Creative Writing · Inspiration - Motivation · Writing

Most Times, it’s Fun to Reminisce…

jacquelineobyikocha

Digging

Today’s assignment sent me down a nice spin and put a big smile on this face of mine.

I dug into my Facebook past which I started in 2008 and saw a whole load of stuff that I had written and forgotten.

Keeping a journal has always been my primary way of putting down my thoughts, then, I gradually started sharing snippets of my thoughts on Facebook, before I eventually summoned the courage to start blogging on May 6th, 2015.

I mined my past as today’s assignment required and dug up some stuff and I would like to share this little bits with you today.

Nothing has been edited in it. I just copied and pasted from my Facebook timeline and it is an exercise that I would probably repeat now and again, because I love the way that it made me feel.

The articles I share below, were written between 2009 – 2013.

I unearthed some photos too 🙂

There was a fun exercise that I also did sometime in the past and you might find it interesting as well. I hope the link still works.

For the fun exercise click on the link below.

What career were you actually meant for?

Wow! My hobby has been nailed straight on the head. Facebook seems to know me well enough. SPOOKY!! This was written in 2011.

Bitecharge.com’s response:You have an unmatched skill for creating vast worlds both through facts and pure imagination. Your mind is full of creativity, artistry, and expression. You heart gracefully guides your hands as you work to bring what is truly your spirit to life. You were truly meant to be a writer.

I must tell you, that response tickled and pleased me to no ends 🙂

Here are some of my quotes that I dug up 🙂

Most time’s, achieving greatness and living your life to the fullness of its capacity, requires pushing boundaries, adamantly refusing to fit the round holes created by limitations of other people’s expectations and simply remaining a square, but happy peg.

Your happiness lies deep within you and not in the hands of someone else or your bank balance. Seek it diligently, grasp it greedily and guard it faithfully. All the best in your quest.

Don’t sit on a moral high-horse in judgment of anyone! After all, when last did you take a peek at your own eyes? You just might see a large chunky cataract of defaults!

The article below was written for a 7 days gratitude challenge back in 2013:

DAY 2:

Sitting here this lovely Texas evening; and Yes! The weather is not sweltering, and I am surrounded by my brood doing school work.

The questions are coming at me from every which way; Language Arts, Geography, Maths, Science, World Culture and what have you.

And Yes! I have grown another pair of ears to hear and answer questions asked from 3 different sources all at the same time.

And Yes! I have developed a dynamic and faster central processing unit for a brain which appreciates subjects that I dodged with style back in my Secondary school days.

Mummy this; Mummy that; Who made me mummy; Is the question I ask? These awesome trio of mine

Gifts undeserving from God you are;
My rays of sunshine in human form;
Drops full of joy you bring to my life;
It’s all to God, who brought y’all into my heart

Nnamdi, my first born child, almost as tall if not taller than mummy. You are my source of laughter and Joy, my smart boy who competes with mummy in the kitchen. My capable young man with an easy nature and can do attitude, I take pride in calling you my son. Dalu, Chi Ukwu gozie gi. Lord, for this child I am very grateful.

Nnenna Adaobi, Nwa Ada mu nwanyi, my gentle spirited and kind child. Your good nature will never fail you. A little preemie of not so many moons ago, blossoming into a downright responsible young lady. I look at you each day in amazement and my heart glorifies the Lord. Oga adiri gi mma; Let the Lord be exalted.

My little Thunderbolt, Ikenna nwa m, mummy’s sugar gah, I bless the Lord each day for you. My intelligent, feisty yet gentle child, you bring sparkles to my eyes. The dozens of kisses, hugs and I love you that I receive each day from you, enriches me beyond measure. You are destined for greatness and To God be the Glory.

My soul magnifies the Lord, great things he has done. With all my breath and all that I have, I give you praise. I will sing of your enduring mercy to the ends of the Earth. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Going through this exercise has made me realize that my writing voice hasn’t changed much, but has matured more.

Thank you for your time 🙂

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

In fulfillment to Writing 101 – Day 17 Assignment: Mine Your Own Material

Quick glossary for native words:

Nnamdi: A native Igbo name which means “My Lord or My Father lives.”

Nnenna:  “her fathers mother.”

Adaobi:  ”The daughter of the King.”

Ikenna: “The Lord’s strength.”

Dalu, Chi Ukwu gozie gi: Thank you and may God bless you.

Nwa Ada mu nwanyi: My dearest daughter.

Oga adiri gi mma: It will be well with you.

Ikenna nwa m: Ikenna my son

Published by jacquelineobyikocha

A wordsmith with a vivid imagination, an eager mind and a burning desire to carve out tales. As I journey with my muse to that land of all possibilities and self discovery, I hope my personal evolution will serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who chooses to stop by.

82 thoughts on “Most Times, it’s Fun to Reminisce…”

  4. Lovely! I delved into facebook too! I love your photos. When I first got back to Japan, I think I was a bit homesick and was spending far to much time, posting far too much rubbish on FB. One of the other reasons for blogging was to find a more creative and constructive outlet. I don think blogging definitely makes me think more an duse my brain more but I am afraid I may have an addictive type of personality as I have gone from FB addict to Blogging addict!

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    1. Well Leannenz, I think it is better to be addicted with blogging than something less constructive 🙂 This is definitely more creative and you never know where this road will lead to. My thoughts are to enjoy the moments and take each day as it comes. It does make one take more time to ruminate over ones thoughts and opens a window to so many possibilities 🙂 Thank you for visiting and your lovely comment.

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  9. Oh your papa is really so handsome in that dashing cap 🙂

    I loved reading this post. Especially the words of gratitude. You are really blessed with a beautiful family. Stay blessed ❤

    I also got that very same message in FB when I tried career choice lol 😛

    May I ask which language this phrase is from?

    "Dalu, Chi Ukwu gozie gi. "

    Very nice snippets you have selected.

    Enjoyed reading it. LOve and light ❤

    Anand 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much Anand 🙂
      Yes my dad was quite dashing (he passed on barely two years ago).
      There is always so much to be grateful for and my family is one of the blessings I am grateful for 🙂
      Have a splendid day.

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  15. Awww, this is a really sweet post. I enjoyed looking at the pics and chuckled at your youngest “kissing his guns” lol. We took our kids to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this past summer…they loved it. My youngest two (3,8) are young astronomers. I keep forgetting you used to live in good ‘ol Texas!!

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    1. Hehe! Don’t mind the young man. He never ceases to amuse me. I was thinking that we would do Florida this summer but other events overtook it. My boys love astronomy too. Every weekend they find something that they want to do or experience and we try to indulge when there’s loose change to spend 🙂 I miss Houston very much!

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    1. Thanks dear. I wonder why your message was in my spam 😦 Thankfully, I was not hasty in emptying it. Yes indeed I did. I had forgotten somethings buried in there. I shall do more unearthing 🙂 Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, I really appreciate it.

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  20. How wonderful to peek back into the past for those happy memories — both for you and for those of us you are generous enough to share it with. What wonderful photos of your family, on such fun trips too. And yes, I agree that your father looked so handsome in that hat. Also you are simply glowing in the photos with the lovely head wraps and the cool white dress! So stylish and beautiful, oo la la!

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      1. I am always happy to help other people feel fabulous! But really, you are a knock-out in that cream head wrap. I have always loved that style of head wrap and not-so-secretly wish that it was traditional in my own culture so that I would not look foolish wearing one!

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      5. I live in southern California, in Orange County (near but not actually that close to Los Angeles). We really do not have a lot of Africans living here, much to my dismay for culinary reasons. I have to drive 40 minutes just to get to the only Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant in the county to buy frozen injera (I have given up making it on my own – I cannot get the bubbles to come out right!).

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      6. I have been to LA and was pleased to see lots of Africans. We went for a friends wedding. It would have been interesting if you have a couple of them around you. Nigerians are very friendly and hospitable people. Houston and Dallas teems with a lot of us 🙂

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      7. I should probably get to LA more often — they have more of everything interesting there. Maybe I could find Nigerian restaurants there and be able to try the food! (Yes I know, I am food obsessed.) Or I could get a head start by trying to cook some myself I just looked up some Nigerian recipes in one of my African cookbooks, though, and the pepper soup recipe calls for half a dozen spices I’ve never even heard of. Time to order online!

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  28. Were these snippets “quotes” you talking to yourself? I say that because it sounds a lot like what I say to myself as God through a preacher, his word, or prayer shows me my own flaws and I am forced to deal with them. He also shows me that most of those flaws are the things that I hate the most in other people.
    It is a very enlightening journey but one that I feel well worth the travel. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts and insights. I admire anyone that has the guts to look inward with an honest eye.
    Tony R

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    1. Hello Tony, thank you for your visit and insightful comments. Yes they were quotes of me talking to myself. Half of the time, my writing is me talking to myself whilst sharing with others. It is really a worthwhile and enlightening to travel inwards and take a hard look at those flaws that if not dealt with, will always warp our perspectives.
      I do appreciate your time and words. Have a lovely Sunday and kind regards

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  30. This is such a beautiful post! I know this feeling of the heart bursting with happiness and gratefulness when looking at my children and you have described your feelings so beautifully. Wish you and your familiy always the very best. Trina

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