This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #490 : This weekend challenge to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 10 words using the word “Hope”.
Yesterday,
today,
tomorrow,
forever,
I will hope and pray,
always.
With hopeful thoughts,
Nahla
A post crossed my morning quick instagram scroll, and I lingered over it for a moment or two.
It sounded like a piece of advice, reminding us that it’s much better to shut the door on arguments than to open it wide or even it ajar.
It used some beautiful and clever Arabic sayings.
And here I am, choosing one of those old proverbs to write this today’s post.
People say: don’t only tie the donkey wherever his owner wants, but also praise the knot.
In other words, if the donkey doesn’t mind where it’s tied, and its owner doesn’t mind either, why would you?
Can you just guard your peace of mind?
Why look for more headaches?
Doesn’t life give us enough headaches already?
Some people would say that’s flattery, or even worse, hypocrisy.
Honestly, I had the same thought when I read it. Not only that, I imagined I was sitting under the shade of a big green tree, watching those three characters: the donkey, its owner, and the hired hand.
I could see that the hired hand was wise enough to guard his peace of mind. He tied the donkey, added a small compliment about the knot, and patted the donkey. The employer nodded in approval and walked away. Tired, the hired hand found a cool shade under a large tree, and unwrapped a small box to eat his lunch.
Was there any flattery, any hypocrisy in this simple interaction?
Now I can say no, definitely no.
If you know what type of person you’re dealing with, then you will also know when it’s better to avoid arguing with them.
Some people will do their best to stir up problems, to create them, and to even challenge you to get involved. But there are others who get the hint just in time. Those are the ones who smile and shut the door before trouble even thinks about ringing the bell.
With be–careful thoughts,
Nahla
I don’t think I have posted any thing about The Makioka Sisters, the Japanese story that I abandoned for almost a year. Have I?
Since the beginning of this month, I have been committed and determined to finish this book.
Actually, it wasn’t as boring as I first thought, and I’m delighted to announce that I have finally put my finger on the reason behind my first disappointment.
When I first started reading the book, I couldn’t follow the narrative. By the way, this wasn’t my first time picking up a Japaneses book. I have read some, and I really found them interesting. But, I just found out that I couldn’t build any imagination of this novel’s world into my head.
I first thought it might be because there are so many characters with similar names. Still this wasn’t the first time, I had read an old book with so many characters with similar names.
So, based on the books I have recently finished, I finally found the reason behind this lack of interest: the slow, quiet rhythm of the book compared to my recent readings.
But, the story might be worth discovering, I thought and decided to give it a second try.
As I continued reading, the book drew me into its pages bit by bit. Over the last few days, I began following the narrative and imagining its scenes. Somehow, I regained this reader’s interest and curiosity to know what’s going to happen next.
Then it just struck me, as I was writing this post, that this old Japaneses story was written in its unique culture voice, telling the story of an old world and its traditional people. The reader, me, who feels lost, bored, or disappointed at the beginning, might be the one to blame not the narrative, not the characters, and definitely not the author.
It’s not the story’s fault that today’s pace goes faster than light. It’s the reader’s challenge to understand that, once upon a time, there were people who used their minds in a slower rhythm world, one that appreciated the virtue of patience.
With reading thoughts,
Nahla
This post was inspired by This weekend word challenge: to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 86 words using the word “Gizmo”.
“I wonder where I had left that gizmo?
Perhaps there’s a spare one here.”
Looking for anything, buddy?
Yes, there is one there.
What’s there?
That gizmo. Hand me that gizmo.
What is igmoz?
I said gizmo.
Ah, zigmo.
Are you deaf? I said gizmo!
I can’t see any mozig?
Oh my… Hand me that wireless charger?
Ah… that gizmo doesn’t work.
Some people make up weird words to make things more complicated.
As if they aren’t already!
As if the dictionary hasn’t enough already.
Honestly, some people!
Why gizmo?
With new-word thoughts,
Nahla
If aliens arrived tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d ask them?
Well… Mr. Alien, I think you’ve just landed on the wrong planet.
But… i just wonder whether you have ever heard of human beings in the first place?
This is a very critical question, and I assume you seem in the blue about what we are. I mean, we human beings.
And poor you, you’ve landed in the most crucial moment in the entire history of human civilisation.
Have you any idea what civilisation is?
Don’t look that confused. We humans are good at using big words in broad, vague ways.
Now, back to my first question, and please, you have to answer it with absolute honesty and sincerity.
WordPress has assigned me this critical task, and they also granted me full permission to ask you any question; technically one question.
Oh, poor you, I’ve already asked more than one.
So let’s go back to the first question.
Do you remember it?
Don’t look that confused again.
I’ve warned you, you’ve landed on the wrong planet.
Have you heard of Mars or Jupiter or Neptune?
I can guarantee you’d enjoy a wonderful vacation there.
I assume you’re planning a short break?
Is Mercury your home?
Why that confused look again?
Oh my, I’m asking too many questions again.
So here it is, my question clear and simple:
Have you ever heard of humans?
No reply, just that confused look.
Well, apparently you’ve never heard of humans.
So… simply, humans are a unique version of aliens living on a different planet, one that has reached its full capacity for what you can call… many categories of aliens. And you know what? Our human alien categories have been multiplying like weeds all over the globe. Some of them will even try to make a human out of you.
Now, if you were, by any chance, trying to squeeze in, you would be disappointed.
And don’t worry, I will let WordPress know that you were confused, shocked, and, I will add, scared too, just for some dramatic effect.
And since it seems to me that you fathom nothing of this interview, I will respect and protect your privacy rights, and won’t take any pictures of you.
Anyway, I wish you a safe return to your home.
And now, it’s time to edit your interview for publishing.
With alien-and-human thoughts,
Nahla
P.s. As a memorable souvenir, I offered my alien interviewee a sunset photo of our beautiful Earth .
Sorry this was a sunrise photo 🙃, but anyway Mr Alien wouldn’t mind😊
What’s the best way to explore a new city?
Last summer, me and my family went on holiday to Malaysia. I already wrote some bits and pieces about it in my summer holiday posts, but I totally forgot to talk about this piece of advice from a taxi driver.
He said: “Use the public transport to get to know Malaysia better. You won’t know us, the local people, until you communicate with us. Malaysians are good people.”
This advice is one of the best memories I will always remember from Malaysia.
And I totally agree with the taxi driver.
Yes, the best way to explore a city is to use public transport, to communicate with local people, to taste their food, to listen to their stories, and, of course, to learn a little of their language.
Did we follow that advice?
To some extend, we did.
So, in case you’re thinking to explore a new city on your next holiday, remember that piece of advice from the Malaysian taxi driver.
With summer-holiday-thoughts,
Nahla
“ In battles, the eye is first overcome.”
When I came across this proverb, my mind wandered into a different context.
It’s up to you whether to accept my interpretation or not.
Apparently, the proverb is mainly refers to the first psychological defeat a person may experience when coming face to face with some sorts of power that threatens their capabilities and preparations. Once the eye, the first to perceive and assess the situation, is psychologically defeated, no one can guarantee victory.
But when I read this quote, I think differently.
I think how appearance can be deceiving.
What takes you by surprise through showing off, fear, strength or power can easily bring you down.
But there’s a solution for every problem, right?
Perhaps all you need is faith in your abilities.
To not only see with your eyes, but also to use the power of your mind, the fight of your soul, and the faith in your heart.
Life, sometimes, can be … a great battle. But our eyes should not be not our sole weapons.
With proverb–interpretation thoughts,
Nahla
Let me check my list:
The weather was… not great, not awful. It was something in between. But we had some beautiful, warm days. ✔️
The walking steps were somehow very good. 10,000 steps don’t seem that hard to achieve if you set your mind on it.✔️
Reading didn’t actually go as planned. Perhaps because my plan became a bit crumbled. There are more than three books on this list, and none of them seems easy to finish. One of them is fiction, my favourite genre, but it’s an old Japanese story that I abandoned for too long until I changed my mind and decided to give it a second try. 🔛
Writing was actually good on my side, but it wasn’t on the stats side. Honestly, I write because I want to, regardless of what the stats show. ✔️
Could surprises be included in your plan?
But, of course, it could. We don’t plan surprises. They just arrive in their own time.
Anyway, I’d like to add one of the most memorable surprises of Septembre:
The squirrel’s sneaky attempt to come for a visit.
It would have been a good surprise if he was strolling in the garden.
But no, he was trying to get through the window into my house.
Things began with the sound of scratching on the window glass.
I drew near and found a cheeky squirrel trying his best to get inside.
I froze for a moment or two before reaching for the window handle to shut it.
But then I realised his claws were trapped inside, and what long nails he had.
I didn’t want to hurt him. So I yell at him, but he didn’t retreat.
I kept knocking on the window until he finally gave up and jumped down into the garden.
I breathed a sigh of relief and shut the window.
As I was walking back to the kitchen, I heard those scratches again.
But this time, since I had already shut all windows, I didn’t panic.
Instead, I took a photo of him.
He had no idea he would end up on WordPress.
It wasn’t a good surprise, but it could still count as one.
He hasn’t come back since then, and I pray he won’t. ✔️
That’s enough about my September’s plan.
Hope yours went according to plan.
With end–of–September thoughts,
Nahla
Which relationship has taught you the most about yourself?
So before starting this post, I’d like to announce that Readingship is my new addition to the English Vocabulary. Perhaps one day, it will be accepted and added to English dictionaries. If that happens, I hope I will be credited with full rights for making up a new and special word that connects readers and books.
Now back to this post.
Readingship is a wonderful sort of relationship. It not only opens the door wide to let you learn about different things, but it also helps you more than you can imagine. This Readingship can help you improve yourself, your life, and even your way of thinking. This readingship offers you the kind of good company that you have almost lost faith in finding through friendship.
And you know what? Readingship makes wonderful company; pure, simple companionship that can be better than friends who may, out of the blue, disappear or give you the cold shoulder for no sensible reason or even an insensible one. But then Readingship comes not only to the rescue, but also with comfort, reassurance, and a sense of safety.
If you believe in Readingship, why not come aboard?
It’s all about getting into the reading ship and pretending to be its sailor.
You will find a vast sea full of different books.
You may explore here and there, or a pick a story.
A book might make you laugh, cry, or scared.
It might give you a headache or soothe your troubled soul.
You might love it or hate it.
But as you engage in this Readingship journey, you will never feel the same as when you first stepped onto the ship.
You no longer feel lonely.
You feel more and more excited.
And you surely feel safe; remember you’re the sailor aboard the reading ship.
You stop worrying about who gets on and who leaves.
You’re on your ship, sailing into many different worlds.
With readingship thoughts,
Nahla
This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #487: write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 34 words using the word “Hokum.”
Father works and talks to the camera.
Mother cooks and talks to the camera.
Children play and talk to the camera.
Friends visit and talk to the camera.
The camera screams:
“STOP!”
What hokum!
With hokum thoughts,
Nahla
P.s. Finally, my piece hits exactly the 34 words!
