Just writing

Are you even human?

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Do you think it is a positive or a negative comment? I’m really curious, wondering what comes first to your mind just right now. 

As for me, it’s positive, definitely positive. That’s how I feel and think about it, though unfortunately, it puts humainty into a very critical situation.

Imagine, you received your exam paper with a full mark result. ‘Are you even human?’ they asked, full of wonder, because it seemed you were the one who still uses the best miraculous creation: your brain.

In another scenario, imagine you wept your heart out after your small bird died. ‘Are you even human?’ they asked, again full of wonder, because it seems that butchers outnumbered all civil professions.

You see how you, as a human, need your brain and your consciousness, to prove your capabilities and uniqueness to deserve your living on this earth. After all, God creates us not to be robots or angels, but to be humans with superior qualities compared to everything else. 

Are you even human? Yes, it’s a great honour to be.

Does it make sense? I hope it does.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

A Craving Hobby!

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Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?


Some hobbies can depend on mood, taste, company – and, more importantly, the moment. Have you ever noticed that? I have.

I love colouring with pens and pencils, but I’ve rarely tried using brushes. I believe all children enjoy colouring at different levels; it somehow captures their attention and relax their mood. Colouring is the hobby I crave, like special things at special moments, shared with very special people.

So, in my childhood, I loved and enjoyed colouring. But as we grow, some old hobbies are pushed aside and eventually  become abandoned. But, they don’t completely vanish.

During my pregnancy, I craved colouring. A month after my husband and moved to the UK for his postgraduate studies, I bought children’s colouring books and pens.  I coloured them all in no time, selected my favourites, cut them out, and decorated our walls with them. They added life, beauty, and much fun to our small flat. However, I didn’t crave it in my second pregnancy, and it was pushed aside by the demands of life.

My faded hobby revived and was full of fun when God blessed me with a daughter after my two boys. We used to colour together and challenge each other to see who could make the best colouring. However, as we discovered other favourite hobbies, colouring was once again pushed aside.


They say colouring is an effective alternative to meditation, and it truely is. It extends time and makes every moment more enjoyable, putting all your worries and fears at the back of your mind. Perhaps that’s why you might crave it at special moments with special people.



With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Old Habits

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Old habits die hard. Or, can they?

Have you ever thought that this saying relates to both good and bad – or unnecessary habits. I mean its a double – meaning saying.

“Old habits never die,” is a great and encouraging saying, espcially when it comes to positive habits, like brushing your teeth before going to bed, or taking off your shoes before entering the house.

However, “old habits never die” can also relate to negative habits that you can neither give up nor change. In such cases, you may feel trapped inside their strong, tight net. Still, with determination and strong will, it is believed that your bad old habits can either die or transformed into positive alternatives.

Have you read The Apple Tree by Daphne du Maurier. In the story, Medge, the deceased wife, is portrayed by her husband as having the worst habbit that seems not just hard, but impossible to die. No only that, her husband puts all the blame for their unhappy marriage on her, as if he were an angelic husband fallen down from heaven.

Can you guess what Medge’s old habit that never dies ?

Here’s my review link if you want to know.

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/02/06/the-apple-tree/



With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Important and Unimportant

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The most important invention in your lifetime is…


Aren’t all the important inventions just the unimportant ones in the past – the laughable stock,  trivilaties, and extravagance.

Haven’t you ever felt like shouting; ” Enough inventions, please! Let the world follow its natural rhythm, don’t challenge it, don’t destroy it.”

It seems like there has alawys been the spoiled child that once upon a time decided to make the world and its inhabitants his playground. And he did, and still is.  Unfortunately, his madness was contagious, and instead of having one spoiled child, the world tries to survive with a gang of spoiled ones that have been growing like weeds all over it.

All inventions become important, desirable, and unbelievable. If they are not, then they are not worth mentioning, and sadly no nominations. But people in the past and the underperiviliged ones used to live or are living without them. That’s simply because they are not essential, not as important as they seem to be. In other words, they are not the air and water in our life.

Isn’t it funny that the Great Pyramids in Egypt were built mainly to be the tomb for His Highness, the great king? That is one of the greatest inventions in the history of civilization – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It seemed important to His Highness to make all the sacrifices and use all the super brains to create such a remarkable invention as his last ultimate resting place. But, the important invention, wasn’t essential to give him another life- didn’t change his destiny.


Similar, funny things happen nowadays that are called important inventions. We believe they are, or will be in the near future, as if the world doesn’t have enough, as if a simple grave wasn’t enough for the burial of the great Pharoah.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Panacea

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Isn’t it a wonderful word, full of magical solutions?

I believe it is. 

For example, reading can be your panacea for good company, walking for excerise, sleeping for exhaustion, travelling for boredom, etc.

But what is the panacea for good quality writing?

All of a sudden, I started wondering while reading my book last light. I added a bookmark to the page I stopped at and decided to write down my first thoughts the following day.

And here I am today, completing the post while Blue, my bird, stands before the screen, watching my fingers tapping the keyboard. He’s feeling miserable and restless, because Sky, his mate, has been poorly for days.

So, back to Panacea and good writing.

First of all, I thought it might be to write everyday. You’re really amazing if you’re doing this. Sometimes, I wish and try to do this too, but I don’t think that’s my panacea for good writing.

Second, I thought it might be reading. It’s said that the more you read, the more your writing improve. That’s so true, and it can be a good step towardes achieving good quality writing especially if you, like me, get deeply engaged in the book you’re reading. In fact, that is very beneficial when it comes to writing book reviews.

Third, I thought of the time and the place. Perhaps, if you fix a certain time and place, you will feel more oraginsed and committed, and create your best piece. That can be another good step, but it’s not a practical option for everyone, especially those with other priorities.

And then, I thought of Inspiration. It is like a magical pen with mystical ink that turns thoughts into flowing words. It isn’t limited to a special time or place. You can be inspired by a quote, a picture, an adage, a memory, a dream, a daily prompt, or a post by a talented blogger. The most special thing about inspiration is how it makes writing flow – makes it easy and unique.

Is inspiration your panacea for good quality writing?

It is for me

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Perspective And Life

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How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

Your perspective of something or someone is how you see, think, understand, and feel them, right?

And life? What is life? It’s how you are here. It’s the breath coming in and out. It’s your heart and soul. Am I right?

My perspective of life is that it’s a gift, the most precious gift we’ve been blessed not only to have, but also to live. It’s the one and only priceless gift you’ll ever have in your lifespan on this earth.

For how many people would you say; ‘You are my heart and soul.’ Only the most dearest.

How many things would you put your heart and soul into? Only the best.

Time slips through your hands just like water. Good and bad moments and events come along your the journey. Still, your previous gift remains priceless, irreplaceable. If only we can appreciate it, and never give up, all other challenges would be easier to manage and overcome.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Recorded Messages

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Why do people send recorded messages instead of calling or even writing a text message?

Perhaps it’s because they are busy or because they make typo mistakes, just like me when writing in a hurry. Or, maybe, they just want to prattle knowing well that you don’t have the time to listen. In these cases, you won’t feel offended or marginalised. Instead, you would laugh when you press on the message and hear it.

But there’s also a possibility that the sender doesn’t want to talk to you. Their recorded message feels just like a mission or an ethical, obligatory duty to inform you of something. In this case, you wouldn’t laugh because you feel marginalised, and so distant from the voice you’re hearing. It’s at this moment, you wish it had just been a text message. At least then, you wouldn’t have your hopes up.

Years ago, people used to send letters and postcards. Back the, the sender didn’t just use their special handwriting, but also their voice, their feelings, and their unique signature. No wonder why people, in the past, used to wait for postman. No wonder, they treasured their correspondences and kept them safe and secure. And, no wonder people loved to write letters as much as to receive them.

By the way, have you ever wondered why recorded messages sound so well-prepared?

I have, and I feel they are just like a drama after so many rehearsals.


With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Endearment

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Is there anyone who wouldn’t like to hear or receive some endearment? Genuine ones. Pure, simple ones. Endearments that are not related to flattery or hidden self-interest.

Although people are different,  I believe the possibility that one’s heart will not soften at receiving an endearing word or gesture is small. Even those with rock – solid hearts, or worse, dead hearts, should have a spot of tenderness hidden deep whithin them that would respond to a genuine endearment. Why, even animals and plants can be affected by endearing behaviour.

Now, can you think of the opposite? Instead of being the receiver, being the transmitter. In other words, can everyone instead of receiving endearment, be able to give any? I don’t think this is common because not everyone has this talent.

Imagine two people watching a singing robin at their windowstill.
‘Hello there, sweet, cute, little friend,” one says feeling so happy at the sight of the bird.
‘He’s just a bird,’ the second says, not in bad way, but he simply can’t add any more, believing that a robin is one of so many birds.

Can there be special, irreplaceable endearments? Of course there can, though nowadays, I doubt if people really care about that. A year or two ago, I noticed what I believe is an odd phenomenon. Either on social media or at social gatherings, I heard children calling their parents by their given names. In the beginning, I thought they were just joking or it was a game. Mine make the same joke at home, somtimes. But what I saw, was not for joking, playing, or disrespect. It was like a new fashion taught by parents, like a new, modern parenting style. Honestly, I find it odd, and disliked it. What could be a more special endearment than hearing “mama” and “papa”, “mum” and “dad” from your children? Who else would call you “mum” and “dad” from their own hearts?

Endearment isn’t only about sweet words.Nicknames and your own name can be just as endearing when uttered by a special person, or even given genuinely by a stranger. It is something that can warm the heart and fill it with happiness.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books

Don’t Feed Them

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Three – no four, five, or even more – secret detectives and snipers, take over the four top corners of the building. They  watch, scan, and analyse you, your bag, your hands, and every motion you take in every direction. Oblivious of their plans and intentions, you ignore them, and sometimes laugh at them.

A moment or two later, the highly professional officers spread their strong, white wings and take off. Crying and calling to one another, they start diving through the clear, breezy air, aiming for a specific landing point

You aren’t watching them, not very interested, for you’re busy unwrapping your sandwich. Before you take your first bite, your friend points to the beautiful ship sailing on the sea. You turn with a smile, and before you know it, your sandwich is snatched, shared, and swallowed by the brute intruders.

Seagulls! Have you ever been their victim?

Perhaps, that’s why you might see signs every now and then that says: “Don’t feed them.”

Have you ever thought they might do more than just steal food? The Birds by Daphne du Maurier will make you experience the unbelievable. Here’s the link for my review.

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/01/30/the-birds/

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

The Darkest Nights

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They say:  the darkest nights produce the brightest stars.

Isn’t it a beautiful proverb?

They also say the most darkest moment of the night comes just before the first light of dawn.

How many times do you feel lonely, desperate, and unsuccessful? And then, just when you are on the verge of giving up, you see luminous stars light up your dark night, and later on, the light of the dawn breaks through your faraway deep sky.

Definitely, these sayings are meant to give hope and assurance. Everything is possible, but things might take time. However, patience, sometimes, is too hard to be your friend, especially if you are the desperate not the advisor. But, you’ll be blessed if prayers are your shield.

Oh poor you, if you play the advisor giving these nice, hopeful, assuring phrases. The desperate would not listen, might even shoot you because they are trapped in the tightest circle of despair. “The hands in cold water are not like the hands in the fire.” This is what you hear in Arabic when you play the advisor or the wise man.

Then, when the miracle happens, when the solution comes, and when another chance is granted, the desperate will see the lumnious stars and the light of the dawn, and perhaps one day play the advisor to another desperate soul.

In brief, challenges and struggles are what make us understand how the darkest night can produce the brightest stars.

Have you ever seen the lumnious stars in the darkest nights?

I believe we all do.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla