daily prompt

More than three

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Name your top three pet peeves.

‘I can’t find,’ the everyday phrase that makes me mad
‘Mama, there aren’t any clean glasses in the cupboard?’ Shouted my son from the kitchen downstairs.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as it was just an hour or so ago that I had taken a dozen from the dishwasher and arranged all the sparkly clean glasses in the cupboard.
‘Go and borrow some from the neighbours, then,’ I shouted back from my bedroom.

‘After you.‘ The kind but also annoying phrase.
‘After you,’ I said with a smile and took a step back so the  next person, mostly an elderly, could get on the bus. But then the third followed, and the fourth, and the fifth. And, I became the last to get on. (To be honest, sometimes I am the second in line who accepted the first’s sacrifice and caused the martyer more delay)

‘I am not complaining,’ the phrase that gives me a terrible headache.
‘Such a horrible day! My muscles ache. Traffic, traffic, traffic.
No one understands. No one cares. Everyday expenses. Blocks on social media, etc., but, I am not complaining.’

‘Don’t judge‘ the phrase that makes me feel so unfair, so inconsiderate though I am not.
‘He didn’t stop swearing all evening.’
’Don’t judge.’
‘How can this be judging?’
’Because you mean he is a bad person.’
’But I didn’t say that, and he might be better than all of us. I was just referring to something that was obvious and improper.’

The poor drama, that makes me so disappointed, so hurt. 
’I was busy with relocation and all its fuss.’
‘You moved, really? Where? Why? How is it?’
And I answered, joined in, detailing what the other already knew.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Cats or dogs

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What are your favorite animals?

I was raised in a culture that generally adored cats and disliked dogs. But, please don’t contextualise this attitude within a religious framework that some consider insignificant and cruel to the poor creature. ‘Muslims are not allowed to have dogs as a pet.’  How many times have you come across this statement? But believe me, things are totally different.

First, it’s mainly for hygine reasons that we are not supposed to keep dogs indoors. Second, we have lots of beautiful stories in our holy book and tradition about the friendship between humans and dogs. Third, we are not the odd ones out on this issue. It was really so funny when one day my boys told me that some of their English friends are keeping their dogs outdoors for hygiene reasons. Fourth, who said that dogs like to be kept indoors? But since I am not a specialist to provide detailed explanations, I’d advise you to search online if you wish to learn more about this issue.

Now, back to the issue of preference between dogs and cats, I think it’s all culturally based mainly on bad experiences, frightening tales, and ignorance.

When I was a kid, about six or seven years, my aunt, during one of our family gatherings at my grandparents’ country house, narrated how she was bitten by a brutal dog. On another visit, my cousin and I were enjoying our lunch after a long run outdoors, and out of the blue, she told me about a neighbour got bitten by a brutal dog.

Things about dogs were a bit different and less scary in Cairo but unfortunately, the poor creature’s name and his family were mainly used as an unforgivable insult in people’s fightings and disputes.

Given this context, wouldn’t you keep miles away from those barking dogs but adore those warm, soft, furry, and purring creatures named cats?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Heidi

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Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

Do you think Heidi, the girl of the Swiss Alps, would have been the same if her story started in a city by the seaside instead of the mountains? Let’s first imagine how things might have changed in her story.

Her gruff grandfather, instead of tending to his sheep and house, he might have been a fisherman. Her best friend, the shepherd, might be a sailor. The green scenery, the endless open green space, the towering mountains, the fresh air, the sheep, cows, and horses grazing around the mountains, and the free activities of climbing and hiking, might all be replaced by the different location.There would be the blue, endless sea, its close, reachable sky, its salty, fresh breeze, its rocky or sandy beach,  its boats and ships, its colourful marine life, and its free activities of swimming, diving, and sailing.

Both places are amazing, full of space and freedom. Perhaps Heidi would have liked her life in a city by the seaside. She moved in the first place to live with her grandfather, the only living relative who had time and space to look after the orphaned Heidi. So, she would love it anywhere as long as she had his company. But the story would not be the same. It would have a different beauty.

I think I would like ‘Heidi, the girl of the Swiss Alps’ more than than ‘Heidi, the girl of the ocean’, but perhaps both can enjoy a short visit to each other on holidays.



With all the best wishes,


Nahla

daily prompt

Why

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If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

Sorry but I don’t know why I couldn’t help laughing when I read today’s prompt, and am still laughing. I am just wondering why I would want to meet with any historical figure. What’s the point?  Honestly, the only figure I want to meet right now is my next-door neighbour whom I haven’t met yet though I have been in my new place for more than three months. The day I meet her will be historical, indeed.

Of course there are great historical figures, noble people whose names and achievements are like lumnious stars in the history of humanity, but I don’t know what I shall tell them.

In such interviews, people usually start with: ‘It’s a great honour to meet you. I can’t find the words to express how I am feeling right now, and I am actually at loss of words.’ But some people are not good at giving this eloqunt introduction. I am one of them. Then, there is this second paragraph: ‘I read your memoirs, your history word by word, from cover to cover, and learned a lot, really a lot.’ Again, some people are not so good at this art of exaggeration. They simply wouldn’t like to be at risk of being asked to give examples of this list of readings or achievements (especially if there’s little if not none). Then there’s the ending of this magnificant interview: ‘Thank you for standing for morals and principles.’ I would like so much to say that, but would also explain that today many are shouting loudly while saying that morals and principles have no market these days. And finally with the last praise while waving goodbye: “And, thank you so much for saving humanity.”  But, “unfortunately the new “historical figures” are planning to destroy it, smash it into tiny pieces,” I would add with broken heart and destroy the pleasure of the whole thing.

I don’t know about you, but I think that if you read about great people, noble figures, it would be like meeting them. You will hear their voices, learn from their wisdom, and honour them in your heart with no flattery, no shame, and no lies.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Instincts or Intuition

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Do you trust your instincts?

Who can’t or won’t trust their instincts? It’s a conscious, automatic reaction after certain stimuli; a warning, a threat, or a danger, and we have to respond. Otherwise, we will be in a big, big trouble. Imagine you find a lion in your garden. Would you open your arms wide for a hug or run for your life?

But the story is different with intuition. Totally different. This is because intuition is subconscious. You think, feel, and react without reason, without stimuli, without even understanding why.  Imagine you see someone for the first time in a group of people you are introduced to for the first time. It was at this first encounter when  you decide that they would never be your friend. Later, perhaps within a few months, you find out that you made the right decision because there was nothing mutual you could have shared with that person.

Can we trust our intuitions? I believe that would be different from one person to another, because we are different. Intuition is stimulated by our different life experiences, our intelligence, and talents. or it might be a blessing from God. That’s why some people ignore this gift while others not only keep it in mind but also in their actual decisions.

And I do trust my own intuition.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

All

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What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

I love January because it’s first month of the year. It always comes with a new, long year ahead.

I love February because it’s the shortest month of the year, always quick to go.

I love March because it stretches the day a bit longer to announce the coming of spring. 

I love April because it’s all springy with flower blooms and bees buzzing.

I love May because my first son was born in May with its warm and bright days.

I love June because it’s the beginning of the summer and it’s time to put those heavy winter coats away.

I love July because it was when I left home and started my adventure with my husband abroad many years ago.

I love August,the month of holidays and weddings. My wedding was in August. It’s funny how hot and humid it was that day.

I love September becuase that’s when I was born, when I first went to school, when my children first went to school, and when all children first go to school.

I love October becuase that’s when my middle son was born in this beautiful, colourful month.

I love November because it’s when autumn comes to its peak. It comes with double prizes, two close birthdays: my husband’s and my daughter’s.

And finally, December. I love it because it’s finally the end of a long year with all its ups and down, its memories and lessons.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Perhaps I am

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What’s the first impression you want to give people?

The first impression is how we perceive others, isn’t it?. But that’s a bit confusing, as things differ not only from one another but also through communication and interaction.

At first sight, with just one quick look, we might like or dislike others. After informal or formal encouter, we might estimate others’ status, postion, level of education, etc. But all of that might turn out to be wrong. First impression might be deceiving. We can’t judge a book mainly by its cover, right? But, first impressions might turn out to be genuine. The book with a beautiful cover might turn out to be a priceless gem.

Therefore, I think it is not the first impression that really matters. It’s what you want to be that matters, not what you want other people to perceive in you. In other words, if you ask me what do you want to be? ‘Kind’, I would say. Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not, but that I want to be whether others can perceive or not.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books, daily prompt

Anne with E

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What book are you reading right now?

I guess you have read about the most popular children’s classic; Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Have you read the series or watched its adaptation? Well, I highly recommend it if you haven’t done either.

I first discovered Anne of Green Gables during the lockdown in 2020 when nights seemed so long and quiet. My daughter couldn’t sleep well at night and to be honest I didn’t either. But then I thought it would be a good idea to watch something together until her body relaxed and sleep came. After a quick search, I found the full animated series of Ann of Green Gables online. In bed, snuggling together with her IPad, we watched one episode every single day. We giggled, we cried, we dreamed of Anne, and we learned a lot from her story. We really had a wonderful time.

Three years later, the whole book series of Anne Of Green Gables was my gift for my daughter’s twelfth birthday. She was excited to read them, at first, but couldn’t read more than a few chapters. ‘ I loved the animation more, mama,’ she told me though promised to try again. To this day, she hasn’t. You know that the one who ever says that TV kills your senses was so true.

It was just last month when I decided to borrow the book series from my daughter. She handed them all with a broad smile. I have already finished the first two books and I enjoyed every bit of it. The book took you back to a different generation, different people, different place, different fashion, and different food. It is full of sounds, colours, activities, tastes, and smells. Besides, everyone is very welcome to read it.

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

daily prompt

Past, Present, and Future

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What will your life be like in three years?

Everyone has plans for today, tomorrow, next month or year. Are we going to achieve them or not, I believe only God knows. But, of course we can’t give up making plans and having dreams.

I heard some people say that when you keep talking about your plans and dreams, you’ll achieve them. It does happen. Sometimes. An old friend had made her mind to become a doctor and marry a doctor. She managed to achieve both though with a lot of problems and what I can describe as “extra support.” Sometimes the plans and dreams that consumed us, are not always the best. Your life might turn out just as you dreamed and planned but this doesn’t imply that it would turn out to be happy and peaceful.

That’s why I thought it would be better to think about last year/s plans instead. That’s what we already achieved. Then we can ask ourselves this question: Are we living the life we have been planing and dreaming to live today?  We might say yes, no, or somehow. But then we know what we did, why we did it, and whether we’ll keep on  with the same life or not?

At least we learn from the past, try to make changes in the present, and let the future surprise us.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla