Killing The Fat…

April 6, 2016January 31, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Virtue the say lies in the mean. In lay man’s term, I should exercise my laziness virtue in moderation.

I have been absolutely so laid back with my workouts and relaxing far too much to be of productive use to anyone except maybe by talking their ears off.

I am grateful for the rest time. Truly, I appreciate these moments of exhaling in-between hectic periods and I am not being mealy-mouthed about this opportunity, especially knowing that the good slice of indulgence will be over next week.

However, today my body got tired of me and begged me to take it for some concerted exercise.

My pillow gave a good fight but lost the battle of the senses.

I am happy and thankful that I got off my backside and got some sweating in. I killed some fat today!

I could practically feel the endorphins and dopamine galloping all the way to my brain in utmost pleasure. Ah! Quelle bliss.

My appreciation goes to all those who took out the time to take a peek at my book cover to help me make a decision.

Nothing prepared me for the fact that choosing a cover could be a pressure. A detail that I had been ignorant of. Ignorance indeed is bliss but can cost you some good sleep. It’s a good pressure and I am happy to be in such a position. I pray that my body will keep winning over the pillow so that I can murder some fat 😉

A heart that knows thanks for friends is a heart that will know many delights. Who or what gives you the delight to be thankful this day?

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Exhaling Loudly…This is my life.

March 23, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

I know it’s not weekend yet, but I am thankful that we are halfway there, or as in my case, almost a day to weekend and the school Spring breaks commences on Friday. YAYYYYY!!!

Our weekend’s over here in the Middle East starts on Thursday evenings and sometimes, it makes my mind go wonky, when the work week starts on Sunday’s and other parts of the World are still on a weekend.

It’s been one of those weeks that’s just bleh; waking up at past 4 am and making the children’s breakfast and food for school with one eye open.

I know that being a mother, weekend does not necessarily spell idling, but some things are taken out of the hectic equation.

My mouth will probably get twisted seven ways from talking, settling squabbles and I will probably pull my hair out now and again, for these days that squad will be fully at home, adrenaline filled and looking up to Mama the squad entertainer extraordinaire to keep them focused and entertained.

I shall however, thoroughly enjoy not having the infernal red alarm clock go off, just when I am getting into the zen part of the sleep; at least for the next two weeks. It even rings in my head when I am awake

On the other hand, I am equally thankful for a lovely blogger’s bash held in this space. The supportive turn out was just awesome 🙂

I am equally excited that the cover of my collected poetry will soon be ready. There’ll definitely be a sneak peek.

What are the itty-bitty things that your heart knows thanks for?

Do share if you will. Thank you.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Blogging · Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation

A Little Seed Sown…

February 24, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha45 Comments

It all starts with a little seed, that you plant, diligently tender and leave in the hands of the Lord of bounty to reward your efforts.

Last week, I applied for WordAds to be added to my blog since I am interested in earning a stipend for the hours that I am plugging away on this blog.

The initial feedback was a bit disconcerting for me. Basically, the response boiled down to the advice that I should go and wait and that they will get back to me if they find my stats satisfactory.

Given that my blog is a premium blog, for ads to be put in, you must have to meet a certain measure of traffic, which I presume is the general rule.

To cut a long story short, I went to sleep not to glad and I remember in my sleep, asking God to please not let my labour be in vain and reminding him of his words that a labourer is worthy of his wages.

To my delight, yesterday, I got a notification that my blog has been approved for WordAds and saw the ads placed on it.

It’s a gratifying moment for me and I am deeply thankful for this opportunity.

‘It will all end in praise.’

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Lifestyle · Poetry/Poems

Be They Little…

February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Mummy, I want to let you know what you mean to me.

You are like an Angel in the sky

Even at night you shine as bright as a star.

I want you to know, I love you mummy.

Why do I do these gratitude challenges every week? So that I don’t forget to pay mind to the little things that I would have probably taken for granted in the bigger scheme of life’s rat race.

It’s done as an open confession of little positive affirmations in my life, both online and real time. Of course it can be done through private journals *I still do that*, but then an opportunity would be missed to inspire even one person to embrace the attitude of gratitude.

The private journal practice becomes easy to forget or set aside at times when life gets hectic and we continue to roll along until it is completely left unsaid.

This way, I am compelled to pause and appreciate these things openly. It’s like unwrapping a present.

The attitude of gratitude has expanded the coast of my mind and it keeps growing in very positive ways. I find that more and more, I dwell barely on negativity because it’s almost as if my mind is on training on how to swat negative thoughts.

Ordinarily, I would probably have taken for granted the small hands that helped me push my shopping cart, weigh my fruits and tick off my shopping list *making me buy one or two extra tidbits, with a grumble and secret delight.

How will I take for granted how you all supported my blog party over the weekend?

Try cooking a large array of dishes (in this case, blogging hard for days) and inviting people to eat and they don’t turn up. You will be sorely disappointed and upset.

The essence of Valentine might have become subsumed in the cheesy commercial aspect of things, but there is absolutely nothing cheesy about the extra doses of love and attention that I received from my family, from hand-made cards to shop bought rose and chocolate with their pocket money, coupled with lots of pampering 🙂

There are so many little things to be grateful and thankful for. What are the things that decorate your life, be they little or large?

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Blogging · Gratitude · Hope · Quotes For You · Self Help

When You Want To Go Far…

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

The funny African proverb that says ‘when we all piss together it foams’ comes to my mind as I write this post.

Another one equally states that ‘when you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go very far, you go with others.’

For the first time, I will be hosting a blog party (Valentine Shindig) and hopefully, from then I will continue hosting a monthly blog-hop meet ups to encourage newbies as well as the older ones to mingle and develop a cohesive community.

I sent out feelers to feel the pulse of my readers and not only has the response been awesome but the support as well and I cannot fail but to express my appreciation.

A good number of lovely bloggers have shown their support and encouragement to me by re-blogging and tweeting my invitation and posts in this regard and it totally fills me with a sense of gratitude and joy.

There is no way that I would be able to do it by myself or to cover as much ground if not for the generosity and support that I have received from a good number of you.

I am thankful and indeed grateful to have supportive friends in this community and as is said in my place ‘the fowl does not forget the person that allowed her to roost by her fireplace during the raining season. ‘During your rainy days, may you find a warm fireplace to roost.’

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Image: Quotesgram.com

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blog-hopping · Gratitude · Love

It’s A Love Thing 6…Some of the men in my blogging World.

February 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

For the next few days till my Valentine Shindig, I will be featuring several blogs a day on one post, as a way of showing some love to fellow awesome and supportive blogger friends of mine.

You can share the fun and the love by sharing the party invitation as much as you can. Bring your Bae, your sweetheart, your neighbourlybloggers, your old lady, your old man, even your dogs and cats are invited.

It’s a way to connect with other bloggers and hey, who knows, you might hit it off with someone 😉

Please share and share alike. Thank you very much.

For today’s features, I am showing some love to the bloggers listed below:

‘Love is patient. Love is kind.’ 1 Cor 13: 4 – 8

Sir Patrick thank you for your kind support and words shared in my blogging life. I appreciate.

Doug, my appreciations for your company in this place.

Sir David, you are a total gem of a grandpa. Thank you for your lovely words and support in this space.

Dave Barclay, I do appreciate interacting with you.

Chape, you are a sport 😉

Kaushal, thank you for being around. My regards.

Ryan, my appreciations for the time you put in visiting me over here.

Nimitode, I enjoy seeing your face and your energy.

Thomas, thank you my friend. My regards.

Paul, thank you for your support.

Wally, thank you Sir for your extended hand of fellowship.

Vincent, my sincere appreciations for being there.

Noirfifre, you have been such a good and steadfast friend. I enjoy our banters and your support. I am glad we met in this space.

‘Walking this path, I have been so blessed to have you all by my side. Thank you very much.’

My regards,

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Lifestyle

A Wellspring…

February 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

Just a few weeks ago, it was Christmas, then New Year and now January 2016 has come an end. It’s gone forever. We can only witness future January’s of other years, but never the last one.

January took some famous and acclaimed personalities with it, as well as so many other souls, but a whole lot of us are blessed to be well and see another new month cycle in.

That just keeps drawing the transient state of our lives home, that we truly have to spend our days living our best lives now and being happy with it.

As we pursue our dreams and aspirations with tenacity, buoyed with the desire to achieve a whole lot of different things, I am thankful for having had the Grace to stay on course with a good number of things that I set to do.

I am grateful that I have not lost the courage or the zeal to keep pushing along, because it is really so easy to get derailed with the little things that life throws in our path.

I am grateful for the stream of ideas that keeps coming to me and the strength to see them through. Sometimes, the wellspring of inspiration and creativity can run dry, leaving one grasping, so, for me, it is indeed a privilege thus far, to have a fountain that bubbles with inspiration.

I am grateful that for the first time in months, the aches and pains that plagued me has receded quite a bit and I can pencil this down to the consistent little exercising that I have been doing.

I feel a lot more limber and thankful for that. Sometimes, the discomfort of my Myalgia that I have in my back would keep me uncomfortable and awake at nights.

Living in a state of thankfulness, keeps the elusive Unicorn of Happiness close by. That way, you get to ride on it often enough.

Welcome to a new month of abundant blessings and inspiration. Never forget that the little seed of gratitude that you sow, grows into a bountiful harvest for your thanksgiving.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Dubai · Gratitude · Photographs · Travel

What A Gracious Host…

February 2, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

Fusion Restaurant At Ghaya Grand. Lovely Ambiance

When a host invites you to eat, you go with your good manners, an empty stomach, a spoon in your back pocket ‘just in case,’ your sharpened teeth, a heart full of gratitude and a sizable dose of thank you.

I went with everything except the spoon ‘cos they had beautiful sets of cutlery and now, I am on the last leg of the cycle. A sizable dose of thank you for the gracious surprise international buffet that we were treated to.

It was a delightful surprise to receive a nicely worded letter from the management of Ghaya Grand Hotel and Apartments here in Dubai, inviting a good number of friends and clients over for brunch, aka ‘free lunch.’

Who am I to look such a lovely gift Horse in the mouth? I love such lovely surprises and this Horse is quite handsome, I must say 🙂

The new Ghaya Grand Hotel is a beautiful and classy, 5 star hotel, located at the International Media Production Zone area in Dubai.

Without much ado, the brunch which was in their Fusion Restaurant was absolutely divine.

Excellent service, array of sumptuous dishes and a lovely ambiance in which to eat to your hearts content.

I must confess, I really, really tried not to over indulge, but with the assortment of all types of food beckoning to you, I did just a little bit above my stomachs budget, but I have no regrets 😉

Should you ever contemplate coming this way, or if you are heading here already, this is one hotel that you will appreciate staying in.

It was not a surprise to me, during my little chat with one of the Managers, to learn that they are 100% full capacity and this is just one year of their business operations.

This is definitely not a sponsored post, but a sizable dose of thank you to those who made my families weekend lovely in their special way.

A few of the photographs that I took.

Some little darlings asking for more sweet stuff 🙂

To the staff and management of Ghaya Grand, we extend our appreciations and regards.

Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation · Lifestyle

Why Not? Are You Too Much Of A Man?…

January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

Is it possible to wake up and express a heartfelt gratitude for everything, without a ‘but?’

Some gentleman openly made a scornful statement, asking why we should have to express our thankfulness and gratitude for all to see? Why couldn’t we just be thankful in our minds?

I thought it through and my wonder is, maybe he feels it’s not manly enough to be seen doing something as sissy as being grateful or thankful? Who knows.

Anyway, to this retort I say, why not? We talk about virtually anything and everything under the Sun. So why not gratitude and thankfulness? Must we save it only for the day of Thanksgiving, on 24 November?

Is it because the word carries the connotations of Religion or Christian tenets?

Well you are wrong! I think it would be wise to remember that the state of gratitude is a life tenet, which does not respect any doctrine, dogma, race, religion, age or sex.

Thankfulness is a state of being that is the mother of all virtues. When we are thankful, we have less to grumble about. When we are thankful, it makes the little that we have enough. When we are thankful, we are not going to be envious and envy breeds wickedness.

We don’t have to look far to find things to be grateful for: family, food, shelter, friends, clothing, seasons, life, nature, beauty, truth, salvation. The list could go on for decades.

A heart of gratitude opens doors of love, peace and plenty.

Today, I am grateful for life and good health. It’s really a privilege and nothing can truly compare to the promises that I have in God.

A grateful heart will always find satisfaction. May your heart find a grace for gratitude. Like the Bible tells us, ‘God inhabits the praise of His People.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love

I am grateful and blessed to have you as my friend…

January 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

Life brings friends our way who turn out to become our families in almost every sense of the word and I am particularly grateful for such a friend as my dear good friend Mrs. Ekaete Augustine-Edet.

We have journeyed together from our days as single ladies working at the French Embassy, Lagos Nigeria almost two decades ago, to today as mothers and wives and she has remained such a steadfast friend, sister and motivator.

She is one of the driving forces behind my starting my blog, because she believes in me and my writing skills. She kept asking me when I would start my blog, until I got started.

She is there anytime I call with a need or something on my mind. I had reason to make such a call and as usual she selflessly gave of herself, her time and her pocket.

I thank God for a friend like you and really don’t have much words to appreciate your kindness.

On another hand, I have been blessed with running into interesting characters since last week.

Two lovely neighbourhood dogs, Lola and Cookie and Meow, The cat seem to have adopted me for reasons best known to them, though I do stop to say hello to the cute dogs when I am taking my walk and they are out and about.

Meow is a lone ranger, but always appears by the chair where I sit sometimes to watch the World go by and he rubs himself on my pants legs seeking attention.

I am more a dog person and not particularly a cat person but strangely, this would be the third encounter where different neighbourhood felines come up to say hello.

Since I don’t know much about felines, maybe those who do can tell me what this indicates.

I am grateful for little meaningless moments like this. They end up meaning a lot when we appreciate them and each moment that I spend in a state of gratitude, the phrase that the best things in life are for free couldn’t be more true than it is.

There is so much to be thankful for. Just look around and you will see.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson‘s gratitude challenge platforms

Regards and blessings