This week’s prompt for The great book of lists, La Duchesse wants us to talk about those who inspire us, so here goes:

At each juncture in my life, there are those who have inspired me and still inspire me. Their presence influences my past, present, and future.

My Dad: Without doubts, my father -God rest his soul- has remained the most influential man in my life.

He was a peaceful, loving, upright and hardworking soul whose views to life was very simple.

His integrity was impeccable and he would always tell us that once you don’t covet that which belonged to another, you would have a peaceful life.

There’s no day that passes that the echoing whisper of his words doesn’t reverberate in my mind. Especially when he would always tell you that anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

My quintessential mother: A gracious, generous, beautiful woman.

If half of the milk of human kindness that flows in this woman’s veins flows through mine, then I will consider myself a decent human.

She still remains my confidant, my prop, my source of inspiration and light.

My dear Himself: This husband of mine who drives me crazy, loves me and makes me know what love is. He’s a good man. A generous and loving dad to his children.

He pushes me to be better and to aspire for more.

He dreams big dreams and his intelligence never fails to impress me.

Now, if only I can get him to agree to everything I say….;-)

My children inspire me every day. I want to be a great parent because of them.

I want to leave a legacy that when they look back tomorrow, even when I’m gone, they will be happy that God chose me as their mother.

Others: I have a healthy dose of respect for people (famous or not) who wear the aura of positivity despite all the challenges that they might have faced or are facing. Such people inspire me.

My aggressors: Why would I choose such negative crowd?

This is a story that hasn’t been told.

Not because the words and the memories are gone, but because I’m not mentally ready and maybe some day, it will find it’s way into my memoir.

Yes, they inspired me not to curl up and die.

They inspired me to rise out of the burnt ashes from moments of insanity.

I will rest here. Blessed Be.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest

Broken visions melded and better than the first

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

**an excerpt of my poem**