Tag: Simplicity

daily prompt

Let Me Think…My Most Valuable Trait

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What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

This prompt is a bit hard… because … sometimes you have the thing and its opposite. And sometimes you think you don’t have the thing though others believe you do.

Got anywhere so far?

Simply, it’s like being optimistic with sunny spirit, but also having your own heavy, dark moments. Or being quiet with calm nature, but also having your own loud, rumbling explosions. Or when people see bravery in you, while you still hit the spider three times (or more) before moving it to its final destination. 

But… what I appreciate in myself and what I believe is, indeed, a very valuable trait, is simplicity. 

Complex, complicated and sophisticated feel too abstract, too demanding, and too vain to be part of my life. Even when I decide to make a change and welcome those fancy concepts for a quick visit, things go wrong, or boring, or fake. So, I’ve promised to grant them indefinite leave with no quick return.

Sometimes I wonder how the famous artist dared to use simplicity and sophistication in the same sentence: “Simplicity is the ultimate art of sophistication.” Of course he meant that it’s more complicated to live a simple life than a cluttered one. True. It really takes time to love simplicity especially if you are a complex person. But that’s the point. He should have used… elegance. Or better yet—modesty

Simplicity is modesty’s best companion.

Isn’t that much simpler?

With hope and peace,

Nahla

Just writing

Wisdom of the Babes

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Don’t they say: “Profound wisdom comes out of babes.” And I think some add “from the invalid too.” I’m sure you heard this quote one day—perhaps also experienced it. So, I’m not going to explain it … actually, I didn’t think about explaining it. I just thought of something different, but not different.

Am I a bit confusing? I think I am, but just keep on reading. Please.

Have you ever thought that wisdom doesn’t imply knowledge? They might meet each other at some point along the life journey, but this doesn’t mean they have to be companions.

A simple person might be as wise as a scholar is scientific. Their paths might cross, but that doesn’t mean they have to be good friends.

Knowledge is all about learning, studying, and creating  abstract and complicated words and concepts in various subjects, right? But wisdom is purely innate, flowing from the heart with simple words and deep significance.

A scientist, for example, based on his astronomical studies, mathematical equations and scientific formulas may say: the Earth’s lifespan is almost over, and we need to build more spaceships and start planning to build a new world on a different planet.

Watching the scientist on the news, a simple man with basic qualifications, innate goodness and genuine faith smiles and replies: Aren’t they all the same creation? When our world is done, there will be no life elsewhere.

Transparency and wisdom are close friends—part and parcel of one another. Do you know why? Because transparency loves light, openness and honesty—the same qualities that define a wise person. No wonder both have become so rare that, nowadays, when we hear the tales of the wise man, we only think of our ancient ancestors— from the very, very, distant past.

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

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

Just writing

The ultimate sophistication

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Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Leonardo DaVinci

We might agree or disagree with this view, but this depends on how we understand it.

I read this quote on a photo of two old neighbours, talking together,  in a place that looks like an old rural lane. I wondered how can simplicity be the ultimate sophistication, but the photo explains a lot because not all people can appreciate such a simple life.

Simplicity is not a simple process; it’s sophisticated. To sit on the road to talk with a neighbour and feel such peace,  just like the two women in the photo, requires a simple way of being.

Simplicity is one of the writing techniques or a recommended one, but a simple piece can also be the most sophisticated.

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