Tag: blogging

Just writing

Off The Hook Fishy

nhpureandsimple

Should a fish shut her mouth?

But of course she should,

otherwise she will be hooked out of her world; her big, secure home. 

And then it’s over.

She will serve as a fresh dinner plat for a hungry stomach.

“You definitely, and by all means, shouldn’t open it,” the old wise fish advised her fellows. 

“As delicious, fresh, and rare as the bait may be, it is as dangerous, cunning, and deceptive. You should remember that, and think twice,” the old wise fish warned.

We humans should think not only twice but thrice or even more before stepping into a zone that isn’t ours.

Whatever this zone may be; 

social, professional, or even familial.

It isn’t advisable to open your mouth and swallow everything, 

nor to open your mouth and pour everything out.

In both cases, you transgress your zone and fall into waters that aren’t yours; whether deep or shallow it doesn’t matter, again they’re not yours.

You sacrifice your self-respect, your peace of mind, and your time over trivialities.

Didn’t the old man repeatedly give this piece of advice?

Of course he did.

Psychologists , psychiatrists, and many books say and repeat the very same advice. 

If you don’t trust humans because they’re the ones who invented fishing rods, then trust the old wise fish who has never transgressed its own territory.

By the way this post was inspired by a quote I wrote on my other blog; the one I’m trying to bring it back to life. If you’d like to read it, here’s the link:

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/the-fish-and-the-hook/The Fish And The Hook

With the old wise fish’s  thoughts, 

Nahla

daily prompt

Well… I Believe Everyone knows This fear

nhpureandsimple

What fears have you overcome and how?

This is the dentophobia; the fear of dentist visit.

Of course, I made this word up, but feel free to use it… just add me as the reference. Who knows, perhaps one day this word will be added into the encyclopaedia of odd words.

So… this is the main fear I believe most people have. 

It’s the dentist, and the dental clinic.

How many times have you postponed your visit to this white, bright, ’healthy teeth guaranteed’ clinic?

Mine are Numerous.

The thing is most of the dentists look nice, talk nice, behave nice, but when their equipment, tools and shiny new technology start buzzing, nothing looks nice anymore. And that’s exactly when the first phase of fear begins.

So… once you lie down on that dental chair, your heart starts pounding hard and loud and nonstop

Then comes the eye shield, and with it your hands begin to perspire and tremble.

What follows, is opening your mouth wide, and that’s exactly when your heart almost forgets how to beat.

’Sorry, do you want me to stop? Just a few seconds more,’ your faithful dentist assures.

And your only response is to close your eyes and clutch your hands.

What else can you do?

Finally, you hear the long awaited phrase: ’All done’

You got to your feet, and thank the Lord you can leave safe and sound.

Then the second phase begins, as your kind dentist offers some warnings wrapped in gentle advice;  ’Don’t speak, eat, or drink for at least two hours if not longer. And in case of any problems, call the clinic immediately.’

You listen and nod, your mouth numb and your head aching.

Last but not least, the final wave of fear arrives when you see that smiling face behind the reception desk waiting for the bill to be payed and the next appointment to be booked.

Later on you arrive home and, all of a sudden, you start craving a cup of tea. But then you remember you can’t drink.

So you gaze around the kitchen, looking for any snack, and again you remember you can’t eat.

A moment later, you phone rings, but you don’t answer it, because your ears are buzzing and your mouth is numbing. 

Nothing is left but to try to relax somewhere quiet. You do, and with the mercy of God, you fall asleep.

’Congratulations… you’ve passed your dentophobia challenge with great success,’ you whisper in your dream.

And that’s when you finally realise you’ve conquered one of your fears.

With dentist – challenge – fear thoughts,

Nahla 

Just writing

Hello, June

nhpureandsimple

Your big brother May was kind all the way to the end.

Yes, thank God, May was fun, interesting, and productive.

I posted quite often, as ideas flowed easily and unexpectedly.

But… I read less in May.

Guess why.

Because I picked the wrong book at the wrong time.

It was one of the old classics; a collection of Kipling’s short stories.

The name rang a bell from somewhere back in my English degree days, but I’m pretty sure I hadn’t read anything by this author before.

So I welcomed the book heartily; looking forward to enjoying some beautiful, rich prose.

But it turned out to be like a machine manual catalogue with too many symbols and clues that gave me a headache. 

My brain couldn’t digest this piece of literary work, save for one story.

I exhaled a long, deep breath when I decided not only to stop reading it, but also to never pick up another book by Kipling.

But then, as I was checking my want-to- read list, I remembered that I have a second blog.

Quotes and Reviews…. nh825.wordpress.com

I felt sorry for it.

It has been mute for so long that it doesn’t know me anymore.

I gave it a little nudge post to wake it up.

It did wake up though still yawning with, heavy lids and slow motion.

Hopefully, in June I can feed it with more quotes and book reviews.

With June’s new blogging thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Busy, Buzzy Week

nhpureandsimple

Well… this week started good, actually very good.

Indoors and outdoors were busy and buzzy.

The birds were chirping from dawn to dusk.

The bees were buzzing around trees and flowers.

And people were running outside either on their feet or in their cars.

The roads, parks, markets and beaches were all so busy.

All because the weather was hot, finally.

Mrs Sun had been so loyal over the last few days.

Actually.. she was more than loyal.

She was protective, subjective, and fictive.

Honestly, she was, and still is, committed to her principles up to this very moment.

As for being protective, her shiny, strong rays blocked the wind, and allowed only a bit of breeze every now and then.

It happened, though, when the clouds and the wind started a big thundery fight over some lighting debate.

But Mrs Sun sorted it all in a couple of hours.

But… I’d like to seize this opportunity and blame her for being subjective.

Yes she was.

She was highly subjective, insisting that sunburn is a long awaited gift, and didn’t consider how it’s not for everyone.

But she was forgiven for being fictive. 

Yes, under her majestic warmth, we build sandcastles, 

we relax to the splash music of the waves,

and we smile while listening to the ocean humming inside the shells.

With sunny, busy, buzzy thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

It’s Friday

nhpureandsimple

Yes, it’s Friday. 

This week’s gone in the blink of an eye.

Its long days matched its short nights.

You check the time and it’s ten in the morning and when you check again, it’s ten at night.

You go to bed, and before you even entre the phase of dreams, your morning alarm rings to wake you up. 

You hit snooze, pleading for a few minutes more.

And before your eyes relax, the alarm screams again, but this time straight into your ears.

Finally, you do wake up.

You drew the curtains and look at that quiet beatuty of the early morning.

And finally this Friday turns out be to a warm day.

By the way how do you say Friday in your language?

In Arabic we say جمعة Juma’a

I know in French it is vendredi

I forgot what’s it in Spanish.

What about yours? 

With blessed Friday thoughts,

 Nahla

Just writing

The Shepherd and The Wolf

nhpureandsimple

As I was teaching my daughter her Arabic lesson, we came across the story of The Shepherd and The Wolf. She already knew the story, but this time were using it mainly for learning some basic grammar.

Before we started our lesson, I asked her if she remembered the story.

‘I think so,’ she replied.

‘Brilliant. So what is it about?’

‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ she said and added a few others as options, none of them related to the one I’d asked about.

I couldn’t help laughing at these multiple choice answers that this young generation seems to master so well.

Now… it’s your turn.

Have you or your children heard of this story before?

If not, here it is:

Once upon a time, a young Shepherd was getting bored of his daily routine with the sheep. Everyone had the same chores to do and finish before the sun went down. They would wave hi and bye, and then hurry off to tend for their duties.

Day after day, the level of the Shepherd’s boredom exceeded the limits. 

Then one day, he came up with a silver idea, the one that would stir a bit of hustle and bustle in the small village.

That day, the Shepherd waited until the noon sun was shinning everywhere. He ran all the way to the top of the mountain and looked down at the people enjoying their noon meal. Then, he screamed and screamed and screamed.

‘The wolf is attacking my sheep. Help. Help!’ he yelled and yelled and yelled.

The people, old and young, men and women, left their chores, abandoned their meal, and ran up the hill all the way to rescue him.

Slippers, old shoes, sticks, pans, pots, and knives were their weapons. 

Breathless and exhausted, they reached the spot where the boy stood,

but there was no wolf, and the sheep were calm and happily grazing around.

The young shepherd apologised and explained how terrified he’d felt, hearing swishing and swooshing around, and thinking it must be a wolf.

The villagers sighed in relief and left the boy in peace.

Excited, the boy repeated the same show three times, each one with a different lie.

But the fourth time, the fake story became a real one.

A real wolf appeared, ready to play its role for a real drama.

The boy screamed nonstop,

His screams were earnest. ‘Help. Help. Please Help. The wolf is eating my sheep.’

But this time, his show didn’t win any audience.

The wolf grinned and hunted more and more.

The boy’s voice broke, and he could scream no more.

He finally realised that no one trusted him any more.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the young Shepherd had thought of some other exciting way to break his boredom without lying.

At the end of the day, even if some people smile and clap for the lair, they will neither trust nor respect them.

With never-be-the lying Shepherd thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

I have enough of it

nhpureandsimple

How do you feel about cold weather?

Really, I’ve had enough of cold weather this year.

It has worn every kind of hospitality.

Today, for example, is not only windy but also cold. 

Yesterday was cold.

The day before was freezing.

And the sun, it graced us with some light the day before the day before, but with no heat.

Imagine it’s the 20th of May, and you still grabbing your coat every time you step outside.

I would welcome Cold Weather, and I would even open all doors and windows with a big smile but only if it comes on time and leaves on time. 

But this year it has not only been stealing April but also May, and right in front of our eyes. 

Twice or more, it hit us hard with heavy hail, the kind that makes you rub your eyes, wondering whether the scene is real or just your imagination. 

Well.. I hope Summer arrives soon, but kindly, without any showing off of its heat power.

And please, Summer don’t be cruel and steal Autumn the way Winter did with Spring.

With enough cold thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The River and Its Source

nhpureandsimple

I didn’t think I was going to write anything today until I randomly opened one of my old notebooks. Actually.. I was searching for a blank page to write down something before it slipped from my memory.

And then the miracle happened.

My eyes caught a quote from a book, and my brain insisted on giving it some workout.

By the way, do you also have this habit of saving the quote but neither the author’s name nor the book it came from?

Just curious to know whether I’m the only person who does this. 

Anyway, this is the quote: “To know a river, you have to know its source.”

So, according to my humble interpretation: to befriend a river, to communicate with it, and certainly to understand it, you have to know its source; how it flows, what kind of life it carries, and when it floods or dries.

Simply put, you have to know where it began, how it lived, and what shaped it.

Don’t you agree that some people are just like rivers.

You can’t truly know them until you know their sources; their history, their nature, their way of life, and certainly the reasons behind their tides.

With people-like-rivers, thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Journey With No Brands

nhpureandsimple

Years ago, my husband and I went to perform Hajj.

I think I once wrote a post about that journey, but I can’t remember which one.

Anyway, as hard as this trip was, it somehow turned out to be just as funny.

I think it was in 2005 when we took a flight to Egypt to leave my two little boys with family. I smile now as I write this post, but back then I wept buckets as we headed to Cairo Airport to take our flight to Saudi Arabia.

In this holy place, there is no place for brands or for showing off. 

I wore a white cotton dress, a white hijab, and simple slippers, just like most of the women.

By the way, women are allowed to wear any colour but I preferred white.

Simple and modest, women put on their clean dresses and hijabs out of obedience and respect for the holy rituals. No one would criticise or even think about the quality or the brand of anyone else’s clothes.

Isn’t this a beautiful picture to be part of and a beautiful memory to treasure.

I reckon no one would believe that my husband and I didn’t take any photos during this trip. 

Honestly, we didn’t.

Simply because, back then, phones were not allowed inside the holy mosque.

So no one would have taken photos to show what they were wearing, how they were praying, or how they were feeling.

Even outside, around the other sights, we didn’t bother taking pictures.

We lived precious moments that carved themselves deeply into our memories for years, and that’s more authentic than any captured photo.

Things have changed a lot these days.

Still, the holy rituals are not for any brands. 

With Hajj’s precious memories and thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Community — A Wonderful Word and World

nhpureandsimple

What do you do to be involved in the community?

Community makes a wonderful word and even a more wonderful world.

It makes you feel assured, supported, and welcome.

As people say, beginnings are always good, happy, and so promising. 

Once you step into it, you spread your wings and soar high, full happiness, as if you’ve just stepped into eternal heaven.

Does community, as a word and as a world, offer any guarantees of any form of utopia?

No.. but you were just hoping it would.

Sooner rather than later, you wake up from your utopian dreams.

It was nice to enjoy a bit of chilling time, though.

But then you understand how it’s just a miniature of the big world, with its earthly humans, yourself included. 

You come face to face with reality, 

You realise that there are the patient and the practical— the ones who can deal with different types of people.

And the there are the sensitive, who don’t have that kind of social stamina. Still they get involved and supportive as much as they can, but only at their own rhythm and within their own limits.

And… just as a piece of advice: when you get involved in a community, don’t expect any kind of utopia.

And for your own piece of mind, 

try as much as you can to mind your own business.

With more realistic community thoughts,

Nahla