Just writing

Start again

nhpureandsimple

How many times do you get disappointed about something?

How many times do you get confused, shocked, and sorry?

A lot, right? 

But isn’t that life? 

Sometimes you feel you’re too close to achieve your dream, 

Too close to touch it, 

Too close to hold it.

And then, at some point, you find yourself standing there,

 right in the middle of nowhere.

Shall I give up?

Shall I go on? 

Shall I follow this direction or that one? 

Was it ever meant for me?

It’s hard when you get caught in this trap of disappointments, especially when you’re trying your best,

trying to focus on the sunny side,

on the full half of the cup.

Then…

you realise your only opportunity is to start again.

Shall you take it?

Why not? 

Isn’t this life too? 

It tests our faith,

our patience,

and perhaps also…

our strength.

It seems to be yelling, 

“It’s time to start again.”

With positive thoughts,

 Nahla

Just writing

Too many books

nhpureandsimple

At the beginning of this year, 2026, I suggested to myself without enforcement, argument, or stubbornness that I would read more nonfiction books.

So far, I’ve been doing well following my own suggestion.

I’ve a long list across various topics. 

It’s good for the brain to switch activities and also books, isn’t it? 

But I haven’t abandoned fiction completely. I read a few pages every day from a story in a different genre: Japanese fiction.

By the way, nonfiction isn’t that boring if you’re interested in the topic.

It may need more time and concentration.

But the good news is that you’re not obliged to read it from cover to cover.

Sometimes a nonfiction book is a collection of different essays, topics, or even categories.

You read the ones most related to your interest, and skip the others.

Well… that’s my strategy.

I reckon nonfiction authors expect this from readers. 

Some of them even mention in their introduction that you, as a reader, may skip the parts you’re not interested in.

So far reading nonfiction sounds good.

But just a tiny problem to consider:

there’s no room for imagination in nonfiction.

And that’s why I always keep a fiction book at hand.

Nonfiction can teach us science, literature, philosophy, history … 

but fiction can teach us all of that in one imaginative story. 

It’s in nonfictions that we learn about history, and in fiction that we see it.

By the way, do you think villains read history?

Perhaps they don’t, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many of them.

With reading thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Why I Can’t Write

nhpureandsimple

Because I don’t have ideas.

That’s probably the first logical answer.

Or perhaps because I don’t have time.

That also makes sense.

Or…

You may say it’s because I have so many ideas, but can use none.

Have you ever struggled with this last problem?

I have.

Over the last few days, whenever I decided to write down something, another idea would pop into my head and start fighting with the first.

Before I could put an end to the fight, a third idea came from here and there and interfered.

As I was wondering whether this interference made any sense, a fourth idea pushed its way into the crowd.

I gave up and returned to my book.

Sometimes you have so many ideas that you end up writing nothing.

But sometimes… this very chaos is exactly what we need to write about.

By the way, this applies to life too.

When everything feels chaotic, a mess, and out of control, 

that’s the very moment when solutions, changes, and opportunities begin to appear.

The birds sing after the storm.

People come out and walk, steady and free.

And writers watch all of that and think,

That’s the time to write.

For sure.

With chaotic and quiet thoughts, 

Nahla

Philosophical musings

The Best and the Good

nhpureandsimple

“Best is the enemy of good.”

Have you ever thought of Best as perfection and Good as practicality?

Well.. this quote is all about this issue, and of course in this context, animosity is expected.

Good is the one climbing the stairs step by step.

Best is the one taking them all in a few leaps, reaching the top before anyone else.

Good is laughed at as slow and a loser.

Best is championed as fast and a winner.

But doesn’t the steady turtle win the race against the pompous rabbit?

She listens to practicality.

He listens to perfection. 

She wins.

He loses.

Simple. Right?

Now, try and read the sentence from right to left:

The good is the enemy of the best.

This is another saying.

According to this one, the good is the average, the easy way—the path that stops and hinders the achievement of the ideal, the perfect.

Neither the turtle nor the rabbit really fits this context.

Because the turtle doesn’t stop the rabbit, and the rabbit is too arrogant to be an ideal.

But… actually they can fit, just in a different way.

The rabbit is doing what is good. 

But why try to do better? 

He thinks he’s perfect—the winner.

Surprisingly, the turtle is doing not only good, but better, 

even the best of her abilities to keep going and finish the race.

She wins.

He loses.

Got anywhere now?

Hopefully, you’re not lost.

In both cases, the turtle is the winner and the rabbit is the loser.

In both the quote and the saying, the winner is the practical one whether they are doing good or doing their best.

Perfection is out of the race because it is impossible.

We are not created to be perfect. 

But we’re meant to do our best. 

Good can be enough, 

but what about other possibilities? Other dreams? Other questions? 

Why get five if you can get ten?

Why give up instead of keeping on?

It was a perfect day, we say use “perfect” as a figure of speech,  

because we decided to enjoy it with its good and bad details.

Now… do you think the quote and the saying can be two faces of the same coin?

With best-and-good thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Pets, please understand

nhpureandsimple

If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

We—humans both love and envy you.

You can see things we can’t see.

You can hear things we can’t hear.

You can smell things before we even do.

You’re born to run out and about—free.

You’re born to fly and soar high.

You’re born to dive and swim deep, deep, deep in dark seas, rivers, and oceans.

You’re satisfied with the way you are; your look, your shape, and your size.

You’re happy wherever you live; 

a nest, a hole, a cave, a shell, or a tree.

You don’t mind— never mind.

You know what to eat and when to eat.

You’re funny, unexpected, and loyal.

You love life, clinging to its last moment, 

but you live it instead of thinking too much about it.

And… we learn from you.

Yes, we humans, with our superior, complex brains learn from you—our dear pets.

With humans-and-pets thoughts,

Nahla 

 

Just writing

Let’s Pretend…

nhpureandsimple

This let’s pretend is all about close your eyes and dream.

Well… not closing your eyes and dozing off, but turning on the light to imagination, to hope, and perhaps even to happiness.

Children are the best at make- believe.

They use let’s pretend to dream about the future, about their growing-up lives.

They play this let’s pretend game to have fun.

They cling to this let’s pretend as a shield to avoid and escape punishment.

Writers make-believe too.

Their let’s pretend characters become full of life on the page. 

Their let’s pretend thoughts turn into words a reader can hold. 

And their let’s pretend world becomes real in imagination.

Pause…

This was how I began this post last night with this idea which I borrowed from a non-fiction book about creativity and IQ tests. By the way, do we really need all the fuss around them?

I don’t think so.

Now, back to the main idea.

Instead of going back to finish my post, I decided to complete Dostoevsky’s Poor People. 

I did finish it, but that wasn’t a good idea. 

Because I abandoned the post and slipped straight into reviewing the book. 

But the idea of let’s pretend started nagging me, buzzing into my head, with a single plea; 

Please let’s pretend you didn’t read the book.

Please finish the post.

I tried.

But, I couldn’t.

The book seemed to cut the flow of my post thoughts with its hopeless narrative.

It’s understandable how the story reflected the miserable and hard life the author experienced during the time he was writing it. 

But still, I found myself wondering; why he didn’t play this let’s pretend game, just once, to make- believe some hope in the miserable story? 

Honestly, I don’t know.

But at least I made it — and finished this post.

 

With let’s–pretend–happy thoughts, 

Nahla

Philosophical musings

In the Zone of Comfort.

nhpureandsimple

This post was inspired by https://tonysbologna.com/2026/01/15/the-real-reason-youre-afraid-to-leave-your-comfort-zone/

But by all means what’s the problem with comfort? 

By comfort, I don’t mean idleness, an aimless life, or monotony. 

By comfort, I mean choosing to follow what’s suitable for you while still having a target, a purpose, and even a moral compass.

The gardener, for example, who knows nothing but planting and selling flowers, is happy, content, and proud of his accomplishments. 

Then one day, others introduce this idea of “comfort zone” into his mind.

They keep nagging him to get out of his comfort zone and take some risks:

to buy more land, plant exotic scentless flowers, and double or even triple the price of his harvest.

He says, “But my life is good, and I have risks everyday to take and challenge.”

They say, “But you can do more.”

He says, “I have enough.”

They say, “Who dares, win.”

He says, “win what? “

They say, “Fortune, wealth, and more pleasures.”

He says, “What about comfort?”

They say, “Well… they will bring comfort.”

He says, “No… there will be no time for comfort.”

They say, “You’re wasting your life.”

He says, “No, no… I’m enjoying my life.”

Is the gardener lazy or weak or brainless?

Do the others, with their idea of “getting out of the comfort zone,”live really in paradise? 

Strange how most people ignore the fact that, in comfort, a person can be more productive, creative, and successful. 

A comfort zone is not about sitting in a chair and crossing your legs. 

A comfort zone can be full of options, challenges, and achievements. 

It’s simply where and how you choose to live.

In the end, in your comfort zone, you have the freedom to follow your own intuition, and you are not obliged to say “Amen” to anyone’s else rules because… it’s a home, not a prison.

With comfort thoughts,

Nahla 

Just writing

Hey World!

nhpureandsimple

In case you, just like me, are shocked and disappointed by what’s happening around the world, here are some of my philosophical musings, not on politics, but on gambling.

Now… before making any assumptions, this post is inspired by Dostoevsky’s The Gambler which I’ve finished reading.

You know what? 

A popular Arabic saying goes: Take the wisdom from the mouths of the insane.

You may wonder how.

Wisdom and insanity do not match, together they make no sense.

You’re right. 

But… who says that the insane are wise, or that wisdom can be taught to the insane? 

It’s not about knowledge or experience.

It’s about special gifts.

It’s an advice not to belittle anyone’s abilities, even if they were insane.

Back to the Gambler: the book was clearly written by a gambler with a warning as bright as sunlight in a clear sky. It seems to shout: avoid gambling, never try it, and flee from it.

Isn’t the gambler just another insane person born with a functioning brain, yet destroying it for the sake of gambling obsession? 

The story echoes that old saying, with a bit of alteration.

It seems to urge readers; take the wisdom, and learn the lesson from the gambler’s tale.

But not every insane is gifted, 

and not every gambler is repentant either.

With sound thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Salt and Sugar

nhpureandsimple

They look exactly the same, don’t they?

But one tastes sweet,

and the other tastes salty.

Both are needed —

but not too much.

and not artificial.

Life can’t be without both.

It is a mix of salt and sugar.

We need its salt to make it liveable.

We need its sugar to make it enjoyable.

Without them, life would be tasteless,

wouldn’t it?

People can be salt and sugar too.

Have you ever met someone who adds a bit of flavour to a gathering, a meeting, or even a party? 

They might bring a joke, a touch of humour, or even an unfathomable argument, but they change the dull mood and stir life back into the company.

In Arabic, we say this person is the salt of the gathering.

And… have you ever met someone who makes everything taste sweet even the bitter coffee?

These are the ones who smile at you, reassure you when things get hard, and show up whenever you need them.

They are like natural sugar; sweet, simple, and healthy. 

You know what? 

They say that salt and sugar are among the most dangerous substances in modern civilisation.

Of course they are; but that’s mainly about the artificial ones, the fake ones, the man-made ones. 

So why mix things up?

But… life will never run out of the genuine person who is the salt of the gathering, and the kind one who is the sugar for the soul.

With salt-and-sugar thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Storm

nhpureandsimple

Have you heard about the storm that hit the UK yesterday? 

Goretti. That was its name.

By the way, it wasn’t all over the UK.

In my place, it was just cold, cloudy, and sometimes rainy.

Now ready to think about something else?

Have you heard the term brainstorm?

Of course you have.

With all due respect to dictionaries, the word explains itself. 

Why do some people make things complicated?

I have no idea.

Simply put, brainstorm is like having a storm in your brain. Whatever form the storm takes; psychological, mental, spiritual, or something else, it usually stirs and blows with new ideas, and perhaps new solutions too.

So…  this kind of brainstorm is just like a weather storm. It can cause a sudden flood of ideas and energy that turns on every fuse in your brain. And then, suddenly, you see new things and find new solutions, and feel, absolutely, elated.

But sometimes a brainstorm means totally the opposite. That’s when it blows everything away, and causes both a power cut and long delays. In this case, things feel blurry and dull, and you end up feeling more confused and lost. 

Perhaps the navigation of a brainstorm depends on a person’s mood, or maybe on their motivation. But sometimes, it also depends on determination. 

Dont’t people say that if there is a will, there’s a way?

And they also say; after every storm, the sun will smile again.

So whether the storm turns on the light or cut it off, it will pass, and when it does, we’ll all glow with relief and joy.

With shiny thoughts,

Nahla