Category: Just writing

Just writing

Money-free service

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What job would you do for free?

Years ago, one of my neighbours, a Muslim but not from an Arabic country, asked me to teach her daughter to read and write in arabic and wanted to pay for the lessons. I welcomed the idea but insisted on teaching the little girl for free. When she first asked me, the thought of earning money didn’t even cross my mind. But then, I was taken aback when she asked me how much I am going to charge her for the lesson.

There’s nothing wrong or embarrasing about charging others when you are doing them certain job and giving them some of your time. But, that, in most cases, depends on the person’s motivations and the workload of the job. Taking both into consideration,  I decided to make this job for free for certain reasons; First, I was already teaching my children Arabic at home which means I am used to the job and had the materials. Second, she was my neighbour, and do we charge our neighbours for doing them a favour? For me, that cannot be. Third, I wasn’t planning to make it a business. It was merely a sort of a small help I can offer to the little child.

I did that again, and I will do it more if need be. Although that was money- free service, I earned things more precious than money; a child’s smile, a pleasant mememory and my neighbour’s appreciation.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Two groups

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What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?

I am not a fan of the Olympics. Yes, it’s an international event represent and gather people from all the continents. Yes, it is encouraging athletes all over the world to train hard and long to measure their abilities and prove their strength. At the end, the best  will win and be awarded a medal or a trophy. The winners will receive cheers and a good round of applause from the audience, their fans. But that’s it. The compition is mainly held for that end, for its participants and their audience. But, what if you don’t belong to all of that?

Some people like to have their own rhythm that suits their style and abilities. They don’t wish to win a running race, but they do wish to go for a walk with good company and enjoy some of their time in peace and joy.

Both groups are winners, but with their own pace and reward.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Community involvement!

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How would you improve your community?

Honestly, my first reaction to today’s prompt was to laugh. Of course, it is a noble aim to work on improving your community. However, this noble aim brought back a mixture of bittersweet memories about my experience of the very topic.

Some people love to be in charge, to organise things, to make online groups, to give speeches, to be in the spotlight, and to have their photo filling the whole frame. That’s the type of people, I came across, and were, in most cases, calling and taking part in improving the community. I do agree that they indeed do good things; online groups, trips, picnics, paquets, forums, etc. The aim is always to build a strong community that would support its members and represent their existence. But, is that the only way to improve the community? Do things really represent that platonic society, that perfect image?

From my experience, these groups with the ‘do-not-think-I-am-your- boss’ attitude, perhaps improve the external of the community, but not its internal construction. In most cases, taking sides, disputes, and conflicts drive some people to walk away and reject the whole community.

Hence, I have come to learn that it’s you, the person, the human being, who can improve the community. A good parent, a good teacher, a good doctor, a good shopkeeper, clerk, nurse, etc we all can make good role models and create a good generation that can benefit the community. Although we haven’t been created to be perfect, and we all have our flaws, we all are born with a living conscious. If only we could raise above our own ego and interests! If only we could respect each other and spread kindness! If only we could be genuine and trustworthy. Wouldn’t that be a better way to improve our community?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

That nightmare!

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How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

The pandemic! That was such a hard time. Those long days were like a nightmare that you didn’t wish to live, but couldn’t escape either.

Do you remember the lock down, the vaccines, the masks, and the sanitizers? Didn’t you attempt to strengthen your immune system through food and exercise? Didn’t you keep up to date with the latest news of the pandemic? Wasn’t that what the majority were mainly concerned and worried about?

But then, we made it and lived it with its good and bad days because after every hardship comes ease, and, in most cases, there will be a light, an opening, at the end of the long dark tunnel. That’s how I believe.

I wept. I worried. I tried everything. I looked after my family, and they looked after me. And, with every passing day, I learned to pray more and to hand my worries and fears to my Creator. That’s how I adopted throughout those long days. That’s how my family and I   regained our high spirits, our fun indoors and outdoors, and our close ties together.

Just writing

Early to bed

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What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Such a beautiful saying that encourages us to make full use of each day in our life.

Rising up with the sun, or better yet, a little before, makes the day so long that even the laziest person on earth will find himself with something to do.

People in olden times used to bake, cook, clean, and do all other housework, as well as outdoor chores before sunset. They would get up before sunrise and go to bed straight aftersunset. With no electricity, no takeaway meals, and no cleaners, they still lived and accomplished more than we do nowadays. And, they socialised every now and then, read books, and maintained close family ties.

It’s a good idea to make and follow your own routine. Since we are different, we will have different priorities and schedules. It would be wonderful if we all manage to keep this ‘early to bed, early to rise’ rule.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Rare

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Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

Do you think to be unique is to be just different? I don’t think so, but I think to be unique means to be special or to have something special. In other words to be Rare.

As we are talking about people, in most cases, it’s a rare characteristic that even the person honoured with their uniquness is unaware of it. That’s one of the main aspects of being unique; you don’t aim for it. It’s a blessing before being an earned trait.

Your heart, what’s hidden deep in yours, is also what can make others believe you are unique. Your true kindness, true loyalty, and true honesty are making you unique in this make-fake-real world. I believe that even brilliant actors will show their true faces sooner or later.

Your principles is another important aspect that can make you unique. I believe they’re your second signature in this world. In a world where the majority play ‘the yes man’, you will be your unique self when you stand for your principles and beliefs.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

A different aim

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If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

Something named after me? The first thought was a mosque. But I soon changed my mind.

But why should mosques bear the people’s names? I asked myself. As a Muslim I believe that we should not boast our good deeds. Your left hand should never see what’s your right one is giving. Therefore, how can one justify writing their names on a mosque? It’s none of your property. Our money is mainly a means to construct the place of  worship. Besides, the Almighty knows your name, your intention, and your offering. So why name a mosque after me.

I searched my mind and urged each of its cell to find something. I thought and thought until the answer came to me.

It’s a title of a chapter in a book about the lives of Muslim women in a foreign country. Why just a chapter and not the entire book? Because it’s neither an autobiography nor a memoire which would  typically be named after a specific person. Besides, that wouldn’t be my aim. A chapter bearing my name would preserve both my experience and my existence within a colourful  picture and a broader narrative.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Unexpected moments!

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What makes you laugh?

Unexpected situations can make you feel either happy or miserable. Have you ever, when got embarrassed because of something, found yourself burst into a laughter instead of crying. Unexpected things can indeed make you wish the ground will open and swallow you up though later, if not at the same moment, you will laugh from the bottom of your heart.

An old friend told me once about her first visit to Madame Tussaud Museum in London. The place was so packed and after seeing so many make-real human statues, she stopped before one of them. She was so fascinated by the design of the necklace around the lady statue’s neck. My friend stretched her arm and fingered that beautiful piece of jewellery. But, all of a sudden, the statue moved its head and its eyes fixed on my friend. Oh, my … you aren’t a statue; my friend gasped and apologised to the lady who smiled in understanding. After her shock and embarrassment, my friend kept laughing until her tears washed all over her face.

Whenever I go to London or hear about Madame Tussaud Museum, I can’t help laughing as I remember this unique memory of my friend.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Generation gap

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When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Have you ever thought that, from years ago, a five year old child is totally different from their peers today.

Years ago, when parents or  grandparents asked the younger ones what they wanted to be when you grow up? They answered; a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, a pilot, a mechanic, …. . Their  dream was to go to university, to work hard and earn their living from a prestigious job. Sometimes their dream came true, and sometimes not.

Nowadays, a five years old child, in most cases, doesn’t have a specific dream. They don’t even have the ability to talk and think about that at these early years of their age. Although, they are far smarter in technology than their peers years ago.

The generation gap is massive but perhaps that depends on how we raise up our children and what changes are taking place in the world around us. Unfortunately, the modern phenomenon of easy money is erasing the what do you want to be when you grow up question from the dreams of this generation’s young children  

By the way, I remembe I always wanted to be a teacher though that changed later on in my life.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Sometimes!

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What bores you?

Bored, honestly I rarely use the word but used to hear it quite a lot by others.

Let me give you a brief real example; I’m taking my daughter every week to a tennis club. It’s mainly one hour where I usually spend in reading or watching children playing. However, if one of my sons graces me with his company, he would make it feel like ten hours though he’ll be mostly using their phones.

I think it mainly depends on the person. If one wants to be bored, one will definitely be bored!

However, of course, I get bored. It happens sometimes on social gatherings, especially indoor, when out of genuine respect to the host/ess, I can’t grab a book in case of being struck by boredom . So, imagine youself being surrouded by people sharing topics you either don’t know or don’t want to know. Worse still, they don’t care. That’s when I count not merely the minutes but also the seconds until I step out of the whole place.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla