I just can’t give up now ‘cos I’ve come too far from where I’m coming from. Nobody told me that the journey would be easy, but believe me when I say it’s been a struggle (to put it mildly).

In recent weeks, my heart hasn’t been in the right place. I’ve struggled to find my sunshine through the dark clouds that it’s been hard to even crack a smile. Should I pretend that all feels well to me?

Should I feign ignorance of the ugliness of what’s going on in the World? Fake the fact that to some people I’m subhuman because I’m black? How easy is that if I may ask?

Let me tell you the truth, I’m not feeling like the sunny child that I am. I feel mad, ugly with deep-rooted anger and so sad. My husband is travelling to the States for some weeks and I’m virtually having palpitations from unreasonable fear, in as much as I keep telling myself to stop with the negative thinking and not to let the enemies of progress steal my peace.

I realize that it’s so easy to drown in the deluge of bad news that constantly hovers and I have to save myself from drowning just yet, if ever at all. I’ve consciously used you, my friends as my crutch, my family, exercise, music, prayers, writing out my anger and tearing it up and then writing my thanks and keeping it before my eyes. These may seem like meaningless acts, but they work. It helps me to keep my thoughts in the right place and to give thanks in everything with a grateful heart and believe me when I say that there’s a lot to give thanks for. To me, my need and state of peace and thankfulness far outweigh all the foolishness out there put together.

Being thankful is a process that releases good thoughts in you. It triggers the positive side of your brain that improves your self-esteem, your mental strength, your psychological health, sense of empathy and so much more.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

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 fulfilment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog,Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

P.S. We’ll be having our monthly blog party 1st – 2nd of October. I’ll keep you posted.