Tag: challenges

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 

Philosophical musings

If It Isn’t Broken…

nhpureandsimple

Don’t fix it.

Have you heard this saying before?

It can have different interpretations, though.

The most obvious choice is to keep going, to follow the crowd, repeat the same routine, and perhaps make the same mistakes, as long as things are not broken

But isn’t it a dangerous advice?

I heard its equivalent in Egypt. People say, “if it works, let it work.

Same meaning, right.

But what if it’s working badly or awkwardly or uselessly?

Yes, it’s working.

Yes, it’s usable.

And yes, it’s better than nothing.

But what’s wrong with fixing things that aren’t broken?

And first, do unbroken things really need any fixing?

Well… that depends on how you see things.

Fixing can mean replacing, discarding, or abandoning a thing or an idea or even a person.

But it can also mean rethinking, reshaping and reliving.

It can be an invitation to make some changes, some improvements to whatever we’re having or doing. 

Imagine you have an old china cup with a few scratches, crakes, and maybe a broken handle.

You use it every day.

You drink your hot tea from it.

You wash it.

You dry it.

And you put it back in the cupboard safe and sound.

You keep it this way until its time comes when it either bursts or slips from your hands and smashs against the floor.

Some will throw it away.

Some will try to fix it by gluing its pieces back together.

In either cases, it will no longer be used for drinking or washing.

It becomes either a souvenir or goes straight into the bin.

So why couldn’t it become a souvenir a long time ago?

Because it wasn’t broken.

And what’s wrong with fixing it while it was still usable with giving it new ideas, new benefits, or even new memories? 

Sometimes, we don’t just practise this easy-peasy strategy, but we believe in it. 

If it works, let it work.

If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Until it’s too late. 

Until we finally realise that everything has its time…

And it’s much better to fix it before it breaks.

With fixing thoughts, 

Nahla

personal thoughts

Multifunction Printers

nhpureandsimple


A few years ago, we purchased a printer—not as a luxury, but because we really needed one. So, we chose an HP model with multifunctional tasks: printing, scanning, and photocopying (faxing was not included). We still have it, and it’s working fine. We haven’t decided to replace it yet, because it’s just eight years old. However, technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, producing massive, unbelievable changes in the electric devices industry.

In comparison to the modern printers, our poor printer seems to have suddenly aged. Nowadays, we realise that it takes a few minutes, and sometimes even longer, to complete a print order, making us almost give up waiting. Not to mention, how it chugs along during printing, just like an old steam locomotive from the 19th century. Still, I find it really entertaining.

What about multitask printers? I read that they’re the postmodern generation of the multifunctional ones. They can print, scan, copy, and fax at the same time. Perhaps they can talk, maybe even walk. Isn’t that mind-blowing? But, they also say that these new-age printers, though very efficient, have a complex internal mechanism that makes their repair an awful nightmare. So, if it breaks down, you will cry your eyes out over the money you’ve spent because you’ll have no choice but to replace it. That’s why I wish my old printer a long, healthy life.

Now let’s move to the main point of this post. Do you prefer to be multifunctional or a multitasker? But first, let me share my  perspective on both.

There’s both flexibility and practicality in being multifunctional as you can do certain jobs in your own time. However, being a multitasker is like being unbendable and machinery. Any multitasker has to handle more different tasks within nearly the same fixed timeframe just like a multitask printer.


If there’s anything that could summarise a multitasker’s life, there would be nothing better than a juggler tossing and catching balls into the air all his life. He smiles, perhaps laughs, and perhaps putting on a clown costume too—such a good player. But what a life to live when you can’t let go, when you can’t miss the ball, when you can’t stop to breathe, really breathe.

A multifunctional person’s life needs no juggling, no balls to toss and catch. You just pick the right job, just as the bowler picks the right ball. You handle one task at a time, taking your time to fulfill it before moving on to the next task. The bowler grips the ball, takes a good position, and throws it—done. He may hit the target, and he may not, but he does the job with careful calculations and adaptability.

Over the years, I have met many people. I saw how some made their life even harder by choosing to be multitaskers. And they complain about challenges and exhaustion. They wish others would lend a hand or that things were easier. But aren’t they the ones who chose to be the juggler? Why did they choose to work like multitask printers, taking on multiple tasks all at once?

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” is really a great slogan, but I prefer to live by this one: To live, and to choose how to live—that is the question.

With hope and peace,

Nahla








Just writing

All Is Forgiven

nhpureandsimple


How simple and relieving is this sentence!

But, of course, you wouldn’t grant it to others every now and then. Or would you?

Suppose, for example, you had a bully at school, or at your workplace, or even in your neighbourhood. After every disaster caused by this person, they put on a repentant mask, shed a few tears, apologised, and swore on the name of God to never repeat the awful deed, never cause any harm, never cheat or steal from you. Would you grant them your forgiveness?

Before you reply, please be honest and realistic, because unless you’re, God Forbid, another bully you’d have only three options:

In the first scenario, you might voice the words, but from the bottom of your heart, you’d pray that the ground would open and swallow them whole, delivering them straightaway to hell.

In the second scenario, you’d scream, “Never!” out loud, and be either a martyr of bravery or live with all its consequences.

As for the third, you’d play the diplomat and remind the forgiveness seeker, that genuine good deeds erase bad ones. That’s God’s law. The Most Merciful knows what lies deep in the heart, but of course there’d be no need to voice the final addition.

If you had the three options, which one would you choose?

And, finally, don’t forget that all can be forgiven but not forgotten.


With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Perspective And Life

nhpureandsimple

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