Author: 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.
Writers Quote Challenge

An Ear of Corn…Writer’s Quote Challenge

jacquelineobyikocha1 Comment

“For the full ear of corn is the child of a mere kernel planted and watered with hope, even when the crows were watching.”  Jacqueline

Except we plant the seeds,

our baskets shall have no feed,

our homes will be empty of bread,

and our stomachs hungry in bed.

§

We have no idea how far a little idea that we have will go and except we are willing to sow our ideas despite possible obstacles, we’ll have no rewards to reap.

This is my contribution to Bernadette’s  quote for last Writers quote challenge prompt:

Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground – Rosa Parks

invitation-shel-silverstein

 

The Writer’s Quote Challenge is a weekly blogging event. Either make up your own sayings or use a quote from a famous author that you find gives you inspiration. Each Thursday, a hostess will post the prompt and all you have to do is participate.

Our hostesses are:

Bernadette at http://www.HaddonMusings.com

Jacqueline at http://www.Acookingpotandtwistedtales.com

Joan at http://www.familyparentingandbeyoned.wordpress.com

Oneta at http://www.onetahayes.com

Please join us. You can check this link for more information.

I look forward to seeing you.

Gratitude

Take it not for granted…

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

Gratitude

The inability to be in an automatic state of gratitude is a shortcoming that most of us have because most times our thoughts are reactionary and not proactive. We are always waiting for something to happen so that we can feel thankful for it.

Our focus seems to zoom in far more on the details of all those things that are not going quite the way we want them, failing to give more precedence to those one’s that are working out.

Then again, when all our lines do fall into place, our worries are reduced and a sense of complacency and taking things for granted takes over our thought pattern.

Thankfulness should be as essential as taking in air, as we wake up each morning to the gift of a new day.

Indeed, there are days that I feel run off my feet or overwhelmed by many things that are not going quite as planned, however training my mind has thought me to learn when to ‘press the stop button on the moaning and to tune into grace.’

I am thankful for this continued transformation and the emboldening of my mind power.

Today, I walked into the nearest supermarket around me to grab a couple of things for cooking and I give thanks for the abundance of food that’s available and the fact that I can afford it when some may not be in a position to do so right now.

I always look at the name tag of the sales person who waited on me to call them by their given name and thank them for their assistance.

Many times I enjoy the reward of watching a face transform with a smile from this little gesture of acknowledgment.

In so many ways, my needs are being met and a lot of times in rather unexpected ways, for all these underserved measures, I give thanks.

It’s the start of Lent and a season of deeper reflection. May your reflections bring you enlightenment.

Jacqueline

If you wish to participate in a gratitude challenge, there are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfillment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog, Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts – Share Your Post Links

jacquelineobyikocha

Sharing, Blogs, Networking, Growing Readership, Connection, Bloggers, Blog Posts

‘PLEASE SEND IN YOUR LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Do step in and show some love.

Decades of me When I hit 50’s I want to feel like this 🙂

God is Yes He is. Beautiful images and poetry. Satisfying.

A cord of three A three-fold cord is not easy to break. In every union, there’s a 3rd entity depending on the couple’s choice. This is a lovely tribute to a blessed union.

Musin’ with Susan Have you been to Susan’s blog? Not yet? What are you waiting for? Step and say hey 🙂

Let go of past regrets Succinct and instructive. Remember this every day.

Silence of the dawn Bittersweet read that brings life’s fragility to the forefront. I love this.

Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.

Hey all, we’ll be having our monthly blog party coming up next weekend March 4th and 5th. You are most welcome to join the fun 🙂

Wordless Wednesday

Take A Nibble – Wordless Wednesday

jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Fine dining, prawns, dinner

My Thinking Corner

Second Chances – My Thinking Corner

jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

Second Chances, Experiences

We have an Igbo proverb that says ‘when you choose to carry a clay pot up the slippery slope and fall thrice if the pot does not break, your waist would break.”

Repeating the same mistakes not only brings us heartache and failure but makes Wisdom to question our common sense.

It’s commonly said that to err is human, but why do we make the same mistakes over and over again?

It does seem as though our brains don’t learn from our past mistakes to the extent we might hope, as a matter of fact, dwelling on our past mistakes might not be the best way forward.

Instead, be more proactive and think about the future and what you can achieve if you avoid pitfalls.

 

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Please check out my YouTube channel and Subscribe. Hoping to see you 🙂

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Little Secrets…

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Flower buds

Nature unveils its’ beauty secrets

even the burning sun

can’t stop the darling buds.

Image result for images of woman sad and in love

She yearned secretly for him

her passionate desire

hidden and smouldering in silence

Image result for images of burning

Better burn it all

lest the secret leaks,

it’s knowledge destroying many.

ξ

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge – Secret & Burn

Writing

Overcome Your Writing Fears – Essential Writer’s Tips

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

Essential Writer's Tips, Writing, Overcome Writing Fears, Writer

Writing Fears

What are your greatest writing fears?

Writing is not for the faint of heart and to build a successful career as a writer is not without its’ fair share of anxieties.

At various points in their pursuit, most writers have experienced writing fears, so this is not a challenge peculiar to you.

I remember when decided I to follow my passion and started writing actively, I had bubbles of anxiety in my stomach for days, I lost several nights of sleep wondering what made me think that I was good enough for anyone to want to spend their time reading my words.

Coupled with that, I enrolled for a creative writing course and as much as I tried not to take the instructors critic to heart, I never looked forward to hearing from her and was literally developing an ulcer from anguish. After much angst, I decided to put my anxiety to an end, to believe in myself and chose to face my fears.

Your fear might be one or even all the following: READ More…

Inspiration - Motivation

Tips to Stay Motivated and Achieve Your Goals – Keys to Success

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

We set goals and halfway down the line, we lose steam and focus. Here are simple ways that we can apply to stay focused and to achieve successful results.

Short Stories

Hellos’ and Goodbyes’

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Rhonda sighed in relief as they checked out of the airport and headed to their hotel. Another long-haul flight concluded.

Fourteen and half hours from Geneva to Los Angeles, via Zürich, would wear even the most toughened cabin crew out and she was beginning to wonder if it was time to seek for desk job opportunities.

As far as she could recall she had always being fascinated with aeroplanes and wanted to work at the airport. Going to the airport had been a treat for her from her growing up years – when they would pile into dad’s car for a drive to the next towns local airport to see the planes – till now that she works as a hostess on AirVoyage.

She never grew tired of flying to different destinations, or the busy hubs and the millions of faces hurrying along in different directions with their wheely luggage.

Some would hug and kiss, some would wave and beam in smiles, some eyes’ glistened with unshed tears of mixed emotions, some with sheer relief of touching down.

Her life was filled with a lot of hellos’ and goodbyes’ but she hoped that a welcome massage from Dirk would help answer some questions on her mind.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

InLinkz

Thank you, Dawn Miller, for this week’s photo and my lady P.J. for hosting us.

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts – Share Your Post Links

jacquelineobyikocha

Sharing, Blogs, Networking, Growing Readership, Connection, Bloggers, Blog Posts

‘PLEASE SEND IN YOUR LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Do step in and show some love.

Amanpan.blog – ThusNSuch Eugenia has a lovely, crisp new blog where she shares light-hearted, thought-provoking poetry over a hot cup of coffee. Step in and say hello.

Loveuary I totally enjoyed reading Susie’s refreshing post on her 25-year-old marriage (arranged). What are your thoughts on arranged marriage? Are you all for the sizzle and dazzle relationship or the slow and simmer type? Share it in the comments.

Pint-sized Picasso This is bound to paint a huge, sloppy smile on your face. Please take a peek 🙂

People Doing Good Things Yes, we need to keep our eyes’ on the good ones as much as possible. It surely helps, especially with the turbulent times. Do you know anyone doing good things?

Honoring My Inner Voice: An insightful read. Here are my thoughts:

A purposeful and insightful post. I think that sometimes our humanness tends to go into overdrive and assumption that we’ve got it all wrapped up forgetting to listen to that quiet voice in us.

I also enjoyed your poem and the direction that it took.

Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.

Hey all, we’ll be having our monthly blog party coming up next weekend March 4th and 5th. You are most welcome to join the fun 🙂