Tag: life

Just writing

Do you argue?

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An old man was asked; how you enjoyed such good health at your old age.

He said; I’ve never argued, and I leave when people start arguing.

Peace. That’s the word to describe that old man’s life.

Argument is not just to defend your point of view, or to prove what is right; I’ve read it’s also a threat response; maybe our pride, our reputation, our family, our future, our position,  and many other things that we ague to protect or conceal or even to gain others’ respect.

As a mother, I learned from my children that nothing would change when we kept arguing. The more we argue, the less we would reach compromises, but the less we argue, the more we agree to compromise.

My recent argument was on the way home with my daughter; she wants to buy a hairspray to colour her hair like her friends for the charity in need fundraising activity at school. In the beginning, I refused and insisted; and she cried and insisted. I explained that it might be harmful and she explained that it’s suitable for children. I told her there are other ways to have crazy hair and she explained that without colours it would be the dullest idea ever. I remembered the old man and said no more, and in the morning, she suggested to colour her plait and not all of her hair as a compromise.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Ask the wise!

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One day the wise man was asked:

How old are you?

I’m in good health.

Do you have enough money?

I’m not in debt

Do you have any enemies?

I live away from my relatives.

 

Relatives. That was my inspiration for blogging today. I haven’t planned to live that far from my relatives but that’s how my life becomes. I’m missing family gatherings and talks.  I’m missing more the feeling of their support. Every year, we go to see the elderly who are still there and those who were once little but are no longer now. But also every year I appreciate how living far was a real privilege.

What do you think about the wise man’s answers?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

 

Just writing

Mother

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Last week  Anne a Turkish series, just popped on as a suggestion on Youtube. Anne in Turkish means mother. I really like how it is pronounced. I watched its trailer but as there were no Arabic or English subtitles, I couldn’t understand anything. I didn’t give up. I googled to find out more about the original story; there might be a book, a novel that I can get and read. Soon, I found out that it was an adaptation of a Japanese series Mother and that’s it. Today, I’ve just finished all the eleven episodes.

It’s a heartbreaking story; something that really can touch your heart, something very noble in its significance and dramatisation. It’s about a young girl, about seven years old, whose suffering turns a desperate teacher into a real mother. Her innocence reunites an old mother with her abandoned daughter. Her small heart inspires a young mother to appreciate her baby’s life. Her simple words torture the abusive selfish mother. Her story teaches Love; the unconditional, the intuitive.

If you want to find more, it’s available on Youtube; it’s really worth watching.

Here is the trailer;

 

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Alchemist

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They said; ‘the moment you think to give up is the perfect timing for winning.’ Is this true? Sometimes we think that’s it, I have been trying more than enough and there would be no way to succeed or win this or get that. But at the same time, things become different and a silver lining is shown up not just to give us hope but to help us see those other routes, to think of those other possibilities and to perceive the hidden wisdom behind all of these changes and stages in our life.

When writing this blog I remembered Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Have you heard about it? Did you read it? It’s really good. If you did, you would agree that the moment Santiago believed he had lost everything and he should give up, was the moment when he won; when his dream came true.

I believe if we write our own stories, we would definitely find lots of those perfect timing moments.

PS,  I bribed my son to read it. He did but he liked it so much.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Was it yesterday?

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Image result for first day at uni

Today is the first day for my oldest son to join the academic studies; today is the first day of his studies for a BA degree at university. I am excited, happy, and even nervous. In fact, I think I am more happy and excited than him. This new generation is weird!

And I’m grateful, really grateful, deep in my heart,  for all those blessings, I have had in my life.

An hour ago, or maybe less, I told my son about my first day at university. I pictured it as it was yesterday. That day I was happy, excited and very nervous. I preferred to take the underground train because it was fast and less crowded. I had to walk quite a distance before and after getting the Tube. But that long way gave me more time to enjoy and relax and it was also a good opportunity to meet others going to university although they were joining different departments and schools.

That day, I didn’t understand anything. I was one of the quietest, more precisely; I was the quietest girl in my group. But I was lucky because most of those quiet girls were also getting the Tube so I had a company on my way back. It was a hot day. The café was all full and busy, the benches out were the same. I remembered how I hated my new shoes, its heels and my painful blisters. I got back with a list of books to purchase, read and prepare for the following week. I passed by my high school; it was so close to my house and saw the girls in white shirts and navy skirts. I missed those days, I thought when my neighbour stopped me to ask about my first day at university; good I said and smiled but I wish I wouldn’t have gone in those high heels.

Was it yesterday? Oh my God, how those years have passed like a glimpse.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

2B

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We all, actually not all, I mean those who studied literature or know about Shakespeare’s Hamlet would definitely remember the famous line ‘to be or not to be that is the question.’ Everyone has a story, a special story that s/he tries to live and be something throughout its lines, its days, its months and its years. We all try to be something. Ambition is multidimensional; power, wealth, success, knowledge, health, fame, family, etc are different directions to be something. I believe that every person has dreams and aspirations; whether they are great or humble, but we all have our own ‘to be’ plans.

One day, when I was coming back with my daughter from her friend’s birthday party, the taxi driver stopped at my house and looked at me; ‘to be,’ she said. I thought she was asking to make sure of the address, I said; ‘Yes, it is 2b.’ She then repeated seriously as if she was acting the scene; ‘To be or not to be that is the question.’ I looked at the number on my door and said; ‘Nice one’ and the two of us couldn’t stop laughing.

Isn’t it funny, as I didn’t notice that for about six months or more since we’ve moved, but the taxi driver did?

Has your address got any significance?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Dream high

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Image result for riding a donkey facing backwards

 

Once upon a time, there were three friends; they were poor, very poor, unnoticed and worthless. What they owned in their life was three donkeys and their job was to transport people, goods and luggage from one place to another. This was how they earned their living.
One night, after a long day of hard work under the sun of the Arabian summer. They threw their bodies over the smooth sand of the desert. The full moon and the shiny stars lit the dark doom; it was no longer dark and a beautiful sparkly night was all they can see.
One of the three men closed his eyes and said: ‘Imagine my friends that I become the ruler of this country; the sovereign majesty, make a wish?
His friends laughed and laughed.

The first friend looked at the dreamer and said: ‘you be the ruler, the sovereign. No way.’

The dreamer said: ‘Just imagine, man, you wouldn’t lose anything.’

The friend said: ‘ Ok, Mr dreamer, I want a house with a magnificent garden.’

The dreamer looked at the other friend and said: what about you?

The other said: ‘This cannot be. This would never be. A donkey cart plodder would never have dreams. We’ve no future, friend.’

The dreamer did not give up: ‘It’s me who imagine not you; this is my thought, my idea. Imagine!’

His friend got-up, collected his stuff, rode his donkey and said: ‘Let your guards carry me backwards on a donkey and let them announce to everybody that I’m a fool who didn’t believe that dreams can be true.

‘As you wish, my friend,’ said the dreamer.
In the morning the dreamer deserted his friends. He sold his donkey and looked for a different way to earn his living; a watchman, a constable, an officer, a member of the town authority, an advisor, a consultant,… finally, he married the deceased ruler’s wife and became the guardian of her eight years son. He ruled the whole country until the former ruler’s son was 16 years old.

Thirty years had passed since his friends laughed at him dreaming of ruling the country. At his prosperous days, he remembered his friends and ordered his guards to bring them.
His old friends were still donkey cart plodders but their friend, the crowned head, reminded them of their wishes.
The first was mad with happiness; he was granted a house with a magnificent garden.

The second regretted that wish ever since.

Ps, this is an old story in the Arabic history with real names and incidents but what I can remember is just the main plot; therefore, I have made some adaptations.

Dream high. Dreams can be true.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

Simplicity

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I found this photo in a post on facebook about happiness and simple life. At the beginning, I didn’t know why I liked the photo more than the post. My eyes kept scrutinising everything; the old pieces of furniture,  the cracks and scratches on the wall and the floor, the little chicks picking the grains, that old broom, the clear sky, the children playing, the infant taking the first step, the mother leaning, the granny kneeling and their faces radiant with joy

Now I know why I liked it more because it reminded me of my grandfather’s house. It was a very big house in the village but it was so old too. All of us, his grandchildren, we were so many, always asked him to renew the place,  just add a modern touch to that old building, we would always suggest. But he would never do; he liked his house the way it was. Honestly, though we would prefer that our grandfather would have a modern house, we really enjoyed every moment of our holiday together there.

I’ve heard that nowadays some people prefer to spend their holidays in simple country houses. This means that simplicity is recommended as a modern recreation option. I’m not sure if my children would agree? My daughter would do, I know, especially if there are those peeping little animals around. The boys definitely, absolutely,  certainly would never; but if Wi-Fi is available, miracles could happen.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

The Pyramids

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Image result for pyramids

Have you ever visited the pyramids?

I have but a long time ago. My boys went there once but I’m sure they would not remember that trip because they were so young but my daughter hasn’t yet.

A long time ago, going to the pyramids was one of the main school trips and of course, it was always during the winter. They are beautiful; three pyramids; stand together not far or so close. The stones used in the building are amazing; they were collected or cut from a quarry, transported in boats sailing over the Nile, pushed over the dampened sand in huge sledges which were dragged by horses, camels and well-fed builders. At last, those stones were hauled through ramps over ramps over ramps until the building was done. How those ramps were exactly constructed is still one of the ancient Egyptian mysteries!

Do you think the Pharaohs had built these Pyramids to be one of the seven world wonders? Or to enter Guinness World records? Definitely NO.

These pyramids were built to be tombs; sacred, powerful and maybe cursed too.  The Pharaohs believed in immortality. Their corpses and food were mummified. Their jewellery, money and other special items were locked in their tombs too. Their Statues were sculpted and placed in magnificent temples. Paintings of their images and life were carved on the walls of tombs and temples. Why did they think of those complicated procedures? They did all that because they believed in life after death.  They believed their souls would come back to their dead bodies and they would rule and live but in a different way; not as a supreme ruler but as a god. This is why the heart was the only organ to be left in the dead body. This is also why they locked all their valuable and precious things in their tombs. It is also said that Pharaohs cast special spells to protect their tombs.

I don’t like to get inside the pyramids; so dark and humid; besides it is not well ventilated especially with so many people.  And the most important thing is not to get the Pharaoh’s curse (joking). This was many years ago; maybe things inside have changed.

Let me know if you have ever been there.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla