Everyday People

Friendship – Everyday beautiful people 85

“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” Edna Buchanan

Friends[1]

I sat yesterday nursing a smoothie after work and trying to write a couple of lines before moving along, but as usual my eyes’ were drawn to passersby when the two lovely ladies strolled by leisurely chatting, laughing and hands entwined as they admired the dresses through the boutiques show glass.

My eyes trailed them for several minutes and after a while I could no longer resist going up to chat with them briefly. They shared bits about themselves and their philosophy with me and I went away feeling fuller in spirit and wearing a smile.

Indeed, friends can be found in unlikely places and a true friend will accept who you are, will hold your hand and will help you become who you should be.


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

What are we doing? Stream of consciousness Saturday.

Concentrated emotions tend to erupt one way or the other when the proper channels of expressing and addressing these issues are not being explored and the end results are not always pretty.SoCS badge 2015

A lot of social issues that we are currently battling are the build-up of so much hurting and unresolved issues that society has been sweeping under its huge carpet that it keeps mounting until there’s hardly any more space to squeeze in more rubbish and with the aid of our new improved social mediums to stir the hornet’s nest,  ‘Kaboom’ the combustion is let loose and we are left bewildered, hurt and in pain.

We truly can’t continue the way we are going. Holding in oppressive feelings, ignoring and suppressing them, violence or hiding heads in the sand has never resolved any problems; channels of dialoguing should be opened up to deal with concentrated issues of the past and present.

I remember when I was reading stories about Auschwitz gas chamber, the concentration camps and watching escape from Sobibor, I couldn’t stop crying for days. It was a hard read!
I just couldn’t fathom that amount of deep-seated wickedness and concentrated effort to annihilate others just because they don’t fit into a certain category of someone’s description. People were profiled and marked out for destruction.

If we look into history, the depth of man’s inhumanity to fellow man in these concentration camps, on slave ships, plantations, and so on, is despicable and you would think that we learn, however, the sad news is that we simply haven’t learnt from history or maybe some choose to ignore history and write their own.

It seems that we haven’t learnt that racial profiling only builds hurt and harm. We forget so quickly and if things are not properly handled they will certainly spiral off the hook.

I’m very much attuned to what happens around me and the society at large, so in as much as I may not be in the vicinity of an incident, history has also shown that a war can be triggered in one place and its effects ricochets everywhere and for several weeks these disheartening news have pierced my skin and derailed my concentration on my writing.

I sincerely hope that people begin to think clearly and understand better and that we get a grip of these turmoils sooner than later.

I believe that the indomitable spirit of humanity to hunger for greater good and peace will prevail.

Jacqueline


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

The Daily Post

Piercing the darkness…

Clouds of darkness
hang heavily over the land
its weight keeps the dwellers down
and blinds their vision,
causing them to stumble, to fall
and to lose their way.

…But if you and I agree
to light our little wicks together,
our combined lights will shine so bright,
it will evaporate the dark clouds
and we would find our path
through this darkness, that pervades our land.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it: John 1:5

Darkness

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Everyday People

Street photo and people – Everyday beautiful people 81

“We are all first born humans until we allow the classifying terms of race, religion, politics and wealth to wield its divisive mechanisms of separation in our midst.” Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Street photos

I love this random photo I took on the street. Each person is getting on with his daily affair. Each person has his own story to tell.

Each person adds to the jigsaw of the tapestry that makes up humanity.


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Everyday People

Secret Kind Gesture – Every day beautiful people 80

“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank

“The heart that gives gathers.” Tao Te Ching

Giving_1[1] Giving[1]

Some days, you get to witness things that leaves you feeling warm and know that yes humanity has some milk of human kindness flowing in the veins of some folks.

Last Friday, I sat alone reading a magazine and just floating through thoughts on my notepad when this fella strolled past me during Iftar time (fast breaking time for Muslims) and many were eating or waiting for their food.

Initially, I thought he was a young child, but on taking a closer look I realized that he’s a very small/short grown man, no  rudeness meant, but he would be referred to as a midget.

He was looking longingly at my sandwich as he walked by, but because of the way of life over here, he couldn’t approach me, however, to my relief and gladness, some gentleman sitting close by gave him some money – coins.

You need to see how this little fellow’s features transformed and the smile that lit up his face touched me. I felt so happy that as I was leaving, I stopped by the table of the giver to say thank you and he was totally embarrassed that I even bothered to come and thank him. All the giver repeated was “Mashallah” which I understand means Thanks be to Allah or as we Christians would say, Thanks be to God.

Showing kindness to a less fortunate around us is not in the weight of what we give, but in the spirit of how we give it. A little kindness can go a long way.

Thank you Niki for hosting the kindness challenge. I enjoyed participating 🙂


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Uncategorized · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

Just hold on – Writers quote Wednesday challenge.

Love[1]

I believe and have faith in love
for in it lies immeasurable strength
Even on day’s when my faith in humanity
diminishes to micro pieces
that it won’t even match a mustard seed
On such days, I look up to the heavens
and facing the sky
I let the shadows fall behind.

There are moments when faith
is all that have
to propel me forward and hold me upright
On such days, I clasp my thin flicker of faith
like a loving companion and cloak
and allow its strength to seep into me
till my hope rises again.

There are moments
when the future might look bleak to us
when so much seems to be going wrong
in such moments
we turn to faith in hope
that the future will look brighter
if only we can hold on.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns – Anne Lamott

Faith does not make things easy, but makes them possible – Luke 1:37

Writing this week’s prompt ‘Faith’ for WQWWC after days of minds battered with all that’s happening around us is a welcome reprieve even though it’s a hard topic. A hard topic to write on when it’s seems as though the World is momentarily going berserk and my faith in humanity dwindles.

Then again, if we completely lose our faith, then all hope is truly lost and we’ll find ourselves living in a World that’s not only pessimistic and negative, but will become a highly toxic World.

So, I’ll hold onto my flicker of faith that love will always win and my faith comes from above.

P.S: You can join our online party this weekend. It’s always a good time:-)


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts 88 – Share your posts.

1456149614808[1]

‘PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN THE LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Do step in and show some love.

My money counts: Pamela’s blog brings you informative, professionally sound and useful posts on money management and modest living.

Different is good: a short little rant that says it just right. Your way is not necessarily the best way.

Thank you’s and a list of 100 songs: a beautiful, thoughtful shout out and great musical list too. Check it out.

“Music is a higher revelation
than all wisdom and philosophy.
Music is the electrical soil
in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”
~ Ludwig van Beethoven ~

After effects of Hurricane Sandy: an experience that most of us pray never to have. I love knowing things, but I’ll pass on this one.

‘Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

P.S. Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.’


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

kindness · Life

Same thing applies to all of us!

Mankind[1]

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS AN IMMIGRANT!!

You can check other Monday memes on Leannenz platform.


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

I absolutely love this book of poems. My favorites are “Love Rations” (for those who love to give the silent treatment) and “Beggars Supper” (which definitely pulls at the heart strings). Two thumbs up!!

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works, you can fuel my creativity with a cup of coffee or a slice of cake 😉

Writer's Quote Wednesday

See!… Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge

Card_with_love[1]

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama

Cover your eyes and touch me
with the sight of your heart,

cover your eyes and caress me
with the fingers of your soul,

cover your eyes and hear me
through the pulse of your being,

for when you look with eyes jaundiced and jaded
with cynicism and age worn perceptions,

you can only see what your physical eyes permit
and miss seeing the finer qualities of me,

for when you look
through the sight of your heart,

and when you hear
through the ears of your soul,

you are happier
and you are free,

for you’ll find that I am you
and you are me,

and together
we are nature.

This week’s prompt for WQWWC ‘happiness‘ is a thought that has occupied my mind in a large way and I wrote an earlier post today focusing on happiness.

I’m also working on my inspirational book that centre’s on ‘happiness and you,’ which is a strong feature in our lives.

Our state of happiness comes from within. Material things may ease our daily living but it’s no guarantee of happiness or a good life.

When we are not at peace with ourselves, when we lack the love and care for others we can never truly be happy because our minds are burdened with negativity, with bias and limitations.

‘The depth of your happiness is the consequence of your own personal effort and it’s worth the relentless pursuit.’ Jacqueline


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

kindness

Highlighting the positives…Kindness challenge

This happens to be the season in the year where kindness takes a lot of precedence over here.RevofKindness

I’ve witnessed generous gestures by people around me more than usual, that I can’t help but wonder why we as humans just can’t continue to live like this.

Why should kindness simply not be a common factor in our lives every day, then I also realise that it may not be as easy as I would wish because sometimes, I even struggle to be kind to myself.

For the past week, I have been super-charged with a lot of thoughts of things I need to get done (like how to effectively market my book, how to write the one that I am currently writing, work and life balance and so on) and feeling guilty for not doing as much as I should be doing, that if truth be told sometimes all I truly want to do right now is to just fall into bed, curl up with a book and eat as many bars of chocolate as I can possibly muster, but such luxury eludes me as a working, writing family woman.

Thankfully, taking part in Niki’s Kindness challenge has kept the thoughts of kindness at the forefront of my mind, making me make aware that I should soft pedal and take it a bit at a time in order not to run myself aground and for the past few days I have been consciously attentive to keep my mind focused on the positive things that I have achieved at the end of each day and less highlighting of the negative.

End each day with kindness.

“Be kind to yourself and then let your kindness flood the World.” Pema Chodron


Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

She is amazing at describing love and life in her poems. She creates such beautiful images with her words. Truly, she is a talented writer and I’m so excited to have her poetry book and to continue reading through it.

Out of the silent breath