Excellentexcuses have become expedient to cook up these days in my mind more than anything else. I’ve used the great excuse of Summer vacation as an escapade to slack on my writing project and building my second blog.
Excuses of being busier than my 24 hours have been quite easy to conjure that each day I defer another exercise session for the next day and the next day and the next day while eating all the sugary, buttery popcorns as well as hot-dogs. Yeesh!! No more excuses!
I won’t lie that I haven’t enjoyed all the exceptional extra-curricular timeouts with the children, but at the same time, I have a little voice nagging in my head and pointing indicting fingers at me. My muses are mad and I won’t be surprised if they choose to pack their bags and go on a long vacation as well to teach me a lesson.
I am trying to examine and extricate my mind from the sluggish bind that it’s been in for a while and make some sensible plan on how to approach my personal projects before the children resume school in a couple of weeks and the mad exhausting rush of a busy life catches on.
Do have an excellent weekend and thank you Linda, for the ‘ex’ prompt. It’s made me say what’s been dancing around on my mind on how to exterminate all the excuses that I’ve latched on to.
Jacqueline
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.
Daisy’s refreshing posts filled with candour drew me to her. When you read them, the bubbly spirit of the soul behind the writing seeps out and she has a way of making me smile. She’s been a supportive presence in this space and I enjoy our witty banters.
Daisy dear, thank you for taking the time from your busy life to share more of you with us. I truly appreciate you and extend my warm regards.
Jacqueline
Hi – I’m Daisy as I like to be called on my Blog. My real name can be found on my website. I love the daisy because like it, I have felt like a weed most of my life and like the daisy when it turns its face to the sun it blooms. I liken myself to the Daisy because I am 100% imperfect. I’ve done terrible things, some amazing things too. I’m human.
I have had a colourful life. I was born in South Africa and lived there until I was 18.
I am a French nationality, mixed with Russian and English and would liken myself to what I call ‘a pavement special’ or a mongrel. A good mix.
I have travelled a lot and lived in many different parts of the world. Miami, Marseille, Grenoble, England, Barcelona.
MY HOME AND THIS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE I GREW UP KNOWING – UMGHLUNGA ROCKS, KWA ZULA NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA – ALWAYS PERFORMING
CARRY DE ROUET, MARSEILLE ,FRANCE WITH LILAC AND MOCHA RIP XX
BARECLEONA WITH GRAN AND MY AUNT RIP.
HAVING FUN IN BLACKPOOL, U.K.
I am proud of my family. One of my aunts is from the Dominican Republic, another is Mexican and my cousin is married to a Chinese woman.
So, to say I was brought up in the Apartheid era, I can say that the government’s plan failed atrociously when it came to my family. Ha, Ha!
MY COUSINS FROM MIAMI –FIRST TRIP TO THE U.K.
MY AUNTS.
I love to socialise, write, connect, act, and write.
I am two months away from starting my Masters in Creative writing with the Open University. My aim is to become a creative writing specialist in the mental health sector.
Here is a video of me graduating with my BA (Hons) in Art and humanities in November 2015.
I do a lot of volunteering with different mental health charities. I love doing workshops to raise mental health awareness and reduce Stigma.
We all have mental health and are all subject to good and bad moments. I think people need to really wake up and face up to the fact that having mental health issues does not make you crazy.
It’s something I am passionate about.
I really love going to music gigs, festivals and the theatre, movies and I love drinking cocktails.
Unfortunately, I have not had much of a social life for the past 3 years – we were saving up for our wedding. This is my G and my beautiful daughter Bella Bee – (as I like to call her).
MY GRAN MADE IT TO MY WEDDING –STANDING IN THE PINK DRESS IS HER CARER.
I love writing stage scripts. I think I have always been creative but I had a few issues and many people saw this vulnerability in me and I let people take advantage of me .
I started this blog because I am always up for a challenge. If someone tells me, I can’t do something or have something or someone even. 🙂 I have a damn good go at making it my goal to get it. I sound terrible. Yes, I can be but I do have a good heart. I wear mine on my sleeve.
NANOWRIMO 2015 GOAL ACHIEVED
It has taken me many years to realise I am a good person and not crazy or insane. I displayed “crazy” symptoms at an early age. I got involved in drugs, bad eating habits – I grew up way too fast and people judged me for it. I hear about people I used to know going through similar problems only now in their own lives.
It’s so easy to judge.
An example. In a place where I lived, there was a person who happened to dress as a woman. I do not know if he wanted to be a woman or just enjoyed it. It wasn’t my problem. It wasn’t a problem to me at all. People used to make fun of him. Take his pictures and put them on social media websites. It’s deplorable. I found out a bit about his background and it turned out his mother wanted a daughter but got him instead and forced him to act and dress as a girl.
So, I am one of those people with a lot of passion and drive and will stand up for the issues I am passionate about.
I remember way back in 20008/09 – I had just come out of an 8-month stint in an Eating disorder clinic.
GETTING NAKED FOR ISSUES I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT
I signed up to do a degree in acting performance. My confidence was way down in the gutter. People didn’t know how to take me. I know I had moments where I went manic and went on benders and was most certainly not stable- some people did try and reach out to help. I didn’t even know how to help myself. I got into a bad relationship.
Think: black, blue, purples, and yellows.
Lots of drinking and over-dosing to escape my situation. Arguments. Sexual boundaries blurred.
I had an abortion.
I then had my daughter Bella Bee and when I finally left the relationship – I got punished for it.
Long story short, social services got involved – I was fighting my ex and a draconian system to prove I could look after my child with support and some life-style changes. After 16 months, I won.
So, yeah – I am no innocent but then again not many people are. I think what bothers me the most is people who pick out vulnerable people to cover up their own insecurities.
The amount of secrets people have confided in me then make out as if I am less of a person because nobody knows their story. They are not my secrets to tell but don’t wonder why I react the way I do when someone I know acts like they have never done a wrong thing in their life and well…..Whatever, right.
Smell your own crap before pointing fingers at someone else. Some people are in a better place than others and others are not.
Life changes all the time. Nothing is fixed. The wheel is always turning.
I think I am a good person. I do shitty things, but mostly my heart is in the right place.
So , back to why I started this Blog. I was sick of whispers and finger pointing so I went public and said – I am this person who is awesome, has a life, a heart , a brain , goals –purpose and so what if I have mental health issues.
I was very passionate about sharing my experience of a 12-week course I had done with a volunteer charity – the program is called WRAP.
One year later (end of September 2016 ) and I will have done the training to be a WRAP group co-facilitator: ready to reveal and create a supportive and safe environment for other people to explore other ideas about how they might like to look at how they deal with their lives and issues.
I’ve been completely blown away by just the WordPress community. I can’t believe how much support and praise I get. I don’t get this from people I have known or even met in my life, yet a total stranger can read my story and read what I have to say and actually validate that, in a positive manner.
It has really given me a new perspective.
I used to think everything that went wrong was because of me.
That’s kind of egotistical –I mean –there is more than little old me in this world. I finally know that many people like to project their shit on to another person. I am not saying I haven’t done some messed up things. I’m the first to put my hand up when I do wrong.
Blogging has helped me see people differently. I am learning where and who to invest my emotional energy on and who is not significant. This is an ongoing process.
In the real world and the blogging world.
I –uh –am active in the WP community. I get to know people. I am learning that sometimes, there are only so many times I can reach out and if I get no reciprocation then I have to move on. There are only 24 hours in a day and life is short. Life is be lived.
I have found better-coping mechanisms over the last few years. There is a part of me who is impulsive and does want and does go out and seek out my chosen vices.
These moments –gladly are becoming less and less frequent as I grow as a person.
Yeah, what you see is what you get. Ha ha.
I don’t know what post links to share. My blogging content has evolved massively. I even write poetry now. Which is something I have never thought I could do – until a few months ago.
I’m very much a free flow writer… I don’t do a lot of prepping unless it is to do with writing a script or fiction but even them I think the less planning and the more doing is where the work and my best ideas and creativity are found.
I have said so much already…..
What is a typical day like for me?
I have my daughter and my Husband. I am very close to my Mom and my two Grans. My Gran is in the last stages of Vascular Dementia, I try and support my Mom as much as I can, even though it breaks my heart to see what this illness has done to my Gran and to my Mom.
I Blog, a lot of time goes into volunteering. Soon that will include lots more work with me studying again.
I think it is good to keep busy. Idle hands and all that … ha, ha!
I have a first born who happens to be a Bengal – here is Miss Tatiana
MISS TATIANA- FIRST BORN
I do normal stuff, really. Nothing terribly exciting.
CARTWHEELS ARE FREE, NON –TOXIC AND FUN
BELLA BEE’S BALLET AND TAP RECITAL-PROUD MOMENT
MY BELLA BEE
REFUGEE WEEK – NEIGHBOURS DAY IN THE PARK 2016
I was turned down for a writing job recently but I got some feedback so that helps.
In terms of what is next for me and Blogging or publishing something. I don’t know yet. I need to find some balance and time for myself too. I want to use my Blog in some way as a platform for what I do in volunteering, in the future, to help people.
I’ve published one short story (totally on impulse) at kindle. The First story of mine ever graded in uni and I was super proud.
Yeah… Lame, right. I know I am on a good path, right now. I’m enjoying the journey. The destination is moving forwards and bettering my life.
As I grow as a person –my idea of what is the “perfect” life may change. Happiness is the main goal –
That is it really. I have gone on for quite a bit.
Thanks Jackie for giving me this opportunity to share a bit more of myself with others.
It always seems impossible when I think about doing something and then I start writing /typing or doing whatever it is and all of a sudden I am at the finish line. I look back and I go” How the hell did get here? “
‘Always Look for the silver linings’ is one of my favourite quotes.
Below is a song I love to listen to when I feel despondent “Make believe by Nora Bayes.”
Many people tell me to become a life coach.
Ha ha! The skies the limit.
P.S: If you are interested in guest posting, send an email to JacquelineObyIkocha@gmail.com.
You are cordially invited to our monthly blog party happening right now. Join in through this link.
Hold on to your hope; for hope is the leaven that bakes the bread of your expectation – Jacqueline
Hope Rising
****
Even when my breath falters in trepidation
hope burgeons within my soul.
For the spirit of light
must outshine the pitch of darkness
and the strength of love
bends the hopeless state of hatred.
Indeed,
Our Hope in humanity must arise
even in the midst of dire crisis.
**
Giving up hope is as good as giving up breathing because each day that we live, we are faced with challenges that require the strength of our hope, faith and courage to get through.
Sometimes dire situations can cause us to become despondent, however, there are various ways of holding on to your hope whilst you walk through a situation. One can’t just roll over and give up. We’ve got to keep holding on to hope, walking our way through, for no circumstance is permanent.
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.
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.
“Memories are intricate webs of souvenirs and thoughts left behind. They are woven around our hearts and minds, and journey with us wherever we go.” Jacqueline
Thoughts of you follow me everywhere
that some days I wake with the desperate desire
to see you just one more time.
The strength of my feeling
evokes your peaceful voice
and I hear you speak in my head.
Memories of you clutch my heart
and cling to my soul
your fists hold firm with unforgettable love.
The time spent here with you
and the memories you etched upon my life
as sure as genes passed from generation to generation.
They stay with me
their echoes whisper in the gentle wind,
in my heart and in my mind.
My memories of you keep you alive
as I see your dark handsome face
filled with wisdom and gentle kindness.
As it expands in my mind’s eye,
bittersweet memories they can be
bringing tears to my eyes
and a lump in my throat.
…But these memories of you I will never let go for I love you even more with the passage of time.
I never forget.
I write this poem above with thoughts of my dad. I doubt if there’s a day that passes by without thoughts of my loved ones who have passed on floating through my mind.
Some memories leave indelible marks on the recipient that they become invisible fabrics that we wear on our person. Some memories are bittersweet, poignant, sweet, dark, happy, hurt and so many other emotions attached to it.
There are memories that dig deep holes inside us and in a way molds us into who we become. I have memories like everyone else; some are full of dark misery, joyful memories, sweet ones, light ones, poignant ones. Some memories were handed by life as a gift that I didn’t choose and some were created by deliberate interactions.
Life will still continue to hand out memories that it chooses for us, but it’s up to you to continue striving in creating memories of light and joy, therefore it’s up to you to turn those memories of dark misery into an enlightening experience.
In my writing, my memories serve as a compass for me when I draw into myself and allow my senses to feel everything that I felt at the moment when that memory was created. Sometimes, I am able to catch them in words and sometimes, I am unable to translate what I feel in concrete terms.
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.
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
Concentratedemotions 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.
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 andconcentratedeffort 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.
Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea
If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee
Each day was worse than the day before, as her tyranny seemed to graduate a notch per day.
Nothing he did was good enough and she had practically turned him into her slave – working and handing over his earnings to her, cooking, cleaning and serving her hand and foot, yet she whined.
Each time she threatened to call the immigration on him.
Each time he wondered if the price he was paying was worth the passport he hoped to get through this hellish marriage, since their love had flown out of the window.
Life is full of crooked paths that we don’t envisage, no matter how much we plan.
Of course, there are certain things that we can take charge of and brace ourselves for incidentals, but there’s really so much that one can do.
However, when we keep our minds on a positive track, we’ll find a way through that tight and crooked path onto a more suitable highway.
Writing is not an easy path at all. It’s not a journey to instant wealth, but when we look at the fulfilment derived and also know that our works will hopefully ingrain themselves on the sands of time, that is gratification that keeps you going through this windy and tedious path.
**today I realised that this is the 100th-midnight musings post and it amazes me that I’ve been able to keep up with it**
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.
Masters body sat in the big black armchair frozen in time, but his thoughts were still razor sharp. He sat in his comatose state, waiting for the rebirth from his ancient self into a fledgling of a boy.
The pains that he had cruelly inflicted on others ripped through his veins with piercing intensity, that each drop of rebirth serum snarled at him, yelling in anger as it slowly trickled through veins that were on fire.
He was combusting from the heat that engulfed his being, but the voice of ‘She’ ignored his mindful pleas to be set free unchanged.
Her ethereal blue eyes held him calmly in place even as her thoughts loudly reverberated in his mind.
“You must be patient she said. For you can’t achieve that which you seek until you shed your ancient skin of cynicism and look with eyes reborn through the depths of your soul.”
The story above is in response to this week’s WQWWC’s prompt ‘rebirth.’ A word that I find interesting and personally inspiring.
It’s a word that tells me different things. It tells me that I have to let go of some old vision and allow my inner eye’s to be renewed with new sight.
It tells me that sometimes out of my own ashes, I can rise to find myself over and over again as long as I believe, for as long as I am breathing.
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.
From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.
Since I met Brenda a couple of months ago, we’ve got on famously to such an extent that she made a decision to pitch a tent in my blogging camp as a strategic partner.
Her articles pull the writer in so much so that you follow the journey of her words and live in their nakedness. I admire her drive and I see her going far.
All the best my dear friend and thank you for accepting to step in and have a chat with us.
With one of her gorgeous daughters.
First of all, I would like to thank Jacqueline for interviewing me. I’m both honored and humbled.
Secondly, I ‘m a teacher who loves learning, writing, music and coffee.
I mostly substitute teach with replacement positions. I substitute teach by choice. It offers me the chance to see as many students as possible.
If I took a full-time position, I’d miss all the other students that I know. I’m lucky to live in the small town of Labrador City, Canada where substitute teaching is a full-time job.
I’ve known many of my students for years. They know how much I love seeing them 🙂
I started blogging last August, after a five-week road trip. I figured it was time.
I actually started my blog with no expectations whatsoever. I set up my account and just started writing about whatever came to mind.
My early posts were personal essays which are a little too formal for my tastes. It wasn’t until I wrote my first poem in October that I discovered my true passion.
When I wrote that first post in August, I had no idea how many amazing people I would meet. I love being part of the blogging community. I also had no idea how much support I’d receive or how interactive the blogosphere is.
It’s become my favorite place to be: my home in cyberspace. Bloggers rock!
My life outside the blogosphere is nothing out of the ordinary. My daily routine includes work, workout, chores, blogging and Netflix. I tell students that I’m boring but consistent 🙂
Right now, I share mostly poetry through my blog. I’m hoping to branch out this summer with a fitness and music category. I’ll see what else develops. For now, I’m enjoying the journey with no set destination in mind.
Unlike some of my amazing fellow bloggers, I’ve never been published, nor have I published. I do, however, have an early poem about to be published. I’ll be sure to share when I’m notified of the date.
I wasn’t sure what post to include, but I decided on ‘Color Wheel’. A poem celebrating my belief that despite our differences, we all share a common humanity. A humanity that connects each and every one of us.
Inspired by my amazing friend Jacqueline (just sayin’) 🙂 I may start a series of poems for self-publication this summer. All in due time, right?
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.
The cover of a book
is a door through a nook
that leads me down adventurous paths
where I’ve never been before.
The last book I read
had many tales to tell
of a maiden who sought adventure
and found true love’s treasure
She was a lass from Singapore
who wanted something more
she desired more of life’s pleasure
and set off on an adventure
She arrived in Dallas
where she met a bloke with class
a cool cowboy with a banjo
who twirled her in a tango.
Our prompt for this week’s Writers Quote Wednesday’s challenge is ‘adventure,’ a word that is synonymous to something exciting.
However, my question is does adventure have to be only when we set off on something grand to escape the ordinary?
If that’s the case then the greater part of our lifetime is lost when we fail to collect our little moments and turn our otherwise mundane life into an adventure of finding deep pleasure in the simple things.
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 have to say I’m in awe and spellbound by her poetry. 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.
![Hope_rose[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/hope_rose1.jpg)
![Memories[2]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/memories2.jpg)
![1466066800048[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14660668000481.jpg)
![Rose[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/rose1.jpg?w=354&h=151)
a cooking pot and twisted tales 