a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
Life is not lived
On a black and white palette
For there are lots of shades
As well as tints of gray
Life is not a mad dash
Done in a big rush
For with such quick flash
You’ll combust into ash
Life is a sweet saunter with swag
Of swinging Calypso in beautiful sashes
And making bold, colourful splashes.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt Mad Libs.
I was parked behind the big bus when this prompt came in an hour ago, so we chose the word ‘Splash.’
![1455649440427[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14556494404271.jpg)
Sometimes, we get so consumed in the daily automated actions of getting through our days with minimal reflections given to the things that we are doing and the things that we need to do.
It’s far easier being on cruise control, than to pause and think.
Yet, we have dueling desires in our heart to live our dreams, to aspire to greatness.
Aspiring to greatness means leaving mediocrity behind.
Aspiring to be better requires conscious and dedicated efforts coupled with lots of deeper reflections.
Are you willing to go the extra mile?
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
![1455685840627[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14556858406271.jpg)
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.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Do you remember when you last splashed around bare-feet with abandon and sheer delight?
There is nothing as pure and as delightful as watching a child play happily without care.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
![1455524494478[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14555244944781.jpg)
In so many ways, a lot of us have been hurt and the hurt that we carry inside now serves as a parameter to determine a whole lot that goes on in our lives.
Our hurts become a cloak that we use to cover ourselves, dampening the true person hidden beneath the bushel of pain.
Even though bad experiences cannot be easily chucked out of the window, these past hurts should not be the ruling yardstick over our lives.
Not only do they cut short our expectations, but we remain victims to the pain.
To heal, we have to and we must find a way to channel our painful tests into positive testimonies.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
![1455547201668[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14555472016681.jpg)
Aspire to great things, so that even if you don’t land on the mark, you will not be far behind.
When every little issue looks like a big problem in your eye, it becomes a mountain in your mind
Worry has never been known to solve a problem. It only doubles it: The problem and worry. View problems with the mindset of ‘what is the possible solution?’
A talent used is a talent surely multiplied. Find yours, use it and it appreciates.
To change is definitely not easy, but to stay on the wrong path is riddled with heartache and only elongates the journey back to the right track.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Last weeks Thinkers Thoughts came in from
Your life is a gift from Stella of Giggles & Tales
What does your time mean to you from Oba of Kingsoracle
Beautiful nuggets from Deb of Bookyglover
What does Death remind us of from Rosema of the Reading Writer.
**Do share your thoughts. We love to hear and learn.**
![1455446836580[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14554468365801.jpg)
The story of humanity is riddled with everyday people whose lives become testimonies and inspirations for others to arise from their pits of trouble to sit in victory atop the rubble.
It’s up to you to make your story the beauty around your neck and use it as a propelling force that will bring light into your life and the lives of those around you.
Regards,
Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
I think I have mentioned it before in this space that my dear friend WordPress is quite telepathic enough to know my thoughts and need, thus providing prompts that echoes my thoughts, even if he is stingy in meeting those needs.![1455545985148[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14555459851481.jpg)
I spent a good number of my years before now, racing along the corporate corridor in search of the big corner office.
It was without doubt a worthwhile growth experience. I enjoyed my corporate ladder years with all it’s attendant stress and perks, but my life is turning several new and beautiful bends and there are some nuts in the fire of my writing life, which hopefully should yield ample dividends.
I love to keep a positive outlook and frame of mind because it is always better.
I got into blogging for several reasons asides the obvious reason that I am passionate about writing.
One of the reasons that I would like to explore henceforth, is how to turn my passion into my pay master, that way it’s a beautiful win-win situation.
I know that writers write because they love to write, but they equally have to live and what better way than to earn from the sweat of your passion.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post Money For Nothing.
If you’re like most of us, you need to earn money by working for a living. Describe your ultimate job. If you’re in your dream job, tell us all about it — what is it that you love? What fulfills you? If you’re not in your dream job, describe for us what your ultimate job would be.
![1455419910864[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14554199108641.jpg)
A good number of us tend to search for all the excuses under the Sun to justify why we failed in something and to credit other peoples success with so many favourable conditions, which they supposedly didn’t earn.
That’s telling one’s self a lie, which is like eating comfort food to feel better about something.
Where there is a will, in there lies your way. Find it.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
H ere
A nd now
P erhaps you often
P onder on the true essence of
Y our journey here on Earth
V acillating between different thoughts
A s we humans often do. Our call to
L ove our Maker and
E ach Other is a purpose
N ot
T o be
I gnored
N ow or
E ver.
Love is all encompassing.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
a cooking pot and twisted tales 