Tag: life

daily prompt

What can be better?

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What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

First I thought of Time because what could be a better gift than sparing a few moments to show kindness and care for others. Time to talk, to listen, to write, to read, to play, to joke, to buy a gift, send a gift, ….

But then, I thought that your time gift would be worthless, valueless if it is not genuine, if it has no feelings, no specialness. It becomes a show off, a dull routine.

In other words, the greatest gift doesn’t ‘t have to be on your wish list for your birthday, it might be just smile from a child, a prayer from your beloved ones, or a comment on your blog. Just an unexpected, simple, pure gesture. People say, “Whatever comes from the heart, goes to the heart. »

What gift can be better than that?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books

The riddle

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“What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in day time, and three legs in the evening?”

Can you solve this riddle? Please don’t search it up, perhaps your answer will make sense as well, and of course you don’t have to share it. I knew about it while reading The Solitaire Mystery.

But, maybe, I can give you a tiny hint about it. Tick off inanimate objects. Ignore the numbers. And, mainly, think of Time. What is Time?

By the way, did you know that the one made the riddle could never be the one who solved it.

/https://nh825.wordpress.com/2024/12/28/the-solitaire-mystery/

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Knock knock

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Who’s knocking?

‘It’s me, the New Year,’ your visitor says.

You open the door and there is your visitor, having travelled a long journey, about 365 days, to visit you just before sunrise when it’s all quiet. Your visitor is smiling, arms open wide, eyes sparkling, in neat, elegant clothing, and smelling of a fresh, morning breeze perfume that wafts through the door and fillles you, and your place.

You seized the – once – in – a year encounter, and prattled about lots of things: the fire works celebrations, the – once – in – a life time trip to celebrate the New Year on the Caribbean or the moon, the special romantic night, the list of your last year’s fulfilled resolutions, the list of complaints about your misfortunes and bad luck, and the list of your sheer luck achievements. (Please feel free to add the things most of us usually think at each and every new year.)

‘Have you changed? The newcomer asks after listening patiently to all that details.

Struck by the question, you stammer, thinking for a minute or two and then say; ‘Of course, with all those details and things I have changed. I should have changed. Everything changed, and is changing. Just wait and see how the New Year celebrations will look next year.” You said the words, full of confidence, gazing at your visitor who looks the same as ever.

Your visitor smiles, seeming to read your mind. ‘Changes don’t have to be mainly physical. And, thanks for the celebrations.’

‘What’s piece of advice are you giving me this year?’ You ask.

‘A new year is a new chapter. Editing your writing font colours and styles makes no significant change to your chapter. It’s the content that does. What you write, what you say, and what you feel is what making your chapter worth reading, and celebrating. Besides, as long as you live, there’ll always be a new chapter to live, to write, and to celebrate whether it’s January or any other month of the year.

‘Oh, I will think about that. Do you want to know my new plans for this year?’ You ask.

‘Does anyone have to read your chapter before it’s done? I’m sure you’ll share it next year,’ the visitor says and leaves.



With all the best wishes,

Nahla







daily prompt

Creativity

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How are you creative?

When you use your own voice, your own hands, and your own brain, that what creativity is. Think, imagine, and be you with your own unique signature. That’s creativity.

Does creativity imply perfection? A big WOW? A high rating? I’ll say no, but that’s how I see it.

Creativity might need support, education, and knowledge, but what it needs most is genuineness. And of course, you don’t have to be a celebrity to be creative.

To clarify my point, let’s say I read your post and find it interesting and good, with countless likes and comments, and then I decided to write a similar piece. By the way that’s different from inspiration becuase when we are inspired, we still use our own brains. So, If I follow your style, words, and thoughts, my post will never be creative becuase it wasn’t me writing it ‐ I’m mainly replicating yours. But, that’s not so bad, we are not supposed to be creative everyday, right? Still, there will be a strange feeling, an annoying thought, that will pop into your head every now and then when you remember this post.

We might share the same cake, but it would be more delicious when I put my heart into it.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla











daily prompt

Influencers

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Who are the biggest influences in your life?

Years ago, if you asked someone who their biggest influencer was, I can imagine that person would first pause, think, perhaps close their eyes and take a moment to breathe deeply, before giving you their answers. When they started talking, their words will be full of awe, respect, and pure love. They might talk about their parents, teachers, or perhaps a favourite historical figure or special author. In some cases, they would  talk about their true friends. I believe that for the pre- social media generation quality mattered more than quantity. Genuine relationships more than pretenses. Am I right?

But as things have change in a way that seemed both ridiculous and vague, I believe, nowadays, today’s selection of influencers depends mainly on quantity. It’s like copy and paste, repetition, drama, and, even worse, the madness of fame. Nowadays, many influencers share nonsense, believe in nothing and everything, and make fortunes of easy money. How many influencers are there nowadays? Countless, thanks to social media platforms. How do they affect you, as a unique individual? Unfortunately, they often reduce you to nothing more than a number, a fan!

Would you search your head ( not your phone), for a role model with no camera in hand, no fancy brand fashion, no cosmetic surgeries, no sophisticated food receipes, no international festivals, no cocoland dreams, etc? Please do!

Congratulations, if you find any!

Have you read my blog Idolization? Please do if you haven’t yet.

https://pure-and-simple.co.uk/2024/12/10/idolization/

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Such a gift!

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Share what you know about the year you were born.

Life is such a wonderful gift, regardless of the year,  month, or day of our births.We have nothing to do with our birth place or time, but we have coutless things to appreciate about this divine gift.

What difference does it make if you were born in a special year when a war ended or started? Or when the first spaceship landed on the moon? Or when Romeo and Juliate died? The only thing that truly makes a difference is that you have been gifted with a life to live with all its ups and downs. You have been gifted with a life to sacredize its privicy, its authenticity, and its temporarity.

Have you been grateful to the One created you, gifted you with the most precious gift in your entire life: your Life?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Don’t let them age

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I remember my grandparents from my mother’s side as I hadn’t seen my father’s since they all died early before he married my mother.

Anyway, my grandparents were barely in their late sixties or early seventies when they died. As a child, I used to believe they were so ancient, so weird. Their house was so big and so old. Not becuase they didn’t have enough money –  they did, but because they didn’t like change. They liked their old furniture, the old walls, the old staircase, and even their old clothes.

From my mother’s tales, especially about her father, I believed he was a monster and a tyrant. By the way, he wasn’t religious, but I am not going to detail more because we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, should we? However, he was, actually, so kind with me. Perhaps, because I used to avoid him all the time, or because I was the quietest of his grandchildren tribe. But, he really was kind, and when he laughed or smiled, I didn’t see him that old at all.

Some people say that the real youth is the youth of the heart and the soul. If you read Mr. MacBride’s story, you will know how important it is to not let either your heart or your soul age.

Have you read The Five Wishes Of Mr MacBride. It’s a wonderful book. Have a look at my review!

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/the-five-wishes-of-mr-murray-mcbride/


With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Confession

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As I was reading my book last night, a sentence of my last blog kept nagging at me that I thought I was going to dream about it. But, it inspired me to write today’s blog.

In my last blog, The quiet, shy girl, I said I had never failed. Well, that wasn’t completely a lie, and it did’t awfully prick my conscience. After all, as long as the issue doesn’t involve anyone else, so it’s between God and me, and I prayed for forgiveness. Besides, I was mainly talking about my academic education which as far as I can remember was the truth.

But, of course, Life doesn’t go perfect all the time. Even the genius makes mistakes. We are the offsprings of Adam and Eve; humans with blood, flesh, and emotions. Therefore, we are not perfect, we are not robots. Sometimes, we will get a first-time Pass, and other times we’ll get it on the second or fifth attempt. Or, we’ll change direction and achieve it somewhere, sometime else.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

The quiet, shy girl

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Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

“Are you still quiet and shy as you used to be in university?” A friend asked me one day when we found each other on facebook.
“I think I’ve changed, a bit.” I replied.

It seems like something I was born with. I am the youngest of my two siblings. My father used to take me everywhere. My relatives used to invite me for sleepovers which would extend for weeks. At school, my marks were always good. I never failed. In university, for my converstation exams, my responses were the briefest in class, but my marks were just as good. Still, I was that quiet, shy girl.

I married, moved and studied abroad, and now have three children; two graduate boys and a girl in her first year of high school. Still, I am that quiet, shy girl.

Therefore, going on stage for a speech or performance would be my nightmare. Of course I lived these moments as I had to do them sometimes at school or university. But even though with all my rehearsals and prayers, I couldn’t help my hands from trembling and my heart from pounding.

I always remember my graduation ceremony, it was such a funny, great day. My friends and I were full of the life of spring, shining in beautiful dresses, lining up in a long queue with many others of the same group. We couldn’t wait to step on stage to receive our B.A. certificates and shake hands with Her Honour, our smiley-faced dean. It went so well with all my friends: climbing the steps, shaking hands, turing for the memorable photo, and then climbing down the few steps and joining our families. Just that simple.

But, things went slightly different for the quiet, shy girl. I tripped over my long dress as climbed the steps, but thank God I straightened and steadied my legs, and didn’t fall down. I tried to forget and calm down, but then my graduation cap slipped down my hijab. Before it could fall, I grasped it and tried to put it back on my head, but it would not stay there. There was no time, Her Honour was already extending her hand with a genuine, warm smile. I believe she didn’t give others the same one. With one hand grasping my cap over my head,  I shook her hand and receive my certificate. Then I hurried down the steps, and forgot to take that memorable photo with the certificate and the smile.

But I took other photos and laughed long and hard that day. Sometimes, the quiet, shy girl can be more special and fun than the others.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books, Just writing

Idolization

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Just look at how people follow a special player, or jump on stage to hug that famous singer, or run after a remarkable actor to take a selfie. And look at those who bow, kneel, and even kiss the ground that this leader or that walks on. This idolization has been the same throughout the ages, it’s obviously disgusting these days because of the social media madness.

Have you ever thought how those idols throughout the ages take but, never give? They don’t know you, won’t care about you. Whether in the form af a celebrity, a leader, or a political party, they want you, as a number, as a voice. They stand high and long, here and there, just like statues. Their strength and durability depend on the expertise of their craftsmenship. But, they never live becuase statues are soulless, vague, and empty. And, one day, they would be dumped, forgotten, and replaced by other statues.

I remember one day while watching a documentary about a famous Egyptian singer from the seventies, there were women throwing themselves out of the top windows of high buildings. Were they really happy following him into the grave? I wondered, thinking how those people will one day answer to God for commiting suicide. This is completely blind idolization, which I believe is so destructive, so humiliated, so pathetic.

On another occasion, when I first came to live in the UK, I met different people. My first friend and neighbour was following the Shia Mathhab. By the way, we didn’t introduce ourselves as Shia and Sunni. These differences just seemed to be obvious. Well, as my friend and I used to visit each other quite a lot, I noticed that there are certain things that she was celebrating and practising which I wasn’t. I asked her about that and she simply replied, ‘I swear I don’t  care about this Imama or that, I just do what my mother does.’ We burst out laughing. How simple and funny our life would be, if we don’t idolize our differences!

Children, of course, might idolize their parents, or students idolise their noble mentors but that’s out of pure love and ultimate reverence, because they deserve it. These people in our lives are the ones who really care and love us.They can not be replaced, can not purchased.

By the way I have just finished The Stationary Shop Of Tehran. It’s a good book, I enjoyed it, enjoyed more reading about Persian Culture and traditions which are a bit different from my Arabic ones. Herewith is my book review, hope you will like it.

The Stationary Shop of Tehran

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

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