Tag: thoughts

personal thoughts

The Gracious Eye

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First of all, I’d like to say that I have just come across the concept of the gracious eye in the book I am currently reading. I find it interesting to let you know about it too — perhaps, you’re already familiar with it. Anyway, this insight might be helpful when life feels as sour as expired Milk. But, does life have an expiry date? keep reading, and I will explain my point in just a moment.

They say truth needs the gracious eye. Do you know why?

Truth, in most cases, is objective. It reveals accurate facts, real stories, unbiased conclusions. That’s why it can hurt, shock, and even terrify. Truth is usually blunt and heartless. And, that’s why it needs the gracious eye — to make it tolerable, acceptable, and even beautiful.

So, what is the gracious eye?

It is the way you try to find unmentioned within the mentioned, the possible within the impossible, and the light within the dark. In other words, it is when you choose to believe in healing, and strive for contentment. After all, aren’t there useful uses for sour milk? Of course, there are.

Here’s the quote about the gracious eye:

“If we were to describe our life strictly in terms of its factual truth, most of its interesting, complex and surprising dimensions would remain unmentioned. The gracious eye can find the corners where growth and healing are at work even when we feel weak and limited.”

And finally, does life have an expiry date?  I believe it doesn’t, because it is not a commodity. Yes, it’s temporary, but it’s a journey — with a beginning, a fixed time, and a certain destination.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Hate Or Envy

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Both are destructive feelings, but which one do you think is worse?

I don’t know about you, but I believe envy is far more harmful and destructive. It’s envy that opens the door wide to hate, but not the other way around. For example, you hate evil, but you would never envy it. Hate is a stong word which is used for limited and specific reasons or occasions — that’s how our hearts work.

Isn’t it interesting that the heart in Arabic is called Qalb which means something that constantly turns or changes? This can explain why the people or things you hate today, might be the ones you like tomorrow.

On the other hand, envy is an awful disease. It is fed by pride, grows on jealousy, and produces one rotten fruit — hate. It begins as a small, sickly plant called jealousy. One day, you notice that your colleague at college is popular and beloved by all. You start watching them, and wishing them ill. That is when the sharp thorns of envy begins to sprout on the sickly plant. Eventually, you start plotting against your colleague. By this point, the rotton fruit of hate has blossomed, bearing no goodness, and knowing no mercy.
“I want what is yours” “I am better than you” “I will destroy you” the envier whispers, and laughs out loud.

Years ago, my teacher spoke to us about the dangers of envy, describing it as a satanic trait. “Hadn’t Satan been jealous of Adam? Hadn’t he envied Adam? Hadn’t he promised to destroy Adam and all his descendants? He had, full of pride, and challenging God,” my teacher explained and advised us to strive for a positive and healthy mindset. “Instead of focusing on the others, focus on yourselves. If you admire something in others, try to create your own version of it. And, if you find things staring to lean towards envy, pray and pray and pray. God will guide you towards finding your way out.”

May your heart never know envy, and be full of love!

Amen

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Opposites And Light

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‘Opposites throw light upon each other.’

Isn’t this a wonderful quote? Do you think it is common to experience it in this fast-paced, technological world? I doubt it, but first, let me explain my interpretation of the quote.

The opposites in the quote refers to the unique pairs of opposites: day and night, male and female, sound and silence, etc. Here, light symolizes beauty. Now, when you think of it, you can see how the opposites form a beautiful conection in a special, unique way. They complete each other.

Why then, do I doubt this beautiful quote’s relevance in nowadays life? Simply, because, in most cases, the opposites we encouter are not complementary, but  rather one – sided entities with one – sided purposes. As for the light, it’s mostly artificial nowadays.

There are also the opposites in thoughts, which can throw a shinning light on conversations, discussions, or brief encounters. In this context, the shinning light symbolises respect and understaning. Can we allow  this light to flow, or will we turn it off for ever? In other words, we can choose to make our differing ideas fruitful and treasured, or to discard and misuse them.

That’s how opposites throw lights upon each other — just like the day welcomes night, and the night blesses the day.

Does my perspective make sense? I hope so.

With hope and peace,

Nahla

personal thoughts

He Flew Away!

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That’s Blue,  my little bird. I think you already know about him. I wrote about him a few times.

Today, he flew away. 

First, I couldn’t ‘t believe it when I saw him ran outside after me into the garden. He’d done it once before, but this time, he didn’t stand on my shoulders, didn’t jump on the laundry airer, didn’t fly back inside, and didn’t even look back. He flew away, up and high in the blue, warm sky.

But, I believe it, and I even felt it. Deep in my heart, I knew he would. Today was the perfect day. Yes, it’s a perfect springy day. The birds outside are singing and calling one another, high and loud. He couldn’t stop getting excited, couldn’t stop spreading his small wings and letting the gentle wind take him away. 

I feel happy for him, but also heartbroken, very hearbroken. He’s been my friend for almost three years. Over the last two weeks, after his mate died, he followed me everywhere. He made me laugh, he made me angry, and today made me cry.

I believe birds have feelings, because they have a soul. Otherwise they wouldn’t get attached to others, wouldn’t fear, wouldn’t love life.

I only pray I made him happy!

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

personal thoughts

Charms Or Merit

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“Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.” 

Alexander Pope

I really like this quote.It was so random when I found it while searching for something else. I don’t remember if I have heard or studied Alexandre Pope before, but I think I will have a look at some of his work soon.

How many times have you met a charming person with dazzling looks that would strike the light and blast your mind at first sight?  These things happen at least once or twice in your life, right? But then, things turn out to be just like the old saying: Appearances are deceiving. Or, may I suggest a slight alteration and make it: appearances can be just soulless charms. When your charm is souless, it’s vague, and though it might be expensive and powerful, it is also short-lived just like a tempst in a teapot.

Haven’t things nowadays come to depend first and most on appearances, which are laden with money and power? In most cases, they are soulless charms because they have nothing to do with the soul. They mainly have to do with attention, attraction, and surfaces. Does this make sense? Let me explain more.

The soul is neither an ownership nor a commodity. It’s a divine entity. Whatever is divine is pure, and whatever is pure will touch the pure whining you: your soul.

Is things getting clearer now? I hope so.

That’s why it’s merit, not charisma that wins the soul. Perhaps that’s why some people say what is good, genuine, and honest always makes lasting impressions and wins true respect.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Why Do You Think We Covered It?

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This extract is from a parable in the Arabic Folklore. It tells a brief encounter between an old, cunning man, and a clever girl.

As the girl was walking along the road, carrying a covered plate in her hands, an old man stopped her.

“What’s in the plate, young girl?’ He asked.

‘And, why do think we covered it?’ She replied.

The man’s face reddened with shame, and he felt as if the girl had just slapped him.

Do you know why he felt so? Can you guess the meaning of this brief encounter?

Of course, both the old, cunning man and the clever girl are not talking about food? Or do you think they are?

It’s okay if you think they are, but then, there wouldn’t be a moral meaning, which means there’s a moral meaning.

Can you guess it now?

Haven’t you ever met or heard about some people who wouldn’t rest until they dig deep into others’ lives? They try their best to uncover what has been covered, perhaps even changed and forgiven. Their main goal is to pry and satisfy their curiosity and sense of gloating, to hurt and debunk others.

Worse still, have you met those who expose themselves and call it complete honesty and ultimate bravery? Their private and confidential life becomes a free open store for anyone to explore, share, and spread all over the world. Sometimes, I really can’t understand if you’ve been granted the chance by God’s grace to have your mistakes, secrets, or even misfortunes, covered and hidden from others, why expose them?

Now, back to the old parable, and the old, cunning man. He wasn’t after the food; he was after the news that was none of his business, nor anyone’s else business. That’ why he was full of shame. It turned out that the girl had given him the lesson of his life.

Do you think this old parable would have any significance, any echo in the world of social media today?

Would this clever girl exist once more?

Would the old, cunning man be ashamed again?

What do you think? Do you have another interpretation of the parable?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

P.S. For all of you who are having snow in their places, have fun! It’s so windy and rainy here as my photo shows, but surprisingly it’s warm!

Just writing

Are We Long Lost Cousins

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I stopped at this question as I was reading my book last night, but I wrote it down before forgetting about it.

Have you ever met a person who looks exactly like your reflection in the mirror? Isn’t it scary to meet someone who look exactly your double, even if they are your lost cousin?

I believe that’s not only scary but can also be dangerous.

That never happened to me, or anyone I know unless of course they are twins. And, even the twins I met, were not identical.

However, there is what people call the bond of likeness which doesn’t solely imply physical looks. I think that’s somehow can be like blood bond or soul bond.

The blood bond is comon in families’ similarities because of inherited genes. In my family, for example, though my sons look totally different, most people believe they look so similar that they are confused when calling them. Later, when they know them more, they see how they are different. Although my boys always laugh at these incidents, they do the same with my daughter and me, even though we look different. But it’s the blood that runs in our veins and how close we are together that gives others this impression.

On the other side, there might be the soul bond. That’s when you share similar thoughts, dreams, sense of humour, or even fears and worries with others. They might be friends, acquentences, or complete strangers, but Fate makes you cross paths together even once. In this case, you feel relaxed and happy to be in their company, as if you were somehow related.

However, back to the one – in- a- million possibility of having your double image, it would never be exactly you. We can’t just have printed copies of ourselves because we are not just photos. We are human beings with more than physical shapes. We’re created to be different, meant to be different. So, just in case you meet one day face to face with your double, be one hundred percent sure that you would never be confused because they would never be you.

Many books might have the same title, perhaps similar front cover, but never the same author, never the same content.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

All Is Forgiven

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How simple and relieving is this sentence!

But, of course, you wouldn’t grant it to others every now and then. Or would you?

Suppose, for example, you had a bully at school, or at your workplace, or even in your neighbourhood. After every disaster caused by this person, they put on a repentant mask, shed a few tears, apologised, and swore on the name of God to never repeat the awful deed, never cause any harm, never cheat or steal from you. Would you grant them your forgiveness?

Before you reply, please be honest and realistic, because unless you’re, God Forbid, another bully you’d have only three options:

In the first scenario, you might voice the words, but from the bottom of your heart, you’d pray that the ground would open and swallow them whole, delivering them straightaway to hell.

In the second scenario, you’d scream, “Never!” out loud, and be either a martyr of bravery or live with all its consequences.

As for the third, you’d play the diplomat and remind the forgiveness seeker, that genuine good deeds erase bad ones. That’s God’s law. The Most Merciful knows what lies deep in the heart, but of course there’d be no need to voice the final addition.

If you had the three options, which one would you choose?

And, finally, don’t forget that all can be forgiven but not forgotten.


With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Are you even human?

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Do you think it is a positive or a negative comment? I’m really curious, wondering what comes first to your mind just right now. 

As for me, it’s positive, definitely positive. That’s how I feel and think about it, though unfortunately, it puts humainty into a very critical situation.

Imagine, you received your exam paper with a full mark result. ‘Are you even human?’ they asked, full of wonder, because it seemed you were the one who still uses the best miraculous creation: your brain.

In another scenario, imagine you wept your heart out after your small bird died. ‘Are you even human?’ they asked, again full of wonder, because it seems that butchers outnumbered all civil professions.

You see how you, as a human, need your brain and your consciousness, to prove your capabilities and uniqueness to deserve your living on this earth. After all, God creates us not to be robots or angels, but to be humans with superior qualities compared to everything else. 

Are you even human? Yes, it’s a great honour to be.

Does it make sense? I hope it does.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Old Habits

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Old habits die hard. Or, can they?

Have you ever thought that this saying relates to both good and bad – or unnecessary habits. I mean its a double – meaning saying.

“Old habits never die,” is a great and encouraging saying, espcially when it comes to positive habits, like brushing your teeth before going to bed, or taking off your shoes before entering the house.

However, “old habits never die” can also relate to negative habits that you can neither give up nor change. In such cases, you may feel trapped inside their strong, tight net. Still, with determination and strong will, it is believed that your bad old habits can either die or transformed into positive alternatives.

Have you read The Apple Tree by Daphne du Maurier. In the story, Medge, the deceased wife, is portrayed by her husband as having the worst habbit that seems not just hard, but impossible to die. No only that, her husband puts all the blame for their unhappy marriage on her, as if he were an angelic husband fallen down from heaven.

Can you guess what Medge’s old habit that never dies ?

Here’s my review link if you want to know.

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/02/06/the-apple-tree/



With all the best wishes,

Nahla