Tag: dailythoughts

daily prompt, Just writing

My First Encounter With Karma

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Do you believe in karma?

My first acquaintance with the word Karma was through a Drama lecturer whose name was Karma. Back then, this name was not as popular as it is today. I was so occupied with my studies that I didn’t care much about its meaning or origin.

But, of course, a few years later, everyone seemed to be an expert on the word, including myself. We have been repeating it quite a lot.

Now, back to the real concept of karma.

It is not about whether we believe in it or not.

I think its meaning just … echoes a universal belief.

If you hurt someone out of cruelty, one day someone else will hurt you for the same reason.

What you do will come back to you. 

Does the word retribution fit into this context?

Or does justice fit better?

I’ll go with justice, because the gate of justice is open to mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

And karma is more open to kindness than punishment 

But the gate of retribution is different. It opens when there is a hopeless case that calls for urgent, unmistakable punishment.

So, I believe in justice, which may also be called karma

With karma thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

Spontaneous Moments

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What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

You know, the most spontaneous moments are the funniest.

True.

Imagine yourself, or perhaps that happened to you too, when out of nowhere you remember something funny and burst out laughing. Things would be okay if you were by yourself, but when you’re walking along the road and suddenly start laughing, things turn from a spontaneous moment to an embarrassing moment.

But no worries, there’s always a solution.

Grab your phone and pretend you’re on a funny call.

Things could happen in social gatherings too, and your laughter would make sense if it followed a funny comment, joke, or story. But when there’s a fight, not that violent one, but those childlike adult arguments, some people fall into this spontaneous laugher.

But again, don’t sorry, you’ll always find supporters

And, there’s this spontaneous laugher that comes when one of your children is deeply emotional, angry, or sad. You sit or stand still, waiting for the storm to pass or clam down, and when that precious moment arrives, your spontaneous laughter makes this quick, bouncy landing that wipes away the weight of those last long, hard moments.

With spontaneous thoughts,

Nahla

Weekend Prompt

An Interview with Mr. Bugbear 

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This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #486: This weekend challenge is to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 75 words using the word “Bugbear”.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Bugbear, may I ask you, sir, why behind every problem, every fight, or pardon me, every catastrophe, your name is always involved.”

“Ask Mrs. Bugbear?”

The interviewer looks right and left, back and ahead. There was no sign, no glimpse of Mrs. Bugbear. 

“Excuse me, sir,… but where is Mrs. Bugbear?

“She’s there, camouflaged behind that big tree.”

Oh, really? I can’t… I can’t see or hear any bear, sir. May I ask what she’s doing there exactly?”

“But of course there’s a bear. She’s been bugging into his head and ears for years until the poor thing turns into a bunny, hiding here and there.”

“I’m really sorry, sir, but how any of this related to my former question?”

“I told you ask Mrs. Bugbear

“But what if she turns me into a… dog.”

“Ahaha! Then we can swap lives. I don’t want to be a bunny.”

With never-be-like-Mrs Bugbear thoughts,

Nahla

P.s sorry my piece went over the limit.

Daily thoughts

On the 14th of September

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Every day since… I think the beginning of this year, I’ve been receiving a notification about my old posts from the same date.

But I haven’t received any today, which means I didn’t post on the 14th of September last year, or even before.

By the way, I’m not that regular with blogging, but I try my best. 

But this no post day just caught my attention.

Why?

I have no idea.

It’s hard, if not impossible, to remember exactly what you did on a specific day last year unless it was something memorable. 

And here I am, scrolling through last year’s photos.

Perhaps there was a photo on that day that explains things.

There was none.

Isn’t that strange?

No, not really.

I don’t take pictures every day.

So I think I should fill this gap. 

Shouldn’t I?

I’m looking out of the window, wondering what to write.

And what’s better than today’s four seasons weather?

It began warm, breezy, and cheerful.

An hour later, or maybe even less, it turned grey, but sill warm and cheerful.

I took the laundry out, and the rain gave me a light, gentle shower as a welcome.

I took the laundry in, and the rain shied away and left.

I’m not trusting her.

Could I have been thinking the same last year?

Maybe!

And now it’s all sunny again.

With almost-mid-September thoughts,

Nahla.

Weekend Prompt

Can Your Heart Be Your Screen?

nhpureandsimple

This post was inspired by Weekend Writing Prompt #485: This weekend challenge is to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 21 words using the word “Screen”.

My heart is my inner screen

Not the black and white screen,

but the colourful screen.

It’s big,

it’s wide,

it’s always on.

A little scratch would pass.

A big scratch would ring an alarm,

A smash would turn it off,

until recovery,

until the moment my heart nudges me:

“hay, I’ve got a new screen, 

and true, pretty colours again.”

With heart and screen thoughts,

Nahla

P.s. As always, I went over the limit, but I couldn’t disturb the flow of my thoughts.

Just writing

Nobility

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Some people glow by effort,

while others glow simply by their presence.

Some strive to glow,

while others glow naturally.

Some want to glow,

while others are born glowing. 

You could say it’s simply a divine gift.

This post was inspired by this quote: 

“Common souls pay with what they do, nobler souls with that which they are.”

Sometimes we need to pause for a moment as we read to contemplate, breathe, and discover the beauty hidden behind bare words.

With noble thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

Teach to Mastery

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“Teach to mastery rather than to exposure.”

Can this quote apply for today’s education?

Many people don’t seem to know what mastery is or why it’s important.

Most learners, young and old, now follow the takeaway rhythm. 

“Am I going to read all this?”Some students, and even adults gasp in shock as if they were asked to read or write one of Shakespeare’s play.

To be honest, I used to behave just like that during my university years. But… perhaps at that age, one didn’t expect to study more. So with moans, mumbles, and sarcastic jokes, many in my generation surrendered and followed the old, hard way of studying; the libraries, our brains, our hands, and, before all, the knowledge of our teachers.

Now it seems that many students and teachers have to cope with this fast, takeaway rhythm of education. The quote above still exists, though. It’s already fulfilled, but in a more advanced, technological way. 

Now back to the quote, it’s not just for teachers, but for everyone, including parents, who are planning or trying to practise teaching.

Mastery, by the way, is about understanding, confidence, and application, without panicking about perfection or excellence.

But exposure focuses on grabbing a quick bite: learning as if you’re picking up a fast food meal. You take a bite and bin the rest. Or better put, learning by telling without showing, memorising without thinking, answering  without understanding.

But how proud would be that teacher be who teaches to mastery by the end of the academic year?

I can imagine them smiling, happy with their achievement, even if some of their students choose to stay behind, stuck with their fast food meal.

With teaching thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

WordPress, Are You Okay?

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Dear WordPress,

I’m writing to inform you that things have been so quiet on my blog for about two weeks or even more.

Fortunately, I haven’t given up writing or blogging.

Actually my mind and thoughts have been surprisingly active throughout this stagnant period.

But,unfortunately, I haven’t received any response.

Either way, rest assured that I won’t give up writing.

Why would I?

I really wonder whether you’re in good health?

Any bad cold?

Any family problems?

Any financial difficulties?

Or are you stuck in some technical trouble?

Any issues with hackers?

Any virus attacks?

Or maybe WiFi problems?

I did my best, first to think positively about you, 

and second, to make sure my posts received at least a little reaction.

I gave my posts a like  myself as a moral support, to help them feel better.

Again, whatever the cause, don’t worry, I will keep writing.

Get well soon,

Yours sincerely,

Pure-and-simple

With speedy-recovery  thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Fig Tree

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“A fig-tree, looking on a fig-tree, becometh fruitful.”

I’ve just come across this proverb as I was reading. 

By the way, I’ve started reading both fiction and nonfiction these days.

So my mood has turned a bit philosophical, but hopefully my writing won’t be boring. 

Now, back to the proverb, it reminds me of a similar saying in Arabic.

Actually… perhaps it can be an interpretation of the same idea.

The Arabic proverb says: If you live next-door to the happy, you will definitely become happy too.

Now back to the English one: isn’t the image of a fig tree next to another fig tree so beautiful?

When one becomes fruitful, its neighbour will surely be fruitful too. 

And what a coincidence!

I had bought some dried fig just before I came across this proverb.

I’m the only fan of dried figs in my family.

My daughter tried one, but when she asked me why its inside flesh felt like tiny bubbles.

I told her the truth; “dead wasps inside.”

She stared at me and said, “REALLY”

And since then she changed her mind about sharing any with me.

Now then, as people say, happiness is contagious.

And that’s exactly what both the English proverb and its Arabic version are trying to tell us.

With happy thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

The Beauty and The Heart

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People say that what’s hidden in the heart shows on the face.

And others say that real beauty comes from a pure, beautiful heart.

So… the essence of the whole issue is simple: beauty begins in the heart.

What’s hidden there, what lies deep inside your heart, becomes your reflection in the mirror.

People paint their faces, then look into the mirror and wow at themselves.

But what they see isn’t real, it’s only a painted picture.

They know the truth, yet they still pretend that what’s fake can become true.

They play the same trick with their hearts.

Some paint themselves as kind, trustworthy, pious, and perhaps even angelic.

But the heart fails them, because it can’t be painted.

And what shows on painted, glowing faces can never hide what lies in the heart.

The heart is the honest mirror, just like the one in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

It doesn’t lie.

You hit it.

You squeeze it.

You smash it.

Yet it still shows who you really are.

Have you ever wondered why beauty becomes so artificial?

Perhaps, because some hearts become so hard.

Rocks have no feelings, no sense of beauty.

Once the heart is obsessed with selfishness, its beauty fades.

And once its beauty fades, the face darkens and seeks some urgent artificial paint.

And then, artificial beauty glows without any real beauty, 

and the hardened hearts live without any sense of life. 

Would the Beast have ever turned back into a noble prince without the pure heart of the Beauty?

With pure-hearted thoughts,

Nahla