Category: Words of Wisdom

Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Place of Peace, Interrupted

That one place 
Place no one knows 
Knows not where to look 
Look but unable to find 
Find your place of peace 
Peace not to be disturbed 
Disturbed for only one minute 
Minute that feels like eternity 
Eternity only an exaggeration 
Exaggeration of time 
Time only imagined  
Imagined to be infinite 
Infinite it is not 
Not by a longshot 
     
That one place 
Place now found 
Found, no longer sacred 
Sacred, private, peaceful 
Peaceful once, now tarnished  
Tarnished, perturbed, just bothered 
Bothered, tense, no longer a place of refuge 
Refuge from the outside noise 
Noise like loud and quiet chatter  
Chatter unnecessary and shady 
Shady in times when light is needed 
Needed to block out murder masked as self-defense 
Self-defense now used as a cover up 
Cover up for ill behavior of the letter groups 
 
Can’t we all just get along 
Along with each other 
Other people, faiths and skin tones 
Skin tones, just the outer part 
Part of the core of a human 
Human, we bleed the same as you 
You are not entitled to harass at will 
Will led by your lack of understanding 
Understanding nothing when it comes to rights 
Rights to which you are not the dictator 
Dictator to all people you deem unworthy 
Unworthy to be here just like you 
You in all your glory are delusional 
Delusional, unfair, self-righteous to a fault  
 
Place of peace, interrupted

As I write this, I am thinking about everything going on in the world right now and in the recent past. Too many people are senselessly losing their lives, and for what? People who feel that they are more powerful than you. People who feel that we are not worthy of life on this earth. The same way they are living and breathing; we have the right to be here too. The world is in chaos and a lot of us are experiencing unrest. Any semblance of peace, fading away. It is a sad state of affairs.

I can go on, but I think from the poem, you get where I am going with my sentiments. The price of peace should not be this expensive. Such a simple concept seems like too much to ask. Peace looks different for all of us. Be it 10 minutes alone with your thoughts, a one-hour nap, 20 minutes of meditation or cherished time with loved ones. Maybe, a day of not having to look over your shoulder in fear of being snatched up on the street.

Thank you for taking the time to read the post. My hope is that sooner rather than later, things will look up. I know in my heart that better days are to come. Prayer is always bigger than any problem.

Stay well and be blessed🙏🏽💞

Categories
Topic Words of Wisdom

Connect the Dots Interview with O’Nika

Interview with Founder of Inspire By O’Nika

In this video is an interview with me about the blog, Inspire By O’Nika. Why it was started and when. Connect the Dots host, Louis asks questions about the content of the blog and the motivation behind it. We talk about other ventures like the IBO Podcast and the You Tube channel, by the same name which I also started. The interview gives a little insight into the person behind the blog.

Connect the Dots interview with O’Nika-founder of Inspire By O’Nika

Inspiring and lifting other’s up is what I love. Check out a throwback post, Re-create; Dare to be You.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to watch🙏🏽 Thank you for the interview, Louis! Don’t forget to check out Connect the Dots podcast on You Tube.

Categories
Info Topic Words of Wisdom

Happy Anniversary IBO- Year #4

Inspire By O’Nika Turns 4

November 2nd is the day I started IBO. It was in 2021 that I was moved to begin blogging. It was the middle of the pandemic and a very troubling time. Because of that I felt like people could use some words of inspiration and hope. Even if for only the time it takes to read a post.

My journey started out with quotes, and varied topics. A few articles were of heavy content. For the most part, the content of Inspire By O’Nika is light-hearted, motivational and uplifting. 

Through the years I started to incorporate poetry. I have come to enjoy it and just have fun with it. I added some comedy to the blog too. Also, I have joined in various picture and word prompts. 

I say all that to say; thank you. Thank you to all the people who stop by to read my blog. People who have been supportive over the years. I appreciate the comments; short, long, and even if you just leave an emoji. Thank you for the likes and shares. 

4 years in the making, hoping to see another four. Continuing this writing journey with all of you is what keeps me going. I love all my readers who have been there from day one and new subscribers too. Thanks again for the love and support. 💕

A few memorable posts from the past year

Awakening of Rejuvenation
Sweeping Treescape
How to Break Out of Self-Limiting Beliefs and into Your Greatness
Can You Answer This? Do You Respect Your Partners Conflict Style?
Believe In Your Ideas
Where Bunions Go To Be Free

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

The Notebook

The Notebook- a Triolet
A Triolet

The notebook goes with the pen in my hand
Where thoughts come to life
From my head on to paper they land
The notebook goes with the pen in my hand
Laughter, grief, triumphs all stand
Emotions cut deep like a knife
The notebook goes with the pen in my hand
Where thoughts come to life

The original poem, The Notebook was written in response to the W3 prompt.

Thank you for taking the time to read. 💕

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

How to Break Out of Self-Limiting Beliefs and into Your Greatness

How to Break Out of Self-Limiting Beliefs and into Your Greatness

We all have the potential of greatness. Yes, even you. Some of us doubt ourselves and I understand at times when this can happen. It is the constant belief that we cannot achieve something that gets in the way. The negative self-talk and the constant questioning of our abilities.

I’ll give you an example. If you ever came up with an idea about a new product that you wanted to patent or an idea on a project that you wanted to start. The more you think about it, you start letting that doubt creep in. Saying things like, I can’t do this, I don’t have the capital. Or, I don’t know where to begin. Who am I kidding, this will never work because I don’t have the people skills, etc, etc.

The more days that pass the less you are excited about the idea. You started out all gung-ho but each day that this repeated cycle of negativity plays in your head, the idea is killed. Maybe it gets postponed to; someday. We all know that infamous someday.

In this video I will provide practical tips about ways we can begin breaking the cycle of self-limitations and start tapping into our greatness.

Thank you for stopping by! If you know someone who may benefit or enjoy the information, do not hesitate to share. You never know who might need to hear this message today.

As always, stay well and be blessed! 🙏💕

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Are We Evolving or Just Pressing Replay?

Are We Evolving or Just Pressing Replay?

A video message about how we can examine our lives and see where we can make changes for personal growth. It is easy to get stuck in the same ole ritual and routines. Before you know it, you look up and discover that 2 years have gone by and things are just as they were this whole time.

In this video, I will share some ideas to get started on a path of growth and challenging ourselves. If you find yourself feeling stuck or stagnant; don’t fret, we can always change things. The rewards are great when we do. We feel a sense of achievement, we make ourselves more open to trying new things and we also get a boost in confidence.

Get out your pen and paper and take notes. It may feel like a homework assignment, but it will be one of the the best investments of time that we can pour into ourselves!

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”-James Baldwin

The first thing we are going to do is compile a list. Review that list and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Am I learning anything from this activity?
  • Am I growing mentally, emotionally or physically?
  • Does this activity challenge me?

Secondly, seek out new activities

  • Do some research, talk to people you know who may make a suggestion
  • Try to pick something that is not your usual go-to or something that you may not have been interested in before, try it now

Lastly, challenge yourself by overcoming a fear

Ex: if you are afraid of heights, if you feel socially awkward or are afraid to speak in public.

I hope you find the information in this video useful. As always, thank you for watching.

Thank you for stopping by! Stay well and be blessed! 💖

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Flutter, Flutter

Flying high and low
Landing for a peek inside
Unique beings and places
Telling their stories
Tantalizing hues of light
Ethereal I appear to some
Reassuring, you are not alone

Flutter, Flutter is an original poem written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje.

Photo by Jian Xhin on Unsplash

As always, thank you for stopping by to read! You are much appreciated! 💕🙏🥰

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Eternally Unobstructed

Free Forever

Eternally Unobstructed

A Tanka

free forever clear
remove opposition block
things imagined seen
be not obstructed free will
our mind the key eternal

Thank you for stopping by and reading💕🙏

Eternally Unobstructed is written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje.

Image credit: Eveling Salazar on Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Tiempo/Time

Tiempo/Time

An Etheree

time 
waits for 
nobody 
waste not today 
tomorrow comes quick 
life on earth taken for 
granted, make not the mistake 
of piddling precious moments, now 
is the time, put your stamp on living 
the most meaningful and fulfilling life

Release the Weight
Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Healing On the Isle of Ova

The Isle of Ova, a place to heal. Health takes an ugly turn and the aftermath of solving one problem, brings on another entire set of new ones. The Isle of Ova is a place for reflection. Healing can begin when you take time to really sit and think about things that transpire.

Life is such a magical wonder. Such small organs of a woman’s body have so many beneficial and essential functions. Modern technology in medicine makes it possible to take care of uterine fibroids and other women’s health problems. This poem was written in recognition of Fibroid Awareness Month. 



Dear Ovaries
You hold the beginning
Until time to go down the halls
Into the incubator

The incubator which awaits the sperm
Fertilizing, growing, forming
Just what mother nature intended
Creating life, performing

Dear Ovaries
Release protecting hormones
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
Supporting libido all the way through
Helping with strength of my bones

Dear Ovaries
Regulating hormonal balances
Body temperature, sleep cycle
Emotional and physical health alike

Ovaries, I bid you farewell
Fibroids, ovarian cysts invading space
Pain, bleeding, energy drained
Quality of life displaced

Pain and bleeding stopped, energy restored
New set of angst replaced
Hot flashes, insomnia, moodiness and night sweats
A sense of loss and new body shape

HRT, calcium, vitamin D
Bones slowly restoring health
Libido in the wind
Wondering if you will ever see it again

Dear Ovaries
Such an organ to behold
Your functions, more precious than gold
Oophorectomy means to take
A woman's core keepsake

Healing On the Isle of Ova is written in response to the W3 Prompt #169.

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Sweeping Treescape

A Double Etheree

Trees
stand tall
swaying side
left right fast slow
breeze constructs movement
leaves obeying the wind
trying not to blow away
maple elm fir oak spruce birch pine
retaining the treescape with beauty
evergreen erect regal towering

Canopy preserving abodes families
cleaning the air providing shade too
pine needles falling on rooftops
lasting fragrance by nature
beautiful to the eyes
suited for picnics
summer hot days
play eat smile
rejoice
breathe

The poem titled, Sweeping Treescape is written in response to the prompt.

Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy!

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Singing and Soaring

Singing and Soaring

A Tanka

Perched bird
Perched now I sit poised
Biding time patience takes flight
Singing a song chirp
Soaring over obstacles
Worries fade in the distance

The poem, Singing and Soaring was written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje.

Image credit: Nik at Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Flowy Water Under the Bridge

Waterfall

Flowy Water Under the Bridge

Connections are the link
The link that binds
Binds 2 places or two things
What things and places?

The gap between resentment and love
Bridging the gap between the two
takes what? Connections

Resentment is coming down really fast
Over the edge the water cascades down
The bridge there as a buffer
Mediating between resentment and love

Once love is conquered
Renewed love starts to flow
Water under the bridge moves
Just as fast it tides below

Communication bridging connection
The bridge of communication leads to understanding
Understanding opens hearts wide and far
Once hearts are open; the bridge leads to loving-kindness

Flowy Water Under the Bridge is written in response to the picture prompt.

Photo by Walter Martin on Unsplash

Categories
Topic Words of Wisdom

Whose Baby Is It

Children are a blessing. Seeing how they grow up and take their first steps, their first words. The feeling is indescribable. They grow and prosper with love, care, emotional and financial support.

The video message titled, Whose Baby Is It, is about those parents who feel like they should not financially support their child. Instead, use government benefits before taking responsibility.

Write in and share what your thoughts are on the subject. Do you think the system should be used and abused or should those absent parents step up with child support?

Video Message- Whose Baby Is It

Thank you for stopping by and your continued support.

Stay well and be blessed? 💕

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Procrastination; Lingering Uncertainty of Life

Procrastination; Lingering Uncertainty of Life

Procrastination is something that we have all done at some point in our lives. It is that putting off of something that we need to do. But why? The cause can be many.

Don’t procrastinate. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

What does procrastination mean?

The act of delaying or postponing something.

Why do we do it?

  • Fear– we put off doing things because we are afraid that we might get it wrong. We might fear being made fun of if we do something and we make a mistake. Making a mistake is not the end of the world. No one is perfect so we cannot expect to never make a mistake in life.
  • Not knowing what to do– If we are faced with something that we need to do, we might not know what to do or how to do it. Therefore, we hesitate or stall. Being unsure of the necessary steps can hold us back. At this point, we might consider gathering information and then making a move.
  • Unimportant– When the task is not important to us, we figure why the rush. No need to act on it immediately. It can wait until later. We might view it as unimportant because we do not want to do it.
  • Lack of managing time– We know we have to be somewhere on a certain day and we need to prepare. We wait until the night before. This puts us in the mode of damage control. Because we did not give ourselves enough time to prepare, we are now trying to compensate for the work we did not do beforehand.

How can we get over the procrastination hurdle?

  • Complete tasks in stages– If we know we have 6 days to prepare for a meeting or presentation. Break the project down into increments each day, so that it is manageable and less overwhelming.
  • Rethink the way we prioritize– Look at the tasks at hand in a different way. If you usually wait until the 25th hour, rethink it. Start on tasks a few days earlier. Tell yourself that this is something that must be done, so get an early jump on it. Start right away when you realize that this is something that is unavoidable.
  • Schedule specific time– Set aside an hour or two each day or once a week so that you can work on the specific task. This way, you already know that on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00am-11:00am, is set aside specifically for the task. Put it on your calendar or white board so that it is in sight. This is your reminder so there is no excuse to miss a deadline.
  • Get rid of distractions– Distractions like playing video games, watching TV or “doom scrolling” on the internet can be major distractions. These things get in the way and cause us to waste time when we could be working on our task. Maybe we can do the task first and then if we want to do those other things, we can put those “distractions” off until after we have done the work.

Can you think of a time when you let procrastination take over? It can get in the way of real progress at times. Making us feel like we cannot accomplish things when we constantly put things off. It is not too late though. If we recognize the signs and rethink it, we can certainly do it!

The attached article, The Game of Life; Are You Playing Offense or Defense? is also about how we manage things in life. It might provide some insight and give information about how we can do things differently. Check it out.

The Game of Life; Are You Playing Offense or Defense?

As always, thank you for reading! 🥰

Stay well and be blessed! 🙏

Image credit: Brett Jordan on Pexels