Tag: life

Just writing

Noah’s Ark

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Someone was commenting on the current events around the world saying ” Is it really logical that people nowadays are from the offspring of the righteous people who had embarked on Noah’s Ark. But then, what kind of morals did those who had drowned in the flood have?’

That’s funny but it also makes a good point.

But, perhaps, we should think more about Noah than his people or his offspring. How did he cope with mockery, hatred, and betrayal? How didn’t he give up building his Ark? Never. How strong was his faith? And how he made a new start and lived a better, longer life?

Noah was patient, faithful, and resilient. He had never lost hope, never abandoned his faith. In the end, he was saved while most of his people drowned.

Could we just embark on Noah’s Ark and do our best to live a good,  healthy life on this earth?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Second CV

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Have you ever heard people say that your quotes is your second CV? Well, I have read about that recently. Does this make any sense? I think it does.

Our CVs are loaded with our qualifications, work experiences, hobbies could be added, and some personal details. Of course all information provided should be well crafted to support our applications either for work or studies. Besides, all information provided should be accurate and up to date. But, does that guarantee the acceptance, your being a successful applicant. Absolutely not. That could be for many reasons. The first might be because you’re unqualified. The last could be because you’re highly qualified. But then, the whole issue is mainly about qualifications – which, nowadays, are quite like a silver spoon in the mouth of the AI generation.

When you decide to include some of your favourite quotes, or even the most you like in any of your readings, do they give any idea about your personality, your life, your values, and even your sense of humour (if you have any)? I believe they do. And, that’ s how your quotes become your second CV.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Mine

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If humans had taglines, what would yours be?

That reminded me of the day I created a website and started blogging on WordPress under the title ‘Pure and Simple.’ I think it was around 2016. My plan was to write blogs that would have a simple style and a pure content. By simple, I meant brief and easy to read. By pure, I meant genuine – things that would be reflecting my thoughts, my voice, and my personality.

Now, thinking of my tagline I think it would be: Live a simple life and do your best to keep pure.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Charlie and the chocolate factory

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Describe your dream chocolate bar.

Is there any flavour, any type that one can wish for a chocolate bar and can’t find these days? Things have turned out just like Charlie’s and the chocolate  factory.

Like everything, all commodities are available. All dreams are coming true these days. All the impossible is possible even in the chocolate industry.

But, isn’t that funny? We have varieties of chocolate types and flavours and still some dream of more. More to spoil children, more to show off, more to gain weight, more to lose weight, more to store, more to discard, etc. Have you ever thought that even the detained hippo in the zoo with his big full open mouth would never dream of being that spoiled, would never dream of a chocolate bar with a different flavour?

By the way, today I wished I have got a chocolate bar, a simple original one, to give to a cute school girl I’ve been seeing everyday as I walk with my daughter to her school in the morning. It was just today that she had the courage to exchange a few words with me before she hurried to go to her school. Her genuine smile and few words were enough to make my day without any fancy chocolate bar dreams.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

daily prompt

The little feathered visitors

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Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

Close to where I live, is a small shopping area. Sometimes when I go out, I see a man stretching his arm out, turing his open plam heavenward, and his hand full of birds’ seeds. A beautiful white pigeon is always the one that stands there to peck at the seeds from his hand. Other pigeons will be gathering and surroundintg them on the ground while pecking at some more seeds that, I am pretty sure, the same man scattered for them. It’s a serene scene that always brings a smile to my face and fills me with joy.

I usually scatter some seeds in my garden for the pigeons to visit and eat. Sometimes, I add some leftover rice or bread crumbs so they have a different treat. But, my little visitors are not as brave as the ones I see outside. I have to be very quiet as I peek from behind the window to watch them. Still, their sight makes me smile. 

Do you know that the lenses of our digital cameras, phone cameras, can never give us the same joy as seeing and contemplating things or people with our own eyes. Most people take so many pictures these days, but none will make you feel as the actual moment they were taken. 

Enjoy the moment!

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Be true

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What quality do you value most in a friend?

Throughout our life journey, we usually meet with a lot of people: different people, strange people, and special people. There is an Arabic saying that means; the friend to all is lonely. Or, in other words, the friend to all, has no friends. Do you agree? I do.

I have never had too many friends. As a matter of fact, I’ve never had more than two in every stage of my life. Having this few, or better say one friend every now and then, I have come to appreciate friendship as a unique and pleasant experience that involoves more than just people. This why I agree with the Arabic saying. I encountered people who have tried their best to make as many friends as possible. But, the process often proved futile when they find not a single friend who can listen or be around when they need someone. Just then, they feel lonely even with so many around.

Friendship is a noble and rare experience isn’t it?  And, a friend should be a  special person. And, by the way, ‘special’ can mean too many things but it doesn’t imply perfection. And, what I value most in a friend is their honesty.

What else could be better than being a true friend? Honesty. It really hurts when, one day, you find out that your friend was using you just like a taxi driver who’s been booked to take them to a certain destination. Once they arrive, they slam the door and left without even offering a goodbye note.

Your lifetime friend is your true friend.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

The electronic mold

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Do you remember life before the internet?

A few years ago, I was visiting with my father-in-law as we were on our summer holiday back home to Egypt. He was in his late-sixties, and though he was suffering from some serious health problems, he was mentally and physically okay. One of his granddaughters had just left when we arrived.

As we were having some tea together, my father-in-law couldn’t hold his temper any longer. He huffed and puffed, and I put my tea cup back on the table, holding my breath. I didn’t know whether he was in pain or whether he was devastated by anything. I remained silent, praying my any one would join us in the living room. No one did. And, the poor man exploded.

‘She was on that junk machine for the whole day. Her fingers tapping and tapping all the time. Her eyes fixed on that trash. She didn’t hear, didn’t see but that … phone.’

I swallowed and thanked God mine was in my bag.

‘That’s what she always does every visit. It’s stuck in her hand. In the kitchen, at the dinning table, and even in the bathroom.’

When I burst out laughing, he smiled and his anger evaporated a bit.

‘Stupid generation.’ He added before changing to another topic.

I think this summarises how life has changed after the internet, or can we be more accurate and say after having it on our cell phones. A few years before this happening, my in-laws’ house was full of life and noise. People, young and old, were talking, playing, laughing, arguing, etc. But, after the interent has become widely used and accessible, life is mainly about being live, online. That why my father-in-law couldn’t quite fit into the new generation’s electronic mold.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

There is a time

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There is a time to accept change, to make new beginnings. If you haven’t planned for things to change, and if the change has taken you by surprise, then I believe you have to accept it.

It’s all like being on a train journey. You have your ticket, and you know your destination, but you are also aware you might need to change trains or there might be some delays. In every circumstance, you have to cooperate, to accept things becuase it will be futile and illogical to stay stuck in the stationary or broken down train.

I have moved quite a lot since my husband and I had decided to make our big move to the UK. Honestly, in every move to a different city, I felt as though change sought me out rather than the other way round. In other words, I have never played the role of a nagging wife, either crying to make changes or fighting to resist any. I accept it. But then, with each move, I found some hidden gifts for me. I met with new people, I learn new things, and I change. 

A godsend is not always desguised as a human. Unexpected changes in our lives can also be divine blessings.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Why else?

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Imagine you have a long list of contacts, relatives, and acquaintances and you rarely hear from them either through normal calls or messages. You thank God when some have the sense and reply back to any of your messages. Then, all of a sudden and out of the blue, they call and talk nonstop.

‘Oh, did you know what happened?’ ‘God, how funny those old days were!’ ‘You haven’t heard about that, have you?’ ‘My parents always remember you in their prayers.’ Etc. That’s their common narrative introduction.

And, almost, when you think perhaps you have been unfair. Or perhaps you are the one who needs to call quite often, just then, your dear caller relieve the reason behind the memorable call. In good scenarios, they will ask for a favour or a piece of information, or to know bits and pieces about your news that had already reached their ears by others. But, in worse scenarios, they will erupt like a volcano and throw their flames of accusations and hidden grudges.

That’s when I think of ‘why else’? Why else did they call? Sometimes I switch off this nugde of ‘why else,’ and enjoy the show. But, when things become too much, I choose my peace of mind and it becomes thanks but no more.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Why recall them?

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What sacrifices have you made in life?

Why do some, if not most, people recall their sacrifices when they feel hurt or betrayed by others. And sometimes, they become jealous and angry at some. Don’t expectations, in this context, make one’s  sacrifices more like a bribe, or rather a debt? I’ve sacrificed such and such for you, but inside, I was waiting for the moment when you repay me in some way or another. To do what I’ve been expecting. Or to support me later on in life.

Gratitude is a noble quality, and of course we all like to receive some  appreciation for any help and kindness we give through life. But that doesn’t mean to throttle others by the sacrifices we’ve made for them.  For example, some parents often brag about the money and time they have sacrificed for their children. They would expect their children to enroll in a particular university, or apply for a specific  job, and, in some cases, to pay back each pound and even each hour their parents have invested in them.

Don’t you agree that any genuine sacrifice is related to a lawful cause? In other words, it cannot be a sacrifice when one gives up their beliefs and principles for the sake of temporary pleasures, but the opposite can be. Besides, doesn’t a sacrifice  imply pure and sincere inention. How else could we enjoy the deed and feel its blessings?

A sacrifice is a true sacrifice when is motivated by love, commitment, and contentment.

No coercion. No payback. And don’t count them?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla