Tag: hope

daily prompt

Re and Tire

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How do you want to retire?


I’ve just checked the dictionary to know more about the various meanings of  ‘Re’ when it is a prefix attached to  the word with no hyphen—just like retire.

So, one of the options is that Re can mean back and away or after.

And, of course, tire is about exhaustion and your need for recharging, right?

However, with the combination of both syllables, ‘retire’ can mean it’s time to step away and start afresh, anew after years of hard work, stress, workaholism, wins and losses, and possibly a permanent medical prescription.

Therefore, the word ‘retire’ itself is actually not as pessimistic as some people think—or worse, fear. If only you ponder its other positive possibilities, your retirement could turn out to be the best phase of your life.

I still remember how my father’s health and mood deteriorated after retirement. In fact, he was not even open to announcing the news outside our family’s circle. He didn’t tell me as I was the youngest not to upset me with his “sad” news. I did know, though— how could a teenager back then not figure it out? Three years after his retirement, my father passed away.

Retirement—the end of life— felt like a motto in the nineties, and, of course, before that. The sadness and isolation my father experienced were so common that almost everyone in their sixties withdrew into themselves.

Now, after sharing my thoughts and memories, it has just crossed my mind how full‐time mothers are blessed not to worry much about retirement. When children grow, mothers usually become more relieved—yet their position and influence remain strong. Don’t you agree?

But, of course, with my positive interpretation of retirement, I’m ready with a handful of chores for my husband’s retirement when it comes ( still years to go).

With hope and peace,

Nahla





daily prompt

Can You Make a Guess?

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What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

What’s the oldest thing we might have in our lives? Even if we’ve only been in this world for a few years, what would be our oldest possession? My mind wandered, but not for long.

Can you make a guess?

Want any clues?



But that’s easy to figure out— just search through your important documents, and you’ll find it. It might be too old, but don’t worry about its age — some people, even children, grow far older than their actual years in this world.

Now, got it?



Fine. That’s the fully registered and signed document that welcomes us as newcomers to this big,  yet actually small world.

Our birth certificates!



This percious document, kept safe and sound, marks our existence as human beings. This precious document has our names, parents’ names, our gender, our birthplace, our country, and our birth date. It is the first step in our history, launching our journey through life while adding more to our resume.


Isn’t it a big shame that in the history of this “civilized” humanity, there have been people and children who have been deprived of having or keeping this simple, precious certificate because of injustice and savagery?

Can you believe there are children dying in this world without receiving this warm welcome into life? Without having this basic right to a birth certificate?

Are you still watching the news?

If so, be grateful—and remember that your birth certificate, just a paper-and- ink document, is a treasure; a dream for many innocent souls.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

daily prompt

A Notable phrase— A coincidence!

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What notable things happened today?

As I was searching for something in my notebook, I came across this phrase that I had saved earlier: “Pull the wool over your eyes.”

To my surprise, as I read today’s prompt, I thought of nothing but this phrase, which I truly believe is a notable thing to contemplate these days.

Don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes or your ears.
If you can not see or hear the truth, you can feel it with your heart.

And remember—the one who pulls the wool over your eyes is never truthful.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

Just writing

When Silence is Better Than Talking

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Have you ever chosen to remain silent instead of speaking?

I do—most of the time.

Should I begin with critical moments or casual ones?
Hmm, I think it would be better to start with the annoying moments then climb step by step toward the pleasant—or perhaps even funny—ones.

It happens when someone asks you for a favour or makes a request, but you have your reasons for not getting involoved. You explain things once, yet they hear nothing but their own voice. Not to mention the blame they put on you, as if you were part of their problem.

Just tell me—what’s the point of arguing with someone who will never be convinced, never change their mind?  By the way this isn’t about stubbornness but egotism—the I’m always right mindset. Isn’t silence better than arguing back in such cases? But, of course, you can enclose some genuine prayers, hoping things will be fine soon.

Are you still climbing the long staircase?

Sure, by now, you must feel heavy and exhaused. I imagine you’ve already climbed most of the steps—apparently we experience lots of these critical situations in our lives— each one adding to a heavy load of annoying momories.

Now it’s time to switch to some pleasant moments. I guess there’re only a few steps before you reach the top step. 

Sometimes, as you’re hurrying down the road, someone looks, smiles, and waves at you with a bundle of flyers and brochures in their hands. They step into your path and ask for a a few spare moments of your time. Silence becomes your escape, and a nod with a smile— along with a quick gesture to your watch—is your way of communicating apologies, if you, like me, are not interested.

And sometimes, as part of socialising, you find youself among people talking about things you’ve never read about or even heard of—like dog food and breeds. Doesn’t it make sense to remain silent? To listen, but not really listen while thinking of cute cats.

And then there’s silence—a warm gesture of respect for elders. How many times did the younger you remain silent while your grandparents or parents talk about things you could neither understand nor follow? But, they always knew you were not listening. And that’s when your sudden, genuine laughter broke the silence.

Last but not least, there’s is silence and shyness— not only do they rhyme but they are also born together. Yet, that’s not as bad as you might think, because it’s neither a birthmark nor a curse. Can we simply call it a special personal trait?

Some talk loudly and nonstop, and some listen, whisper, and weave stories in their minds.

I think by now you’ve arrived safe and sound , and hopefully  happy at the top step.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

memories

Feelings And Eyesight

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Changes in your eyesight do not really imply medical problems. Sometimes, they can be affected by how you feel and think.

A few years ago, my daughter didn’t feel happy in her class because her best friend left the school ‐ just like that, without even a short notice. There were other friends, but she couldn’t feel the same happiness as if  something was missing everyday at school. Then, one day, as we were walking back home after school, she told me she couldn’t see the board well. I let a few days pass while observing her reading and writing at home. All seemed fine. Yet, she insisted that she couldn’t see well at school.

I arranged an appointment at the optician’s, and to my surprise, he prescribed glasses for my daughter. Honestly, I didn’t trust his diagnosis. He seemed miserable himself, and imapteint too. I could feel my daughter’s nervousness during the eye test. But, sometimes, you can’t just disagree with the doctor with a reference based on your intuition.

My daughter chose the frame and colour of her glasses, feeling so excited about her new accessory. The following day, she took them to school, and put them on once or twice. The day after, she left them at home. By the third day she had forgotten all about them.

“I see better without them, Mama,” she said and hid them in her desk drawer. On the following year, at her annual eye test check, the optician was such a cheerful person with a genuine smile. My daughter felt relaxed during the examination, and her eyesight was perfect.

“Have you been wearing your glasses regularly,” the optician asked.
‘No,” my daughter quietly replied, feeling a bit guilty.
“Well, it doesn’t happen often, but you don’t need glasses anymore,” the optician gave the news as if announcing the marvellous success of a hardworking student.

“Really,’ my daughter gasped, her face beamed with a beautiful smile.

I smiled too, wondering whether it’s true that mothers have a sixth sense -that intuition commonly known as gut feelings.

Whether you’re a child or a grown-up, your eyesight can be affected by what’s hidden deep within your heart and mind. Some might lose their eyesight because of grief, yet the same ones might also regain it through the power of joy. There are no hopless cases, but hope for every case. It’s the cause of the problem that might need treatment, more than the problem itself.

Don’t they say that a healthy diet and a walk outdoor in the open, wide beauty of nature can improve eyesight? I couldn’t agree more, becuase they actually can change your mood, brighten your day, and calm your spirit. This is a simple recipe that might help you take off your glasses every now and then.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Justice, Patience, And Victory

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Have you ever noticed that these three words come in order both alphabetically and practically?

Justice is the supreme power that blesses Patience and grants Victory — all in time.

By the way, I am referring to Divine Justice here. This is the Supreme Power that is just, merciful, and abundant.

Humans cannot be trusted with his great responsibility, because humans are humans.

We have this funny saying in Arabic: if the keys of heaven were given to a human being, they would hurry inside and lock all its gates —  not to let any other soul in and to have it all for themselves. As for the keys to the gates of hell, there’s no thing “funnier” than watching the news.  “Humans” are already opening the gates of hell into others’ lives by following their own laws and their own justice.

Patience is a virtue that is always rewarded by the best. Most of the time, the patient are also wise, because, though helpless, they are not faithless. The patient never gives up and keeps living.

Victory is coming — the long – awaited prize. The divine promise knows no jokes, but everything happens in God’s time. Both the dead and the living will feel it, celebrate it, and thank the Lord for it.

Justice, patience, and victory — three harmonious, universal concepts.

Have you ever prayed for the first, strived for the second, and celebrated the third?

I have.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

Just writing

The Darkest Nights

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They say:  the darkest nights produce the brightest stars.

Isn’t it a beautiful proverb?

They also say the most darkest moment of the night comes just before the first light of dawn.

How many times do you feel lonely, desperate, and unsuccessful? And then, just when you are on the verge of giving up, you see luminous stars light up your dark night, and later on, the light of the dawn breaks through your faraway deep sky.

Definitely, these sayings are meant to give hope and assurance. Everything is possible, but things might take time. However, patience, sometimes, is too hard to be your friend, especially if you are the desperate not the advisor. But, you’ll be blessed if prayers are your shield.

Oh poor you, if you play the advisor giving these nice, hopeful, assuring phrases. The desperate would not listen, might even shoot you because they are trapped in the tightest circle of despair. “The hands in cold water are not like the hands in the fire.” This is what you hear in Arabic when you play the advisor or the wise man.

Then, when the miracle happens, when the solution comes, and when another chance is granted, the desperate will see the lumnious stars and the light of the dawn, and perhaps one day play the advisor to another desperate soul.

In brief, challenges and struggles are what make us understand how the darkest night can produce the brightest stars.

Have you ever seen the lumnious stars in the darkest nights?

I believe we all do.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Believe me…

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How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

Things that go opposite to our expectations, dreams, and  hard work should not be seen as a failure. It’s a redirection.

We will weep, scream, hate , curse …  . Why me? That’s unfair!  But,  one day we will understand  how we’ve been saved and guided. One day when we look back over past years, we’ll understand how that all was a redirection and we’ve succeded in a different way, making different things.

What we really need to do is that after our every explosive reaction to that hateful news of failure is to not give up,  to not freeze at that spot. One gate is closed, but others will be opened.

And, one more thing, be honest to yourself for, perhaps, you are the main cause of the failure.

That’s how I’ve learned to see things and keep going after every redirection in my life.

By the way, is success merely admitted by gaining a certificate, a position, fortune, fame…. I don’t think so.

God knows the best,

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

On a deserted Island

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What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

Three objects!

That reminds me of  a question  that I think was discussed in one of my science classes  many years ago. We were asked to pick the most essential items that would be mostly needed by a man on a deserted island and to explain why. You propaly  have solved one of these riddles on  your smart phones app games these days. Mainly material objects were suggested in our lesson;  things like a knife, a flashlight, box of matches, a water container, and other simple things and we, the students, were excited to prove which of the them would be the most helpful and the right choice.

However, asking me now the same question, I  would say that there are far more important things that those simple ones I had been learned to focus on at school. The things that I belive one would need both on a desered island and in crowded city.

There’s the will to survive. Without this will, all other things are useless. Without this will one won’t be able to adapt to the new environoment. But, I also believe that to stengthen this will, one should have a Faith. When you have faith, you’ll never feel deserted. You can add any other things after these two.

As for me, I believe it’s laughter.  Some people say, a good laughter could increase the number of your days on this earth.

Faith, the will to survive, and laughter. A simple recipe to live with!

With all the best wishes,

Nahla