Tag: thoughts

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

Just writing

Panacea

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Isn’t it a wonderful word, full of magical solutions?

I believe it is. 

For example, reading can be your panacea for good company, walking for excerise, sleeping for exhaustion, travelling for boredom, etc.

But what is the panacea for good quality writing?

All of a sudden, I started wondering while reading my book last light. I added a bookmark to the page I stopped at and decided to write down my first thoughts the following day.

And here I am today, completing the post while Blue, my bird, stands before the screen, watching my fingers tapping the keyboard. He’s feeling miserable and restless, because Sky, his mate, has been poorly for days.

So, back to Panacea and good writing.

First of all, I thought it might be to write everyday. You’re really amazing if you’re doing this. Sometimes, I wish and try to do this too, but I don’t think that’s my panacea for good writing.

Second, I thought it might be reading. It’s said that the more you read, the more your writing improve. That’s so true, and it can be a good step towardes achieving good quality writing especially if you, like me, get deeply engaged in the book you’re reading. In fact, that is very beneficial when it comes to writing book reviews.

Third, I thought of the time and the place. Perhaps, if you fix a certain time and place, you will feel more oraginsed and committed, and create your best piece. That can be another good step, but it’s not a practical option for everyone, especially those with other priorities.

And then, I thought of Inspiration. It is like a magical pen with mystical ink that turns thoughts into flowing words. It isn’t limited to a special time or place. You can be inspired by a quote, a picture, an adage, a memory, a dream, a daily prompt, or a post by a talented blogger. The most special thing about inspiration is how it makes writing flow – makes it easy and unique.

Is inspiration your panacea for good quality writing?

It is for me

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Perspective And Life

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How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

Your perspective of something or someone is how you see, think, understand, and feel them, right?

And life? What is life? It’s how you are here. It’s the breath coming in and out. It’s your heart and soul. Am I right?

My perspective of life is that it’s a gift, the most precious gift we’ve been blessed not only to have, but also to live. It’s the one and only priceless gift you’ll ever have in your lifespan on this earth.

For how many people would you say; ‘You are my heart and soul.’ Only the most dearest.

How many things would you put your heart and soul into? Only the best.

Time slips through your hands just like water. Good and bad moments and events come along your the journey. Still, your previous gift remains priceless, irreplaceable. If only we can appreciate it, and never give up, all other challenges would be easier to manage and overcome.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Would You Take The Risk?

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If you had a choice to play the big gamble in your life, to stand still before a fully loaded gun save one of its chambers, listen to the click of its trigger, and wait for the bullet that might be fired and hit you dead, or for the one that would never come out. You might end up lying dead on the ground, or you might go home with a million pounds. What would you do?

That was one of the oddest and simplest questions I never expected to be asked during my converstation exam in my final year at university. To be honest, I was pleased to have this one, and I felt so blessed.

Do you want to know why?

Simply because my answer slipped off my tongue without giving it a second thought.Things wouldn’t have been the same if any of my friends’ questions had been mine. It wasn’t because theirs were harder, but because, sometimes, you just can’t talk genuinely about everything.

‘No, I wouldn’t risk my life.’

‘But, it’s a million pounds. There’s a chance you could get it.’

‘Even if they paid me the money in advance to enjoy and spend my life before making the gamble, I wouldn’t take the risk. My life is priceless, and my God didn’t bless me with a divine soul to gamble with it.’

That was my answer, and that year I got the best mark of my converstation exams over the four years of my university studies.

Money will come anyway, whether a little or in abundance, but you live once, and this once can be millions lives, both imaginary and real. Would you risk all that for just a million pound that might worth nothing in the next hour?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

P.S. I think nowadays the million pounds prize should be, at least, a trillion.

daily prompt

Artificiality

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If you could un-invent something, what would it be?


Man-made inventions are part of artificiality, right?

Look around you now, wherever you are, how many things can you spot that are man-made, unnatural, or artificial?

As I am sitting at home now, I can tell you that most of my surroundings are artificial, except for me, my family, my birds, the dates I’m nibbling on, and the front garden I keep glancing at out of the window on my left side.

Do we need artificial things? Of course we do, but I believe extra artificaility become too much – too much to buy, too much to wear, too much to eat, too much to show off, even too much to go, etc.

Imagine making a simple homemade cake. All you need is flour, butter, eggs, sugar, and baking powder. You can add some natural flavours and fruits. Done. But why, that’s not enough. Artificiality implies more ingredients: icing sugar, marshmallows, chocolates, strange colours, and exotic flavours. Now, isn’t that too much. That’s just a simple example of how extra artificiality can turn from what we need to what we greed.

That’s not all with artificiality. I mean it’s become more than things and settings. It extends to human feelings, communications, and behaviours. You make a cake to eat, maybe to celebrate something, or perhaps you just crave it. Happily, you devour it at once or in two days. Your family might have some too. You might feel a bit disappointed if an unexpected visitor decided to pay you a visit on that special day and have the last piece of your almost finished cake. Those are simple, natural feelings.

With extra artificiality, you dress like a celebrity, take ten photo shots, add animation, emojs, music, tags, and finally share your special cake creation with the entire world. Then, you bin it because you are on diet. All the fun is artificial, short-lived, and forgotten in a split second

If there is anything I wish to un-invent, it would be this extra artificiality.

Perhaps this post will be your and my first step!

With all the best wishes,

Nahla.

P.S. Artificiality is the first thought that crossed my mind when I read today’s prompt, and though I didn’t write it all straightaway, I wrote down the title before it disappeared. It’s a recommended writing skill, I really appreciate.

Books

A reader’s conflict

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Last week after finishing an interesting book, I decided I wouldn’t write a review about it. But since then, I kept thinking I had to write down my thoughts about it, otherwise my mind wouldn’t rest, wouldn’t stop replaying it in my head.

Can you guess why I had this conflict?

Actualy, this conflict was what inspired me to write my  “Villians” post, a few days ago. In that post, I was reflecting on my own conflict on how to feel about the book. I enjoyed it, but mainly because it was full of suspense and adventure, but I couldn’t sympathise with the characters. Perhaps that’s what the author wanted from the reader, to not sympathise with the characters.That’s what exactly I meant when I wondered whether you, as a reader, would enjoy the adventure for its own sake, or the story that touches your heart with a moral message.

If you want to know a bit more about the book, have a look at my review. Here’s the link:

/https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/01/17/the-frenchmans-creek/

With hope and peace,

Nahla