What are you curious about? I’m curious about life, and everything in-between.
Tag: dailyprompt
A Month-Long Stay in California’s Nature Reserve
Describe one of your favorite moments. One of my favorite experiences was my month-long stay at the Blue Oak Nature Reserve in California, where I worked on ecological projects. The beauty of the ranch was captivating, and as a nature lover, I truly cherished my time spent alone. The highlight of my stay was befriending… Continue reading A Month-Long Stay in California’s Nature Reserve
Visionary
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had? I can see events before they occur, but it is exclusive to me. Sometimes, I foresee my success months before it is realized. Initially, I thought it was déjà vu, but I eventually recognized it as a pattern about myself. I believe this… Continue reading Visionary
Superstitions
Are you superstitious? I wanted to provide a brief response to this topic. People often believe in many things that may not be true. These beliefs can be deeply rooted in sociocultural, religious, or political contexts. I want to share some common superstitions found in Southern Nigeria. Whistling at Night Growing up, we were always… Continue reading Superstitions
Lions & Leopards
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why? From a young age, I have been captivated by the majestic presence of big cats—lions, leopards, tigers, jaguars, cheetahs, and more. There’s something undeniably awe-inspiring about these mighty creatures. Among them, I am particularly drawn to the regal lions, their golden manes flowing like fiery crowns,… Continue reading Lions & Leopards
Muse: Be Curious
What does it mean to be a kid at heart? Be the sunshine when you can, be the rainfall, be the memories from the sound of laughter Be free, be happy, be kind, be playful, be everything that makes you smile—finally, be curious.
Quote: Self-Care
What details of your life could you pay more attention to? No one is coming to save you; no one is coming to make life right for you; no one is coming to solve your problems. If you don’t do something, nothing is going to get better — Nathaniel Branden
Outdoors
What could you do more of? I love the outdoors. I love the feel of forest wind and the sound of its inhabitants—caressing my thoughts and senses. I love that I can be in tune with Nature, away from concrete cities and unnatural sounds.
Books
If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell? If I opened a shop,What would I be selling?Hmmm, let’s see…Books, oh well, New books, old books,I could sell cough drops,Tumblers, pretty rings,Or things that are shiny, But books I can read and sellTo add to my wit and bank
A Voice for the Voiceless and Birthday Wishes
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world? On my birthday, I wish that this blog will continue to be the voice of the voiceless I am writing this short reflection today, not just for my birthday but because it will be my first August 8 away from… Continue reading A Voice for the Voiceless and Birthday Wishes
Love
Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone. I believe love is the most incredible magic ever because in love are all the beautiful things one can think of—Oke Iroegbu My random act of kindness is loving people more than they deserve. For context, I’m not referring to the love between a… Continue reading Love
Òkè
What’s the story behind your nickname? Òkè is a short version of my name, Okechukwu. Oke in Igbo can mean different things based on the pronunciation. It can mean rat (óké), share (òkè), male (ókē)and boundary (òkè). My full name, Okechukwu, means share from God, where òkè means share and Chukwu means personal god/God.
Sudoku
What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why? My favorite board game is Sudoku. I love the challenge of figuring out where the numbers belong. As a former math instructor, I find Sudoku fascinating. It keeps my mind sharpened. The game also makes me more analytical, and conscious, thereby improving my patience, attention to… Continue reading Sudoku
Writing
Which activities make you lose track of time? Writing is a useful ancient craftThat aroused my passion and museBy teaching me more about myselfIt had reminded me of my cleverness
Quote: Hope
What are you most excited about for the future? While we breathe, we will hope — Barack Obama
Overthinking
What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony? Sometimes, I must go out of my head and listen to my heart. That is the biggest challenge. I’m working on it.
Folklore and Cultural Studies
On what subject(s) are you an authority? One subject that I admire and love so much is Folklore or Cultural Studies. Growing up in a culture that prides itself on storytelling, I paid keen attention to how stories shape who people become. Now, I just concluded a graduate program in Folklore from a prestigious university… Continue reading Folklore and Cultural Studies
Inspiration
What makes a teacher great? A teacher’s most significant job is to inspire their students—to make them believe in themselves. The teacher holds and plays an essential role in the society. I am fortunate to have instructors and teachers who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Nothing compares to someone who… Continue reading Inspiration
Books that impacted on me
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why? This post will be challenging because there are captivating books out there. I have read some books recently, but three stood out. One pioneer book that addressed the ills of colonialism in Africa was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The book describes in… Continue reading Books that impacted on me
Loyalty
What quality do you value most in a friend? We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence — Cornel West
Poetry
What are you good at? I believe poetry is one thing I can do even with my eyes closed in sleep. By the way, I love sleeping as well. Good night.
Quote on Hardwork
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? Just remember you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pocket — Arnold Schwarzenegger
Meditation
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like? My morning routine is primarily reflecting on events from the past, a tiny dose of pushups (though not consistent), and practicing gratitude for everything. During the first hours, I usually read uplifting books—motivational or spiritual, to start the day.
Learning To Say No
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals? Saying no to someone or something can be a tricky thing, especially when you are considerate of other’s feelings. However, learning to say no is necessary to keep a person from behaviors and lifestyles that can be harmful in the long… Continue reading Learning To Say No
Breaking Barriers
You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence? This is a true story—of hope and resilience, of dreams, aspirations, and experiences put together. My story aims to restore hope and encouragement in humanity and to emphasize the importance of selflessness and service to others.
Writing
What experiences in life helped you grow the most? One thing that has helped me grow is creative and imaginative writing. I always enjoy expressing my thoughts on paper. One thing led to the other and I started this blog to share my poetry with the world. But it metamorphosed into something bigger. I have… Continue reading Writing
Destiny
Do you believe in fate/destiny? Destiny is like day and nightWe get closer to itBut don’t see what’s nextSometimes there’s heavy mistOther times, there is sunlight
Be Yourself
What advice would you give to your teenage self? Be wild and fearless, but be kind and genuine, be hopeful and honest, and be loving and compassionate. Do things that bring you joy, peace, and laughter. Work hard, also work smart. Make acquaintances, keep friends. Care for your well-being and that of your loved ones.… Continue reading Be Yourself
Kind People
Who are your favorite people to be around? Kind people are my kind of people.
Relationships
Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done. I learned that there’s no perfect time to start a romantic relationship but I haven’t made effort to begin with. However, it’s a priority to me now.
Egusi Soup
What’s your favorite thing to cook? Spicy, warm soups are delightful for me. Food is culture. Food is life, and I can go on dropping poetic lines about food. As a traditional person, I am a foodie who appreciates good food! I love traditional Igbo dishes like egusi, ede, ogbono, uha, and onugbu. Growing up,… Continue reading Egusi Soup
Fun Things
List five things you do for fun. I like journaling, reading, watching NatGeoWild and Discovery, playing online games like UNO and traveling.
My First Name
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc. My first name is Okechukwu which originates from the southern Nigerian Igbo tribe. It means my portion or share from God! Most Igbo names arise from situations and experiences encountered by people. I can expand the name thus: Okechukwunyerem!—which means the share I got from… Continue reading My First Name
Dream Jobs
What’s your dream job? I would love to be a writer and, indeed, working towards that. My writing started back in high school. Then, I liked playing with words and wrote poems of love. I’m also interested in becoming a travel blogger. It is a dream to travel around the world, particularly in Africa to… Continue reading Dream Jobs
A Good Leader
What makes a good leader? What makes a good leader is their ability to have empathy and humility. By being humble, they put themselves last but not down. By having empathy, they put themselves in the shoes of others!
Weapons
If you could un-invent something, what would it be? You will agree that weapons have caused more havoc on humankind and the environment. Sadly, even modern ones are being developed by man to destroy fellow man and nature.
Respect
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved? A listening ear is as good as a gift, but better—Oke Iroegbu One thing I have learned about love is that it goes hand in hand with respect and trust. To love means to put the happiness of others above ours, and it goes… Continue reading Respect
Lions
What is your favorite animal? King of the African jungleWith a golden mane, beautifulGuileful, bones, and sinewsRoar from depths of your soulLet terrifying echoes ring through the hills
Social Media
In what ways do you communicate online? Social media made writing and sharing written work easy As a writer in a social media era, I use many apps. Most times, it’s just posting on one app that is connected to many others. For instance, my Jetpack app is connected to X, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Facebook,… Continue reading Social Media
Coke with Primates
Think back on your most memorable road trip. This was an excursion I had with classmates in High School. It’s over a decade now, but the memories are alive. This is the report I wrote but with slight editing. I can see how much my writing voice has changed. Our excursion was to the Songhai… Continue reading Coke with Primates
Nuts
What snack would you eat right now? I love nuts. They are crunchy, healthy, and tasty—not all are tasty. Except for kola nuts and bitter cola, which are chewy and bitter, all others are sweet or buttery. I like cashews, groundnuts, macadamia, and almonds!
Leader’s Frontline
Come up with a crazy business idea. I had an idea some time ago. It wasn’t business anyway, just a random idea. Can we agree to let each warring nation have their presidents fight first before sending in the soldiers? Doing so will save many souls from unnecessary deaths because no leader will want to… Continue reading Leader’s Frontline
My Father’s Book Collections
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it? I was fond of my father’s book collections. Most of them I have read several times. The books were kept in the countryside, and each time I went home, I had something to read. The collection included Shakespeare and Oscar… Continue reading My Father’s Book Collections
Travel the World
What is your mission? It has been my dream to travel around the world—to see the sunset in different climes and nations, go up the peaks, sniff the pure air, watch the wildlife, swim with mild stream currents, dance with natives, smile at strangers, write stories of good places and people, dream, fall in love… Continue reading Travel the World
Don’t Worry, Just Live…
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life? We came orderly and will leave randomly I don’t think much about these life philosophies and concepts. I only want to do what makes me, my loved ones, and the people around me happy. At the end of it all, memories are… Continue reading Don’t Worry, Just Live…
Dance
What could you do differently? I wish I could twirl and swirl precisely and rigorously to the beautiful rhythm in my soul. https://app.impact.com/secure/mediapartner/checklist/checklist-instance.ihtml?id=__9XpvYq1Sf0_skQuDpLLuQnDv3NE4u0lO#=_
Live and Let Live
If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say? If I had a freeway billboard, I have these famous words written boldly on it—live and let live! If humans understand how sacred life is, it would be so hard to take one. Unfortunately, we live in a world that has gone crazy, and people… Continue reading Live and Let Live
Live in The Present
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why? I live in the present moment and try to make the most of it. I’m more productive, joyful, and grateful when I don’t worry about the past or the future. So I can say I’m in-between.
Unconditional Love
What is the greatest gift someone could give you? The greatest gift I ever received was that of unconditional love — Oke Iroegbu It takes enormous courage, sacrifice, and strength to give one’s self to serve others.
University of California, Berkeley
What colleges have you attended? Before heading to America for my master’s, I did my diploma and undergraduate education at Abia State Polytechnic and the University of Uyo, both in Nigeria. Currently, I’m completing my graduate education at America’s premier public institution—the University of California Berkeley. Cal, or UC Berkeley as it is called, is… Continue reading University of California, Berkeley
