MIND TRICKS!

Let me tell you something, today has been the best day I have ever had since the flow of air into thy lungs. Do you want to know why? Are you curious enough for what I am about to lay on you. Let me just go ahead & tell you before you pick your stones.  

I got to celebrate yet another year of being on this beautiful, wonderful & colourful world. In all of my life, I have never had such an honour as the one I have had today. The number of wishes on this day of being birthed have overwhelmed me as a person who never celebrates such as day or gives it a second thought. 

They say when the clock strikes midnight that is when things go bump in the night, but not this day. It has been one heck of a day that has humbled me into the corner like a small child to think about all it is that I am blessed with. For starters, my family's love has poured in like hot lava making me wonder in awe as to what a privilege that I have to be alive. 

Then there is this running club that am in "TJ", this has been the most impactful non-blood family that I have had the God given chance to be part of. They may seem like strangers but their love, care & concern is like no other & their stand with one of their own has no other comparison. 

More surprisingly I got treated to a hearty meal (don't judge me am foodious) by my lovely wife, who through it all didn't tell me of the plans that she had in store for my shocked self. I have been bombarded with gifts that have nearly made me lose consciousness not because of being light headed but more so being overcome with emotion. 

This will be the day that I will in all honesty never forget it. As I pen this, I thank all who are in my life both from near & far as well as the almighty God who has granted me such an opportunity to be breathing his free air. Well now, did you know that the engine room that we call our mind has a critical role it plays in your everyday living. 

Let me ask you, have you ever had a self-meeting, where you & yourself had to get a few things cleared up in a quiet session. It may feel strange but have you not had those moments you have found yourself talking to yourself because of how your day is going or trying to resolve an issue that has been bugging you like a stubborn migraine. 

That is what am talking about, the moment you are in your own space trying to convince yourself about a decision made, to be made or has been made. It may sound insane, but if you are to say the truth you have had such moments. You can come closer & tell me, if not you can whisper in my ear, I won’t tell anyone, I promise. 

Don’t fret, if you haven’t had such an experience don’t feel left out you are also part of us. There are times in our lives that we get to question our conduct in matters that affect our everyday living or interactions. There is a belief that what we think most times tries to get actualized by manifesting itself in the real world. 

Thus, the thought gets translated into a reality & at times it may shock or surprise us to the extent we get taken aback like as if hit by a jolt of electricity. If you are a sports person you will get to experience this phrase a number of times, “mind over matter”. 

Most of the times you will see your fellow sport people saying this to encourage you not to concentrate on the pain you are feeling but on more so on what it is that you want to achieve at that moment. It may seem that your body wants to completely shut down but you are there thinking to yourself that I need to get to the finish line. 

Then there are those situations you are pursuing that lady whom you want to be your better half but the barriers you are facing are too many you nearly want to give up. There may also be instances you are continuously trying to get that job or deal but obstacles keep on popping up like pot holes that make it seem like as if you are doing nothing. 

This may be quite frustrating but it is all upon you not to give up on what is putting you down. What you think of yourself & your actions is what matters the most to you & not what the world should think of you. If you shackle yourself to the thought of the world you shall continue to be a prisoner in your own mind as you shall conform to what is expected of you & not what you expect of yourself. 

Never let an outsider be the determining factor of how you view yourself. The moment you take the stand & make your claim that you are your own person you shall achieve change in your life in ways that will surprise you. When you change how you view yourself & how you act there is nothing that will be beyond your reach. 

It may seem like a cliché but know that it takes 21 days to take up a habit through continuous repetitive action. The serenity that ought to be in your mind is what will create an aurora of tranquility that will make you think better of yourself & see your worth without fear or favour. 

If in your own eyes you don’t appreciate who you are, where you have come from & where you are meant to go, you shall continue to go in circles round & round like the merry go round. Take a moment & look at your life & see if there have been times of self-doubt that have made you be hesitant in taking up the leap of faith. 

Looking closer home when you have had that moment of denial that you are capable of achieving a certain fete. We are what we think of ourselves but that does not mean that it should define who we are. When the seed of doubt gets implanted it grows & becomes fear & paralyses one to a state of “I can’t do it”. Just like in a game of chess, you determine the next move to take.

 

YOU WILL NOT WALK ALONE!

I take solace in my corner of the room wondering why is life such a maze, a puzzle that is a continuous never ending mystery with no solution in sight. As I take the sip of the hot herbal hibiscus, berry fused tea with a hint of mint & splash of teaspoon of honey, I stroke my beard in wonderment. Is this all what life has to offer me as a bargaining chip for me taking up space in this on earth as an involuntary tenant?

That I am to live & survive the great purge that comes with being a human. The daily woes of what shall I eat, what shall I drink, where shall I sleep, how shall I earn a living, what clothes shall I wear, who loves & cares about me, all of which are now a thing of the past like the shadow. Hanging in the back ground like a bad omen banished never to come back again from the swamps. 

Well, it is what it is, as the common catch line gets to roll off the tongue with ease. I shall be no hostage to the emotions of despair but shall rise up like the phoenix from the ashes & wielding my spear like Shaka Zulu letting out a loud war cry as I plunge head on into war with the elements. Here I am ready to take on life but remember, I am not alone. 

I have my trusty companion by my side. My best friend, my confidant, my warrior, my trustee who as God wills shall be my side till kingdom come. Let me ask you, who is there for you to hold you up when it seems like the Armageddon showing its horrifying face in the distant horizon warning of that which is yet to come. Are you the wondering soul who believes that it is by your own stride that you have gotten this far! 

You have no need for anyone else being in your space as you are the lone wolf. It is indeed a sorry state of affairs that we are at times not by our own choice, like the lepers in the time of Christ in solitude. Shunned like as if you are having leprosy, covering you from head to your very toe in painful sores. Well, no matter what it is that has been thrown at you by the world at large you should never feel alone. 

You may be an introvert but still you must have a connection with a particular person or persons. This is not to say that having alone time is a bad thing, it is a necessity at times to enable you soak in the serenity of nature & quietness of your own surroundings. When we take it upon ourselves to be the light that someone may need in their dark times. 

It may simply be that greeting on a daily, a hi here & there, a hug of comfort, small talk when possible, checking up on that person, sharing a meal, having a drink (preferably coffee or tea) together, the list goes on & on. Who are we but stewards in an unpredictable world that expects us to live in a certain lifestyle & conform to societal mind-set. 

We need to take it upon ourselves to be there for those who need us. It may seem like an uphill task, as at times when you try to be there for someone, they may tend to shut you down or deem you interfering in their business & being nosy. That does not mean that we don’t try to do that which we can. It may seem hopeless but do note that there is light at the proverbial tunnel. 

Indeed, it is hard but who said that it is impossible. It is up to you to hold the hand not literally but more so to be there for of those who seem to have no hope, no faith, no provisions, no belief, no reason to live, are depressed, are stressed & so forth. It may seem like as if you are helpless for those who are having it rough but believe me that the small act of kindness in whatever form means more than you can imagine. 

It could be a text just checking up on someone, a phone call to have a bit of chit chat, going over for a visit, saying hello to someone on the way etc. This does go a long way in someone’s life by knowing that though it may seem that he/she is alone, they are not actually alone because someone out there has them in mind. Thus not going with the phrase out of sight is out of mind. 

It is when you have gone through the patch that molds you that you realize who was there for you during those times. In the coming days considering that it is meant to be the beginning of the festive season look at what you have done for others who aren’t able to do anything for you in return. The times have been tough but we are tougher than we look & you better believe it. 

This has been a year that has come with its own baggage & unpredictable situations that have made it one of a kind roller coaster. Our continued standing with each other during this times has made it a worthwhile journey. We have a living God that has kept us this far. There are greater days ahead & we need to be there for one another. 

Let me leave you with this, “If you want to walk fast walk alone but if you want to walk far walk with others”.

TO BE A LEADER OR TO BE A BOSS, THAT IS INDEED THE QUESTION!

Our God who is in heaven, I thank you for being in my life. You have been gracious to me & you have watched over me. I thank you for giving me the gift of life & the use of all my limbs. I thank you for giving me a place to call home. I thank you for giving me people who love & care about me. I thank you for each day that I see the light of day. I thank you for who you are in my life. Amen!

Are you feeling low & cringing at the thought of yet another Monday? Exclaiming is it Monday again! Do you wake up each morning & ask yourself do I really need to go to work? Do you get sudden heartaches any time your superior calls you for an impromptu meeting? 

Do you hide behind the paperwork anytime assignments are being handed out at work? Do you catch your breath every time when your superior is choosing someone to do the work presentation? Well, don’t look for me for answers. I have sailed on the same boat with plenty of leaking holes. 

I was merely asking, noting that this are questions I have also asked myself a number of times. We do fall short of the greatness that is meant to grace our presence. In a family set up, as a man you are expected a be the holder of the fiery torch & wielder of the spear of destiny. 

As a man you are expected to be the leader, the provider, the protector, the comforter & so on. You are asking how does this apply to the work environment. Well, at the work place you are to be the one who knows the way, shows the way & goes the way hence leadership. 

Whenever the work place is to thrive a client needs to be there for services to be rendered. In addition, a remuneration is required to one who provides the service hence being the provider. At the time a situation gets out of hand, you are the one who shields your juniors from their heads being bitten off by an angry party. 

If in the event of a presentation being done in your stead or that of the company or work place & it doesn’t go as planned. It is not the time to throw your junior under the bus but rather bit the bullet together with them, as you are meant to be a team hence the protector. 

Everyone has emotions & there are times that they may overwhelm them to the point that functionality & productivity comes to a standstill. The morale of the person who is not performing can be uplifted. If one is unwell, it is not the time to curse them out hence being the comforter. 

I am not stating that this is exhaustive but merely pointing out the relation that we need to understand & come to terms with it. It is quite evident that most times a boss usually gives orders & is a “know it all” kind of person & his/her voice is the only one to be heard. 

A true leader does ignite a spark in you to do more & be more. It is common place for a boss to focus on the statistics & results, while a leader sees when a person needs to hear a good word to boost their mood/morale. It is notable that when you are an employer you can either be a boss, a leader of both. 

One thing to take into consideration is that a good boss is a good leader. Did you know that you don’t inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are; you inspire them by showing how amazing they are. “Followers think & talk about their problems. Leaders think & talk about the solutions - Brian Tracy”. 

You ought to chat out loud that you are a leader & not a boss. Let me break it down to the common traits that differentiate one as being a leader or a boss: A boss knows everything; a leader admits mistakes. A boss tells people what to do, a leader shows how to do things. 

A boss criticizes, a leader gives advice. A boss demands respect; a leader earns & deserves respect. A boss rules with threats, a leader shows human kindness. A boss relies on word of mouth; a leader fact finds. As Arnold H. Glasow once stated that a good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. 

As I have said before to easily understand the character of a person, watch how they treat a waiter will reveal who they are or how they treat those who can’t do anything for them. If you are an employer, you need to check yourself. If you are someone who thinks it is okay to shout at your employees or juniors, you need to hold your tongue. 

It is important to understand that this are also people who have emotions that can get hurt. If you are one to play the blame game against your juniors when a wrong is done, you need to own up & help in cleaning the mess. If you are one who likes to bark orders within the job arena like a dog with rabies, you have to compose yourself & be gentle with those under you. 

If you are one who only goes with what is whispered in your ears, instead of hard cold facts you better get your head straight & work with the full information & not the words slipping off the deceiving tongue. If you are one who assumes that you hold all knowledge like Apollo the Greek god, you better know that no one is an island. 

When you lift others to soar like an eagle, you shall all rise like the phoenix & achieve what you have set in your mind. Be that one who is able to uplift the moral of those who work with you rather than proclaim yourself to be a demigod. The choice lies with you as to what & who you are!

BELIEVING IS SEEING!

I tell you, from where am seated the clouds are looking all pregnant with rain like a miraculous birth is just about to take place. You know like that moment you are told, “we need to talk” & you know it is about to go down & you become tense with anxiety, eyes popping out of their sockets. 

The clouds bringing forth to the merry earth the splendor from its belly the waters to cool the land. As the scorching sun, is playing peekaboo with us mere mortals giving us warmth in piecemeal. Indeed, we live in strange times when it can be raining & sunny at the same time. 

It is a marvel that we are not yet extinct considering how we have violated the earth by polluting it left, right & center. Claiming that it is not my responsibility to clean up after myself. Anyway, enough of the nursery rhymes & back to the reality check. If they told you that it is easy they lied to you. 

If it was so easy we will all be doing it & would have reached the greatest heights of our lives pretty quick. Stop scratching your head, am explaining myself in the next line what I mean. Do not be lied to by the movies that shows you how the bad guy gets to have it all. 

The fast cars, the fancy houses, the bags full of cash, the beautiful women/handsome men, the stylish clothes & so on. Did you know that we are a people engineered to use short cuts to make things in our lives work? Why you ask? Well, when dealing with a short cut it will save you the time, the energy, the thought process, the obstacles & so forth. 

What you do not get to know or factor in at the time is short as it is, it will be short lived (no pun intended). We may deem that when I use the quickest route I will get there faster, which I will agree with you to some extent. However, you will not have calculated the details that will make your plan work & the eventualities to follow. 

It may show progress for some time but eventually the past will catch up with you. Ask Pablo Escobar, he made his money from the addiction of the people to drugs but soon thereafter he ate lead. Do you know that even though Samson was the strongest man during his time, he also had his own shortcomings? 

At the younger age he didn't have the miraculous hair that gave him untold strength. He was a common man & that is why God worked on him to make him a vessel for his use (this I can be corrected if am wrong). If we look at the times that we are current in, covid-19 has made it its purpose for us to forcefully change our way of life & reveal our true selves. 

Yes, it is a virus that can't be disputed except by the few here & there. But right now, we are doing things on a different level. No one would have thought we would be reduced from physical interaction to technological gadgets so as to do our work, interact, earn a living & so on. 

We are in unprecedented times that requires us to be more vigilant in our dealings. It is said that when you face a challenge or an obstacle, see how you can seize the opportunity that is presenting itself. One may raise a question, what can I learn from this pandemic that can make my life better. 

For starters it has shown that we need to work on our hygiene which we have not being maintaining to the expected standard. It has also shown us that technology should not be feared but embraced. Also, it has shown us that physical interactions which we took for granted like hugs, handshakes, pecks can be switched off in an instance. 

You may chime in & say what about the people of the rural areas or setting. Well, you have been shown that eating organic foods from the farm has its own health benefits & that those in such area areas work but on a different way to make life comfortable & bearable. 

This may not be exhaustive but the moment we have been getting used to has taken an about turn & we have been forced to slow down, catch our breath & take a moment to appreciate what we have. Those who are lucky to have jobs, you have realized that living pay cheque to pay cheque is not sustainable & requires an alternative source of income. 

We are all learning to have a worthwhile life. Nothing is granted any more, now we are working towards securing our future & present times as the past has taught us we need to be better prepared as life is not taking any prisoners. The going will be tough but you are built for this. 

You need not to doubt yourself, circumstances may make you question the sense of being alive but there is a greater plan formulating just do your part the rest will fall in place. Live in the now & plan your life accordingly, things will not just work out automatically but if your put in the correct strategies then it should get better. 

Plan your time more wisely by looking at how you spend your day. Is it spent on the internet or idling or is it something you can account for by being productive. If you are working hard to earn that coin to sustain yourself, are you investing it, saving it or are you just squandering it & saying tomorrow will take care of itself. 

When it comes to finances, you should be the last person to taste it like the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. If you are salaried, you need to understand that money has a lifespan. The first thing to do when you get it is, give God his dues by tithing, pay your bills that is rent, water & electricity, invest in the things that will make your money grow & not just putting it in a bank account like the money market fund or shares or bonds. 

You then proceed to save some of it for a rainy day because you never know when you will need to break open the piggy. Lastly you can spend the few coins remaining to treat yourself or your loved ones. There are days that you will wake up & feel like discovering the earth hidden treasures like Vasco Da Gama. 

Other days you will feel like you need a break & need to hide your head deep in the sand like the ostrich. There are times you will feel like tearing at the roots of your hair. Other days you will feel like fortune has favored you. There are days you will feel like Peter Pan wanting to float around & not give a care in the world. 

While other, days you will want to reach out & take in the example of being like Jesus. You! Yes, you, the one reading this post. Are you tired of life, do you feel drained at every moment? Is your waking moment dreaded when you are leaving your bed? 

Does it feel like as if you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Is it a chore when you are asked to help others? Fear not my friend you are not alone; we are all cut from different clothes that make up the rag. You need to know that I am loved, someone cares about me, there is hope, I will make it, there is nothing I can’t do, I am meant for greatness & God still has got my back. 

If you have watched the 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness it will show you that life is but a stair cases with different steps that you have to climb to reach your appointed destiny. Every stage of your life is programmed to test you in one way & eventually you will discover your true purpose in life. It will not be easy but it will be worthy. 

In the words of Les Brown, “if life knocks you down, try landing on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Never give up!”

SO IT BEGINS.

Hello there, hoping that your week had started off better than the last & is now ending smoother like fine wine as you prepare to dine. Well, on my end I am getting to understand the true meaning of having an affair with the blankets, comforters & duvets.

It has been raining, night & day to the extent I was wondering have the heaven taps been let open accidently. It becomes dark & glum when you step outside as the sun is fighting to take its place in the sky. The war of the elements has been fully flagged like the world wars of the days past.

In all of this, I am thankful am still in one piece, alive, breathing normally, having all my limbs functional & in God’s favour. Don’t mistake this to mean that I am having it fantastic but am appreciative of the very fact that I have a few blessings here & there which I don’t take for granted.

These days just seeing the light of another day has become a privilege to be embraced like rekindling that lost love. Did you know that you are the author of your book & the writer of the chapters that shall grace this creation of yours? It is understandable that when we want to do something new to us we become hesitant like as if we are stuck in quick sand.

Where all logic & reason flees out of the window like a thief in the night. One of our default settings entails having fear. In this battle of survival & living, fear can be either Forget Everything and Run or Face Everything and Rise. The choice of interpretation is solely based on you & what you deem as your best approach to what life is handing over to you on a platter.

When we are paralyzed by our fear, we have a sense of confining ourselves to what makes us comfortable. When you discover you can do more than is being offered to you, you let the fear of the unknown shackle you to the same position. Thus making it an impediment to your growth.

The question that am guessing is swirling around your mind like soup & so often echo to ourselves when we hold our own meeting with ourselves is, what if? I am not saying that you should not question but you need to analyze beyond the query. 

This becomes the handcuff that puts you in place of not moving from your current position in life, home, work, family wise or even self. You tend to stick to that which is familiar & consider anything new introduced to you as a way of misleading you to your untimely doom like the journey to the center of the earth.

How we fail to achieve our full potential when we block ourselves from that which is within our grasp, why? This is because we believe that we are undeserving of the worthy opportunity that presents itself to us wrapped in a purple bow or that promotion handed over in a sealed envelope or that change that will make you soar like an eagle or that relationship that will stick you up like glue & bring out a better version of yourself.

If you want to get to change something in your life or around you, it all has to start with you. If you never try you will never know. In our journey as we traverse the various plains of existence, you should walk away from anything that give you bad vibes. There is no need to explain or make sense of it.

You need to be true to yourself & believe that there is more meant for you. Do you think you are the first in this world to make a mistake? My friend making mistakes is better than faking perfections. We need to learn to forgive ourselves at the moments we are at our worst.

It is not strange that at times we find ourselves at the raw end of the stick, beating ourselves for a mistake that we have made & is stuck to us like a stubborn paint stain that refuses to wash off. Through all the curve balls thrown at you, you need to brush them off like nothingness that you can overcome.

First you could start by changing your attitude about what life is & starting believe in what it can become. Molding it in clay forged by your very hands & in the very imagination & desire of your heart. Secondly, looking at the click of people who form your circle & opt to do a complete haul over.

It will not be easy as some have come with you from far. This does not mean you cut ties with those who have helped you become better but those who weigh you down like sin. Thirdly, immerse yourself in knowledge that will soak you like a sponge from reading, as it is stated knowledge is power.

Fourthly, if you are a spiritual person start praying for everything that you do so that God can bless the works of your hand. Fifthly, seize those opportunities that come your way even if it seems that it is impossible but just try, it won’t hurt. Sixthly, try to enjoy life. I know there could be some dry up season of resources but make do with what is avail. You know that you can talk a walk, go out for a run, listen to some uplifting music & so on.

Life is short. Cut out negativity, forget gossip, say goodbye to people who don’t care. Spend time with people who are always there. Pray as much as you can, forgive those who wrong you & move on with life. Remember that there are 5 things that you can’t get back:

             i.        Wasted money

            ii.        The stone after its thrown

          iii.        The word after it is said

          iv.        The moment after it is said

           v.         The time after it is gone

MY COUNTRY, MY HOME.

Did you know that you are the change that you want! Don't you know that! Ooh, hi there, didn't see you peeping at the pages of enlightenment. I was just preparing myself on how I was going to let loose a torrent of truths like the apostles of the days long gone had done. This has been one of those weeks where it is a holiday after a holiday. 

Just getting the body to just relax after the merciless beating it has received from the push it has had to endure. Whoever said adulting was easy just out rightly lied through their clenched teeth. What is this life? Every day is like a game of poker, trying out your lack to see if your will hit the jack pot.

You never know if tomorrow will be the last one where once you close your eyes that's it or it is going to be a fruitful day where you will smile all the way to the bank or you are going to be yelled at by that rogue colleague or supervisor. Life is quite unpredictable like the odds of winning a jack pot, you are never too sure which hand it will show you next. 

When you are an inhabitant of an African nation it is assumed by the outside world that you are in a backwards, undeveloped, still living in the trees kind of people. Where all you do is hunting & gathering & that we are so ravaged by poverty that we cannot in any way help ourselves. We are just a helpless lot begging for the mercy of the Almighty & awaiting judgment.

If only people could see what more is there to be offered in a country as compared to what the media will depict as the assumed truth. I do understand the criticism that African countries receive because of the way the leaders in control decide that power is theirs and theirs alone like a birth right.

A leader decides that the seat of power should not be out of his/her grasp & that it was meant for eternity. The robbing the nation of its resources to enrich oneself has become a common phenomenon. If you look past the politics, I can assure you that a nation has more to offer than meets the eye.

Most of the African nations as well as my homeland of Kenya have a good number of game reserves that have so much to offer. You get to be treated to the raw living of wildlife that many only see through their television screens. The roar of a lion, the laughing of a hyena, the grace of a giraffe, the magnitude of an elephant, the elegance of an antelope, the beauty of a peacock, the scream of monkeys, the buzzing of mosquitos & so forth.

It is such a wonder that one gets treated to true living of wildlife like no other place. Leave alone the wild animals what of the inhabitants themselves? If you were to walk in the streets of Nairobi, you will be surprised by how busy everyone is regardless of who they are. It is a beehive of activities, people selling their wares here & there, others pushing paper work to beat those deadlines & so on.

It is true that we do not choose to be born on this earth & as such when we get to live, breath we become part of the system that we find. It is humbling to have somewhere you call home apart from your house, if your country is not habitable that my friend is quite unfortunate. It feels good to be proud of your own home country & not one when it is mentioned, you distance yourself like as if a plague has struck.

If one hears about Kenya, it gets associated with its marathon runners who are quite formidable, the wildlife which is beholding, its weather which we get to soak under the rays of the hot sun. I got the privilege of taking a ride on one of our roads. This is what I was fortunate in the early morning hours to witness with my own eyes. Have you ever seen the sun caress the horizon like a gentle lover awakening like this?

My friend this was a sight to behold that left me dumbfounded, appreciative of what I was witnessing in such a time of the day. Thankful that I was one amongst the few who had that opportunity to see this great marvel. This is in taking into consideration that there are other nations that are war torn, filled with smog, heavily polluted & so on.

We need to take a moment to step back from the bustle of our living & be thankful for that which we have. A good number of you have left your homelands for one reason or another, some are good others are bad, it could be for safety reasons, for work reasons, for education reasons, for family reasons, for development reasons et cetera.

It is upon you as an individual to make your nation a better place for you & the generations to come & those who are there. You can do it in a small way, it doesn’t have to be one big bang. You could start by letting those around you know that there are local areas that you can go for the intimate interaction with nature (if nature lovers).

There are ways of getting that physical exercise or doing a sport or outdoor activity that can benefit your mind, body & soul. For starters currently people have taken to jogging, running, cycling, hiking, working out as part of their daily routine. This has been cured by doing either jogs or runs in protected forests which offer a serene environment or on roads with designated pedestrian walk ways.

It may be the age of the corona virus but we are a blessed people who can make the impossible possible. All you have to do is believe that it is possible. I want to leave you with the verses of our National Anthem (Kenya), that touches me to the very core. Hearing this being sung out loud in unison together with musical instruments can make you shed a tear. It is deep & does state how a country should be:

 

Oh God all creation

Bless this our land and nation

Justice be our shield and defender

May we dwell in unity

Peace and liberty

Plenty be found within our borders

 

Let one and all arise

With hearts both strong and true

Service be our earnest endeavor

And our homeland of Kenya

Heritage and splendor

Firm may we stand to defend

 

Let all with one accord

In common bond united

Build this our nation together

And the glory of Kenya

The fruit of our labour

Fill every heart with thanksgiving

TAKE MY HAND.

I would like to extend my hand & shake yours or more so just hug you, but the covid-19 directives have put me on check, so I will say hello from this distance. Are you seated or lying on the sofa or bed or even on the floor just stretching yourself out like a cat after the kind of day you have had? Well, I am hoping that you are now more relaxed, not snappy like a crab or moody (What?). 

I am guessing that you have had your supper (for the sophisticated ones, it is dinner) & you are now catching up with your other life which does not involve the grind or making ends meet. It is so nice to see that you can have this moment to yourself or I may be wrong, may be you could be hiding in your room or bathroom or closet away from other humans (don’t laugh this is serious). 

Seeking that the earth could swallow you whole & give you some semblance of peace & quietness in your own corner. What I can simply tell you is that it is going to be alright & God has got you. You don’t have to take my word for it but look at it this way, today you are still alive, how many do you think have not seen this day. I believe in you! I want you to know that you are stronger than you look, you are more blessed than you believe, you are more cherished than you can comprehend & you are more loved than you can see. 

Don’t feel like as if am trying to oil you (direct translation from kukuchocha or is it kupaka mafuta, I think). Anyway, I will assume you get the jest of what it is that I am saying, cause at times I even don’t understand myself. We face life in our own different ways, that the path which we take or are currently on, only us who can understand its weight. Right now, I am seated here at my desk listening to some instrumental music made up of guitar, violin & cello combo, soaking it in like a sponge. 

Wondering to myself, why can’t every hour be like this, calm, collected & serene. Maybe it is too much to ask but it is good to be a dreamer, one day it may materialize into a reality. Let me now take you on a short journey of what I have come to learn about life. There are moments when there is pain, sorrow, happiness, despair, ups, downs, laughs, tears & so on. It is at this moment that you wonder to yourself what is all this that is happening to me. 

Do you ever get so confused to the extent that you call yourself for a meeting? Where it is basically, a gathering of me, myself & I. Questioning the direction in which you are going, if it is the right one or you are just being blown around by the wind in whichever direction. Wondering as the days go by, who put me here on this world. There are days when you feel so broken that you doubt that someone else has ever gone through the same thing. 

There are days you will get back home, so exhausted, fatigued, hungry, angry & wondering is it really necessary that I go out there & try to make ends meet. There are days you look at your state of living & laugh at yourself, shaking your head like a calabash wondering if there is thick mud stuck somewhere in there. There are days you are at a loss that no words of comfort can right the situation & it is not that other person’s fault. 

I will share with you something that happened to me this our year of 2020. I got the privilege of joining a running club. No, I was & am not training to be a winner in any marathon or race or run away from my problems. I thought this was a good thing to help me interact with others & get challenged to become a better version of myself. There is a phrase we commonly hear or carelessly throw around that says “blood is thick than water”. 

From what I interpret it to mean is that your blood family is more close to you than the rest of the world. Now, back to my story of sorts, I noticed that in this club that I am in, family is more than flesh & blood. Why do I say this? The first days that I joined, the club captain requested to go for a run with me which left me baffled. I didn’t expect me a stranger & newbie to be in the company of such a great athlete.

This dude can run like the wind & I think sometimes his feet may catch fire because the pace he runs at is something to make you think thrice. He ran with me on my route at my pace with a lot of patience encouraging me to finish. Let me tell you, running for 5 kilometres was an uphill task for me, it reached a point I was like I have had enough. Over the months that have been, I have been able to catch up on the mileage. 

On this journey, I have also gotten to interact with the other members of the club who are easy & hail from different back grounds. I think some may be royalty, just that they down play it (don’t tell them I said so). My engagement with them has left me perplexed by how they are like a family unit, different in blood line but united by heart. I have gotten lessons on how to run better, how to keep safe on a run, how to dine healthier, keep fit & so on. 

However, this year has hit a number of the members of the club hard, who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. This has brought tears, heartache, misery, questions & pain to those left behind. I can but only commend the club members for standing by the sides of these individuals during the times that have been. Visiting them, supporting them, been there for them, praying for them & so on. 

I am not saying that you should join a running club but more so that you need to be around people who know what it feels like when the world is upside down. For there are people who hit like thunder & disappear like smoke. We all have our own battles we face but when we have others who come through for us when we are seeing no hope those are the true treasures to keep around & a big thank you to them. 

Do not be afraid to reach & touch someone’s life, you never know whose life you are touching. I will leave this with you, “If God is the DJ, then life is the dance floor, love is the rhythm & you are the music”.

THIS IS THE AIR I BREATH!

Do you know that you are blessed & highly favored? It may seem like a cliché that I keep on repeating but one thing you need to understand is that as long as you have air in your lungs do not take that for granted. I am aware that we have been hit hard by the Covid-19 which has turned our lives upside down but we are still here.

Ask yourself, am still alive, do I still have people who care about me, do I have some food on my table, do I have a roof over my head, do I have clothes that cover my back, do I still have my limbs that are functioning, do I still have some dignity & respect? Well if you are able to tick off any of this, you are in the right spot. 

I am looking & seeing that the time now is a weekend, which usually comes as a sigh of relief for a good number of us (inclusive of myself). Where you get to kick off your week day shoes & now we get into the open shoes, slippers, sandals, sport shoes & want to just give your toes a bit wiggle room from being crumped up & take in the weekend air.

Well it is now time to unwind & just enjoy the different environs from the norm of looking at files, ledgers, computers/laptops & now taking in the scenic routes, admiring nature at its best, the forests. If you are runner, you are now thinking of how you are going to conquer that trail & push yourself to that limit you deem unachievable.

Indeed, the weekends are a blessing in disguise when it is all up to self-love & hanging out with friends, loved ones away from the prying eye of the cctv cameras, nosy colleagues & so on. For me, I get to enjoy my weekends by going for early morning trails. Where I just let loose in the forest or those routes that give me the most calming & joyous effect.

This goes to the extent that I get lost in my own train of thoughts, just thinking about nothing & something (weird, may be it is). Thereafter, doing my best to try & spend time with those whom I hold dear, I am assuming that we all take it different. Others would decide this is the time to go get some hot, spicy roast meat dripping with juiciness from the local joint with a drink or two to escort it to the belly.

Others will decide it is time to explorer an area in the city or outside the confines of the city to get a different feel of the unpolluted & unpopulated environment. Others would decide it is time for them to be behind closed does & movie/tv series binge & snack like never before.

Others will decide it is the time to work on a personal project; painting, do some wood works, bake, do repairs around the house or on the car (the creatives know what I mean). In all that we do, we need to be appreciative of the fact that these three days called Friday afternoon, Saturday & Sunday are the most coveted days in a week.

Just take a look when it nears the official weekend, people’s moods just change all of a sudden. If a public holiday falls on the Monday to follow or that Friday, well it now becomes a party after party situation-ship. I am not here to condemn you but to encourage you to go forth & make merry.

However, do it wisely not to wake up the next day having left behind memories may haunt you like ghosts. You do know that the internet never forgets (right!), due to the emergence of our smart gizmos (gadgets). We may have the chance to enjoy ourselves but we all have an obligation to be responsible in our actions.

If you find or just wisely discover that what you deem your weekend activity is not beneficial, get into a charitable or a humanitarian act. You don’t even have to go to a reputable charity organization, you can aid those who are finding it hard to make it in the current times.

Support in form of the basic needs broken down to things such as food, clothes, financial assistances & so on. What we all need to take into consideration is that you can seem to be having it rough one way or another (which I am not taking it as a small thing), but you need to appreciate the very fact that you are alive & surviving. 

If you are in a position of assisting others in one way or another, you do that. If you are able to pray for others, pray for them. If you are able to go out in community & just hang out with guys who are not of your normal click & have fun, do that. If you are able to buy food stuff in plenty from the mama mboga to give her some boost, you do that.

If you are dealing with a local vendor of products, support that hustle it will not dent your wallet or bank account. This is a time for being there for one another, for a good number of people have not seen the sunrise that you so gracefully got to be engulfed it. Even if you don’t have much to give, a kind word, a smile or just small chit chat will do.

You do not have to go all out grand to create an impression. It is more so about doing it from the heart & doing it to your fullest potential. We all have a greatness that we can’t see but circumstances will definitely bring it out. I want to leave you with a prayer to take you through the day that has been & is yet to come to a conclusion.  You can repeat after me (if you so wish):

Our Father who is in heaven. I come before you as your beloved child. I am grateful that you have kept me alive & you have shown me your love, mercy, kindness & goodness. I may not be understanding what is happening in my life but I do know that you have a great plan for me. My God I offer myself to you to be a vessel for you to use as you please. At times, I am in a dark place but you Father know what is in store. Thank you for those who are around me to support me when I am down, hurt & broken. Lord Jesus, I give you this day & I pray that may your will be done. I pray this believing & trusting in Jesus name. Amen!

May you all have a great, awesome & serene weekend.