Tag: peace

Just writing

The Heat Wave

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It has been scorching and dry for more than two weeks across the UK. We had been waiting for summer to grace us with its warmth once more— it does, with more than enough. But it seems that rain’s patience has worn thin. Rains have already started gathering mountains of grey clouds, ready to have full control over English weather again.

But that’s normal—I mean the summer’s heat wave and its rain-showers successor. What isn’t normal is the maddness wave that seems to be spreading like weeds all over the world. It seems to be having the worst influence on people’s mentality— from the most powerful to the common, the wealthiest to the poorest, the highly educated to basic learners.

Sometimes, one wonders whether the heatwave is behind the phenomenon of the maddness wave that’s been eating humans’ brains. Probably. But unfortunately, it seems that rains can not find their way to some people—just like Mr. Mad.

Have you ever heard the story of Mr. Mad?

Well, it’s a long fictional tale that began on one of those boiling days. It’s basically about a wealthy great- grandfather living on the top floor of a skyscraper somewhere in the world, who decided to take charge of the whole building—apartments and residents—from the hightest floors to the basement.

Well… I usually don’t give any spoilers in my reviews, but I will just say that Mr. Mad’s days bring the worst heat waves and know no rain at all.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Passions vs Affections

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Does it ever happen to you that, while reading, you pause at certain words and wonder not about their meaning but about their differences? In other words, you know which word to use,  but you still wonder why another can’t fit in this context or that situation.

Am I getting a bit philosophical?
Of course not… I’m just getting a bit speculative.

Let’s consider, for example, the words: passions and affections— the cousins from the sensitive emotions family. These two cousins are close in blood, though distant in behaviour. Isn’t their difference obvious, even in the very sound of their names?

Try and voice the two words.

Do you notice the difference?

Do you feel the strength of passions and the delicacy of affections?

By the way, both are healthy and important feelings for the well-being of humanity. However, each follows its own path.

Do you know why?

Affections are mostly hidden—quiet and deep— within the heart. Kindness, tenderness, and warmth are just a few examples of how affections work. They are private, gently whispering to awaken what’s good and pure inside us.

Passions, on the other hand, are strong, fiery, and bold. Excitement, temper, and recklessness are some examples of how passions work. They scream, shout, and might even fight to arouse and fuel the fiery emotions within us. Lust, in its many forms, is fed by the reinless passions— isn’t it?

Perhaps this is why affections live long and strong, while passions, in most cases, are extinguishable and short-lived.

And at the end of a long day, when eyes are tired and heavy with sleep, it’s the whisper of a genuine prayer, a kind gesture, or a gentle touch that weaves our happy dreams.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

What is the Art of Waiting?

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It’s the highly esteemed virtue—

the companion of wisdom,

the friend of perseverance,

the key to peace,

the first rule of trust,

the fuel for success,

the road to love,

and the gate to happiness.



Am I missing something?

Oh yes—

it’s the prayer we repeat,
believing it’s been heard
and will be answered
at its perfect time.

Now, do you know what the art of waiting is?

It’s patience.
And it is really hard to master this highest form of art.

But, sometimes, people test your patience until you can’t hold the horses anymore. You won’t just let the horses go wild, but you might burn the bridges or, like Samson, destroy the temple.

Perhaps that’s why patience can’t thrive without faith.

Aren’t the patient the most blessed?



With hope and peace,

Nahla

Just writing

That’s hurt

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It’s so painful.


Have you ever asked yourself these whys?



Why did I make that decision?

Why with a smile and a nod I say, Yes, I want to?

Why do I head there straightaway, on time, to keep my word?



Now it hurts, no… it’s so painful, more painful than the ache I felt before making that decision.



“You’re doing well,” they encouraged

“Well done,” they praised.

“All done,” they congratulated.



And there it is—your wisdom tooth, resting on the dentist’s super hygienic tray, glaring and laughing at you: “Farewell my friend, but don’t blame me for the extra, obnoxious pain you’ll be getting today.”



It’s not wise to extract your wisdom tooth, is it?

After all, wisdom doesn’t only cost a fortune, but it also has deep, stubborn roots that are too painful to yield.



With hope and peace,

Nahla

daily prompt

How could you give up this treasure?

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What are you most worried about for the future?

Privacy. That’s the most valubale thing I believe we should all worry about.

Privacy. A precious virtue that was once treasured— before the madness of social media, before having cameras on smartphones, before homes became more glass than brick, before fashion meant wearing less than more, before movies and dramas with different ratings became not that different at all, before crude language and obscenity were regarded as comedy and entertainment. The list of “before” can go on and on, and it is really scary.

No boundaries mean no privacy, and no privacy means no morality, and that all leads to chaos and madness—just like our today world. The more you expose, the more popular and ‘normal’ you become.

But, don’t we feel sorry and sympathise with the insane because of their mental deficiency?

Of course we do. We would never blame, judge, sue them for their wrongdoings?  They are pardoned by both divine and human laws because they can not differentiate right from wrong, private from common.

Isn’t it strange how sane humans feel pity for the insane, yet behave the same— and even worse, expect the same pardon?

You know what? This kind of contradiction doesn’t even exist in the animal kingdom.

Isn’t your privacy something to value, to protect, and to worry about in this all-open, all-permissible digital world?

Without privacy, you are just like anyone, but with privacy, you are yourself.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Spring And May

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It’s almost the end of June—I know. But the book I am reading nudged me to use Spring and May in this post.

Don’t you like Spring and May? I believe most of us do. They are full of colours, warmth, hope, beauty, brightenss, rebirth, and so many other positive qualities.

Yet we… no, some… perhaps a few are just fighting the first and engaging in a usuelss war against the second.

Now, just a second— I mean Spring and May literally, not literarily.

Here are two quotes to ponder over this weekend… or perhaps for the rest of your life.

“Don’t go fighting against the Spring.”
To me, this means: don’t try to spoil beautiful moments. If you can not live them, at least pause to appreciate them.

“War not with the May.”
This has a similar interpretation to the other, but war is stronger, more dangerous than fight, right? To start a war is to destroy things completely, mercilessly, savagely.

So, “War not with the May” means: do not destroy life,  beauty, hope, or dreams. Let May live. Perhaps its warmth, feshness, and tendreness can find a way into those dark, solid hearts.

By the way, spring is not just about May. Your soul and heart can blossom at any time throughout your entire life.

Haven’t you seen flowers in December, and green trees in Januray?

With hope and peace,

Nahla

Books

Have You Read This Book?

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I’ve just finished reading A Passage to India by E.M. Forster. It’s a well-known novel in the history of fiction, regarding orientalism, imperialism, and colonisation. You may have read or heard about it. As for me, I honestly came across it while reading another book.

The book reminded me of Edward Said— have you ever come across this author? I hope you have. I read two or three of Said’s books while studying for my postgraduate degree in Religious Studies. You might wonder how I went from my undergraduate degree in English Language to Religious Studies, but that’s a story for another day.

Now, back to A Passage to India. I am not going to review the story— there are already enough, in case you’re interested. I’d just like to share a thought that struck me while reading it.

True friendship can never exist where pride and prejudice surround it. Such an atmosphere cannot creat and nourish a healthy relationship. Mottos become empty words when superiority and inferiority are hidden behind the nice, smooth facade of so-called communication.

We are created different—in colours, shapes, tongues, and even beliefs. So why does one side decide to change God’s plan, or worse, play God in this temporary life?

So, for example, how can a man travelling by aeroplane be considered more civilized than another by horse? Why is a scientist seen as more civilized than a Bedouin? And why is a millionaire thought to be more civilized than someone earning a modest wage? And, as if that were not enough, this so-called the “civilized” often seek to dominate and humiliate those they call the “less fortunate.”

This is simply what A Passage to India is all about. Friendship that seems possible at first, but cannot last because it grows in a world full of pride and prejudice. That world doesn’t see differences as diversity—but opposition.

Ironically, the author himself tends to present things more as opposites  than as differences—framing them as superior and inferior, or, to put it more nicely, as the fortunate and the less fortunate.

I think Forster merged this duality unintenionally because he belonged to that generation. Even if he struggled with some internal conflict on this issue, he couldn’t overcome it—just like Fielding in the story. Besides, both were atheists, and their views seemed to slip away from the concepts of divine mercy and justice, which might have offered them a different perspective for building a true friendship.


With hope and peace,

Nahla

Just writing

Imagine

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“Imagine the silence if people only said things they knew.”

I have just come across this quote.

But isn’t it beautiful?

Not everything reaching our ears is worth telling, right?

Oh, and … perhaps you can also imagine, beside the silence, the respect and peace that would prevail if people not only said but also did the things they knew to be proper and fair.


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