I am FINALLY caught up. Finally and last. All of my blog breakdown feedback and feedback on the feedback is caught up. As faithful readers will remember, I was being the caboose – following behind, not being the leader. But now caught up. I am now the Little Engine That Could. I SO love that story. I gotta find it so I can tell you and you too will be inspired.
Just to let you know ahead of time. Here is the moral of the story.
The story encourages us to embrace new opportunities with an open mind and a willingness to step beyond our comfort zones. The story’s core message, embodied in the Little Blue Engine’s “I think I can” chant serves as a timeless reminder that our limitations are often those we set for ourselves.
That is SO true. And IF we trust in Allah (SWT) we have no limitations. Just keep trying. Do not just pray – pray AND put in reasonable efforts and leave your trust in Allah. I have, I will and soon you will see how it totally is paying off.
Back to The Little Engine That Could. This is a summary of the story.
In the tale, a long train must be pulled over a high mountain after its locomotive breaks down. Larger locomotives, treated anthropomorphically, are asked to pull the train; for various reasons, they refuse because they think they are too important. The request is sent to a small engine, who agrees to try.
There is a famous line from The Little Engine That Could.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! Entire Cast: [singing] There’s not a mountain that we can’t climb! There’s not a river we can’t make it over!
And that is so true when one has Allah with you. There is not a mountain I can’t climb or a river I can’t make it over. Fortunately, Allah is not going to make me walk uphill and I can’t swim. It is my job to write. So I do. Hahaha
It is pouring rain here in Penang, Raining cats and dogs originated in England in the 17th century. City streets were then filthy and heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals. Richard Brome’s The City Witt, 1652 has the line ‘It shall rain dogs and polecats’. Also, cats and dogs both have ancient associations with bad weather
.I look out the window of Mojo – oh my Allah – never seen such a downpour. (Of course not because I lived in Edmonton and in California where there are no cumulous clouds to speak of). I am so blessed to be here in this welcoming dry restaurant.. Mojo is independently run, housed in Lyf, I am housed in Lyf; therefore I am dry. .
If I went to lunch at Benny Hill’s, as I did yesterday, I would be definitely wet – if not drowned. I am leaning from this lesson.
The noise of the rain is deafening. There is thunder and lightening.
I think I can, I think I can has turned into I think I can’t, I think I can’t. Go outside in this rain. Hahaha
Back to the Little Engine That Could. Google tells us that the main moral of the story is that t teaches us how to behave in society. There is a better go to book, I say, the Quran teaches us how to behave in society
The hidden message in the Little Engine.
“Through its perseverance and optimism, the little engine teaches children valuable lessons about the power of self-belief and the importance of a positive mindset. It encourages readers to never give up, even when faced with seemingly impossible challenges”
It’s also a story about reaching difficult goals. It’s clear that pulling the train over the mountain is not easy for the little engine. The little engine’s repetition of ‘I think I can’ represents the power of determination and is a metaphor for reaching any challenging goal.
This is fascinating. Google cites to a CapeMay Gazette article Enid with a citation to the original source which I pass onto you. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. A Platt and Munk Classic. 1954. New York. And for the more ambitious reader, The Creative Spirit. D. Goleman, P. Kaufman, and M. Ray. Penguin, 1993.
The Little Engine That Could is inspiring. I do have a better solution, a better tale to be told which needs little translation (Well translation from Arabic to English perhaps). The stories I am speaking about are found in books, which were found in the Dakwah Book Store in KL. And here is the superbly great news, Shamir was able to purchase a mic on the Internet and now I can be filmed telling the amazing stories to little children on my YouTube channel
Must set up a filming schedule and begin. Looking forward to it. I am prepared.
Enough of the Little Engine That Could and Onto the Little Old Lady That Not Only Could But Does (with the help of the Dream Team (minus Artificial Intelligence).
I was awakened with great new news this morning. You will get to eavesdrop.
At 6:05 am received the following message from Nesh
He: Good morning Alexis.New blog breakdown is out live and so is the new bio!! Check it out and let me know what you think.
Me: My goodness!! You are up and active SO early. I will for sure, First I must pray.
Later I wrote.
Me: The new Instagram bio is absolute genius to NOT say I was a Muslim, because I am not exactly typical. Hahaha It fits perfectly with my now wearing a head scarf. People can identify, my being a Muslim through photographs because I now wearing the badge. Which is what the hijab is, a marker.
This is my new Instagram bio, by the way.
Personal blog
Writer/Scholar/Feminist/Seeker
Stories of faith, womanhood & growth, one post at a time.
It used to say I was a blogger and a Muslim. How times have changed, I say laughingly. Not really, perhaps I did not recognize my full potential – I needed the Dream Team to help me on my way. For some unusual reason, which I shall explore later, being a writer/scholar/feminist/seeker gives me greater peace of mind. Well, so far anyway. We shall see if it lasts.
Woke up this morning to a greeting from Nesh
He: Good norming Alexis New breakdown is up and live.
Me: Timing is excellent as usual!! What a way to start the day!
Read the masterpiece of over breakfast.
Me: I love the spirit of the breakdown. Wish I could think of a word to describe it. It is playfully deadly serious. I relax as I read, finding it entertaining and THEN whammo When I read that “walking away from certain people in my life is not just self-preservation, it was obedience to Allah.” I marveled at your and His wisdom. What was fascinating is I this. Last evening, I I abandoned my silence with a certain individual, saying essentially just that. Your words, read this morning, reminded me, in utter gratitude of my obedience to Allah. – not being tempted by Satan’s ways
On the other hand – the playfulness. The cover photo of Shamir and myself taken at the Floating Mosque. As well as the playful GIF ending.
September 25, 2025.
It is later in the day, I am finally beginning to feel better. My Malaysian Doctor paid me a hone/hotel visit. He fills me with such encouragement and providing excellent medical advice. Will talk to Shamir and Nesh about making him a member of the Dream Team. Hahahah Will have to think of a title – not Surgeon General as he is an Internist. Hahaha .
Realize with sudden start that there are no GIFs in this blog. Will adjourn briefly to see if there are any hiding. Shamir and I did speak of our fierce competition. I labelled myself the woman warrior, sending the following GIF
Then sent one of him competing against me.
The photographs will include two showing my scarf tying talents. Then some announcing another venture. There will be additions to the Book section of my blog, several short stories, found on my computer. One will be a picture book. Uncle Dave was not the only creative Dryburgh. My grandfather’s brother, William left Scotland for Edmonton in 1910, finding work as a decorative plasterer, beautifying the newly constructed Legislative Buildings. When living in Edmonton, I could, and did, gaze upon and photograph his creations. Went to the Edmonton Archives, finding a photo of the workers posing on the steps of the new building. That photo and some interior and exterior shots will be shown.
