Tuesdays Trickles…My thinking corner.

March 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

We cannot plow our fields by sitting under the shaded tree, chewing on a twig and turning the garden of our dreams in our minds. Our hands must get dirty in the muck and the hoe.

To climb up to that success ladder, you must unfold those hands cradling your chin and hold the ladder.

Your children can teach a lot of great life lessons, especially in patience. You will realize how elastic your patience truly is.

Life has no short cuts except you wish to cut it short.

A lot of people want to be somebody notable. Be patient and be yourself first of all. There’s a whole lot of being in you.

Our Thinkers Thoughts came in from:

Giggles & Tales prayers from the heart shows us that the only way is really to put those difficulties into prayers.

Dollops of heedful ramblings simple message is age old and yet has never gone out of fashion.

Annette’s message gives me lot’s of hope for indeed, you are never too old to dream a new dream.

Friends on my mind can I count on you or are you there just when it’s all beautiful?

Honest me I fell in love with this. Wish I could find one for my house.

Deb’s words of wisdom are little nuggets that speaks volumes.

Parenting with purpose Seye’s colourful messages always grabs my attention.

Thank you to all the contributors. May these words take roots in our lives and may our harvest be bountiful 🙂

‘So, when will you share those nuggets of wisdom of yours?’

The Strings Of Flame…

March 7, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Eddy’s eyes strayed to the glittering guitar which hung behind the counter of the bar as he dusted.

Since he started working for Mrs. Hilley, he had wondered about it.

His eyes gleamed as he looked at it and the flaming guitar glowed brighter under his gaze.

He noticed that she touched it ever so often, dusted it with reverence and hung it back.

He had no idea what the story behind it was, but he couldn’t ask. There were rumours however, on one really knew the truth.

Since he was alone, he decided to play just a little bit. He hoped to own one some day soon.

Lost in the music the guitar’s flaming strings came alive and he failed to hear the door swing open.

Mrs. Hilley listened, tears ran down her face as he played haunting tunes.

Startled to find her watching him he hurried to hang it back but, she set two glasses of apple cider, sat him down to tell him the story of the flaming guitar.

Inklinz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above from Pixabay.com and Priceless Joy for this enchanting story platform

Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Uncategorized · Weave that Dream

Brevity…Thursday Trivia

February 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

Sometimes,

The brevity of my words

Is not for lack of what to say

….But a reflection

Of the state of my mind

Where the invasion

Of dream-filled thoughts

That pervades them

Leaves me breathless

…..Unable and reluctant

To trap them in words.

So,

I let them float free.

Inspiration - Motivation · Midnight motivation and musings · Quotes For You · Self Help · Weave that Dream

Midnight Motivations and Musings #6…

February 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

Need I say more?

Our wishful thoughts on the things that we hope for, will only remain buried, wishful and wasted unless we begin to act on them.

The fear of failure is the greatest failure in itself. Be afraid, but do it!

You just might surprise yourself.

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Love · Poetry/Poems

Sweet Indulgence…

January 17, 2016January 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

Honey sweet words you whispered to me,

In anticipation, they tickle me to my bones.

Pupils dilated, eyelashes flutter,

In deep sigh of sated, sweet affection,

The burst of sugary sensation,

Hits the right nerve centres.

It’s a chocolate dream.

Life · Personal story · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream · Writing

If Tomorrow Comes…personal

December 22, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha73 Comments

Recently, I had a chat with a friend and we spoke about passion. Since we had that chat, I have been mulling over bits and pieces of our conversation and chewing on the fat of things.

During our chat, she did not out-rightly deride my passion about writing and public speaking, but in her opinion, she thinks that it should be classified as a hobby, since I was not yet making pots of money from either.

In her eyes, I was not yet a serious writer because there is no World acclaimed bestseller title under my belt.

As far as she is concerned, I am writing just for the pleasure of writing. At this point I had my tongue in my cheek trying to rein myself in from saying the first thought that fleeted through my mind, which was @#$#$%$##%!

Calmly, I asked her how much pleasure she was deriving from her work?

If she was that ecstatic about it, why is it that she moans over her job every time we speak, wishing she had the funds to take a bold step away from the rat race bandwagon.

She had wished over a 1,000 times that she had the guts to pursue her desires to own an events management outfit, but like I had equally given myself the leeway of excuses in the past, she had a million reasons why she couldn’t get started in that direction.

I asked her what her plans were in the immediate, interim and long term, towards achieving her goal, but to my surprise, she had made absolutely no concrete plans in the realization of her dreams.

….And she calls me a dreamer!

Her hope is that tomorrow will come armed with all that she would require to achieve her dreams and build her castles in the passing wind.

I told her that ”Tomorrow will never come if we don’t get hold of today!”

I now cheekily told her that I am absolutely pleased with what I am doing at the moment and though I did not give her a detailed breakdown, I drew a sketchy idea of my writing prospects and aspirations which I believe will come to pass even if it delays.

In the meantime, I told her that I was willing to make certain sacrifices to achieve my dreams, since I had also learnt that some of the material expenses which we load on ourselves were absolutely unnecessary. We can live very well without some of these things for as long as is necessary.

I have heard tales and jokes of hungry artists/writers. I have heard about all the hard mental work endured for passion in return of peanuts.

…Then again, I have heard and have experienced first hand, the irrefutable, bone deep pleasure that a true writer derives from answering their call and I then realize the true meaning of the morbid African proverb which says that”we cannot because of the fear of death avoid going to war, if that war means that we get to live the life that we deserve.”

In some ways, she was right that I am not yet making anything out of my vision and dreams.

Now, it is time to write the vision, take the vision and run with it.

Creative Writing · Photographs · Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Writing

Introspective Reflections…

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

I can see clearer now the fog is gone.

I can see a lot of silver linings newly borne.

They illuminate brighter than golden urns.

Blurred visions of scattered bones along my way,

Had distorted views to thing’s, I must say,

And had held me dismayed in their sway.

I saw the reflection of split personality,

Of inner difficulties and aspiring destiny,

Casting illusions on introspection of originality.

Many feet scattered in the rubble of times past,

Unbirthed, aborted, buried and dead at last.

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest.

Broken visions melded and better than the first.

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

Writing 101 Poetry – Day 2, Reflections

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Love · Personal story

To The Daughter Of My Heart… personal

December 5, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother :) — Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother 🙂

My dearest darling daughter,

I watch in awe as you edge on the cusp of teenage-hood, so fast, so soon, since it seems just like yesterday that your cute, squiggly and warm self was handed into my arms and you truly became mine.

I still relive your valiant struggle to surmount all the challenges faced by a tiny preemie and as I look at you today, my tall elegant child, it is in amazement of God’s goodness and grace over your life.

Daughter mine, my gentle unassuming child, in my minds eyes, I remember your tiny arms outstretched to me so many times as you uttered, ”carry mama” always a toddling step behind my feet.

Now, look at you! My beautiful budding young child, full of her own dreams and aspirations and bright as the morning star.

The love that I have for you cannot be expressed fully with words and my heart burgeons with so much delight with The Heavens for allowing you to be mine.

I say this so that you may always know, that even if you look back tomorrow and I am no where to be found, that I love you to the ends of time.

That I love you unconditionally and irrevocably.

Know that as your wings grow and are stretching to fly, that I pray for you today and always.

I pray that your star will always shine as bright as The Heavens created it to be.

I pray that you will soar like an Eagle and that wisdom will always follow you.

I pray that deep peace that flows like the oceans of time will always be your portion and the flow of your joy shall be like a river.

I pray that the generosity and compassion of your heart will continually expand.

I pray that abundant Grace will be your daily cloak, that favour will be your portion and that the Mercy of God will never depart from you.

I pray that your courage will be boundless as you grow into a confident, strong lady, filled with faith, hope and love.

I pray deeply that life will treat you well. Be blessed. Be happy. Be well.

Happy 12th my precious girl Nnenna, Adaobi, Christine, Mmesomachukwu.

You truly decorate my life and my heart.

I love you loads and loads.

Mummy.

Family · Hope · Life · Quotes For You · Success · The Daily Post · Writing

When I Was Just A Little Girl…personal

December 1, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

I have to hum this song of Doris Day in my head while at it:

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what will I be
Will I be pretty will I be rich
Here’s what she said to me

Que Sera Sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que Sera Sera
What will be will be

When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows day after day
Here’s what my sweetheart said

Que Sera Sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que Sera Sera
What will be will be

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother what will I be
Will I be handsome will I be rich
I tell them tenderly

Que Sera Sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que Sera Sera
What will be will be
Que Sera Sera

Doris Day Que sera sera

Like most young children, I had as many aspirations as my diapers were changed, ranging from being a newscaster, an actress, a mother, a singer, a nurse, a pilot, a lawyer, a writer, a fashion designer….just about everything that you could think of in the book.

I don’t recall wanting to be a police officer, because the Nigerian police of my growing up years were not particularly inspiring.

We hardly knew what fire service men looked like, because if someone’s house unfortunately caught fire, they would attempt to quench the thirst of the licking hot flames with buckets of water while watching their properties turn to cinders, so I had no aspirations in that direction.

I fancied being a doctor at some point, because of the films that I watched, where they looked so capable and nice in their scrubs.

I dabbled a bit here and there in living my childhood dreams.

A bit of novice modelling and amateur acting, debating and writing for young magazines.

I learnt how to sew and realized that I would rather draw the designs than sew the clothes.

I studied law but I am not a practicing lawyer.

I went into international relations/French language and spent over a dozen years working with Multinational and Diplomatic corps.

After my children arrived, I waded into entrepreneurial ventures and found it to my liking – I love being the boss of me and having time for my young family.

In all my multi desires, the strongest desire which has not fallen by the wayside over time, but has only grown stronger has been my writing aspirations.

This is the flame that I want to keep stoking so that it can burn as high as possible and I think that my cumulative, diverse experiences brings a lot to bear into my writing.

I feel as if my writing is an embodiment of all my past aspirations and even those that are still at incubating stage such as some of my interests in Life coaching and Entrepreneurship. We shall see how it goes.

Now, I find several me’s embedded inside one me: Me (myself), me the wife, me the mother, me the child of my parents, me the writer, me the friend, me the life student and many more me’s to discover.

Life is a consistent transition and as I roll with the constant fluidity of life, part of the affirmations I make to myself are that:

I will live and not die wishing that I had lived better. I will live to declare the goods works of the Lord in the land of the living. I will live moment by moment, loving my life as it is and loving those around me. I will not live in fear of daring to succeed but will dare to succeed and fail forward.

The Daily Post Ballerian-Fireman-Astronaut-Movie-Star

When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up? What are you now? Are the two connected?

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