If Tomorrow Comes…personal

December 22, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha73 Comments

Recently, I had a chat with a friend and we spoke about passion. Since we had that chat, I have been mulling over bits and pieces of our conversation and chewing on the fat of things.

During our chat, she did not out-rightly deride my passion about writing and public speaking, but in her opinion, she thinks that it should be classified as a hobby, since I was not yet making pots of money from either.

In her eyes, I was not yet a serious writer because there is no World acclaimed bestseller title under my belt.

As far as she is concerned, I am writing just for the pleasure of writing. At this point I had my tongue in my cheek trying to rein myself in from saying the first thought that fleeted through my mind, which was @#$#$%$##%!

Calmly, I asked her how much pleasure she was deriving from her work?

If she was that ecstatic about it, why is it that she moans over her job every time we speak, wishing she had the funds to take a bold step away from the rat race bandwagon.

She had wished over a 1,000 times that she had the guts to pursue her desires to own an events management outfit, but like I had equally given myself the leeway of excuses in the past, she had a million reasons why she couldn’t get started in that direction.

I asked her what her plans were in the immediate, interim and long term, towards achieving her goal, but to my surprise, she had made absolutely no concrete plans in the realization of her dreams.

….And she calls me a dreamer!

Her hope is that tomorrow will come armed with all that she would require to achieve her dreams and build her castles in the passing wind.

I told her that ”Tomorrow will never come if we don’t get hold of today!”

I now cheekily told her that I am absolutely pleased with what I am doing at the moment and though I did not give her a detailed breakdown, I drew a sketchy idea of my writing prospects and aspirations which I believe will come to pass even if it delays.

In the meantime, I told her that I was willing to make certain sacrifices to achieve my dreams, since I had also learnt that some of the material expenses which we load on ourselves were absolutely unnecessary. We can live very well without some of these things for as long as is necessary.

I have heard tales and jokes of hungry artists/writers. I have heard about all the hard mental work endured for passion in return of peanuts.

…Then again, I have heard and have experienced first hand, the irrefutable, bone deep pleasure that a true writer derives from answering their call and I then realize the true meaning of the morbid African proverb which says that”we cannot because of the fear of death avoid going to war, if that war means that we get to live the life that we deserve.”

In some ways, she was right that I am not yet making anything out of my vision and dreams.

Now, it is time to write the vision, take the vision and run with it.

Five Sentence Inspiration · Five Sentences · Inspiration - Motivation · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream

Tuesday’s Five Trickles Of Inspiration…

December 22, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

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Your learning comes when you do.

No one succeeds from sitting idle.

Success comes after loads of failure.

Conceive it! Do it! Perfect it!

Push away from your comfort zone!

Life · Personal story · The Daily Post

Staring Into The Barrel Of A Gun…personal

December 21, 2015December 21, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha35 Comments

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Lagos toughens you up! When I talk about Grace and Mercy watching out for me, it is with the deepest conviction of my heart.

I have been through so many scary moments, that some day’s when I look at myself with all my appendages intact, I know that it is not sheer luck.

‘‘That my life is a testimony.”

My guardian angel has been on full time duty!

If you have lived in Lagos and did not experience one or two hairy-scary moments in your life, then as a matter of compulsion, you have to do Thanksgiving.

It is a bustling, heavily populated, quirky and awesomely crazy city that busts at it seams with rich culture and entertainment.

The commercial nerve center of Nigeria.

As a Lasgidi babe; once a Lagos chic, always a Lagos chic, I love my Lagos to bits, but I also detest a good number of things about it.

To cut a long story short, back in the days when daylight robbery was almost a norm, I was mugged 3 different times at 3 different locations and in the same city by the one’s that are called ” Area boys.”

Secondly, I have faced the barrel of a shotgun of the ‘men of the underworld’ aka highway robbers, 3 consecutive times.

Once was during the wee hours of the morning when they came calling, the next time was on the high street in my car and yet again, shortly before Christmas just as I left a bank.

It scared the jeepers out of my life. My skin flew off my bones in fright and in the last incident for the first time, I was violently ill and experienced an unbelievable migraine. Nightmares ensued and I fled to Europe for several weeks to calm my nerves.

Several months following these incidents, when a stranger came too close, I would practically jump out of my skin, my knees would get all trembly and my pulse rate would simply get erratic.

Indeed, when I look back and think of the times that I stared death in the face, I marvel. One day, I shall write a comprehensive story of these moments.

The rampage in Lagos has gone down over the years.

The robberies are of a more sophisticated nature these days, but there was a season when the men of the underworld reigned supreme!

The Daily Post prompt Safety First.

Share the story of a time you felt unsafe.

Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Gratitude

From The Mall Of The Emirates….

December 21, 2015December 21, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

Some Christmas cheer met us at nooks and crannies of the Mall of The Emirates.

Beautiful, twinkling Christmas decors, lots of hustle and easy going bustle of shoppers and light entertainment as well.

They even handed out some free stuffed socks, with candy canes and game cards to the children.

By far, Dubai is the most religious tolerant Arab destination that I have been to. We are smiling.

Enjoy the videos below. I hope they come out okay. I am still a novice videographer.

My regards,

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Monday Motivations · Quick Facts

Outsourcing…

December 21, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

If wishes were mere thoughts to achieve reality

Mondays, will surely never come

For so many would have wished it away.

Quick Fun and Bizarre Fact:

I read somewhere that;

”Billy goats urinate on their own heads to smell more attractive to females.”

How do they achieve such a feat is what I ask?

It’s lovely to start the week and each day as much as we can with a smile and positive outlook. I find Leannenz Monday memes interesting.

Do have a fruitful and blessed week awesome people.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Bright Long John…

December 21, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

The name had changed from Bright Scholars to Saint Brigid’s, but the trademark bicycle ‘Long John’ was still mounted at its entrance weathering the elements.

The owner of the bicycle was the founder, teacher and headmaster of St. Brigid’s.

He was called Bright Long John. The first son-of-the-soil who could communicate with the foreigners in their strange language. He was Umuchime’s ears and mouthpiece with these strangers.

Folklore has it that he kept his bicycle ‘the only one far and wide’ in impeccable state. That the distinctive jingle of it’s bells were heard from afar when he rode down the village paths.

”What happened to him Papa?” Onyeka inquired.

”No one is sure. It is said that one day, after starting the school, he vanished.”

”A search was done but he was never found.”

”The belief is that he was kidnapped and pressed into slavery in foreign lands.”

”His bicycle was kept for him just in case he returned, but he never did.”

”Sometimes, at nights the bells of the bicycle can still be heard jingling down the village paths.”

In response to the FFfAW photo prompt above. Thank you Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

Inlinkz code

Quick Glossary

Umuchime – Means ‘the children of Chime.’ A ficticious name of a village in Eastern part of Nigeria

Family · The Daily Post

Extra TLC…

December 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Women are far more resilient than men and this is a fact. It is not a statement of feminism or trying to create a tug-of-war argument on which sex is stronger.

Our endurance faculties, pain threshold, multi-tasking abilities are light years ahead of that of men and you only have to take a good look at an average family woman with a household of children and a spouse to understand my analogy.

A man will have a minor headache and he turns into an attention seeking toddler.

When he has a flu, life almost grinds to a halt and the wife or partner automatically has a mental flu along with him.

On the contrary, in a lot of instances, a woman will be feeling down, yet you will see her juggling housework, family, work and the rest of the shebang like a pro.

It does not mean that she doesn’t appreciate nor needs TLC, but she just gets on with it and does the needful, most especially when you still have a young family to tend.

I have had a situation of being in pre-stages of labour and I was still struggling to conclude the cooking that I was doing before going to the hospital meanwhile, my husband was all flustered and palpitating that he practically hustled me out of the kitchen to the hospital where we then had to wait for hours before the main action started.

If I recall, I think I even quarreled with him for not letting me finish my cooking before harassing me to go and sit idle and experience every ounce of pain. I had preferred to stay busy and keep my mind occupied than panting and counting the minutes.

Years back when my children were still toddlers, there was no moment of respite. It was always go, go, go but now, they have learnt how to do quite a number of things themselves, so, just in case mummy is feeling poorly, they help to make me some sandwich and a nice warm cup of beverage to drink and my hubby then helps with the rubbing down and extra pampering. I never hesitate to ask.

Though there are those times that I feel cranky, snapping like a dragon and just want to be left alone, they know well enough to hide their heads while I am breathing fire, but such moments are so few and far between and they hardly last long.

The Daily Post prompt Take Care

When you’re unwell, do you allow others to take care of you, or do you prefer to soldier on alone? What does it take for you to ask for help?

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Love · Short Stories Series

No More Urgently….Bridegroom Wanted…

December 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

For several weeks Tess has decided not to bother any longer with the online dating hullabaloo.

The ping-pong uncertainty of it all was just not for her nerves. She simply wanted to meet a nice gentleman in a more conventional way and not chew her nails down to nubs from the nerves of dating a total stranger.

She still finds it romantic that her parents met some thirty five years ago at a friends wedding and within the space of a few weeks they knew that they were meant for each other.

”I think I am just going to enjoy being by myself; living and loving myself and letting my harmony flow.”

All the relationship Buddha’s advice about focusing on doing you, doing something that you love, staying in tune with your inner-self, self development, examining and getting rid of the junk in your trunk and growing the feeling of being complete in yourself, so that when the gentleman appears, he only complements the wholesome you, all sounded worthwhile.

She decided to do more fun stuff and not let her life revolve only around work, online scouting, mooning under the duvet reading romantic novels that left her with unsatisfied cravings in the pits of her stomach and yet more work.

She found that indeed there was so much that she could do alone or with a gal-pal and for the first time in some good moons, she felt satisfied, happy with herself and not pressed.

The tinkling ring of her telephone interrupted her thoughts. It was Anna.

”Sorry Tess, I can’t join you for the movies today, can we do next week?”

”Why? What’s up? I was just getting ready to leave.”

”Joe is town unexpectedly and I have agreed to have dinner with him tonight.”

”Girl, you know that’s just a booty call?” She tentatively said to Anna.

There was a lot on the tip of Tess’s tongue to say but she held it in check. She didn’t want it to seem like she was a miserable, jealous friend, but her guts told her that Joe is simply stringing Anna along and that doom would surely arrive one day soon.

”Oh well! Have fun. I’ll still go.” She said and hung up.

The trailer of the The Kings Men was very interesting and it promised to be an adrenaline satisfying watch.

She settled down with her buttery popcorn and a soda in the cinema, whose darkness was only interrupted by the flickers of screen-light and the tiny blue lights on the stair edgings.

Just as the movie started off, a bumbling, hulking shadow picking his way to the seat behind Tess’s row tripped over someone’s feet and his ketchup, mustard covered hot dog flew through the air, landing in Tess’s lap.

She squealed in startled surprise thinking it was a live creature. When she realized it was a hot-dog, she shot daggers with her eyes at the skulking fellow who had mumbled an apology and quickly settled into his seat with all the urgent shushing sounds of other viewers.

It was quite a worthy watch and she soon found herself enjoying the movie and no longer stewing over the startling fright.

Making her way to the ladies with the exiting crowd, a warm hand tentatively settled on her shoulders just outside the doorway and she paused in her strides.

‘‘So sorry about that Tess.”

”Of course! It has to be pompous Humphrey.” She thought uncharitably.

”Its okay!” She accepted his apology with an impatient wave of hand.

”If its really okay, them you must allow me to pay for the laundering and to buy you dinner at least?” He suggested.

”Oh why not?” Her little sensible voice said.

‘‘With such gracious and earnest request, you’ ve got to accept.” The inner tussle continued.

”But it’s boring, pompous Humphrey!” Her inner goddess grumbled.

”It’s just dinner, not a walk down the aisle.” The two voices tussled.

”Okay! Tess said to him. ‘‘Let me just freshen up.”

To be continued…Part 1, Part 2,Part 3,Part 4,Part 5

There’s been a lot of harvesting this week from all the neighbours pastures but I will just share these few with you. I hope that you find time to visit them.

Have a good week ahead lovely people.

How your worst fears can lead to your biggest triumphs by Commonsensegal.

Santa has a sweet tooth. Why not find out for yourself 🙂

Alone but not lonely. Detox as recommended by Dr. Yelhispressing

Are you driven by passion? Asks Enlightenment Angels.

All I want from Santa from Diane. Maybe it’s all you want too.

You might be interested in this senior salon presented by Haddon Musings.

Relaxing holiday stress relief from Nurse Kelly.

Stop all the excuses – advice to self by Dialogueftdepths.

Six fantastic tips to help inspire you through writers block, from Dream Big, Dream Often.

Image credit: Pinterest

Creative Writing · Inspiration - Motivation · Photographs · Poetry/Poems

Lazy Sunday…

December 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

A lazy Sunday
Lets make it a fun day
…and get ready to embrace Monday.

Musings · Quotes For You · The Daily Post

The Last Supper….

December 19, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

If ever there is a painting that I have stared at with so much intent all my life is ”The Last Supper’‘ painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.

During my growing years, we had a framed copy of the last supper which hung at the dining area of my parents house and it was there for as long as I can remember.

I always wondered what the conversation around the table would have been like.

How had Jesus felt knowing that his betrayer was there supping with him while maintaining his camouflage as a disciple?

Would I not have promptly confronted Judas for his betrayal? Then again, I am not Christ.

The second painting is ‘‘The Crucifixion” and I couldn’t stand to look at it when I was much younger.

I could never stand the thought of such wicked, torturous and the slow death of nailing someone to the cross alive and watching them bleed drop by drop until their last breath.

As I grew older, I realized that indeed the biblical quote that ‘‘the heart of man is desperately wicked’‘ is so, so true.

The Daily Post prompt The Artist Eye

Is there a painting or sculpture you’re drawn to? What does it say to you? Describe the experience. (Or, if art doesn’t speak to you, tell us why.)

Image courtesy: Wikipedia.org