Tag: life

Summer Sunday

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ Leave a comment

On a bright sunny afternoon,
What would you like to do when you’re by yourself?
Lather on some SPF and take a walk down the street?
Go to a cafe and sit outside with an iced lemonade?
Chill on your patio with a book and wave to neighbors passing-by?
Put on your head gear and go cycling?
Take your kids to the park and buy them ice cream?
Plan a lunch outing with friends and spend the entire afternoon catching up on silly stories?
Go shopping for floral summer dresses?
If you’re by the beach, then nothing can be better than chilling at some shack with a cold Long Island Tea watching the calming ocean waves and enjoying the ocean breeze!
Or would you pull the curtains down and enjoy a movie on Netflix with a pizza on your side?
Whatever you wish to do, have fun and have a great weekend!
Happy Sunday, happy summer days!

PS: I’m loving this weather, I like walking and listening to music while admiring the blue skies and green pastures. 🙂
I was listening to this song while walking today, hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Tomorrow Will Be Better

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ Leave a comment

Somebody told me –
If you are going through a difficult phase in your life,
Remember that you’re not alone.
Nobody has it easy.
Some days can feel like a burden
Like there’s no way out.
Sadness, tears, anger, frustration.
Like life is unfair for no reason at all.

Then she told me to give it time.
It’s also about giving things time,
To run their course.
For them to pass.
So you can heal.
Everything eventually gets better.
It always does and you know that it’s true.

This isn’t the first time,
You were expected to face a challenging circumstance.
This isn’t the first time you had to be brave.
You have done this before,
Then why the uncertainty now.
Like all the other times, this will pass too.
Wait for the morning
For the sun to shine with new rays of hope.
And just like that,
Your day will seem a whole lot better than yesterday.
She said with a smile.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Pexels.com

Random but Genuine

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ 2 Comments

In my childhood, there were no telephones, let alone mobile phones. My parents protected me with love, they did my share of talking for me, because I was a little slow when it came to expressing myself. But they never gave me a chance to speak for myself and soon I relied on them to do my share of talking. I did not have too many friends in school. My only childhood companions were my brother and cousin brother with whom I would play, laugh, and fight. They cared for me, entertained me and loved me. I would go cycling in the nieghbourhood and play in parks with dad.

Days were spent listening to radio. No television, no laptops – these were luxury. BUT I am glad I grew up like this, it felt more real like I was a part of the community. Never alone. Now, we are always seeking for constant entertainment from our phones, laptops, TVs and tablets. More than friends, we have expensive phones in our hands that fulfill our social needs but with no real friends during times of need. I am not really sure if this is good or bad because I seem to be caught up in it too. I often ponder on these matters and most of the time it’s in the middle of the night. It’s a wrap, good night world.

Eat Your Rice Cakes by Margaret Weiss

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ 1 Comment

#BookReview
Self-help | Celiac Disease | Acceptance

A great self-help book for people suffering from celiac disease in which the author also reaffirms the need for compassion and care.

Eat Your Rice Cakes is a self-help book for people suffering from celiac disease. Margaret Weiss takes us through her journey of diagnosis, struggles of living with the disease, and finally acceptance of her condition. This book is a great resource for other patients who have their own struggles with celiac’s and also for readers who are curious about the disease.

The author takes us through her early life where the celiac disease diagnosis turns her world upside down. She narrates the tale of where she was first diagnosed and how that led to the title of this book. Margaret Weiss also takes us through the shock and horror of losing all her comfort foods. Some anecdotes from the book highlight her plight as she realizes cakes, bread, pastries, and even Oreo cookies are permanently off her dinner table.

The other aspect she talks about is the societal reaction to her condition. In the times when she was diagnosed there was very little public awareness about the disease. She was often mocked by friends and the waiters at restaurants would give her quizzical looks as she explained her conditions. In that regard, modern times are a much better place due to the abundance of gluten-free products in grocery stores.

Margaret’s journey then leads her to become a registered dietitian, diabetes care, education specialist, counselor, and author. She takes to the practice to help others overcome this disease. Eat Your Rice Cakes is a book that aims to help patients deal with the different stages of grief and take a positive course towards change, transition and adherence. As a fellow patient with around twenty-five years since her diagnosis, she understands not only the physical limitations but also the emotional stress of living with celiac.

All in all, Eat Your Rice Cakes is a great resource for anyone suffering from celiac or has a loved one afflicted by this condition. Readers who are curious about the gluten-free items they spot in the grocery store can also learn a lot from this book and be more accepting of this condition.

Also, find my review on Reedsy.

Year in a Blink

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ Leave a comment

#ShortStory

It’s eight o’clock in the morning and I get a notification that my order is ready for pick up. I’m already here, wearing a lavender-colored floral dress and an extra smile as I stand outside admiring my favorite place. I take a deep breath, push open the heavy oak doors, and re-enter The Willowvilla. The familiar aroma of freshly brewed tea and baked food makes me feel like I’m home once again.

Continue reading “Year in a Blink” →

Tell Me a Childhood Story

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ Leave a comment

#ShortStory

The other day at a story writing club somebody asked me this question, “Think of a weird, uncomfortable memory from your childhood. If it’s some kind of experience, make it sound fun.” I didn’t have to think for too long because this one in particular is the strongest memory that I have from my school days and this is the story that I told them:

Continue reading “Tell Me a Childhood Story” →

A Lost Friend

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ 2 Comments
#Short story

When I saw her for the first time, it felt like I had never seen anyone who looked so angelic. I stayed away from her, I thought pretty girls like her would not want to talk to me. We sat on the same bench in class but we never spoke to each other. Sometimes, when the lecturer dictated notes I would peek into her notebook, she would push her book towards me and smile. Even her tiniest gesture of kindness would touch my heart.

Continue reading “A Lost Friend” →

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Nuraine Sadaf ~ Leave a comment

Thankful for the beautiful changing colors of the fall
Red and orange leaves form a soft carpet path to walk.
Thankful for the warmth of the loved ones
Gathering together by the warm fire for long chats.
Thankful for the food and wine
Baked potatoes, stuffed turkey, and pumpkin pies.
Wish you all a happy thanksgiving
Overflowing with happiness, peace, and love.

Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com