasn’t until my daughter grabbed my hand that I blinked and turned to her. ‘Let’s go and play,’ I told her and went to one of courts.

When my husband joined us, we went back to the table, but the drinks were gone. I felt a flutter of happiness, and turned to my daughter with a broad smile, but my daughter looked startled, glancing at the couples joining our table. I turned to see what was wrong. There, the woman was glaring at me as if I had slapped her. Honestly, I wondered if there was something wrong with her, a mental health issue. I gave her a brief smile, but she kept the same angry face. My husband asked me what was wrong. I shook my head and told him I had not the foggiest idea. But then, I remembered that I saw one of the coaches by our table when we were playing which means he was the one taking their drinks away, not me, but perhaps becuase of me?

After that event, my daughter continued attending her sessions, but we decided there would be no need to participate in any of their holiday events.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Confession

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As I was reading my book last night, a sentence of my last blog kept nagging at me that I thought I was going to dream about it. But, it inspired me to write today’s blog.

In my last blog, The quiet, shy girl, I said I had never failed. Well, that wasn’t completely a lie, and it did’t awfully prick my conscience. After all, as long as the issue doesn’t involve anyone else, so it’s between God and me, and I prayed for forgiveness. Besides, I was mainly talking about my academic education which as far as I can remember was the truth.

But, of course, Life doesn’t go perfect all the time. Even the genius makes mistakes. We are the offsprings of Adam and Eve; humans with blood, flesh, and emotions. Therefore, we are not perfect, we are not robots. Sometimes, we will get a first-time Pass, and other times we’ll get it on the second or fifth attempt. Or, we’ll change direction and achieve it somewhere, sometime else.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books, Just writing

Idolization

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Just look at how people follow a special player, or jump on stage to hug that famous singer, or run after a remarkable actor to take a selfie. And look at those who bow, kneel, and even kiss the ground that this leader or that walks on. This idolization has been the same throughout the ages, it’s obviously disgusting these days because of the social media madness.

Have you ever thought how those idols throughout the ages take but, never give? They don’t know you, won’t care about you. Whether in the form af a celebrity, a leader, or a political party, they want you, as a number, as a voice. They stand high and long, here and there, just like statues. Their strength and durability depend on the expertise of their craftsmenship. But, they never live becuase statues are soulless, vague, and empty. And, one day, they would be dumped, forgotten, and replaced by other statues.

I remember one day while watching a documentary about a famous Egyptian singer from the seventies, there were women throwing themselves out of the top windows of high buildings. Were they really happy following him into the grave? I wondered, thinking how those people will one day answer to God for commiting suicide. This is completely blind idolization, which I believe is so destructive, so humiliated, so pathetic.

On another occasion, when I first came to live in the UK, I met different people. My first friend and neighbour was following the Shia Mathhab. By the way, we didn’t introduce ourselves as Shia and Sunni. These differences just seemed to be obvious. Well, as my friend and I used to visit each other quite a lot, I noticed that there are certain things that she was celebrating and practising which I wasn’t. I asked her about that and she simply replied, ‘I swear I don’t  care about this Imama or that, I just do what my mother does.’ We burst out laughing. How simple and funny our life would be, if we don’t idolize our differences!

Children, of course, might idolize their parents, or students idolise their noble mentors but that’s out of pure love and ultimate reverence, because they deserve it. These people in our lives are the ones who really care and love us.They can not be replaced, can not purchased.

By the way I have just finished The Stationary Shop Of Tehran. It’s a good book, I enjoyed it, enjoyed more reading about Persian Culture and traditions which are a bit different from my Arabic ones. Herewith is my book review, hope you will like it.

The Stationary Shop of Tehran

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

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Just writing

Life in the countryside

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Do you ever see wild animals?

One of the best things about living in the countryside is the ability to handle difficult problems and situations. There, people live and strive to thrive. Using basic ingredients, they can make the most delicious meals and desserts. They can fix broken things, mend old clothes or sew new ones, and even save lives as quickly as an ambulance.

I’m not sure if countryside life is still the same nowadays as it was when I was a little kid vising my grandparents for a month during summer holidays? But to be honest, though I enjoyed it, I couldn’t wait to go back to my easy life in Cairo.

I remembered that becuase of today’s prompt.  I am not sure if a scorpion can be considered as a wild animal, but I am making it one in my post for today.

It was one of those long, hot summar nights, and I was having a sleepover at my Aunt’s country house. We had just come back from visiting one of her neighbours. We were laughing and joking, and couldn’t wait to hit the pillow. My aunt rested on a wooden bench in the big, high ceiling, and so dimly lit hall, pondering her next day chores.  I headed straight to the bedroom I used to share with her, but just before getting changed, her screams filled the house. I ran out, and saw her hands tightened around one of her calves, as she lifted her leg, trying to slow her blood circulation. ( of course I understood that later). ‘Scorpion,’ she shouted, and her sister ran outside to get some help from their neighbour, asking another to fetch the village doctor. That night, she survived, and I went to bed whispering one prayer: ‘Please God keep that dreadful insect away from me. Amen,’ I prayed and fell into a sound sleep. Next morning, life went back to normal, with my aunt doing her chores and me playing around.

By the way, did you know that scorpions don’t live in Antarctica, although they can adapt to almost every other place on Earth. Of course, they would freeze, be unable to use their venomous sting, be easily seen, and their lifespan would be cut down to a few days. Don’t you think this can also apply to wild, evil people?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Reading Challenge

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It’s almost the end of the year, and I am running our of time to finish the 50 books I had planned to read this year. Actually it’s not that bad, I  read 47 books so far. By the way it’s thanks to my WordPress friend Arlene for starting this experience in the first place. I can’t remember exactly when I did, but I was inspired by her reading challenge experience.

Before the coffee gets Cold, is the most recent book I have finished, and here’s my book review for it.

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/before-the-coffee-gets-cold/

Please have a look. Hope you’ll like both the book and my review.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Who doesn’t?

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Do you need time?

Time is what we are. More precisely, it is  what our life is.

When we are young, we don’t care about it, don’t think about it. Precious or not, we enjoy it. It streches long and green before us. But the older we become, the more we think about it and live every second of it. We no longer measure it as we live its all colours.

Can anyone say I don’t need time? Can anyone live without time? I doubt it.

Working, studying, writing, reading, making a family, raising children, cooking, cleaning, exercising, etc, all need time. Even our emotions need time.

Love needs time. Yes, one can fall in love at the first sight, in a split second. But,  it’s time that proves whether this love is an infatuation, a passing fancy, or genuine. Hate also needs time though one can hate at the first sight. Our attempts to get rid of this feeling or that need time. It’s time that can explain why and how we have the feeling and whether we will ever overcome it.

Of course, I need time.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Safe place

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Have you ever found yourself having to move to another place? A totally different place? Or, perhaps, to a bit farther from the familiar place, faces, and things you used to see and live with?

I did.

Whether you planned for that change or it was imposed on you, whether you are happy or mad about it, the result is the same: you have to move.

And you move becuase it was time to leave that certain place, those certain people, and the those certain things you have been doing. Perhaps it’s to make a new beginning, a new life, new friends, or new projects. But, perhaps it’s also to move you into a safer place. That doesn’t necessarily mean being saved from natural catastrophes. But there could be other types of catastrophes; social, personal, emotional or even moral.

In my heart, I believe it’s mainly God’s timing. It is a divine mercy. God is the One who knows best, and He is the One who will always put us in a safe place.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Change the world!

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What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

Should it be to change the world? Isn’t it changing already every second? Isn’t it full enough with “influencers” who believe they are the new inspirational figures in our changing world.

Honestly, years ago, when I started blogging I was not thinking about changing the world but changing myself. That can’t be selfishness, can it?

Anyway, my first thought was to write again, to practise a hobby I had long forgotten, and to turn my voice into written words. My second thought was to change my daily routine, my social media circle, and my everyday conversations. And, my third thought was to be the writer I have once dreamed to be.

So, and back to the issue of  changing world, I hope my blog would encourage others to write, to smile, and to believe that life is not an accident.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Acknowledgement

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How do you express your gratitude?

What can be better than acknowledge the help, the support, the kindness, the time, the care, the advice, the lesson, the comlement, and the so many other things that we receive from others and that make a change in our life.

Isn’t it a wonderful gesture of gratitute to add some extra few lines acknowledging others’ contributions, moral or theoretical, to the completion of your thesis, book, research paper, or even to your life in general. 

Isn’t the simple, genuine, ‘Thank you’, whether spoken or written convey much about your being grateful.

Things don’t have to be fancy or expensive, and words don’t have to be two page speech to express our gratitude. It’s our genuine acknowledgement of the part that others played in your life that matters, that can really express your gratitute.

Sometimes, I wonder how some people could be so cruel, so ungrateful to ignore and forget how much others have done and given to them.

Kind words are free, so why be so thrifty to utter any?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Noah’s Ark

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Someone was commenting on the current events around the world saying ” Is it really logical that people nowadays are from the offspring of the righteous people who had embarked on Noah’s Ark. But then, what kind of morals did those who had drowned in the flood have?’

That’s funny but it also makes a good point.

But, perhaps, we should think more about Noah than his people or his offspring. How did he cope with mockery, hatred, and betrayal? How didn’t he give up building his Ark? Never. How strong was his faith? And how he made a new start and lived a better, longer life?

Noah was patient, faithful, and resilient. He had never lost hope, never abandoned his faith. In the end, he was saved while most of his people drowned.

Could we just embark on Noah’s Ark and do our best to live a good,  healthy life on this earth?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla