Just A Thought…

March 9, 2017March 9, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha58 Comments

So the World celebrated The International Women’s Day yesterday – which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong – but, what happens today?

Do we go back to the shadows where women are beaten, downtrodden, objectified, maligned et cetera, et cetera?

Yesterday, this thought played in my mind all day.

The thought played in my mind that right as we speak, there’s a woman somewhere being raped, pummelled into the ground from manly fists, railroaded into sexual slavery and all unsavoury thoughts you can think of.

I am tired of societies false platitudes and putting band-aids on sore wounds.

We as a people must continue to raise strong women. Women who rise above adversity to say no. Women who call bullshit what it is. Women who know themselves and love themselves. Women who would make a difference to their progeny and generations to come…

This is not about 1 day. It’s about a lifetime!

I am every woman. A survivor by many miles. I don’t need a day to tell me who I am ‘cos I already know who I am.

My question is, does society truly care to know?

Jacqueline

Photographs

Quick Tips For Budding Photographers

March 9, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

So you’ve caught the passion for photography? As a beginner consider these tips on camera, learning, experiment, and practice below as you commence the journey of finding your foot in the huge world of image making.

Beginner photographers, digital photography, photo tips, camera, learning, experiment, practice

1. Resist the urge to splurge.

Yes indeed, this is a common weakness of picking up a passion especially one like photography. The urge to buy an expensive camera and many gadgets that you believe would make your images great. simply kicks in. It’s quite possible to get great shots with an inexpensive point and shoot cameras. The important thing is understanding the gadget that you are presently using and practice, practice, practice. By the time you are ready for an upgrade, you have a better idea of what you want. Going overboard to acquire gadgets sometimes leads to spending on things that we may end up not using.

2. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Your cheap point and shoot camera might just surprise you with its output when you invest time to go through its manual and understand it. Play around and shoot with different settings and focal points as much as you can to see what you like and what works best.

3. Get a tripod or lightweight Gorillapod.

This gives your photos stability especially if your hands are not steady. Your images would turn out way better and there are lots of inexpensive tripods that you can invest in. Read More…

Gratitude

Barbed Thorns…personal

March 8, 2017March 8, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

Image result for Christs thorns

Life’s not all peaches and cream
many have barbed thorns
silent groans
and
priceless tears.

Jacqueline

For the day’s that I feel lost and my heart laden with so much burden, Lord, I give thanks. Forgive me for making you too small in my eyes.’

On days that depression hits me out of the blues, I don’t fight it. I welcome it inside. I give it a seat to hear what it’s got to say with a box of tissue in hand and I cry with her when she moves me with her tales.

I make her a strong cup of tea, or coffee, sometimes even some soup and remind her of the many things that are good about her life. I remind her that she should never put her God in a box, but allow He who began the good works in her to continue because He is faithful to the end.

I remind her of her journey and path to emotional freedom and mindfulness. I remind her of her talents and the burgeoning future before her eyes’.

I stoke her hope and remind her to keep her candle shining because the flickers of its light sends out good vibes and helps her to find her way in the dark

I remind her of her resilience, her unwavering positivity, and can-do spirit. I remind her that she’s resourceful, a source of light, the love of many people’s lives and I have her laughing in no time.

I gently show her the door and ask her to roam free. I ask her to go into the light and shine as bright as she can. I tell her that she’s welcome to visit anytime she feels lonely, but I’m quite sure that she knows she’s not alone because I see her light steps as she sprints down the street and her laughter rings in my heart.

This is me talking to one of my other selves.

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.

Jacqueline

Featured Blogs

Blossoms and The Bicycle

March 8, 2017March 8, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

My Thinking Corner

Excuse Me – My Thinking Corner

March 7, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

Buy yourself a one-way ticket away from Excuse Island, I just left that place and there’s nothing is happening there – Jacqueline

I have learned that excuses are as bountiful as ever but opportunities are so few and when our excuses become a habit, they simply perpetuate failure.

The choice to make changes or to make excuses is all yours, but remember to claim the results and not shift the blame on someone else.

Carol shares a beautiful post ‘Enjoy the gift of life,’ take a peek and find nuggets within.

Proverbs 26: 13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” ¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.

I am pushing to reach a 100 subscribers, click the button on my channel and help me up.

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

The King and I

March 7, 2017March 7, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

When I saw Ronovan’s haiku prompt for this week, ‘King & Day’ I couldn’t resist being naughty and poking fun at a certain ‘King of The Free World.’

~~Forgive me~~ 😉

Image result for images of the naked King

Should the arrogant naked King and I
spend a jolly day together
I would tell him ‘you are ignorant.’

The King would probably be so mad
yelling ‘off with her head,’
‘cos he hates the truth any day.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Image courtesy: Pinterest

Personal · The Daily Post

Naked but not Ashamed…

March 7, 2017March 7, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

If I took the experiences

that life handed me deeply to heart

I would have committed suicide.

I am glad that I didn’t

because that’s a cowardly way out.

I see these experiences

as the hand of fate steering me in a direction.

—∞—∞—

I realise that life is hard and not fair

that life can be a bitch (forgive my French)

but the Spirit of Hope and Fight in me

tells me that new every morning

is a gift from the Lord and

I must unwrap this gift of the day

with utmost gratitude, grace, and belief.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Inspiration - Motivation · Monday Motivations

Face your Failures, Find your Success.

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

It’s inevitable that at some point, you will fail. Don’t be afraid of failure, instead, you should face your failure and use it as fuel to fire the pursuit of your dreams.

If you are in search of ways to increase your productivity, live the life of your dreams, reach for your greatness and abundance, this is a space that you can visit anytime to get realistic, step by step tools on how to gain control of your life and to achieve your aspirations.

Short Stories

Resignation…

March 6, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Evangeline trudged to her beat up truck with a sigh of defeat and resignation. Tears pooled into her eye’s as she turned back to take one last look.

Everything was practically gone except the house that stood silent and forlorn in the backdrop and Buck the young cow who stood in the paddock and gazed at her through his limpid eye’s as if he was disgusted and accusing her of treachery.

This is it! She pushed the gear into reverse and backed out for the last time. She was not sure she would be returning to these parts for a long time to come.

The pain of failure and losing her home to foreclosure stung deeply.

She hoped the new owner would be kind to her cows.

Thank you, MajesticGoldenRose, for the inspiring photo and Priceless Joy for hosting this charming platform where we unleash our stories