Tag: people

daily prompt

Why is the world so cruel?

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Have you ever been camping?

What’s the first thought that crossed your mind when you read the word “Camping”?


The fun times, family holidays, starry nights, games, laughter, and the warm campfire. Am I right?

Now, have you ever thought about the people living in the heart of this world who have no choice but to live in camps with very basic qualities and facilities? These are people who, not only face unimaginable hardships, but have been forced to move, perhaps every single day, just to escape death and live one more hour of life with what remains of their family.

There, in those heartbreaking camps, starry nights are full of danger, and days full of hard work. Children’s eyes are full of tears and fear. Mothers and fathers dig life with their nails, striving for their families’ survival. The old and the young alike give everything they have, to help, to survive, and to tell the world how their camps know no fun, no peace.

Why is the world so cruel? And don’t blame God. Those innocent people despite all their misery, never do, because that’s not God’s doing. When you believe that life is temporary, you’ll definitely understand that evil will never last– just like fire, which eating and destroying itself.

Isn’t it ironic that some believe Adam’s forgiveness guarantees his offsprings the same blessing, regardless of their deeds? But, Adam committed just one sin, yet he spent his whole entire life repenting, working hard, learning, and nurturing his pure soul. Adam’s hands had no blood, his heart felt no hatred, and his soul knew no greed.

I’m sorry to disturb your rosy memories of camping.

I only hope that you would at least pray for those who are suffering in other camps– camps that know no roses, no sweet dreams.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

daily prompt

It’s Not Hard

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When do you feel most productive?

You feel most productive when you achieve something – small or big, simple or complicated, slow or quick. So, you have to achieve something to feel productive – whether the most productive or a bit productive, right?

By the way, I think that productive achievement doesn’t need to be innovative. It could be something you’re doing everyday or once a week, or it may even be a long -‐awaited step that’s finally taken. However, this thing has to stir and fill you with positive feelings, like pleasure and contentment. In the end, it’s not just about the achievement itself, but about how it impacts your well-being.

I feel most productive when I focus on the things I love, and when I let go of the worries about the things I don’t.

It’s not hard to feel productive when it flows naturally, but it becomes hard when you try to force it.

With hope and peace,

Nahla



daily prompt

Can you guess what it is?

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Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

There are many risks I’ve taken that I don’t regret, and I’m sure I’ve written about them in my posts. Some might be easy to notice, while others might just need a bit more focus to find. But today, what’s popped into my mind is something different. It’s related to my WordPress blog–something that I know would affect my blog. Still I took the risk, and have never regretted it.

Can you guess what it is?  Have you noticed it?

When I first started  my blog, I was (and still am) determined not to connect it with my other social media accounts. I was just thinking of my blog as something special–a quiet, small conder away from the choes of my other accounts. I knew back then this choice wouldn’t bring me more audience, visitors, followers, or likes to my blog. I knew that all. Still I took the risk, and I don’t regret it, because I am still writing. And, in that quiet, small corner I call Pure and Simple I appreciate you all–my special readers.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

At The Feast

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“Sometimes the urgency of our hunger blinds us to the fact that we are already at the feast.”

Indeed.

How many times have you focused on what’s missing while abundance is present in your life?

Food is just a well – drawn metaphor in this quote, reminding us of how greedy and voracious humans can be.

Imagine you’re at a royal feast with a dreamy banquet as if it’s just fallen straight from heaven. Starving, you keep moving around the grand table, mainly looking for what’s missing, what’s not been served yet, or what’s already gone. In your haste, you leave – having neither tasted the various, mouthwatering dishes nor savoured their warm, wafting aroma.

Sometimes, we want something now – right now, this very moment–and we want it so much that we turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to other solutions, opportunities, exits already there in life, staring back at us. They are waiting to be seen, considered, and embraced. Only later do we realise how and why we missed it all.


On the other hand, can we think of this quote the other way round? I mean to consider that what you’re missing is so precious, so needed, that the abundance you’ve aleady accumulated and possessed as valuable treasures are just worthless extras in your life.

Imagine the same feast, the same banquet, and yourself in the same scene I drew earlier. But in this version, you savoured every dish and every drink until you’re completely full. You talk, you nod, you smile and laugh with other guests. Perhaps, you even make some good buisness deals – earning more money, gaining more possessions, and suffering more headaches. But then it’s time to leave for the feast doesn’t last for ever, does it?

As you’re leaving you glance back at the feast with a strange, nagging feeling. What’s been missing? You wonder. For the first time, just before getting into your car, you catch sight of two birds flying together out of their nest. It’s already dawn, and the fresh, soft light of a new morning begins to lighten the dark sky. How much I miss this simplicity, this inner peace, and a true companion, you whisper and drive away.

Which interpretation of the quote relates more to you? Just think about it.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

A Bittersweet Life Lesson

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There are beautiful lines in Arabic that explain why some people choose to disappear from your life, and why you shouldn’t ask about their whereabouts. I’ve just read them a few days ago, and here’s my translation:

If they were honest with you, they would have stayed,
If they were missing you, they would have come back,
If they were angry at you, they would have complained,
And if they truely loved you, they would have wept.
But sometimes, things are just like that.
Those who have chosen to disappear from your life are the ones who have used you to their full capacity.

Aren’t these lines so true?

But don’t worry, because some people come into your life to give you bittersweet lessons that help you grow into a better person.


With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

They Asked Her Why …

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They asked her why she said ‘no’ to his marriage proposal.
‘Because he’s so poor—money is all he has,’ she said, smiling.

I read this very short story once, and isn’t it a beautiful brief one that offers priceless advice to young girls and women around the world.

Say that’s vague idealism, that’s madness, or that’s out-of‐place -and- time wisome. Still, it’s such genuine advice — an ultimate truth! Money alone doesn’t make real happiness.

Just read it carefully. It simply means not to marry only for money. Yes, those who seek only money in life may have it multiplied, trilionied, and live the life of their dreams – or even a life that surpasses all possible dreams. Yes, they can buy the whole world, govern it, and control it. Yes, they can look young, enjoy perfect health, and create robots. But all of it can vanish in the blink of an eye, as can the life around it. Money without sanity, without communication, without understanding, without wisdom — and above all, without love can’t create a strong bond or a healthy marriage. 

One old Egyptian movies dramatised this idea beautifully. The hero was an illiterate – completely illiterate – but a very smart garbage dealer (I’m not sure if this is the right word for his profession but he owned something like a waste dump centre) He made a fortune at a young age, and his wealth grew year after year. One day, a beautiful young lady crossed his path, and without wasting any time, he began his investigation. He found out that she was in love with a poor but highly educated teacher, and he also knew about her dream of becoming a doctor. He knocked straightaway on her parents’ door, asking for her hand. Dazzled by both his money and his promise to fund her medical qualification, she agreed to marry him.

Halfway through the movie, the poor girl became a famous doctor, Her husband made more and more money but remained the same illiterate garbage dealer. Their married life turned into a distant life, just like that of two distant relatives who hadn’t met, rarely talked to each other, and never shared any warm feelings.

One day, the husband decided to change things by all means when he discovered he was dying. He was the one who made his wife a famous doctor, and believed he had the very right to be a part of her life untill the end. He began visiting her clinic, joining her meetings, and waiting for her every night. Yet,things went from bad to worse. He couldn’t understand anything about medicine or even understand his wife. She hated him, hated his money, and hated her life, until she finally asked for a divorce. But it was too late. The last scene was for the wife, screaming and crying, full of guilt because she hadn’t tried even once to help her husband as he had helped her. And, she hated herself for marrying only for money.

Now, do you still think that’s all just vague idealism?

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Is That Possible?

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As usual I was scrolling through Instagram last night when I came across a post that, in my view,  was quite strange. The vlogger’s video briefly showed his ‘Loving All’ motto. Do you get it? Let me explain more.

Throughout the video, the vlogger was holding different posters, which he changed one after the other. Each poster has one main sentence, beginning with ‘ I love’ and  the rest of the sentence referred to different things — different, but not necessarily opposites. Honestly, I don’t doubt his good intentions or his attempt to spread kindness and love. The problem is that my mind couldn’t understand his ‘loving all’ logic. Let me give you an example that, by the was way, wasn’t in any of his posters, but similar to the idea of his examples.

Suppose one day, you pass by a person holding a sign which read : “I love pork. I love halal food.” I don’t know how would you react. Perhaps, you wouldn’t even notice him or his sign, and keep on walking. I would definitely walk on too, but, to be honest, I wouldn’t forget about the sign.

If the person were a Muslim, I would wonder why on earth he was saying that, considering the whole world knows that Muslims don’t eat pork. If he was not, I would first wonder whether he understands that this combination is impossible? Then I would wonder why he didn’t just use ‘eat’ or ‘can’ instead of ‘love’. Love is such a strong word, full of feelings, whereas ‘like’ is simpler, more casual,  right? To love something means to accept all of it, and if you accept all of it, it’s impossible to accept what can’t be a part of it? This is why the two sentences together seem awkward. Does this make any sense? I hope it does.

I love it when I go to London, which doesn’t happen often because of the distance. I like to watch people of different sizes, colours, and cultures crossing the same road together. They probably don’t know each other, don’t have to love each other, but there some sort of understanding and respect filling the air around them.

Can a person love everyone and everything? Is it possible to repeat ‘Amen’ to everything, even without listening ? But then, what would you become? And, where would you stand?


With hope and peace,



Nahla

personal thoughts

Liked Or Admired

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Which one do you prefer: to be liked or to be admired?

This question is not an easy one to answer, so think carefully and take your time before answering it.

Is there anyone who doesn’t want to be liked or, at least, once, admired? I believe there isn’t.

But here’s the thing — you might be liked by many, but you can’t be admired by many. Do you why? Let me explain my perspective.

When you like someone, you feel comfortable, welcome, and happy in their company. That’s how friendship begins — through liking and connecting. But we also experience this feeling in everyday interactions – whether in person or online. It’s a feeling that is spontaneous, common and simple. It doesn’t need time, effort, or contemplation. I imagine you’re already thinking about the many things and people you like— I have done the same. And they can be anyone: the neighbour, the doctor, the teacher, the postman … the list goes on.

On the other hand, when you admire someone, there’s something in that person that evokes respect and awe — it’s what people mean when they say, “You take your hat off to them.” Admiration doesn’t require connection or communication; It just creates recoginition and leaves a lasting, positive impression. Unlike liking, admiration is complix, rare, and deep. It needs time, effort, and contemplation.

Not everyone or everything you like will earn your  admiration, right?  But isn’t admiration a form of liking?

Imagine a teacher who assigns a special writing task to her class once a year. She’s been teaching for years, knows each of her students well, and liked them all. But because of this special writing task, she discovers more about each one of them. As she reads and marks their work, she finds a piece or two that are not like the rest; a piece that makes her think deeply, feel differently, and even learn something new. She gives that piece full marks — that’s another way of taking the hat off  to the exceptional. And that’s admiration.

Now back to my first question: do you prefer to be liked or admired?

I would say I’d rather be liked and let admiration come along whenever possible — as an unpredictable surprise.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Justice, Patience, And Victory

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Have you ever noticed that these three words come in order both alphabetically and practically?

Justice is the supreme power that blesses Patience and grants Victory — all in time.

By the way, I am referring to Divine Justice here. This is the Supreme Power that is just, merciful, and abundant.

Humans cannot be trusted with his great responsibility, because humans are humans.

We have this funny saying in Arabic: if the keys of heaven were given to a human being, they would hurry inside and lock all its gates —  not to let any other soul in and to have it all for themselves. As for the keys to the gates of hell, there’s no thing “funnier” than watching the news.  “Humans” are already opening the gates of hell into others’ lives by following their own laws and their own justice.

Patience is a virtue that is always rewarded by the best. Most of the time, the patient are also wise, because, though helpless, they are not faithless. The patient never gives up and keeps living.

Victory is coming — the long – awaited prize. The divine promise knows no jokes, but everything happens in God’s time. Both the dead and the living will feel it, celebrate it, and thank the Lord for it.

Justice, patience, and victory — three harmonious, universal concepts.

Have you ever prayed for the first, strived for the second, and celebrated the third?

I have.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

A Debt You Don’t Owe

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That’s worrying, and it’s awful. 

As usual, I came across this quote while scrolling through Instagram. And, as always, it reminded me of what had been my strongest enemy over the years:  my worries.

If you’re hoping this post will offer any tips on how or why to overcome your worries, then I am sorry, so sorry. All I can offer are kind words and prayers. Something like; ‘Don’t think about it too much,’ ‘I hope everything will be alright,’ or ‘Don’t forget to hand your worries to God.’ The same simple phrases I use to soothe myself or others when worries strick.

This method might seem useless to some, but to me, it’s the best. Imagine, you’re worried about … say your job as some of your colleagues get fired. So far, you seem to be in the safe zone, but without safe mind for your worries are eating it bit by bit. You pour out your worries to me, and I say: ‘Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.’ Would that really ease your mind? Or would that remind you of your actual debts and make you feel like throwing yourself out of the window?

Everyone has their own worries. It seems that even though life is becoming easier, it’s also becoming harder. There’s nothing quite like finding a good listener, someone to hear your worries, and reassure you with kind advice or heartfelt prayers. But, in most cases, people are busy, and overwhelmed with their own worries. They don’t want to listen, but to talk and nonstop.

Over the years, I’ve learned that most of the things we worry about don’t actually happen. Yet, they stay there inside our heads for a while, tightening each and every muscle, piling pressure on the skull, and causing the most awful type of headache: the tension headache. And you know what? No medication, no scientific tips, no meditation, nothing can relieve this headache like your own determination to overcome your worries.

I mentioned earlier that my worries had been my strongest enemy. They were, but not anymore. Raising a family is no easy task. Raising a family in a foreign land is ever harder. And raising a family with no family or friends around is the hardest of all. You can imagine why worries find it easy to pay me a visit every now and then. But those worries taught me to think differently and grow stronger, and, most importantly to hope for the best, and never lose my faith.

With hope and peace,

Nahla