Gratitude

But I want some more…

August 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

As I spent some early morning moments attempting to reach in deep into the reflection of my inner spirit to draw strength from there, I oscillated between moments of thankfulness and the selfish wants of human nature to ask and want for more.

I totally appreciate this Summer time spent with family doing things together without the harried mix of school runs and homework in the mix. I was even persuaded to rejoin Karate Dojo classes despite my debacle several years back and yes, yours truly is inching up to a yellow belt in no time (though I suspect that the Sensei (Trainer) is treating me nice 😉

The beautiful times spent discovering new things and many raucous moments of sibling squabbles and motherly scolds are all cherished, and surprisingly, my grey hairs didn’t multiply in anguish. We are a palette of individualities meshed together to form one loving and sometimes maddening unit and I can’t have it any other way. If truth be told, I hate to see the Summer season fly past in such a hurry – the good side is that the heat will come down a notch as well – all things being equal.

Underlying my state of thankfulness is certain discontent that I can’t disregard but it doesn’t diminish my gratitude for the blessings of these past days. I guess the Oliver Twistish part of me simply wants more of such goodness so I’ll strive to keep enjoying and living fully in the moments that I’m given.

I hope your heart is grateful for something today.

Shalom

P.S: 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

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Gratitude

The little things…

August 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha31 Comments

Today, I am grateful for the little, simple things of life. For the gift of a new day, waking up, working out briskly, enjoying a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and my own tasty homemade minestrone soup. Yummy 😊

I am especially grateful for passing an academic assessment that had kept my studious nose on a grindstone like a high scholar.

I appreciate the little moments of life’s serenity to exhale and to be my best. The bits of opportunities life brings me each day must never be taken for granted; to live, to laugh, to love, to cry, to hope and to believe.

Each day I strive not to toss the day aside like an unwanted penny left by the sidewalk, knowing fully well that the addition of each penny increases the value of your total holding.

There’s always something to be grateful for.

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Gratitude

We Never Know…

August 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

On Wednesday an Emirates plane crash-landed at DXB tarmac and burst into flames. Thankfully, all 300 passengers made it out alive but it was all so surreal to me.

It felt surreal because less than half-an-hour before the incident occurred, I had just picked up my husband from a long haul 19hrs flight from the US where he went for an Award ceremony – he’s also an award recipient. As we watched the plane blaze on television, I couldn’t even imagine the horror the passengers must have felt when they knew that their plane was going to crash-land.

It dawned on me that though a minute might seem so small, a minute can change everything. Things that we take for granted like a loved one saying, “see you soon,” just the way my husband did before he boarded his flight in NewYork, might very well be the last words exchanged forever.

It drew it close home to my mind that not only should we live fully in the moments that we are given – not just existing, but love living and never fail to let those who are dear to us know how we feel about them. I am not trying to sound like a prophetess of doom but to face the reality of the life that we live.

I am grateful that the crashed plane’s situation was contained and well managed. I am grateful for my husband’s safe return even as I watch him reschedule his travel plans to Lisbon since all flights from Dubai have been suspended in the interim. I hold onto hope that as Grace kept him and brought him home safely, journey mercies will also proceed to Portugal with him.

Let us never forget that a thankful and grateful state of mind is to have a great attitude and a whispered prayer that keeps our earnest hope bright in our hearts.

P.S: 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.

InLinkz

I hear the reverberations of the magic that’s hidden within.

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Gratitude

Mixed Feelings… personal

July 27, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha41 Comments

Often, getting older can be viewed with a mixed feeling of excitement and dismay. For the younger person, they feel that they are getting closer to independence while the older person sometimes wishes time could slow down a notch.

Having two of my favourite men (husband and one of my boys) celebrate their birthdays this week is a lot to be thankful for, asides from all the sweet consumptions that accompanies birthday celebrations, I am reminded of the countless blessings that my life has been decorated with. We are well. We have shelter and food. We have hope. We have a bright future. That is more than enough.

My son is fast galloping into a grown man and these days when I look at his tall, 6ft plus big frame, I remember my cute, itty-bitty baby boy with a head full of hair and shiny eyes. A boy who clung to me as a lifeline and laughed at my little jokes and play with him. Now he has his own ideas and jokes, independent in many ways and we are going through teenage ups and downs which I must confess baffles me at times.

Sometimes, the song “wish we could turn back time to the good old days,” hums in my head but I realize also that I wouldn’t have it any different than I do right now. Would I want my child to remain forever a child and not grow older? NO! This is the cycle of life and I am grateful to be a partaker as well as the parent of this beautiful child.

There are times I ask myself where time ran off to when I look at my darling Himself and realize that we’ve been married now for two months shy of 16 years and I realize that I’ve been awesomely blessed even when I didn’t know it. We are all aging with grace and maturing like fine wine and I am thankful 🙂

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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.

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‘A Richly Layered and Passionate Read.’ Jan Cliff

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

Gratitude

Just Because… personal

July 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

I woke up this morning with a heart filled with gladness and gratitude. I have no particular reason for feeling this full, but simply ‘Just Because.’

Thankful just because that’s the best way to feel. I haven’t forgotten the things that are wrong, need to be fixed and all that, but my philosophy is that those things I can’t change in the immediate, I offer them up to God and for those I can deal with, I worry about them and seek solutions for them during my appointed/scheduled worry time early in the morning and thereby freeing my heart to enjoy the joy of living in the present.

I am thankful just because the children are on holiday after a rigorous school session. Yes there are lots of squabble time on their hands but there’s also a lot of laughter, fun and love caught in-between.

I am thankful just because of this medium of expression that I have. A medium that offers me the opportunity to interact with great and beautiful souls who enrich my thoughts every day.

I am thankful just because I am alive to live a new day, to write a new story, to make a difference in my own little way and just to be me.

I am thankful Just Because you are there and the thought of you makes me glad. Be Happy ♥

P.S: 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.

InLinkz

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

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

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

Gratitude · Life

Just hang in there…personal

June 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha24 Comments

Honestly, I’m thankful that it’s almost weekend over here and the school exams will be done with tomorrow.

I notice that not only is my mental acuity flagging from all the drilling revisions with the children, coupled with other responsibilities, I also feel a bit tense, so the weekend will be a most welcome pleasure.

The brilliant aspect is that all the grilling revisions are paying off. My first son’s exam grades came in looking shiny, so such news energized me a bit and I’m totally grateful because his subjects gave me more concern than those of his siblings.

The truth is that I secretly nursed an occasional thought of anxiety at his results at the back of my mind but I knew that since fear or worry wouldn’t solve any problems, the best thing to do is to work hard and commit the rest into the hands of God and I am not disappointed 🙂

Gratitude has been teaching me a lot. It has changed my perspective and has enriched my life far more than I can say.

There’s always something to be thankful for. I hope you find some reason to be.

Below is my first 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.

Out of the silent breath

The Great Book Of Lists · This Is My Life

Elements of my day and so far so good…The great book of lists.

May 29, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

La Duchesse has given us a double prompting and I’ll just race through me as quick as breeze:

Veggie sauce bubbling on the gas :-) — Veggie sauce bubbling on the gas 🙂

Her idea for this prompt ‘elements of my day and so far so good,’ comes from Brandon Burchard’s day planner.

So, the instructions are to build your list :

quickly jot your to-do list
what are the 3 things you are excited about today
what are the 3 things you are truly thankful for today

My quick to do list

Revise for the end of year exams with the children. I have to quiz them and go through their subjects before shooing them confidently out of the door to go and get those grades.
Conclude my monthly bulk cooking of stews, soups, and stuff: I always prepare at least two batches of our native soup amongst other stews to ease life a bit. These could serve as quick dinner or lunch on busy days. It earns me some hours of putting up my feet 😉
Continue partying on my blog and mixing with fab folks. Come on in 🙂
Place some calls to family in Nigeria.
Writing quick drafts of some of my blog posts for the coming week so that I can face my other writing works.
Tweak my second self-hosted site a little bit. Not yet ready to run.
Do some research work for work on Mastermind Learning and Development strategy.
Native vegetable ‘Edikan-ikong’ soup.

I am excited

That school Summer break will commence over here in a couple of weeks. Don’t have a holiday plan yet but looking forward to working out something.
I have been nominated for The Annual Blogger’s Service to Bloggers Award. Have you voted yet? Please do cast your votes. Who would have thought that lil‘ me will be nominated for such 🙂
Some new ideas are cooking in my head and it makes me feel all warm at the thought.
Getting my teeth into my second book. It’s been a bit slow.
A 3-day self-improvement workshop that I’ll be attending. Okay, I’ve overshot the 3 things.

I am thankful:

For my husband and children. They are kind and supportive.
The blog World and the great supportive people I meet here. I’ve learnt so much in this space.
For life in general. Each day is a splendid opportunity.

So far so good and so not good. I had to slip that in there 😉

I feel naughty and guilty for not having stuck to the ‘treat your body better rule’ that I set for myself. My weight loss has been sitting put like the Sitting Bull, but it’s my fault 😉 Okay, I’ve got that off my chest. Now to the good part.
My published poetry book makes me very happy.
The decent growth of my blog in just a year of blogging always amazes me. It’s just wonderful.
The endless burst of inspiration keeps me bubbling. I wish my fingers could work half as fast as the ideas that are streaming through my head.

Thank you, Duchesse. I enjoy your promptings.

P.S. You can join our Summer blog party by clicking the link. It’s taking place right now and really bubbling. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks. Looking forward to seeing you

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.

Out of the silent breath

Gratitude

The speed of time…

May 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

We draw to the close of May so fast that I’m left gasping to catch my breath.

Yesterday was just December, and now we are done with the 1st quarter of the year, with some water gone under the bridge and quite some notable celebrities have crossed over to the other side.

Today, my thoughts have been on a reminiscent drift. It’s three years today that my dad passed on and I find myself replaying a lot of scenes of the past in my mind. Not in a bad way but in a bitter-sweet way.

I find myself filled with peace. Peace for having known him as my father.

I’ve not achieved all that I set out for myself for this quarter. I’ve been slow, but I’m thankful for the much that I’ve done.

I’m grateful for the Grace and Favour received each day, to wake and see the rising Sun and pursue my dreams. To drink my warm cup of beverage and hope for tomorrow. I’m grateful.

There’s always something to be grateful for. You canYou can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

P.S. You are invited to our monthly blog party this weekend. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks 🙂

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.

Out of the silent breath

When his face is sought with such fervent endeavour

huge burdens become less of a pressure

for he adorns us with unquantified favour

which takes us up to a higher measure.

Gratitude · Hope

Keeping it all together…

May 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Sometimes, just when I feel that I can’t do this, the strength to go on comes and I know that such grace is only from above.

It’s been a super-charged week but I’m truly thankful for the sense of well-being, the inspiration, and motivation that I find in this place.

From being in long brain-storming meetings at work, wearing mother and wife hat, writing, blogging, networking and thinking of how best to market my poetry book, how to start my second self-hosted blog that’s calling me, squeezing out time for my second book, it’s really a full calendar, but I’m totally enjoying this.

The show of confidence this past couple of days from fellow sister bloggers who chose to be my strategic partners at a nominal fee has been such a heartwarming gesture.

I’m in the right place. I’m with the right people who inspire me a lot and I’m so thankful for these blessings.

There’s always something to be thankful for. I hope you see it, even if you’ve got to squint your eye 🙂

Blessed 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.

Out of the silent breath

A deep sense of satisfaction

of peace, I sense within,

as the Sun peeks to say hello

I am happy to embrace me.

*excerpt from my poem*

Gratitude · Personal

For these one’s, I give thanks…personal

May 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

There’s always a reason to be thankful no matter how minutiae, but today I have lots of reasons to be full of gratitude. Gratitude, Grateful, Prayer, Thanks, Blessings, Open

I am 2 day’s away from clocking 365 days of non-stop blogging and it puts me in a reminiscent mood. It may not mean much to some people, but I am still chuffed over the fact that I have diligently stayed the course.

My first book also got published over the weekend and I am totally excited about it.

The exemplary gentleman/publisher who worked with me on this project David Cronin of Moyhill publishing, Sally Cronin’s husband has been so supportive to this novice, answering all my questions down to the nitty-gritty and the book is already receiving excellent reviews.

I gained a worthy and supportive partner this last week, a fellow blogger whose articles inspire me very much. Kaylaa Blackwell of Inspired Beacon, I thank you for having enough confidence in me and finding it worthwhile to partner with me. I will be writing more on this in another post.

For amazing family and friends who don’t cease to surprise me, I am thankful you are all in my life. Your encouraging words literally fuel me. I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Below is my first 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.

Out of the silent breath

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.