The Five White Things

A doctor I once visited slyly suggested that in order to live a healthy life, you need to simply avoid (or at least limit) consuming four white things:

1. Sugar
2. Salt
3. Milk
4. Flour
5. Cigarettes

I added the fifth, since most cancer sticks are actually wrapped in white filter paper. Why are the best tasting things in life so bad for you?

I guess that the an alternative and positive version of the above white list would be:

1. Fish
2. White Page
3. White Card (Carte Blanche)
4. Wًhite Shirt (Dishdasha)
5. White Flag

The fishy first needs no explanation. What I mean by the second white delight is the promise of a fresh new page or project. We all need to be creative to find meaning on this 3rd rock from the sun.

Carte blanche (French for blank or white card) or its Spanish language variant, Carta blanca usually refers to “unlimited discretionary power to act; unrestricted authority.” Rather than be self-focused, the idea would be to give others unlimited discretionary power to act on your behalf or for the good of society and to provide unrestricted access to what’s really in your heart. The other hidden power of Carte blanche, lies in its Latin roots tabula rasa, a Latin phrase often translated literally as a “blank slate.” Accepting both personal and other people’s failures is the best carte blanche of all.

A crisp white shirt (dishdasha) is a promise of a fresh start. What better way to start the day (or a new project) then getting all decked out. Command respect. Remember:

“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”

Last but not least is the white flag of surrender many might associate with weakness. This perceived weakness is in my opinion the greatest strength of all — knowing that you cannot achieve anything alone. Indeed, submission or in Arabic — Islam, is the path of the righteous.