Tag: Quotes

Gratitude

January is out. How are you holding up?

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Happiness, Quotes, Gratitude

We were just singing Auld Lang Syne a few days ago and here we are in February getting ready to share boxes of chocolates, roses, cards and all what not for the love of Valentine.

Two things this brings to mind are; the shortness and speed of time as well as how we must harness our time optimally.

Some of us probably set out major goals and may be taking a look at how far they’ve gone with it. While some didn’t bother with it. Whichever spectrum you are in, it’s all good.

Remember that the most important thing is that when you set major goals, always appreciate the minor accomplishments that brought you to your goal even when you are falling behind your set goal.

Celebrating those minor accomplishments boosts and motivates your drive to keep pushing forward. Castigating oneself over failures most times has a reverse effect.

Today, as I took my brisk morning walk, I did a mental account of all that I’ve been doing with my time and I am thankful for the consistency in keeping with my plans. I am thankful for the zeal to wake up each day with peace and a positive frame of mind.

There are mornings that the joy I feel inside literally flows like a river. What my experiences keep teaching me is that the greatest success we can achieve in our lives is contentment, peace, and joy.

Since I came to the understanding that my happiness is my responsibility and doesn’t lie in anyone’s hands, or in material gains, I’ve found that happiness easier to hold on to.

There’s always something to be grateful for, all you have to do is to look inside. Be kind to yourself and others.

Jacqueline

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.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

Let’s Not Throw Stones – Stream of Consciousness Saturday

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Glass houses shatter and everyone inside gets cut with the jagged shards.

Today’s prompt ‘glass,’ for SoCS made me think of the saying about people who live in glass houses, yet they are busy casting aspersions and throwing stones at those who live in brick houses or even no houses at all.

It made me think of my so-called classy, fine folks. Evangelicals who look into their looking glasses like the wicked stepmother and adjudge themselves as the very best of humankind, meanwhile the milk of compassion and empathy runs dry in their veins.

They hide their hypocrisy, prejudice and multitude of sins under falsehood, spouting off biblical quotes twisted to suit their purpose and case in time.

They spend valuable time picking specks from their neighbours’ eye’s yet huge logs of sin occupies their souls and front yard.

These modern days Evangelicals remind me of the Pharisees – the ruling class – who crucified Jesus. They hated Jesus not because He called them names, or called out their hypocrisy, but because He threatened their security, their prestige and their income. He was going to ruin everything they had worked so hard for and would get everybody killed.

Doesn’t it sound a bit familiar? Today, we have brokered uneven peace around the World. I wonder how long our glass houses can hold up?

I am a Christain and my believe is that the practice of my faith is not a Religion. It’s in the way that I would treat my fellow man.

I want to be able to look into my looking glass and see beyond the mirrored image before my eyes’. I want to see a clear image of who I am, when no one is watching, inside my closet.

The true reflection of a man is not that image that’s mirrored before his own eye’s, but the reflection of his soul. This is the reflection that I want to see through the glass.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

SoCS – Glass

Writers Quote Challenge

Prompt – Writers Quote Challenge

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Bernadette, Joan, and I invite you to join in on our blogging event called The Writer’s Quote Challenge.  We are looking for one more host/hostess to join in the fun.  So if you would like to pick up the challenge of hosting, just let one of us know.invitation-shel-silverstein

For this week’s prompt, here’s my offering:

The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking. Robert H Schuller

Never let the sun set on those dreams

even in the twilight of your days,

rather, let the moon shine on them,

casting them into beautiful pearls;

for your vintage collection.

I had a conversation last week with a friend who’s clocking 50 next month and during our talk, she expressed some disappointment for not having pursued her academics a bit further.

Now she just feels that she’s too old (especially back home in Nigeria) where she laughingly said that she would probably end up being the grandma of the class of young adults.

I told her that if she really wanted to do so, irrespective of age, she should go ahead and find something suitable to do at her own pace, after all, she’s not in competition with anyone.

Besides, the older she gets the more likely it is that her regrets will grow deeper.

I ruminated over this conversation for several days because as I spoke to her, my mind centered on some aspirations of mine that have been in the cooler for a bit due to family exigencies.

Am I ready to toss them over because I feel that I’m getting too old to go back to school? I don’t think so.

Those dreams that are within our reach should not be left to die irrespective of age because age is simply a convenient and lame excuse.

I look forward to reading your contributions.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Monday Motivations

Is New Year A New Beginning? – Monday Musings

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I wonder why at the end of each year we arm ourselves with new journals, scribble all those new year resolutions and jump into the starting year revving to go, yet by the end of the first quarter, we’ve fallen off the wagon of our resolutions, bruised and battered we simply try to limp along.

Years back I gave up on the idea of resolutions, rather I chose to start thinking of my goals as life solutions and decided to live each day as best as I could. Over time, I have also realized that these jumpstarts on resolutions create some sort of tension within us that makes us feel that we’ve let ourselves down when we don’t meet these goals and actually sets off negative ricochets and thought patterns.

Is a New Year truly a new beginning when the person living the year hasn’t done much changing in their thoughts, actions, and approach?

The fireworks of 31st December is not a magic wand that suddenly transforms us from the person we were to a new being. Of course, the excitement of the fireworks ushers in a new calendar year, however, what of the calendar within us?

What fireworks do we need to transform and to pursue those ideas, goals, and dreams that we want to achieve?

Change in our personal lives is a consistent, deliberate mental attitude that gradually transforms us from one state of mind to the other. It’s not sudden abracadabra.

Chances are that when we fail to work on the innate issues that cause us to derail from our objectives, we simply continue the cycle of falling off, losing faith, getting back on and on that before you know it, it’s another New Year’s Eve.

Each day has to count positively. By all means, we must set accountable and realistic goals, but we must also set the attitude and drive to meet them on a daily basis.

Jacqueline

Writers Quote Challenge

Prompt – All New Writers Quote Challenge

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Bernadette at http://www.HaddonMusings.com and I invite you to join in on our blogging event called The Writer’s Quote Challenge.

For this week, here’s my prompt below. I believe this quote might have come out based on recent reflections that I’ve been having which I would call personal accountability and stock-taking.

Let me share some of my thoughts with you.

“We are all vessels. The question is what are the contents of your vessel?” Jacqueline

Each day I wake up, I know that my life is not about finding myself since I already exist, but about creating myself out of the ‘me’ that I’ve been given, thus, I endeavour to create a me that I would look back at years later and find that I still like her.

If your body is a canvas
and all your thoughts are etched on it
would it be beautiful to see
or, would it make us cringe in fear and shame?

If your thoughts are an artwork
moulded for all to see
would it stand on a mantle
or, hidden away in the attic for no eyes’ to see?

If your words are droplets
shared with all around you
would it cleanse and refresh the listener
or, would it be corrosive like acid and burn their ears?

If our whole life is a cup
tipped over when it is full
would some smidgen of beautiful things come out
or, would ugliness pour out in generous quantity?

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S. We are continuing the same format and here that is: there are no rules to follow. Either make up your own sayings or use a quote from a famous author that you find gives you inspiration.

Each Thursday, we will post the prompt and all you have to do is participate!

On your own blog post do a pingback to this post and make sure to “like” or “comment” on everyone else’s post. A pingback is when you embed (or copy) the URL of my weekly prompt into your own blog post.

Make sure to check our weekly prompt to see if your entry is there. You can copy URL of your blog post and include it in the comments section of my original weekly prompt if that works better for you.

Copy the badge above and include it in your own post. Tag your post on your own blog as “The Writer’s Quote Challenge,” so we can find the posts in the reader.

We are looking for more hosts to join in the fun.  So if you would like to pick up the challenge of hosting, just let one of us know.

For last week’s postings, you can check this link.

Thank you for participating and compliments of this season once again.

 

Writers Quote Challenge

Prompt – All New Writers’ Quote Challenge

jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

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Here’s my weeks’ prompt for writers’ quote.

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Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations – Author unknown

When I want to clear my head, I either take a long walk or a long drive and just admire my surroundings. It gives me room to be by myself, to mull over things and to return with a clearer perspective. It’s actually an indulgence and a source of rejuvenation for me, just to go off and wander.

Most times, my wandering yields total satisfaction.  Issues that appeared so difficult earlier becomes less burdensome by the time I’ve taken them apart piece by piece and I am equally rewarded by the sights, sounds and total experience of being out and about.

I’ve literally stumbled on beautiful destinations while trying to navigate unknown routes during my walkabouts or should I say drive about.

Just on Saturday, I took off to somewhere and got lost, in trying to navigate my way back to the right route, I stumbled across this beautiful waterside with loads of lovely boats and yachts. I parked my car, took several photos, enjoyed the sights and was thankful I’d missed my way 🙂

I’ve equally experienced lots of beautiful results that are the culmination of things that appeared difficult at the onset and the lesson that I take from these experiences is not to be misled by a tough beginning because the situation can turn around and it would end with praise.

The Sojourn

I’ve walked many miles on these feet of mine,

my knapsack strapped on my back and

my hope held within my heart.

Many times, I have no idea where my steps would lead,

most times the terrain has been difficult to navigate.

Countless times I’ve stubbed my toes and fallen to the ground,

bled through my sole, blisters, corns and callous decorate my feet,

But, I can’t, I don’t and I won’t stop going,

for the rainbow in the horizon keeps beckoning and

the breathtaking beauty ahead makes the sojourn worthwhile.

Jacqueline

Bernadette at www.HaddonMusings.com

Jacqueline at www.Acookingpotandtwistedtales.com

Bernadette and I invite you to join in on our blogging event called The Writer’s Quote Challenge. We have decided to pick up the baton that Colleen and Ronovan have handed off.

We are continuing the same format and here that is: there are no rules to follow. Either make up your own sayings or use a quote from a famous author that you find gives you inspiration.

Each Thursday, we will post the prompt and all you have to do is participate!

On your own blog post do a pingback to this post and make sure to “like” pingback” on everyone else’s post. A pingback is when you embed (or copy) the URL of my weekly prompt into your own blog post.

Make sure to check our weekly prompt to see if your entry is there. You can copy URL of your blog post and include it in the comments section of my original weekly prompt if that works better for you.

Copy the badge above and include it in your own post. Tag your post on your own blog as “The Writer’s Quote Challenge,” so we can find the posts in the reader.

Writers Quote Challenge

Prompt – All New Writers’ Quote Challenge

jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

For this week’s prompt, I choose this simple quote of peace below.

We all want peace in our lives, but how much peace do we contribute to others in our own little ways?

Be the peace that you seek – Fil Tribble

Please check these links for individual posts on last week’s prompt.

Ramblings of a writer

Brew N Spew

The Black Wall Blog

Stevie Turner

Janmalique

Haddons Musings

Here’s my contribution to the quote above

The entirety of mankind

is one Nation under the blue sky.

For the stars do not know us as different,

they count us as one.

The peace we deny each other,

is the trouble that we stoke for ourselves.

For you to have peace indeed,

you must offer the same to your neighbour.

When you remember that you are one,

the journey to find peace is far easier.

I am your other self.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

 

invitation-shel-silverstein

Bernadette at www.HaddonMusings.com

Jacqueline at www.Acookingpotandtwistedtales.com

Bernadette and I invite you to join in on our blogging event called The Writer’s Quote Challenge. We have decided to pick up the baton that Colleen and Ronovan have handed off.

We are continuing the same format and here that is: there are no rules to follow. Either make up your own sayings  or use a quote from a famous author that you find gives you inspiration.

Each Thursday, we will post the prompt and all you have to do is participate!

On your own blog post do a pingback to this post and make sure to “like”pingback” on everyone else’s post. A pingback is when you embed (or copy) the URL of my weekly prompt into your own blog post.

Make sure to check our weekly prompt to see if your entry is there. You can copy URL of your blog post and include it in the comments section of my original weekly prompt if that works better for you.

Copy the badge above and include it on your own post. Tag your post on your own blog as “The Writer’s Quote Challenge,” so we can find the posts in the reader.

We are looking for more hosts to join in the fun.  So if you would like to pick up the challenge of hosting, just let one of us know.

My Thinking Corner

Tuesdays’ Trickles – My Thinking Corner

jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

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This quote above is me talking to myself lately. I’ve embarked on different things and there are days that I wake up believing that I know what I am doing, but by the end of the day I just feel as though I am bumbling around mindlessly as though the hills that I have to climb are so high and the valleys cold and lonely.

On such days, I whisper a silent prayer of hope in my heart and holding on to my little seed of faith, I keep following the green light, knowing that all things work together for my own good.

In face of doubt, don’t relent. Take a deep breath and reevaluate. What is there to gain in turning away from your direction? What is there to gain in forging ahead? Much more. So, let’s keep on our course.

Bisi shares a short, inspiring and uplifting post with us. Please check it out and support her.

Thank you.

My Thinking Corner

Tuesday Trickles – My Thinking Corner

jacquelineobyikocha5 Comments

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When we begin to feel guilt for failing in doing certain things, it’s a good indication that we are possibly overloaded.

It’s often better to cut out trivial chores and pastimes here and there and face the vital stuff until we are able to get it together.

It’s also okay to be kind to yourself when you fall behind. No! You don’t have superpowers 😉

Some days I’m stuck, not knowing what to write – I guess that’s why 50 blog post ideas and activities to beat the bloggers’ block is great, but I also realized that it’s okay not to be fully optimized in my thoughts every day. Some days, my brain just wants to be chill.

Jacqueline

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. You can check this link for more details.

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Featured Blogs

Featured Posts 141 – Share Your Post Links

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‘PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN THE LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Short Sunday Post The elements evokes and inspires deeply. It does that to me. When the storm is over, the calm comes with enriched vigour.

Problematic We  A thought-provoking post.

The perception we have about their reality may be imaginative. Maybe problems do not exist. Maybe our mind is a factory which creates a problem. Maybe our problems are illusions.

Forever Young Yes, I have to keep thinking like this. It’s better to dwell on the positive side of aging 🙂

Mirror others are said to be mirror for us There’s so much truth in this post. It’s worth reading again and again.

Ain’t gonna be no swine Aria I totally love this short piece. It made me laugh with the witty wisdom. Take a peek 🙂

Do step in and show some love.

‘Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

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. 

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