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".

YOU ARE THE CHANGE YOU WANT.

"I am not an artist but I am a human being.  I stand with all people no matter the race, color, religion or back ground. I stand with you all who speak the language of peace and unity. We are one people, we are brothers and sisters from different fathers and mothers. We shall and will live in peace for we are on people".

Ladies & gentlemen, my people from all over the global, I salute you. It is yet another new & sunny day that we have seen & for that I most grateful to the most High to be alive & well. I thought I should just take this opportunity to quote above a message of peace which has been very wanting in various regions of the world as well as my mother country (Kenya). We have seen in the recent months our brothers & sisters being mowed down by bullets, slashed with crude weapons, burned to a crisp, lives snatched before their maturity, dreams quashed (this is indeed a sad state of affairs). If you want to see change be the change that you want to see.

We need to rise up by the thousands & say no to being put down like dogs (I am not venting, just pointing out a fact of what has plagued my country ever since we heard the words elections taking off). All in all, I shall pray that we shall take upon ourselves to not let the minority be manipulated & subjected by the powerful, mindless, selfish beings who hold the reigns of the country in their hands to a meaningless demise. We have lost too many people to the thoughtlessness of those who deem themselves the big pins, no more should we let ourselves become the guinea pigs or lab rats to be used at their own pleasure.

I have come to notice of late that on our roads fatal accidents are a daily occurrence. What is happening to our public roads, is it that we are not having enough traffic officers or are we lacking in rules & regulations to govern our use of the roads? (this is just a rhetorical question to chew on as the year comes to a close). I believe that it is all a matter of self discipline on our part. This is a matter of mind sight (believing without first seeing) & not eye sight (believing only when you can see something) determining what you can or can't achieve in life.  Looking at how life is lost so easily, what if one opted to not participate in a baseless activity that endangers his/her life. You have your own freedoms & those I respect, it is how you use them that is key.

Have your ever sat down & wonder why is life so stressful. Right now parents are scratching their heads to baldness, dreading next week when schools are opening, work is being resumed & traffic will be back to the norm. Wondering how the heck is one going to manage with January coming up (this is one dreaded month as it always feels like 2 months in 1). Well, for starters when you are just about to break for the festive season, instead of spending all that you have accumulated in the year at one go, why not try this. Make arrangements early enough before going for that holiday by buying the school books, school materials, buy food stuff, pay the rent, water & electricity bills within the first week of the festivities.

This may seem odd to you, but have you ever thought what if I did do things early instead of procrastinating which is the usual trend, would I not be less stressed! (just saying). We complain every now & then that something is not right or we are so broke we don't know how we will survive in the coming days. If we can change our attitudes towards that which ails us, we can make our lives much better. Developing self discipling by letting go of that which is beyond our control will make ones life much simpler. As I was advised by my old man, if you are having various challenges before you start with that which is easier as you move to the more complex ones. That way by the time you get to the more challenging issue you would have formulated a plan of tackling the same effectively & efficiently.

Always remember that no matter how bad it is, or how tough it gets you can still make it. If you ever trip & fall always try to land on your back because If you can look up, you can get up, don't give up. Finally know that you are blessed & highly favoured.

THE LONE RANGER.

 

Hello me fellow readers (yes you, don't look confused or maybe it is out of curiosity that you mistakenly clicked on the link to this page). Anyway, I do hope that you have been well & that somehow things are looking up for you. On my part, nothing much to complain about just grateful for that which has been graciously given to me. By the way before I forget, weeeee this year has been just full of drama galore. If it is not the nation in turmoil due to the election tension leading to now to voting twice a first in our history (maybe it is just in my time of the supposed older generation, I don't know about you). There is the economic crunch that has hit hard below the belt with a sucker punch. The weather has been on a mood swing pendulum, one time it is crazy cold the other time it is blazing hot. Running battles in the streets between protesters, the police & occasional by bad luck a civilian gets in the way (this is so confusing, what is happening to us). 

The number of fatal accidents on our roads has been on an all time high streak, it is devastating that life is being lost left right & center (God help us, it is like a human sacrifice ceremony of sorts is being conducted).Politicians have gone on a rampage wanting to bleed the country dry, all in the name of being 'mheshimiwa'. The madness of the world has been unleashed & the very gates of hell have been flanged wide open. All manner of chaos is erupting all round, it is like the end of times reached & we didn't hear the trumpet call. Hey am not here to kill your mood of the day, may be you thought this was going to be a happy story to cheer you up from the long day you have had or might have but fortunately all I want to do is just share some facts.

Let me now get to the agenda of the hour if I may. I have a question, do you work well with others (I mean, are you a team player) or you just work best by yourself?(no need to tell me, just hold that thought for a minute or two in your mind) We are all engineered differently, as such we each tackle life at a different angle in a different way. No one ever predicts the outcome of how an event may turn out to be in the long run. I will give you an example of such, like when you have been given some assignment to work on & it has a deadline. The most natural thing to do will be to tackle the same on your own. However as the deadline approaches you will either end up asking for help or unless you are a hard headed or stubborn person end up doing it on your own.

The other example would be, if you are facing a crisis & you opt to keep quiet about it. You may have a valid reason for the same (maybe you don't trust the people who are around you, who knows) but  you may at one time or the other ask for their assistance. You are puzzling over whether to take a job or not & you feel that you are caught up in the proverbial phrase between a rock & a hard place. If you take it, it may mean you relocate or have to work more hours. A final one would be, (God forbid) you have a family member who is critically ill & they have to be hospitalized. At first you may decide to handle the bills but are afraid to seek others to chip in. Mind you in the long run you may make a plea to the masses to help. 

These are just but a few examples of situations whereby, strong as you are you can't survive on your own or handle something by yourself. You may need an acquittance, a friend, a family member, a best friend or God (not to leave out any other spiritual/religious belief). It takes real courage to stand up & ask for help. It may feel like as if you are demoting yourself to a beggar (no offense intended). Many of us suffer in silence & if we had the chance to break lose of the same we would be far in life. Most times we keep on contemplating, if I ask them will they not look down at me or won't they consider me a bother or a pain in the back side. My friend, you have heard what the most common cliché says, "no man (or woman) is an island.

When you are in need, not necessarily of material things. It could be for moral support or just a listening ear, you may have to engage someone else for the sake of sharing that which is in your mind. As is the case, two heads are better than one. Let me share with you something that I saw written on a bus, it goes like this, "If you want to talk to God, stop, find a peaceful spot and talk to Him. If you want to see Him, text while you drive". What do you think it means? Maybe you will share with me on the same the next time I grace this page.

WHO REALLY ARE YOU?

 

"Who are you? Yes you, who really are you?" Have you ever woken up one morning & asked yourself what is your purpose on earth. Why were we conceived to go through all that life throws at us like as if trying out target practice? Why is it prudent to achieve anything meaningful, you have to get your act together & put in that effort? Why is it vital to have a plan of where we are going & how to get there?. Have you ever asked yourself those questions. Sitting at the edge of  your bed trying to contemplate whether you should get out of the house or not, just wondering why is the struggle so real (ooh yes the struggle is indeed real, just look at the current price of unga, eeeh!) . 

Well, what I do know is that when we were born our lives were mapped out to specific destination & the fate that awaited us we were yet to discover it. All in all, we are groomed by society of what is expected of us. We are expected to rise up in the morning, get into the grind to put a meal on our table, clothes on our backs, pay the bills & so forth. The real question that arises is, how to relate with others. How we are to live side by side with those whom we find in our surrounding environs. The whole idea of the above is to ignite that curiosity within you so as to awaken the realization of the reality of the old saying, "you are your brother/sister's keep" (if you noticed am not gender biased). 

This is not a question & answer session, I am just raising a concern. Let me just ask this question & be honest about it. By show of hands, how many of you have ever greeted that security guard at the estate's gate, office gate/security desk.? Hmmmm, am seeing quite a number of hands up (I must have asked a simple question, let me try it again). How many of you have ever checked up on the well-being of the security guard or gates man/woman (please don't crucify me of giving them as my example, I mean no disrespect)?  I am serious about this, like asking them how they have being, how their families are, if they are okay, how life is treating them & such like questions. 

I see that the raised hands have reduced drastically (I may have just hit the jack pot with this one or is it a sensitive nerve, I don't know!). Why is it that my second question is causing you to feel uneasy (not saying all of you, some of you don't even care about what I have just said), looking down with shame like a child caught eating sugar? Are they not humans like you or me? Do they not bleed when cut? Do they not feel when hurt? Do they not cry when in pain? Why are we so self-centered that we care so much about ourselves that we don't bother to see if others need a shoulder to lean on, a listening ear, a hand to hold them steady or just company. I am not saying you have to do this (it is merely a suggestion & just a humble opinion of a fellow human being), it is more of a personal decision to be made on an individual basis (the choice is solely yours). 

We are brought up in a world where we deem ourselves superior over the less fortunate or those not in our cast level (how sad that is somewhat true). You may now throw your stones at me, I believe some of you are like, "Look at the nerve of this guy, who does he think he is?' Does he think he is the savior of mankind! I only come with clean hands & an open mind, asking questions few dare ask that is all. Examine yourself & ask, "what impact have I left in someone's else life" (don't speak it out loud, use your inner voice). It may seem like a trivial matter to some of you but just take a minute to think about. You are busy trying to put a meal on the table, clothes on your back, roof over your head, clear those pesky bills & here I am trying to poke that bear (I didn't meant to touch a sensitive nerve, just hear me out). 

What will it cost you to say a kind word to that stranger you may meet on a daily, be it in the matatu on your way home, at the office, at the park, in the lift or a place of social gathering. Anyway, I am not forcing you to be kind or to be a helping hand to others. Just that we need to become a considerate people of those who are around us. They may have minimal significance in your life or impact & that I get but as you go about your every day activities internalize what I have just said or pointed out & see what you can or can't do about it. Remember don't do something for someone for glory or fame or to be a household name, do it because you want to do it. Enjoy the rest of your day.

YOU ARE ON POINT, DON'T STRESS.

 

Hi there, how have you been? It has indeed been quite a while, since I last graced this page with my utter gibberish & nonsensical ideologies of what is what (so am told). I wonder, where is this life heading to with the high expectation that society has of all of us (sigh). What is all the fuss about, yet we have only one life to live & one voice to give. Anyway you are a wonder like no other (it is no joke, am serious), you remember the seven wonders of the world now you have just official become the eighth. How your react to that which is around you is something that differs from the rest of the creatures of the world. We shall raise our voices high as we listen to the beating of our hearts like the tum tum drums. 

However, for the past few days the weather has been quite chilly to the extent of ones toes curling (I tell you it is like as if hell has literally frozen over). You have now become one with your bed covers, pulling them closer & tighter as you try to cover every inch of your body from the cold as it bites you at every opportunity it can get. You have now being accepted by your bed covers as one of their own. How was that for a twist of events throwing together a bunch of sentences to bring out one key aspect & that is, 'life is what you make it to be'. No! there is no instructions manual on life you are here to learn from experience.

Who would have thought that getting a good education would feel like climbing the very peak of Mt. Kilimanjoro. I tell you, the mountain looks majestic from all angles but to truly appreciate it you will have to scale its steep, rugged walls to get to the top & view the world below, then you will grasp its beauty. Anyway, there you are at your work station, bed, in a matatu/bus, at a lounge (this is not exhaustive mind you) trying to understand where is your life headed & what are the chances you are going to make it to your forty's (considering the high mortality rate). You are scratching you head vigorously like a lottery ticket hoping this is the one which gives you the big win. Sipping your chilled drink (any is acceptable - alcoholic or not, I don't judge). 

You question the reality of this universe & what it holds in its clutched hands in store for you. Well, I may not be the oracle of life or have the answers to your tough questions but know this no matter what you face in life, there is only one of you. You are the determining factor (not forgetting God, just saying) on how you can make your life more meaningful. Yes, you are going through a rough patch, no deal is going through, you are not meeting the expected standards of your boss, a loved one has disappointed you, you have been betrayed by a friend & so forth. Well, it is unfortunate that there is pain, misery, disappointments, heart breaks, frustrations and the likes that you are going through.

We are born with the aspect of worrying each & every time when something is not going our way. You pin your hopes on a friend to bail you out of mix you are in, lo & behold you are left to fend for yourself like the scarecrow against crows. You count on getting that promotion, it doesn't fall through as somebody else snatches it from your open palms. You are there hoping to win that case & all hell breaks loose your client gets sentenced to jail. You pray that your blessing comes through, but you are not seeing any hopes of it happening. Well my brother & sister, it is not written in stone that your life shall continue on a downward trend forever. A time is coming when you shall just stare & wonder, what was I complaining about. Saying to yourself, why am I even stressing myself over nothing!

We put so much weight on our shoulders that we forget that if only we had the patience, all will come to pass just like the storm calms down one way or the other. Life may have dealt you a bad hand but you know what (what? had to respond to myself since you are all so engrossed on what am saying). If life knocks you down, you should land on your back. If you can look up, you can get up. Don't give up. Every situation in your life happens for a specific reason which neither you nor I can understand or comprehend. Every day when you wake up, let your first thought be "today is going to be a good day" (you may laugh at this & shrug it away as being wishful thinking). You may jeer at me saying I am but a dreamer, well if you ever heard the story of Joseph he was one but look at how far he came in life.

It is a challenge to face each day with hope, but remember that when the sun rises with it comes a new dawn. Each day is a fresh opportunity to start over, to grow, learn, rectify the mistakes made & to shape your dreams into reality. Be it at work, at home, with friends, with your colleagues if you don't put your foot down & say "enough is enough, I am done". You will continue to be a slave to your fears, disappointments, pain, misery, chaos, curses (if you are a superstitious lot) & the list is quite lengthy. You have to take a stand like a warrior, spear in hand, shield in the other ready to face that roaring, charging lion approaching fast. Remember that no matter how tough it is or how tough it gets, you are going to make it.

"You are blessed and highly favoured."

UNMASKED!

 

Psssst! Did you see that! Hey, you! I am talking to you. Yes you! Yes, you the one reading this! Don't tell me you didn't see that! You ask me what am blubbering about like a madman in a market or the busy city streets. Let me tell you, if you didn't see it. Here goes, life is full of multi-faced people (not sure if that word is even correct english). We are all with different character traits that change every now & then. Leading to a turmoil in our train of thoughts that leaves one wondering what did I just see. One time, someone is cold, another time they are warm, another time they are all over the place, another time they shun you like a plague, another time they embrace you tightly like a teddy bear, another time they see you as the devil incarnate all the while making you feel lost as you have no way of identifying with them. 

Here we are in the new year of 2017, where some of you may have been syked to follow through with new year resolutions. Saying to oneself that this year you are going to make a difference in your life, sticking to your guns like a cowboy & blasting away any negative aurora as you hold your head high like a giraffe, watching the distant horizon with awe. The sunrise brings with it a new dawn, just like a restart button granting you another chance to redeem yourself. All these may be all good & dandy, the only downside is when we decide to ape those around us in a more unproductive & destructive way. One may decide to dress all flashy to woo the ladies (no offense to smart dresses & ladies not wooed by such), speaking  with a twang so as to be seen as one who has been outside the country, riding in an expensive car, having the latest of phones just to show off & so on.

We try so hard to fit in society that our identities become blurry & lost in all the make up we apply on through our lifestyle. Each day, we try to be better than so & so. The harder we forge forward to create a "better" version of ourselves the more we become so deeply rooted like the cassava plant in our foolish competition with each other that we are no longer our true selves. We change our entire lives, how we treat each other, the mode of dressing, how we talk, our mannerism & so forth. Word of caution never forget who you are, for east or west home is still the best as that is where you truly belong. Pretenders have a short life span in the world that they are planting themselves in. Once exposed the walls of pretext come tumbling down, bringing with it all the shame, guilt & the harsh reality of one's current circumstance.

The time for elections is drawing near in the country, the political arena is heating up & every corner of the central business district is ablaze with talks of the coming months. Now we are eager for change but are we aiming for the right kind of change? In light of these, as was unfortunately witnessed during 2007/2008 when we had the post-election violence that rocked the whole country plunging it in unspeakable horror, friend turned to enemy, family to stranger the continuous cycle of  chaotic madness. Why do I bring this up, well it is because we each have many faces that we wear & once a certain negative influence is unleashed we reveal a darker version of ourselves (or is it that we were just dark form the onset, maybe we shall never know but who knows). Those whom we said hello to, now turn around & look down upon us with disgust. Such is the tragic loss of unity amongst ourselves that we become a people divided based on our differences.

Time & time again we ape the habits of those around us, as we see it as a more befitting status in society rather than standing by who we are as we care about what others think of us that we embrace what the society deems as being best. How sad that we get lost in this game of "guess who" that we become entangled in our web of lies. A small lie becomes a white lie growing uncontrollably & becomes the norm as we get engulfed in the short sweetness of pretext. Lo & behold for a day shall come when the the truth shall be revealed & do you think that you shall be set free! Facing of the reality of where you are, what you have become, the things that you have done & the impact that you have left behind. Do you think you are a pretender, hiding behind a mask? Just take your time & think about it, maybe you shall discover something about yourself.