Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Inspiration/Motivation

  • Quote: Quiet Wins

    Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak—Sun Tzu, The Art of War Let people underestimate you; the best moments happen when no one sees you coming!

  • Light in The Dark

    Amid dark skies and night,Through silence and mistsDear Providence grantsEven light in the twilight

  • International Women’s Day

    If you can dance and be free and be embarrassed, you can rule the world – Amy Poehler We celebrate women all over the world for their extraordinary contribution to society. Happy International Women’s Day!!!

  • Held by Ropes!

    Limits like fears are often just an illusion – Michael Jordan Limitations In my last post on African proverbs, we discussed how the eyes become useless when the mind is blind. In this short story below we will understand more about mental limitations. Held by Ropes! A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp and…

  • Quotes on Perseverance

    A Japanese proverb says “fall seven times, stand up eight.” Vince Lombardi said, “There’s only one way to succeed. In anything, and that is to give it everything.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.” ALWAYS REMEMBER…

  • Story of Compassion: Life-giver

    A young woman got a job as a waiter in a restaurant. She was always happy and upbeat but after some months, she lost excitement. Something had gone wrong. On a particular day, there were lots of people in the restaurant and she had to serve people. They started murmuring and shouting at her, “When…

  • Failure Vs Regret

    Do not fear failure, fear regret Arise! Wake up! This is a clarion call! Resolve to take action today. Write that book or lyrics. Volunteer. Start that business. Vocalize that song. Take dancing classes. Work out. Travel. Live. Just a take step. What will it be? What will it take? If Failure or Success? If…

  • Thank You

    Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable – Zig Ziglar It’s a new month! 🎉🎈🎁 Dear Friends, I hope that your year’s plan is going as schemed. If it is, that’s great, stay on track! If it isn’t, then don’t give up, continue to work on it. Looking out the window, there…

  • Woman

    Dear woman, I smile when I recall what you depict, who you are and the peace you represent. Woman, life-giver A grand masterpiece of nature, Life bespoke of elegance, Of glamour, a living golden statue Fear what it could be When life has no she When we assume maybe Woman, lover She brings peace to…

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    It’s Mother’s Day in my local church, Methodist Church Nigeria. I had published this piece a year ago and here is a revised one. My words alone can’t express my warm feelings for mothers. I had been raised by amazing women who taught and still teach me in one way or another. This amazing gift…

  • The Taxi Driver

    Dear Friends, Good to see you again. I trust you are doing well. I’ve got a story that was sent to me by a friend on Whatsapp. Sadly, the story portrays reality, people measure progress and success with that of their friends, classmates, and relatives even with the limited information they have about them. I…

  • Video: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Secret To Success

    Arnold’s success story taught that hope and resiliency are key to success. Big Fan, Big Lessons… I’m a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I love his wit, accent, movies, and general principles. As a growing kid, I recollect Arnold’s superb acting in Conan – The Barbarian and the mysticism portrayed in the film astonished me.…

  • Story On Patience

    I received this short story on Whatsapp and thought I should share it. A 40-year-old man visited his old father, who could no longer see very well. As both of them sat in front of his house chatting, a dove flew in and perched on the window. The old man asked his son, “Is that…

  • Video: The Iron Lung Man

    Nothing should ever hold back a man from his destiny. Paul defeated polio. Watch the inspiring story of a man who fought the odds to live.

  • Quote on Humanity

    Enjoying the joys of others and suffering with them — these are the best guides for men – Albert Einstein, 1931

  • Twist and Turns

    Twist and turns; the song of life, Walk or run, up or down the cliffs, Vigor may come as a dream or wife

  • You are Your Thoughts

    Know that whatever you will become is a function of your thoughts. We are what we think. With our thoughts, we make our world. What you picture in your mind, your mind will accomplish for you. Consider the image above. While the world saw a cat, the cat saw himself a Lion! We could be…

  • Muse: Morning Poem

    As the golden day breaks, It gave scented fog of hope When the lovely sun of joy rise So ina murna – I’m delighted, When you look at me each morning To share this unerring, loving smile To admit that you love me like bread loves butter

  • Quote: Dream The Impossible

    Nature loves the courageous. Dream the impossible and the world will not grind you under; it will lift you – Oke Iroegbu.

  • True Happiness

    December: Happy New Month Hello Dear Friends, I’m delighted to be writing to you. We’ve made it to 2020’s last month – December. We’re resilient, and hope with faith kept us. First, let me congratulate everyone on making it this far. It’s a unique month, and I’m glad to see it. This short story below…

  • Shine Forth

    Let your light shine; the whole of providence is cheering. It’s your day to excel, to exceed, and outshine your past achievements. Arise and Shine! 🌄🌻

  • Deshauna Barber

    Resilience is key to success. A resilient person through series of failures, disappointments and tough experiences build character and important virtues like confidence, patience, and empathy. Watch Deshauna discuss how being resilient molded her into what she became today. She has a simple message for us: Never give up. 💚 Credit: Goalcast

  • Quote: Think and Act Differently

    Let’s think and act differently every day. Let’s spread some love – Oke Iroegbu.

  • Sohana’s Little Poem

    She hears the sun cry. Only a sky full of pain. Her mind becomes crowded, and she remembers her country. Sohana penned these words for her #Rohingya friends. v/@unicefbd #TeamEurope #EUSolidarity #StrongerTogether https://t.co/ekPp1DBUd3

  • Quote on Courage

    I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Nelson MandelaAt a time colonial forces and indigenous South Africans fought over land rights and freedoms, a courageous man spoke up for his…

  • Quotes on Resilience

    You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ Joel Osteen. A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose. John Maxwell. I love the light for it shows me the way to…

  • Quote on Love

    Of all the magic in the world, none is more powerful than love. …And that’s if we accept that any other thing qualify as magic. Love is a driving force. It can change things; perceptions and imaginations. Great achievements are accomplished through it. Great writers wrote about it. It’s something beautiful to love. Imagine what…

  • Quotes on Helping Others

    1. Nothing makes life sweeter than making people happy. 2. The people you help today become your soldiers in the battle of life tomorrow. 3. To invest in properties is good, but to invest in people is far better. 4. To make money, make people. 5. Your greatest trophies are the tears you wipe away…

  • Selflessness

    Someone is an answer to your prayers as you are to others Seasons: Things just don’t happen One beautiful thing about life is: there are seasons for everything so things just don’t happen. Everything happens to serve different purposes. Even in nature there are seasons. There are times for flowers to blossom, time for the…

  • Keeping Valuable Relationships

    Sometimes those who crown kings don’t look like kings and may never become kings but they can help one wear the crown. A short story There was a poor man who wrote a book at the age of 40 and decided to launch it on his birthday. He had no money to fund the launching…

  • Quotes on Unity

    When spiders unite they can tie down a lion – Ethiopian Proverb. None of us is as smart as all of us – Ken Blanchard.

  • 8 August: Birthday Wish

    Birthdays are rare They come once in a year Unique Birthday: A set of Eights! Ah, it’s today. 8th day of 8th month of the year 2020. I usually write poems or stories to celebrate but this year’s birthday is unique. So instead of a poem I’ll muse about the actual numbers that made my…

  • Happy Belated Friendship Day

    – Friends are family we chose for ourselves. Didn’t forget I didn’t forget about the World Friends Day. I do write about friendship because it’s dear to me. I was extremely busy with personal and family errands. I also volunteer online for a company based in North America, and so had little time to pen…

  • Legacy: Larry or Harry?

    Legacy Life is dynamic. It changes each time we look at it from different perspectives. This is a story you might know. It tells of two opposites: selfishness and generosity, greed and contentment. Larry and Harry Larry and Harry, two homeless men were given a chance to travel to a third world country on an…

  • Abraham Lincoln’s Story

    Abraham’s Humble Story When Abraham Lincoln became the president of America, his father was a shoemaker. Naturally, egoistic people were very much offended that a shoemaker’s son should become the president. On the first day, as Abraham entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a very…