Tag: lifelessons

daily prompt

Hard Times

nhpureandsimple

What’s a chapter of your life you’d title “The Hard Years” — and what got you through it?

Life is life. 

Sometimes it feels like paradise, and other times it feels like hell.

Sometimes it goes easy and smooth, and other times it goes rough and spiky.

And… sometimes it’s full of promises, and other times it’s full of warnings.

Then you start wondering why life changes, why it is unstable, and why it is unpredictable.

But you know why, don’t you?

Because it’s temporary.

And if you’re thinking beyond the Big Bang, you will definitely believe that life is a big test.

So … hard times come and go.

They may last for days, months, or years.

And based on the unsteady nature of life, everyone is expected to have a share of those hard times.

How we handle those hard times depends mostly on who we are. 

Some people try not to think back, not to remember the pain, and to forgive the hurt. Others stay in the past, replay the pain, and never forgive the hurt. 

By the way, these some and others are not about angels and devils.

It’s more about… abilities and choices. 

Have you read my post Can Experience Alone Shape Us? If not, please do. Can Experience Alone Shape Us?

Now, is there really any need to talk about hard years?

Maybe.

But it’s better to leave them behind.

Just an advice.

With let-bygones-be-bygones thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

Chaos, Chaotic, and Chaotically 

nhpureandsimple

Is a little chaos actually good for us?

Can you live your whole life measuring things with a pencil and a ruler?

But a life like that will be so stiff.

By the way, using a pen and a ruler is a common expression is Arabic, or you can say in Egypt. If you say someone lives by a pencil and a ruler, you mean they measure everything in life.

Actually… it can be a compliment.

But it can also be a defect.

The extreme opposite of this condition is chaos.

And if someone is known as chaotic, this means their life goes upside down, aimless, and messy.

There’s no way chaotic can be an advantage.

But a bit of chaos won’t hurt.

Actually, it can make some change, bring a laughter, or earn you some skills.

And what better example is there than baking?

My daughter insists on following the recipe from A to Z, including the exact measurements and using the scale which I bought mainly for decoration. 

Yet the kitchen under her supervision looks like bedlam. 

I usually, perhaps out of experience, take the shortcut.

No measurements, no scale, and always sticky hands.

Still, the kitchen under my supervision looks no better.

In both cases, we enjoy the chaos in the chaotic kitchen, even though we chaotically complain about the mess.

But without this chaos, we would be sacrificing baking for the sake of glassy, glossy Kitchen. 

With a bit of chaos thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Old, Famous Slogan 

nhpureandsimple

If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?

I’ve just come across an old slogan in my reading book.

By the way, I am reading two at the moment: one fiction and one non- fiction. 

And my reading rhythm is going at a turtle’s  pace. 

Hopefully, I’ll finish at least one by the end of this month.

Oh my… it’s already the 26th.

And it’s so hot today.

So I’ve been thinking… perhaps instead of changing the ending of a book, we can change one of its quotes, can’t we? 

Now, that famous slogan I came across was actually an advertising catchphrase for an old brand of men’s hair crème.

I’m not sure if the brand still exists.

But of course, my reading book has a totally different content, about a totally different subject.

I was really drawn to that quote because I believe such a casual, simple phrase can carry blossoms of wisdom. So, I decided to change it.

Now here’s the quote:

“A little dab’ll do ya.”

The advert was offering a piece of advice for healthy, shiny hair.

But in a flash of light, my brain saw something broader.

And then I turned the old slogan into this brief piece : 

A little of everything will be sufficient.

Don’t overthink.

Don’t overreact.

And definitely don’t overeat.

This way,

your mind,

your feelings,

and your body

will always be at peace. 

I don’t think my version suits any hair crème advert, but it certainly suits your wellbeing in general.

With a little-will-do-thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

Success and Its Different Formula

nhpureandsimple

What’s your top tip to be successful in life?

Can we pause a bit at the word “success.”

 In the back of my mind, those old memories of success were always tied to education and graduation.

From the first day you stepped into school, success became all about your grades. And it kept this iconic status until you earned your degree, secured a respectable job, or earned a good salary. 

Some people not only polish this status of success, but also worship it, believing there’s no other possibility or meaning of success beyond education and career.

I was one of those people, raised with this holy image of success. But over the years, success began to show up in different ways. It looks you in the eye and says: “Yes, education is important, but it’s not the only path to reach me. There are other meanings, other routes, and other possibilities to prove yourself successful and to earn my golden badge.”

Life is our big school. 

It teaches different lessons and gives us hard challenges.

And it never forgets to award us with its own unique success certificates.

Some people pay attention to the life’s big moral awards, while others stay loyal to success in its physical, printed form. Apparently both groups work hard, but their expectations of success are completely different. 

So…the earlier you decide which group to join, the better you’ll save your time and energy.

And that’s what I can say is the top tip for a successful life.

It is to know which way to follow and what makes sense to you.

In other words, to be You in this vast, fast –changing world

It is to choose your route, to follow your path, and to have faith. 

Years ago, I used to think like most of my friends about seeing success only through its narrow angle version: high grades and a good career.

And years later, most of my friends followed the same formula.

But Almighty had a different plan for me.

And, whenever I tried to rebel or sneak around it, He brought me to my motherhood career and my writing passion. Both give me a kind of unique success that top everything else in my life.

And I believe I’m blessed to enjoy every moment of my quiet world as a beautiful kind success.

With top-tip success thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

I’m Proud of You, Me

nhpureandsimple

What is something you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?

Hi there, my dear me,

Life runs so fast, my dear 20-year-old me, but life is good with all its hard and sweet days.

This is not a spoiler, by the way… just bits and pieces, little hints about life, our life.

You, my dear me won’t believe what the future has stored for you; what the Almighty has planned for you.

Think, imagine, and dream as much as you can, yet you wouldn’t come any close to reality.

By the way my dear 20-year-old me, I still remember uni studies, small circle of friends, dreams, job plans after graduation, and… Egypt, with its warm days and humorous people. 

Oh… that was a slip of a tongue.

But yes, you will have a second Home.

Whatever you’re thinking right now, Egypt will always be present in your life.

Everything change, right, my dear 20-year-old me?

So be prepared.

Mama and Baba used to criticise Egypt —the Egypt where you live now, saying, “Where have those old good days gone? People are not the same anymore, manners aren’t not the same, even food isn’t the same. 

You will get married soon, my dear-20-year-old me.

Your prince will take you far away.

Children will arrive safe and sound, and they fill your life with joy and blessings.

Challenges, adventures, confusion, disappointment, tears, laughter, and many more welcome and unwelcome visitors will knock your door along the way.

So… don’t forget to be grateful, and always count your blessings.

And from now on, be proud of yourself my dear 20-year-old me,

for the more challenges you face, the more lessons you will learn.

And the more lessons you learn, the more you know how to enjoy life.

And… I know this might sound a bit funny but be ready to live in the new world of AI.

That… well you will discover more in the future.

With my dear 20-year-old -me thoughts,

Nahla