YOU ONLY DIE ONCE. (Y.O.D.O.)

Hello my friend(s), I pray that your week is going on smoothly even though it may be chilly & the clouds look pregnant with rain. I am merely guessing the topic of this article has gotten you a bit off guard. No worries, I will dive deep like a scuba diver to clarify its meaning or paint a clearer picture like Leonardo da Vinci of the famed Mona Lisa.

We are so used to the phrase of  'you only live once' & have no second thought about dying. This is the truth, one day you (even I) will leave these earthly realm & shall be confined 6 feet underground in our final resting cocoon (or as preferred by others during cremation, being engulfed by the flames of the fiery furnace). 

It is such a pity that a good number of us live like as if tomorrow will not come. How short sighted we are, we don't appreciate the very gift of life given to us by the Almighty. Let us go through some examples to clarify this conversation/the train of thought. Every day that you see the sun rise you are living, but in the after life you are no more. 

When in a car we refuse to belt up terming it as being old fashioned & deem it an enslavement denying one the liberty of movement. Along our various highways & roads we opt to sprint across the road like gazelles, yet just a few meters away there is a foot bridge to enable you cross the road majestically like a peacock. 

When driving your car you decide that you want to re-enact the fast & furious on the streets of the city & decide that this is the moment of the pedal to the metal. One fails to realize that the grim ripper is just smiling knowing that soon you will be within his icy grasp. Why is it that we live like as if we think we have nine lives like a cat? 

Is it because we are on adrenaline fuel? is it because of not caring? Is it that we see it that we are still young? Is it that we believe that tomorrow will not reach? Is it that we are loaded with cash we do not know what to do with it? Is it that we are in the moment of it is either now or never? These are just a few questions to chew over & criticize the direction we are heading into.

You will see one drink him/herself silly thinking one can consume all the alcohol produced by the breweries deeming oneself a guzzler. Sadly this is the reality of the current generation. Diving in head first, thinking later about the consequences. My friend, you shall sing kayumbete as you shall be beckoned towards the light at the end of the tunnel. 

It is upon you to take these precious moments granted to you & count your blessings. The imbalance in our lives is like the distortion of the pendulum swing as the current number of us visiting hospitals is like bees being attracted to nectar from flowers. Have you not noticed that number of the younger people is reducing drastically on a daily basis?

In the local news, there will be breaking headlines like "lives lost in yet another fatal accident". The statistical readings on the increase of high blood pressure patients among the youth being at an all time high (no offence this had been deemed a thing for the elderly). Suicidal tendencies on the increase, breaking news here & there of people jumping of buildings.

It is sad & unfortunate that parents are now the ones burying their children instead of the other way around. One would have thought we would be the ones up & about going green, doing the healthy meals (veggie shakes & the like), going for hikes, going for runs but woe unto us the adrenaline rush is on overdrive.

Every day you wake up & want to do something absurd, ask yourself is it really worth it. Otherwise, exiting the natural parameter is as easy as 'A,B,C,...'. It is crucial you take time to take in that which holds you together, be it God/Allah, your partner, your family, your friend(s) & so forth. 

It is stated that the journey of a thousand miles(/kilometers) starts with one single step, but sometimes the leap of faith can take you further. Let this be your food for thought.

ONE MAN'S CURSE IS ANOTHER'S BLESSING.

"You live only once (or in the millennials coined short form YOLO) & there is no rewind button". Have you ever heard this phrase being dished out like 'mulla' during the feverish campaign times, more specifically the first part of it. Most times, it will be during times of having plenty (especially the 'furahi' day syndrome moments) are notorious for such utterances. Jubilation & at times it could be used when going through a thrilling or blood boiling or heart pumping experience.

We are so caught up with our every day living, hustling & grin, trying to make it rain & getting the bank balance to be just right that we forget the most crucial of things. We get our work running through our veins like a shot of purified cocaine in the blood stream that those who matter to us become of secondary value. It could be your spouse or your significant other or your partner or your child(ren) or your parent(s) or your best friend.

"It is more valuable to spend time with your children/significant other, rather than money on them"

You may all go like, 'ger outta here'. I kid you not, when those whom you once held dear leave your world realm that is when you realize their true value. Just like in the time of Judas Iscariot on betraying Jesus & realizing the silver coins he had so much craved were now meaningless. This life will drain the very essence of living out of you, leaving you empty & hollow like a tum tum drum. 

In every day life, we throw away leftovers from a hearty meal just devoured without second thought. Do you know that a significant number of the worlds population in every corner of it, for them getting a single meal is a miracle. If you are in a relationship, if you do not take the time to appreciate your partner, my friend the harsh reality will dawn in you like the resurrection of Christ.

"The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the cars, the vast lands or the money in the bank. These just create an environment conducive for happiness but can't give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your partner's friend & do those little things for each other that build intimacy"

I am no love doctor, but I am continuously learning to appreciate the one who is shackled to my heart. When you look at the five or six figure balance in your bank account & go 'that is not enough, I need more'. You should take a moment to think & ask yourself is it not possible that there are those who could survive on what I have & even getting to see that single cent is like the water mirage of the desert & there you are grumbling under your breath?

I did not say that you should not work hard to better yourself (please do not misquote me), "Weee, mwanaume ni effort". Get in that grind & sweat it out for nothing good/worthy is for free. Even those who have sponsors/sponsoress understand what am talking about. Now kindly get your mind out of the gutter & remember that it is only when the well becomes dry that one appreciates its value recalling when it had water.

If you ever find yourself wanting to grumble about how life is unfair (I am also counting myself), then take a moment & see if you have any blessings in your life. If you think you do not have any & that all that you have are curses/pain, I can lend you some of mine like a pound of flesh asked for by the shylock in the merchant of Venice.

The simple yet forgotten blessings are: the very gift of being alive, having food on the table/on your plate daily, clothes to cover your nakedness, the love of the few/many who are in your life, the opportunity to use your limbs, being healthy, living in a somewhat peaceful country & the list goes on like the melodious tunes of rhumba music. These are just but a few of the examples of things to remember when you hop on to your care free band wagon.

In the wise words of Les Brown, he is quoted as saying that each time that you wake to see another day to remember that you are blessed & highly favoured. It may not feel like it at times but remember, "the happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything but they make the most of everything". I have a question, 'when was the last time you sat at your veranda/balcony/outside the gate & stared at the stars up above at night for just a few minutes to appreciate their significance?'

I AM MY OWN (WO)MAN.

"A luta Continua" I am informed by the learned that this is a latin phrase which means "the struggle continues" (you can google/bing it). Why would I even say such a phrase while the common phrase floating around in our hoods nowadays is "bora uhai". This is swahili to mean "it is better to be a live". Life has just become a battle for survival & seeing another day.

We are being hit from every angle like  punching bag by the what nots of the harsh reality that is being unleashed on us by the unforgiving & cruel world. It is just recently that the fuel tax went up by 16% before stubbornly being reduced to 8% (woe unto the less fortunate for their suffering is not over). 

This nearly crippled & nearly led to an economic melt down. If you could have seen the struggle to get as much fuel from petrol stations into ones car, it was every one for him/her self. My friend it was "mwenye nguvu mpishi" (translating  to in my  own words let "the strong  through"). 

Life is a journey that starts with that single thought that will either move you forward or backwards or toss you all over the place like a doll (I have no idea why I said doll, but am guessing you get or somewhat understand what I mean). Why did I give an example about the current woes being faced in our country. It is because it is meant to be a teaching curve/lesson. 

We take many things in this life for granted & not appreciating how they/it may have an impact in our lives. We are so engrossed with what the "voice of the high & mighty" who more often than not are the political/powerful figures who are always putting our lives to the test. We become so short sighted we forget how to think and/or reason. 

If only we could unshackle ourselves from the thoughts of others & that which they deem as "the good thing" & cultivate our own train of thoughts, how far we will be right now. We sit down looking all pretty believing that what the world envisions us as being that is what one is meant to be.

Our life span keeps on decreasing on a yearly basis. At no time do we forge forward but rather stagnant at the place of "if they said it is, then it must be true/factual" Why are we so lost in how people think of us that we can't progress in that which we crave to dream/desire. 

In our work places we remain the ever loyal employee not looking more than a few office spaces within the management that we want to move to. What if you risked it & opted to venture on your own? What do you presume can happen? If you decided "I have had enough of the people I surround myself with" does it mean that life will not go on?

We the people are so concerned about what others think of us (am no saint, I have also been a victim of this feeling before). We become so cocooned in the words that we fail to see beyond our noses. We become puppets that can be manipulated at the will of society or the community around us. We all need to take that axe of resistance & chop off the ropes of despair, fear as well as cowardice to venture on our own.

You are the change that you want to see on this world. It all starts with that single idea of "I can do it, I am going to take the leap of faith, I shall cut the umbilical cord connecting me to those dragging me down in the mud, I am my own (wo)man...." The choice is yours to make, I am not saying it is going to be easy but it will be worth it.

"Credendo Vides - believing is seeing"

ANGRY FOR WHAT?

We live in a world where every single moment is survival for the fittest. We can't get a break from life, as it continuously weighs us down with various responsibilities & obligations which we are meant to fulfill. Life is indeed not fair & I don't believe it was ever supposed to be (that is just my thought, you don't have to be sucked into it). I believe there are moments that you sit down & wonder what is the whole purpose of being alive. What is the end goal, that we push ourselves nearing our breaking point?

On my part I am alive for I have been granted the opportunity of making this world a better place for those whom I will leave behind more particularly my family (I see several of you nodding your heads in agreement, others are like what is this). We have crafted a system of the dos & don'ts of living, making it a disciplined society (or so we think). We have emotions that at times get the best of us, clouding our day to day judgment (this does get dangerous as we can't clearly reason or think).

 

You have a right to be express your emotions & more particularly being angry, that is part of your genetic encoding. Life will drain you of every ounce of happiness if you do not watch yourself. You will feel like pulling you hair from its roots or gauge out your eyes from their sockets (this is a bit extreme, I wouldn't advise you to do it). All in all, being angry is part of who you are what you do thereafter is now what one has to take into consideration for our actions which follow can or will be questioned.

 

It is a known fact (or somewhat not known) that the most honest people are a drunk, a child & an angry person. When y0u are inflamed by this emotion, one is likely to unleash a torrent of words that may be damaging. Now, it is important to know that the tongue has been deemed as the most deadliest weapon on earth which has led to kingdoms to fall, empires to rise, wars to break out, peace to be thought of & so forth. What is it that am trying to illustrate here? When you are angry how to you use that energy that comes with it.

 

Do you proceed to wreck havoc all over or do you channel it into something more meaningful. There could be that acquittance/friend whom every time you see you become flamed with irritation to the point of seething with rage. Or it could be each moment you enter your work place, you feel like setting everything on fire. Or it could be every time you hear a specific voice of someone you know, you start frothing at the mouth like a dog with rabies. Or when ever your name is called out you feel like you want to stab someone in the throat.

 

Or when you leave your snack in the fridge only to find it gone after planning the whole day how you are going to devour it. These are just but a few examples of situations when anger is shown. It is vital to realize if you can not control your anger one way or another you will do something that you will later on come to regret. It is crucial you find a way of channeling out your anger without destroying all that is around you. Do not let your anger control your reasoning as well as the decisions that you are making in your life on a day to day basis.

 

It is a possibility for you to join an anger management class, listen to calming music like jazz, instrumentals, find extracurricular activity to take your mind of things (archery, zip lining, hiking, mountain climbing),  you could also confront (approach/face) that which is ticking you off, talking to a confidant (could be your best friend) about it & so on.

 

If symptoms persist I advise you see your psychologists/psychiatrist/priest/counselor.

BE GONE FROM HERE.

Hello, I would like to take this opportunity to first & foremost say that may you have a blessed & fulfilling year, as you embark on the adventures & thrills of this life. I do pray that God (or whom you believe in) will be with you in all that you do & that you will achieve your goals (resolutions are too overrated & never followed through with anyway). Right now, I am guessing you are cursing under your breath wondering to yourself, why did January have to come so fast! Now you have to go back to the hustle, pay bills, be responsible & earn your keep. This specific month usually sucks as it usually feels like it is never ending, it has more days than normal, the weather is usually hot (that is for where I am not so sure about where you are). The good thing is that all in all everything shall still come to an end.

Today is a brand new day (as you have not seen another like it), make the most of it. Instead of complaining this or that is the problem choose to become the solution. If by now you have not let go of the baggage you had last year, you are in for one bumpy ride. You may be now be holding your head in your hands wondering is it really over? Has a new year just begun just like that? That was to quick for the holidays to end so abruptly? Well, you have got a lot to brace yourself for. Now, so as not to sound like an old record the hour to grind has come & you better gear up as there is no other way around it. Your better pull up your man/woman pants up & prepare for a great siege. Nothing will be easy or just within your reach, you will need to go beyond your comfort zone to achieve that which is meant for you.

A good number of you are there expecting that it will be a smooth ride all the way. Let me tell you, even when eating food it just doesn't get digested automatically. It will have to be masticated (am just trying to look fancy with some terms here & there don't mind me) first to make it easier to swallow & digested. Some advice that I would like to share with you freely. Do not ever say that you are having new year resolutions, please stop that habit. I can assure you, as you have always seen all through out the years that you have said that, that you did not at one time hold true to that resolution promise. It is better to set goals that you want to achieve as that is more realistic thought. Look, am not saying that resolutions are a bad thing but from where I am sitting, people hardly keep to them (you can prove me wrong).

In life we do have those whom we grow up with, interact with from time to time or hang out with. You may have known them for a couple weeks or years (time isn't such a factor), but then over time you find out that you are not going anyway in your life. It is said that if your continue to hang out & talk to people of the same group you shall not be able to propel yourself forward to the greater heights that your want to reach. If (am just saying if) the people who are around you are not in any way aspiring to change their situations & they are comfortable with where they are, you need to make a change. If all that you keep on talking about is the same story over & over again like an adage, you have got a problem. You may not realize it & I will urge you to examine your life more closely. 

We are a chosen generation that has seen this year of uncommon harvest. It is time to get rid of the chaff in your life, grab that sickle & start trimming off the dried branches. If you want to move forward you must get rid of that which is holding you back. You want to attain greatness, you have to put in the effort. When you have a goal, ensure that you put it down on paper. It may seem like time wastage but you will thank me later for it. When you write down a goal, indicate when you want to achieve it (this must be realistic) & how you are going to achieve it. It may feel off at first but when you have a list of that which you aim to achieve there is nothing that can deter you from your course apart from yourself. In addition, have a mantra which you can say each morning before you leave for the day.

I am not saying that you should not get your daily dose of spiritual medication through prayer & reading the bible (or any other spiritual book). A mantra just helps you focus on what it is that you want in your life. I would give you an example from world re-known motivation speaker Les Brown, his mantra is "I am blessed & highly favoured". I find this quite a catchy mantra that anyone can adopt as his or her own. In addition, you can read some inspirational books which can give you guidelines on how to achieve one goal or the other. An example is the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. It may be an old book but it is filled with bits of wisdom here & there (as I came to discover). 

Live each day as if it is your last, pushing yourself beyond your limits. I will leave you with the quote below which I have kindly borrowed just for your benefit; 

"Live your best life by deciding what you want, writing down those desires as goals, creating a plan to achieving them, refusing to stop until you reach your destination".