When Tomorrow Comes..

November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha35 Comments

As a matter of fact, these thoughts are not one’s that I have dwelt on in an in-depth fashion at all.

Maybe, because retirement is still far from my mind, but with the way that time gallops by, it is worth sparing a thought.

If the truth be told, I have not focused on this particularly, because I live with hope that I shall live long into very old age to declare of the good works of the Lord in the land of the living.

Part of my aspirations, is for old age to find me in a position of an accomplished writer.

In a good stead where I will remain a motivating mentor and inspirational support for young adults and the older ones alike.

However, that said, I guess I will need to live somewhere while carrying out these good works and I have always gravitated towards things European/Frenchy because of my bilingualism.

I do admire the shininess of new cities such as Dubai where I currently inhabit a space, but I absolutely adore vintage European architecture.

I hope to find myself in a position where I can live as close to nature as possible in a nice cottage, chateau, house….

Where I can grow my own tomatoes, peppers and vegetable….

Where quaint cafés and bookstores will dot the landscape and I can natter with Louise or Jean-Pierre or Marie or Thérèse, or Edmond or Yves, or Cécilia, or Jason, or Tasha, or Meg, or Elise, Géneviève and all the friendly humans that life can find….while enjoying a freshly baked croissant, cappuccino, fresh breeze and without fear of snipers.

Maybe Nice – France? Maybe Montreal – Quebec? Maybe Geneva – Switzerland? Maybe Toronto – Canada? Maybe Houston – Texas? Maybe Paris – France?

Who knows? I can only hope, work hard, pray and have faith.

NaBloPoMo prompt – Thursday, November 19

Where would you want to retire if money wasn’t an issue?

Family · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Quotes For You · Social Issues · Success

A Nanny Goat and Her Young Ones….

November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

When we analyze the state of things and how it appears that norms and values, respect and everything have been eroded, it also occurs to me that as adults, parents, custodians and educators of the young ones under our care, we are equally failing in passing on these expected values, right norms, respect and all that is deemed to constitute a responsible human onto these young ones.

Behavioural skills, social norms and beliefs are learnt and they do not grow on trees. They are acquired through constant teaching and emulation. A child is only radicalized through the teachings of an adult or someone in a position of respect. A child is equally taught respect from early days!

The younger generation did not wake up spoilt! Not at all!

We the older generation loaded them with ammunition like kegs of gunpowder and it takes just a strike of a match for them to combust.

They watch and learn from us, add their own individuality and whatever the end result turns into is a product of that.

In essence a child is a by-product of his/her upbringing and society.

We should therefore hold ourselves 90% responsible for the spate of violence, moral decadence, loss of respect and every other vice that rears up its ugly head in today’s World.

We should not lose sight of the fact that we wield a lot of authority in helping these young ones form, therefore we should exercise it in the right manner.

A lot of times, when I take a look today at the my own life cycle, it does not fail to occur to me that the tenets which I have held mostly onto are those ones inculcated in me in my formative years and I daresay that those tenets are the ones that kept me from sinking, even when I furiously dug pits that could have caved in on me. “When a child is raised in the way that he should go, when he grows, he will not depart from it.”

Let me share a couple of African proverbs for today, and bid you a good day.

”When the nanny goat eats grass, it’s young ones watch her mouth and imitate.”

”If a child shoots an arrow that reaches the top of a tall palm tree, then it must be that an elderly person carved the bow and arrow for him.”

”The instruction of a child in youth is like engraving on a stone.”

”When a mother hen has been caught and killed, her chicks become easy prey.”

Once again, Chape thank you for inviting me to the quotes challenge. I shall extend the same courtesy to these awesome bloggers:

Danny

Maria Jansson

Jennifer Calvert

Kind regards,

Blogging · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Personal story · Tips for the day

I came, I live, I laugh, I love….What about You?

November 18, 2015November 18, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

No one likes to dwell on thoughts of death, but the grim reaper is a visitor that likes to call uninvited. He doesn’t ring any door bells when he arrives otherwise he will not meet anyone at home.

So like a thief in the dead of the night, he slinks in!

Since death is an inevitable fact of life that can happen at any time, should it matter to us that our sojourn here on mother earth is remarkable?

Should it not matter to us that we live our lives in such a way that when we kick our individual buckets we would have left a mark that warms the heart of those who remember us and not a shudder of dread with a muttered “good riddance to bad rubbish?”

For all that it is worth, the part of leaving heartwarming thoughts behind appeals to me far better than being a grimace on someone’s face.

If I am well off enough to leave a few heirlooms to loved ones here and there, that would be very nice and dandy, but I think the most important things that I would like to be remembered for are encapsulated in these simple words:

”I came, I lived, I laughed and I loved.”

I came, because I am presently here and was purposefully brought into existence.

I am no mistake (no child is a mistake no matter the circumstance of birth).

I lived.
By being myself
By doing what I love…writing, reading, learning, dancing, talking, drawing, eating and so on…
Living a purpose driven life.
By spending time with my loved ones.
Helping others and sharing with others as much as I can.
By being thankful.
By keeping healthy and exercising.
By mentoring and life coaching both for others and for my own benefit.
By keeping stress at a minimal level.
By dumping the negative thinking.
By forgiving and moving on.
By appreciating nature.

I laughed.

Growing a sense of humour even self-deprecatory humour is healthy.
Laughter is a healer. It is music and fireworks to the soul. Life is so much better with laughter and I want a life enriched with laughter.

I loved.

I would love as much as my heart can expand and the heart can expand so, so much when we give it the chance to do so.

I want to live so that when I die, even the undertaker would be sorry that I am gone.

Not a particularly cheery topic right? However, when you dwell on it, it actually helps to streamline ones purpose and priorities.

So do tell, what part would you like to be remembered for? Heartwarming or Grimacing?

NaBloPoMo prompt – Wednesday, November 18

What do you hope people remember about you after you’re gone?

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Weave that Dream

In Everything…

November 18, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha31 Comments

It is often too easy to express gratitude and thanksgiving when everything seems to be in the right place in our lives and around us, and such a hard task to have a grateful heart when everything seems to be falling apart.

No doubt, it is not an easy task to remain on the upbeat and positive, but we should not tarry too long in the doldrums.

Nature abhors vacuum and if at the point in time when our spirits are very low and we fail to fill that gap made with edifying and uplifting emotions, habits, thoughts, reactions etc, the vacuum will be filled with defeatist spirits, with oppressive moods that will suck us down into a pit that requires so much energy to climb out of.

Sometimes, some are never able to regain their sense of self and things spiral out of control.

When things are falling apart, we must struggle to keep our sense of grace, gratitude and thanksgiving, because in deed, in everything we give thanks and our heart of thanksgiving, of gratitude will only expand our coast.

There is a time and season for everything and though darkness may come at night, surely there will be light at day.

For today’s gratitude choice, I am grateful for the light of day.

I am grateful to be among the living and know that I still have the chance today to make better that which I failed yesterday.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to dwell on the things that are important.

I am grateful that even in the time of war that there is still love existing.

I am grateful that I am safe and of sound mind.

I am grateful that the simple things of life are accorded to me from above.

I am grateful that I have met friends such as you in this space and thankful for all the love that I see floating around in this space.

I am thankful for a friend like Oneta Hayes who has gone out of her way to say lovely things about me; I heard through the grapevine 😉 My lady, you are a gem 🙂 Bless your golden heart.

Let us not lose sight of the fact that no situation is permanent that ”this too shall pass” whatever it is and we must make each day count in beautiful ways.

What are you grateful for? When you count your blessings and name them one by one, it will surely surprise you at how much you are blessed.

Shalom

Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life

Accepting Me….

November 17, 2015November 17, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha40 Comments

Arriving at a state of confidence has been a journey of a lifetime for me. False bravado can be easily mistaken for confidence but the difference in the two lies in that one can be likened to a wisp of cloud that fizzles away and the other the formation of a whole sky.

It has been a hard won process of learning to love and accept myself, mistakes, warts and all; not because I am perfect but because I am enough, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, because I am a blessing and not an illusion, because I can and will be.

It hasn’t always been so, but time and grace has made me grow very comfortable in my own skin, able to hold my own fort and sensible enough to know that honesty and integrity makes a wholesome human. Honesty breeds confidence because you can stand tall.

In the process of regeneration, there have been times when I have felt like a fraud.

When I felt like I wasn’t up to snuff and that I was simply putting on a facade, but faith and positive affirmations stood in the gap for me and reminded me that I am what I choose to be, that I should not have fear of being found wanting but to have courage because He is.

The Daily Post prompt The Great Pretender

Are you full of confidence or have you ever suffered from Imposter Syndrome? Tell us all about it.

Blogging · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Weave that Dream

How Complete Do You Feel?…

November 17, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

As the days go by, I have truly realized that contentment and peace are not items that can be borrowed, purchased or stolen.

No amount of prosperity or material gains can put something in a soul that is derelict or lacking and no other human is responsible for my happiness but myself.

One can aim to attain the satisfaction of living a complete life from within themselves and not from without.

Personally, I don’t tie the state of my well-being to anything that lacks intrinsic value outside myself and God.

It is a continuous pursuit for me and I strive to achieve this state of being by:

Trying to understand myself and what truly makes me happy.
Staying in tune with my responsibility.
Seeking enabling ways to free my mind and de-stress.
Finding positive things to do.
Strengthening my health and finances.
Extending kindness to others.
Pursuing my passion and interests.
Maintaining good relationships.

Keeping my life simple and trying not to worry as much about things that are not within my power to change but doing my absolute best to change those that are within my line of sight and control.

With all these things on a balanced scale, I feel excited and alive, knowing that each day, I give life my best shot because tomorrow is not guaranteed anyone.

I cannot afford to extend the promise of living and feeling as complete as I can in expectation of events which are merely temporal and may never arise.

Traveling to see new places, buying the little niceties that I can afford to buy are just toppings on a life to be savoured.

In response to NaBloPoMo prompt Tuesday, November 17

What is one place you need to see to feel like your life is complete?

Creative Writing · Devotions · Family · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Quotes For You

A Single Palm Frond Cannot Weave A Basket…

November 17, 2015November 17, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

Honestly, I enjoy quotes because these short words tell succinctly, lessons that an entire book may be unable to tell. Thank you Chape for inviting me for a round of 3 quote challenge.

Events of the past couple of days have made me dwell so much more on thoughts of unity and prayer, because as we know very well that, in unity we stand, but in division we fall.

I remember when we were much younger and would get into squabbles with each other, my mother was the constant peace broker and she would use simple demonstrations to teach us certain things. Let me share one of them with you.

We had several old woven baskets which were used for storing spices or herbs in the house and she would fetch two of these baskets which were special handiwork of Nsukka tribeswomen – it’s weaving was not so intricate yet effective.

She loosened a bit of the frond at one end and asked each of us to pull at a strand, and the basket unraveled.

‘‘Can one palm frond make a basket?” She inquired.

”NO, Ma!” We answered in unison.

Comparing the unraveled basket and the one that stood intact, she asked us which one was useful in its state and we pointed at the one which was still intact.

”You are one when you stand together and you would be of good use.” ”When you choose to unravel and stand alone, you serve no purpose to anyone and you are weakened because your frond can be bent and broken, while the fronds that are intact cannot be broken together.” She intoned.

Let us remember to band together in prayers, in wisdom, in strength and in positivity to be of good use.

On that note, I will leave you with these African proverbs:

”If you wish to go quickly you go alone, but if you wish to go far, you go together.”

”When trees stand together they make a forest.”

”When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

”Two ants do not fail to pull one grasshopper.”

I would like to invite these awesome bloggers to participate in the quote challenge:

Dr Meg Sorick

anghulinghugotero

Maria Holm

Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Love · Poetry/Poems · Social Issues

We can, Can’t we?….

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

You know,

Empty dreams,

Don’t make beautiful Worlds!

The consistent actions of you and I, do!

So tell me, what do you propagate around you?

Are you engaged sowing seeds of accord or discord?

Would you just take a moment and check your circle of influence!

Plant that seed that you want to reap! It will grow into a tree of bounty!

Cease wasting time on wishful thinking!

We can be the World that we wish to see!

Shalom!

Images: Pinterest

Creative Writing · Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Musings · Poetry/Poems

Victorious Peace Even When The Tempest Rages…

November 15, 2015November 15, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

The winds whispered and then they howled,

The thunder clapped and began to roar,

The lightning danced, throwing fire darts in mad glee,

The Earth rumbled in the quake,

It’s groaning and shivering,

A disheartened statement from deep tectonic plates.

We thought that all would be rendered asunder…..

…..But then came The voice and whispered into the ravaged Earth,

Dripping red with blood,

Peace! Be still!

……and the Earth stood still.

May the peace that transcends common understanding,

Be your portion today and always.

PEACE!!

The Daily Post prompt Victory

Forget the sad times. This week, it’s all about reveling in a win.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Family · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Personal story · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream

How much?…

November 13, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

Haggling is an art! To live in an African society with it’s rowdy markets, you need to perfect the art of haggling over goods.

Recollections of days spent traipsing after mother or grandma at the market, trudging from pillar to post haggling over goods in order to get the best bargains makes me smile.

It was never a straight journey!

Purchases were made in-between hundreds of greeting exchanges.

These grown women would hug, chatter, ask about the entire family and their well-being, exclaim over the incessant climb in the price of goods, natter about the latest African prints fabric, discuss their next meetings and what have you, while you stood patiently with the basket waiting for that conversation to be over, only for another encounter of another auntie to occur down the line where yam tubers were sold.

The haggling dance between the seller and the buyer was one done in camaraderie.

A piece of yam tuber would be lifted, passed from the buyers one hand to the other to check how weighty, inspected to ensure that it was still fresh and when mother was satisfied with the selected yam piece, the pricing war begins with “how much?”

This could go on from one market stall to the other and the basket on your head got heavier with the items purchased.

On a good day, your assistance would be rewarded with some boiled groundnuts, fried puff-puffs or something little to nibble at.

Please do remember not to grumble when the haggling is going on otherwise, you might be rewarded with a proverb that says “a child carried on the back, does not realize that the journey is very far.”

For today’s quote, I shall leave you with these African proverbs:

“Life is like shopping in the market, when you finish your purchases, you go home.”

”One does not throw stones in the market square, because you don’t know whose head it might break.”

”Marriage is like eating groundnuts in pods! You have to crack it to see what is inside.”

I have totally enjoyed reminiscing over these proverbs for the past couple of days Oba all thanks to you.

I invite these awesome bloggers to feel free and share some quotes: