Just writing

The Narcissist

nhpureandsimple

Haven’t I told you that I’m not a fan of any -ism concepts?

I had to study and use them, though, for my postgraduate studies.

Anyway, this is the one that crossed my mind just now as I was watching snaps of the news.

Don’t you think that this Narcissism whether as a concept, a mental illness, or even just as a sound is really hideous.

And they say there’s a narcissism test.

Why?

The man who fell in love with his own reflection didn’t need any test to prove his mental identity. He wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed or guilty of his most dominant personal trait—narcissism.

Science with its numerous and various theories, explores and investigates the different forms, conditions, causes, effects of this self–obsessive man, and perhaps of his precious reflection too.

Their research studies came out with some psychological remedies and techniques.

They tried meditation, therapies, and some exercises too.

Unfortunately, to my humble knowledge, nothing has worked so far.

The man was still obsessed with his reflection, and perhaps with his mirror too.

He heard only his own voice, saw only his perfect shape, and adored nothing but his own self.

Research papers offered another explanation: 

This condition may be hereditary, or perhaps an incurable disease like madness.

“How funny?”

The man and his reflection burst out laughing.

“I am the best.”

“I have the best.”

“I know the best.”

“I do the best.”

“I live the best.”

“That’s who I am.”

“That’s what I do.”

“And that’s how I’ll ever live.”

The researchers stepped back wondering what else to do?

Instead of one man with a self-obsessed reflection, there began to be thousands of him and of his reflection.

A wise man passed by.

He had been watching the series with all its episodes.

He smiled and said:

“Can’t you see? The man fell in love with his reflection because he wanted to.

It’s a choice.

And he made his mind to love mainly and only his reflection and to remain that way.”

“The support and encouragement of altruism may be the only solution.

Not only to shake the pride of narcissist, 

but also to steady the balance of the altruist.”

Sometimes we need to listen more to the wise than to science.

Don’t we.

With mindful thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Poem

nhpureandsimple

I picked a random Arabic poem for my daughter to read, and it turned out to be a simple piece with a deep meaning.

It says:

The girl dreams.

The girl draws.

She drew a girl with two wings,

Where will she fly?

She doesn’t know.

She will fly everywhere.

She will whisper to human consciousness: 

Enough pain.

The World has had Enough.

Let peace live on this earth.

Isn’t it beautiful?

Doesn’t the world need a poem like now more than ever?

A poem that carries a child’s dream—

a dream of humanity,

of kindness,

and of peace.

With peaceful thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

Yesterday, Now, and Tomorrow

nhpureandsimple

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

Honestly, I used to be the kind of person who thinks about everything in the same moment which means… I used to think far too much.

Step by step, as changes and challenges began seeping into my life, I changed too.

Yesterday becomes too faraway to recollect all of its details, and too pointless to regret any. 

Do you know the famous saying, Let bygones be bygones?

Well… that’s how I’ve learned to think about Yesterday.

Still, every now and then, some good and bad moments cross my mind —those moments that can make one happy or furious or upset. But I don’t let them linger in my memory for long. 

As for Now, I appreciate and enjoy it more than ever before.

Perhaps… because now I have more time and less responsibilities. 

Or perhaps it’s because Now, as the wise say, is a present—a gift. 

And the older we get, the younger we become. 

And you know how much excited the young feel about precious gifts.

Tomorrow— this mystery wrapped in its own garb of surprises.

Years ago, I had no idea I would leave home and live in the UK.

Back then, my tomorrow dreams were completely different.

They were replaced with much better ones.

So… Tomorrow I don’t rush it, anymore.

I just pray it will be better.

With hopeful thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The White Coat

nhpureandsimple

It was too warm when we got up this morning.

Is it still January? 

I wondered as time goes as fast as a speeding train these days.

I grabbed my phone but instead of checking the time,

I checked the weather.

It said it was snowing.

Snowing!

I sneaked a peek from behind the curtains,

and out there, all the trees were clothed in a white coat.

How beautiful and still they looked.

Would you believe me if I said they were happy?

But they were happy.

And that’s why I was happy too.

A few hours later,

the sun rose,

and the trees began to warm.

The white coat melted.

They were dripping

pure, cold water, 

and their leaves looked so fresh and green.

“Fun time,” they whispered.

And fun time we began.

A mini snowman was built,

and a snow fight we played.

Another gift from the New Year.

Thank you, January, for the warm white coat.

With warm thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Moon

nhpureandsimple

It seems that January and I are going to play a special game this year.

Yesterday he sent his first greeting, enclosed in snow.

Today he wishes us good night through the full moon.

And what a lovely good night it is! 

I was just going to lock the window when that full, luminous creature showed up in the faraway sky. 

He pushed the dark clouds aside the very moment I was about to draw the curtains.

No words can describe either his beauty or my happiness.

It was a surprise.

A wonderful surprise!

The moon is there in the sky every night. 

Sometimes he hides.

Sometimes he tires.

And sometimes he sleeps.

But… how often do we notice it? 

How often do we pause to feel its light? 

How often do we appreciate its beauty? 

Do you know that in olden times, people were inspired by the moon?

It was a symbol of hope, dreams, and mystery.

But… doesn’t this make sense? 

Every great aspiration dreams higher and higher,

and every “higher” is there, up there in the sky.

Why don’t we just gaze up and contemplate?

With moony thoughts, 

Nahla

Just writing

The First Snow

nhpureandsimple

This was the first greeting on the second of January.

The first snow had landed, safe and sound.

Today painted a wintery image;

with heavy coats, beanies, and gloves;

footprints,

long traffic queues,

and hustle and bustle everywhere.

“It’s snowing!”

I heard everyone scream… figuratively. 

It was fun.

I heard them laughing too. Well … that was actually my daughter and me.

An hour later,

The sun shone on and threw its golden threads across the snow.

The snow glared, and its thin layer began to melt.

Alarmed, the fluffy clouds fled for their lives,

towards a different destination… perhaps yours.

And then… there was no way to make a snowman.

But… maybe January has better surprises than just a snowman.

With snowy thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

So… how was your first morning in 2026? 

nhpureandsimple

Quiet.

Really quiet. 

It seems even the birds decided to wake up late or maybe take the day off, just as humans do on the first of January. 

There was no transport noise.

No people walking around.

Surprisingly, it was sunny,

but it was also bitterly cold.

I looked out of the window and inhaled all that pure quietness.

No picture can capture the beauty of a quiet, fresh morning the way your own eyes do.

January, the most hopeful month, has just arrived and opened its doors with new hopes and dreams.

How can people trade the first morning of January for the last night of December? 

I have no idea!

I wondered for a moment, then hurried off to make breakfast. 

With quiet thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

With hope and peace

nhpureandsimple

Over 2025, I often ended my posts with ”with hope and peace.”  

Did you notice that?

Actually, I am not sure if it started at the beginning or somewhere halfway through. It just slipped there one day at the end of a post, and I stayed with it.

It was a desperate attempt to support innocent people who have suffered and are still suffering all over the world, simply to live a safe and decent life.

Perhaps… you can think of it as a whispered prayer— one you, as a reader, might feel and answer by whispering back ”Amen.”

Do you believe in the power of the prayers?

I do.

May the new year be full of hope and peace!

Amen.

And… 

With a new beginning,

Nahla

Just writing

Is It Already the End of 2025?

nhpureandsimple

It feels like only yesterday that 2025 began.

But isn’t this life? 

Everything moves on.

Good and bad moments go on.

And here we are again, thinking about new resolutions for the new year.

Honestly, I can’t even remember the ones I planned last year. 

They seem to evaporate into thin air the moment I say them.

But… this doesn’t really matter.

I’ve achieved what I could achieve.

And I’ll always think of new ones.

Anyway… 

It’s wonderful to have plans, and even better to follow and achieve them. 

But… isn’t it a good idea to add some flexibility to this long list of goals?

A few possibilities,

And perhaps a few… changes

They say the straight line gives the shortest distance.

But we can never know what we will experience along the way, can we?

Unexpected things might happen.

And sometimes the unexpected is far better than the expected, for at least this unexpected is out of our control.

So… yes 2025 is almost done, but 2026 will be knocking on the door soon.

Bringing new dreams, new plans, and new surprises.

But, isn’t a new year just like a new day? 

Both pass in a blink of an eye.

And at the end of each, we usually look back and see how much we’ve achieved out of our list of plans?

But what about the things that never make it onto the list; those things we try our best to maintain and protect?

Things like our peace of mind, our sanity, our health, our safety, our resilience, … 

Or what about the things that we attain without buying, without forcing, without acting?

Things like love, respect, and loyalty. 

Aren’t these things far more precious than the goals we write down on our lists? 

By the end of any long day, some people have a good night sleep, while others can’t even close their eyes to sleep.

So… wouldn’t it be better to appreciate what can be lived, rather than what can be simply written on a list? 

With hope and peace,

Nahla

daily prompt

Happiness and You

nhpureandsimple

When are you most happy?

Don’t you regret wasting your time on things that would never add to your wellbeing? 

Aren’t you happiest when you challenge yourself to stop things that steal your time, drain your energy, and dull your mood? 

Suppose that instead of scrolling through social media, you choose to stop and switch to something else, like writing a post right now. Wouldn’t you be happier? 

By the way we lose nothing by pausing social media. When we come back, everything is exactly the same with just more copies.

Wouldn’t you be happiest when you challenge yourself with a task and fulfil it.

But of course, it’s normal to be upset, disappointed, and little dramatic when the goal isn’t achieved. But at least the attempt itself is a good compensation.

Wouldn’t you be happiest when you say “no” to things that don’t suit you or apply to your life.

Boundaries exist for a reason, don’t they? 

Wouldn’t you be happiest when you say “sorry” and truly feel it after you’ve done something wrong or hurt someone’s feelings?

This is a reassuring sign that your good nature overpowers your evil side.

Wouldn’t you be happiest when you count your blessings and realise how many times you’ve been saved and how much love you’ve been receiving.

All you need is to have faith.

And…

Wouldn’t you be happiest when you really want to be happy? 

Happiness is simple, and it is also contagious.

With hope and peace,

Nahla