IT BEGINS WITH YOU!

"This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice & be glad in it. This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made". Don't mind me, I was caught up on the memories of the songs of young, when I lived in a world free of care, no sweat to shed or tear rolling down thy chubby cheeks.

Well, It has been an interesting week with the madness that has normalized the world we live in & the nation in line of the current modus operandi. Things are thick to having unfathomable situations like lock-downs, curfews, restrictions, unnecessary drama, threats, scandals & so forth, Indeed it is a new era that we are alive & part of.

Every day is another survival series like the tv drama "into the night". (Where a group of survivors have to chase & embrace darkness/the night since the sun has become toxic & lethal to mankind). We live in times where we ought to give thanks every time that one gets to see the sun rise in the horizon & set in the evening like the credits at the end of a movie. 

Who would have thought that life would take this unprecedented turn of events that would be more of a roller coaster of unimaginable proportions. Each time you see dawn you are holding your breath in anticipation of what the day ahead holds.

I would like with your kind permission to ask you the following questions? Who are you? What are you destined for? Where are you meant to be? When will you get to your destination? How will you get to your destination? I do apologize if it may sound to you like as if am inquiring into your travel plans (believe me it is not or is it?).

We as a people of different walks of life have a desire of what we believe should be how our lives should be like or turn out to be. It is commonly stated that if I want to know who you are I should look at those who you surround yourself with. If this is factual, I would like to know for my own understanding.

This life has become a journey of self-discovery, to the extent of finding out that you had hidden talents & skills while quarantined at home. However, as it is said no one is an island. You or even me, we require someone else to help or guide us charter our way though the murky waters.

Let me tell you, if you get fixated to the fact that you can do it by yourself a reality check will set in sooner than you think. Yes you can make it to some extent by yourself, but remember even when you were a baby your first walking steps were guided by your parent or guardian. 

Who do you keep as your company? Is it the people who make you think critically or is those who make you just think of the now? An example if you hang out with those who have made it in life especially the old & wise, they can whisper to you the dos & don'ts of achievement & the acquisition of assets & not liabilities. 

If you hang out with the wild & free, your chats tend to be about the latest cars, the most exclusive of night clubs, the sickest drinks, the fanciest of gadgets & so on. Most of the times, the conversations tend to be more about the material of things (not saying that they are something to be banished but one ought to tread carefully not to be enslaved by them).

Do you find it worrisome, when you look at your life & see that you are stuck in the same loop. Nothing seems to work out for you. Every time you seek an opportunity to better yourself, it is like a huge boulder has been placed smack in the middle of your path. May I suggest trying to change your environment.

If you are one who wakes up in the morning without a word of gratefulness, try saying a small simple prayer. It can go like this, "God I come before you as your child. I want to say thank you for waking me up & letting me see another day. Guide me in this day & in all that I do. Amen!". This is not a must if you don't want to, you can simply have a mantra.

One can also decided to listen to some music in the morning & am not saying loud blasting music. Just a smooth tune to ease you into the day. If you are a person of every day you need a pint, try replacing it with a fruit juice or just water or the different kinds of tea or coffee in existence. I still repeat this is not a must, but merely a suggestion.

You could also, instead of hanging out with your usual squad, decide to call, text, whatsapp one of your friends who you don't talk often to see how they are doing. It may not do much to you but to them it may be more meaningful. If you are used to hang out with your peers try hanging out with the older folks, at first it may be strange but you never know what you can learn.

Living a positive life means waking up every day and deciding that today will be good and that anything bad will be dealt with as it comes. As I wind up, I leave you with this worship song titled "I will give thanks by House Fires ft Kirby Kaple https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUn76R_OFuM to ease you into that quiet place of serenity. Have a blessed day filed with hope, love, faith & inner peace.

IT IS A FRESH START.

Do you feel alive or have you foreseen yourself going into the light at the end of the tunnel? Well, if you are in this realm welcome back to the land of the living. I tell you, this is the first Easter (I believe) in human history that I am locked up & they won't let me out (those of the 80s era will get it). 

The day has been one of a kind with all of us indoors & not by choice. There I am wondering, is this going to be the norm. Hopefully not, I don't want to go back to the way used to be, but rather to a better brighter future. If you are saying to yourself that you want things to go back to normal, visualize this: "broken systems, lack of unity, stone age systems, crowded scenarios, densely polluted venues, noise pollution et cetera. 

I am just saying the way things that had been have now been overtaken by the events of the time that is. Anyway, back to the motion of the day. What to do you think the rise of the sun in the morning means? Does it have any significance in your life or you just see it as a normal phenomena for the bulb in the sky to light up? 

Let me tell you, for me it means it's a new beginning for the next 24 untainted hours to start a fresh. I am not saying that since it is a another day all has been erased or forgiven or forgotten. Kindly do not get me wrong, what I mean is that the time at hand is an opportunity to see how best you can right your wrongs (if any), rekindle the lost love, get caught up in your work, start that work out routine, meet a new friend, write that article you have been postponing for long, start that running routine & so on. 

It all comes down to you as the determining fact of what is to come as you are the key to the course the wind blows in your sails. I see you shaking your head in disagreement, that is understandable. Yes, there are times external factors become the variables but look at this way, you are still the common factor no matter what happens. 

"It is said that when you trip & fall, try landing on your back. This is because if you can look up, you can get up, don't give up".

You can scream, shout, throw a tantrum like a baby crying for the mother's milk but you have to remember that you are the one in the middle of it whether you like it or not. You are wondering what 'it' is, well means life('comprende!'). All in all, we all have to make the hard or to some easy choice of the path that we want to follow. 

If you ever let your past determine the course your life is to take you shall be shackled to it for the rest of your life. Yes, you did a wrong in your past (we all have something that we are not proud of). Yes, mistakes have been made by you (you are not alone, we are all not angels). Yes, you messed up with the relationship that you had with that special person. 

Yes, you burnt bridges when you thought that your position high up on the ladder could not be taken from under your feet. Well, here is the reality my friend we are in a train in which we are the driver & are directing it in the rail which we want it to go. Though we carry with us a burden that we deem is heavy & which we are unable to let go of or have done so dark a wrong/mistake that you deem yourself tainted like sin, you can still salvage the little light left in you before it becomes all dark or too late for you to be saved. 

Nothing, in this world can make your life dull/dark without you letting it in. You may be facing the worst time in your life & wondering as to why you even exist on this planet. What you need to know is that you will always have a chance to redeem yourself in the times to come. It may take a longer time than anticipated but at least you get the opportunity to face those demons that keep on haunting you, trying to bring you down. 

In your hand you ought to hold that flaming sword firmly that is sanctified to slay all manner of darkness that surrounds your life & tries to make you think that you are worthless, useless, careless, loveless, heartless & so forth. Listen to me, as you read this I want you to know that you are not alone. 

Many have faced the same circumstances that you are going through (inclusive of yours truly) & have pulled through. Knowing that with every waking moment, it is an opportunity to face what is knocking at the door so ferociously welding your mighty sword at the ready. In our modern times that could be the skill you posses, knowledge you have, your character which can suffice as your arsenal against the wickedness or failure traps laid out before you. 

Remember that you are stronger than you look & you will discover a whole new you when life comes at you. It is like standing up to that boss who has been bullying you at work, walking out of a toxic friendship/relationship, resigning/quitting from employment to employ yourself & so on.

"Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing & your attitude when you have nothing".

In light of the days you may have have faced or are yet to face, when you can, listen to this gospel mix by one ZJ Dero (not that I am promoter of sorts), if you are a reggae person, this music will take you to a place of serenity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s_hHbg49EU. I hope the music gets to make your Easter much more bearable & jovial. Be blessed my friend!!!

MY TIME, MY DIME.

Hey you! Yes, you the one who is seated there in your house or at the balcony or the sitting  room or your bedroom as has now become the new normal. Don't look behind you no one else is there & wipe that confused & puzzled look from your face, I am talking to you. All wanted to let you know is that you are blessed & highly favored. 

It may not seem like it, taking it further into consideration that we are now on a county lock down like a mouse in a trap but it is all for our own good (don't you think so?). We shall overcome, have no fear. Though it kind of feels like the earth just sent us all to our rooms to think about what we have done. 

We are social beings who strangely pick an individual to become our life partner, close friend, lover, spouse, best friend & so on. The algorithm for such behavior is unknown to us when we are brought into this world not by our vote or by our decision but by the actions of two who come to tango. 

It is only when we are able to use our matured brain through action that we opt to have that specific person to be the one to spend time with, share our secrets with, discuss our hopes & fears, to lean on their shoulder e.t.c. Why do I take you through this beaten path that you have heard of before? 

Well, it is because as human beings we have a weakness & it is that of not learning from our mistakes & we keep on making the same decision. It is said that if you do a wrong once that will be deemed a mistake, you do a wrong two times then it shall be deemed as a coincidence but if you do a wrong three times this is now declared as a choice. 

Who are you? What are you after in life? Where do you want to be in life? When do you see yourself being where you are meant to be? These are just some of the questions we ask ourselves (or I presume we ask) in our quest to have the right company/social connection around us. 

I remember the first time going to high school (not by choice). I was scared stiff going off to a a far off place more than 180 kilometers away from home. This was a new world to me, where I knew no one & most likely was going to fall into the bully trap. There I was, going to class & wondering what torture is this that my parents have decided to disown me indirectly by sending me far away from home. 

I guess it was to save their fridge which I kept on constantly invading like a locust at odd hours, clearing all food stuffs that was within sight. Don't get me wrong, I believe that they had good intentions. Purposing to make a man out of the boy that I was, so as to be able to stand on my own two feet. 

In the course of this traumatizing experience I got to settle down to have a close friend who I could rely on no matter happened in school. He was called Joe, he was blind as a bat without his spectacles (you can imagine the thickness of his glasses) but he was a worthy friend. 

How did I opt to have Joe be my bosom buddy? Well as life would have it, we had aligned interests & we clicked the first time we met nerdy as he was (I was not the book worm type). We were there for each other considering that high school was literally hell on earth. A nightmare of its own kind that would give you goose bumps just by the mere thought of it. 

Anyway, we all have that person whom we love spending time with no matter the circumstance. You being around them adds more value to your life rather than sucking all of it out. We always hear that if you look at one's friends & it will tell you how a person's character is like. 

This is true to some extent, cause of the people who you hang out with are the ones who will make you create the image that others will see. That person whom you are always around with, are they adding value to your life or just sucking it out like a leech? When you have the time, sit down & analyze those whom you surround yourself with.

Are you always at the club having fun every weekend? Do you find yourself constantly going for road trips? Is each evening spent at fancy restaurants? Are you always in the company of the ladies/men of the night? Is your life more of spending money than investing a part of it? Is most of your time spent on social media than reading of books? 

Well then my friend, you have a choice to make & decide if those who you have surrounded yourself with are worth spending your time on. Don't get the pitch forks out yet to crucify me on the stake, am not saying these are bad to do. In my own opinion what I am saying is that in moderation then it would be reasonable acts once in a while.

We say one should make you a priority in their life & not an option. Remember that time has no rewind button, once it moves forward there is no going back. "Sometimes the strongest among us are the ones who smile through silent pain, cry behind closed doors & fight battles nobody knows about". 

Why did I write this quote, I don't know, may be it is to make you think more critically about your life & what decisions you have been making of late. In all that you do, be good to everybody because life can take a turn very fast & you will never know whose help you will need. This is just as a by the way of informing you what life is all about.

Food for thought:

"When a woman rejects a man of vision and accepts a man of television, she will end up watching the man of vision on her own husband's television. Don't judge a man by his pocket but judge him by his vision. Because where a man is going in life is more important than his present condition".

MY DREAM IS ALIVE WITHIN.

When I grow up, I want to be a pilot. That was me, way back when I was young & thought the world was at my feet. Only to realize that physics, maths & geography were not my favorite subjects in school. Directions or reading a map was not something that I was engraved into my medulla oblongata (I am even surprised I can spell these words without auto-correct) as one of my strong traits. 

Having seen in my high school report forms time & again that this subjects were not meant to be part of my circle of friends. I had to part ways with them with a broken heart knowing that my desire to float in the skies in an aeroplane were gone like the dream to reach Canaan. 

Then, there I was pursuing my other dream to join the military to be a soldier. Envisioning myself, all dressed up in the camouflage regalia armed with the latest weaponry. Skilled in the deadliest of combat skills, master of the knife use & out on the most dangerous of missions. Haaaa, indeed it was a dream that remained as it is. 

I was looked at with puzzled looks & gazing at all the injury marks on my body occasioned by my boyhood mischief & immediately told there was no way I was even going to be recruited. I naively asked why & I was told that soldiers were required to be without blemish so as not to claim injuries marks are of war yet they are not. Well, that dream went down the drain as quickly as it came like a smoke disappearing from a fire. 

I didn't give up yet as I always wanted to fend for the weak, the poor & so on, seeking justice in the corridors of courts of law & more so to dress sharply. Well, fortunately enough that is one dream that I held on & fought tooth & nail to achieve. It was not an easy journey as it had its own perks but as it is said you do your best God does the rest. It took a number of years to get to where I am but I can’t complain but be grateful that I didn’t give up along the way. 

"You can complain about the direction of your life all you want, but until you sit in the driver's seat and begin to drive yourself, you are not going to get where you want to go!" - Les Brown

We all have dreams of what it is that we want in life & where we see ourselves in years to come. I can tell you for free that the stories of those who say I started from nothing & now here I am are true (I think most of them are). If you desire something so much that you can taste it at the tip of your tongue, feel it being within your grasp, know that no matter what comes along your way if you maintain your focus there is nothing which will be impossible for you. 

Anyway don't take my word for it (am no prophet of old like Joshua), you just try it for yourself. Do you all remember the story about excalibur the sword which only King Arthur was worthy of wielding it graciously after removing it from the rock where it had been for years that were. Can you imagine the look on the faces of those who had tried previously (I am imagining those pumped up after working out looking like the hulk) trying to remove it & it hadn't moved an inch. 

Yet here strides this man meant to be the legendary king of Britain who at the time no one knew of his name until that very epic moment. Like a eureka moment on the invention of electric bulb by Thomas Edison, here was the man to change it all. Not to be stereotypical there was also Amelia Earhart who was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She did achieve what had been attempted by many before but failed. 

You will read this & be like this is all hogwash & that am up to my elbows in fantasies. Well, as I said before, you are the one who can determine how your tomorrow looks like. Yes, I agree that things don't always work out the way you want them to. Yes, opportunities become a scarcity like clean air that we so crave so much in the city. Yes, unfairness is all round & you wonder what life is this. Yes, the doors of jobs keep on closing like a crypt. Yes, your day starts of on a bad note to no end. 

"Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way" - Les Brown

But have you taken time to consider that you are alive & are able to see another sunny day. Just because the sun is been hidden by the dark clouds in the sky does not mean that it has stopped shining. Wait a minute, where was I going with this train of thought, damn I have forgotten? 

Anyway all am saying is that when you really want something so bad, through hard work, patience, persistence, determination, hope, faith, belief & so forth you will go through the murky waters to get where you are meant to be. When you also have the right support system, being a close friend, spouse, colleague, family member who is encouraging, pushing & believing in you. Believe me you will see yourself develop skin hard like dragon scales (not that I have a pet dragon but you get my drift) being invincible & immune to what the world throws at you.

"A person with the right attitude says to himself or herself, 'I may be here in this situation, but it doesn't meant I have to stay here'. When faced with a challenge do you ask: why me? or do you accept the opportunity for you to grow?" - Les Brown

ALUTA CONTINUA!

I think I am going to pull all the hairs from the root of my head (though am balding pretty fast, it looks like a small airstrip is forming)!. There is a heavy feeling of going stark raving mad like a lunatic, I mean like really lose yourself & let out the cave person in you out, chest beating like a gorilla & howling at the moon like a wolf. What is happening all around?

The days have become longer than the nights, the nights have become hot & uncomfortable (maybe it is where I live, hmm). In our normal daily pursuit of earning a living, we have at times craved to get some time off just to get to put up our feet on the table & just let it be. The things on the ground are quite different, what is happening now is not what I had imagined it would be, staying indoors is no easy feat. All I can say, I am grateful that I am alive & I can see each day as a blessing.

The closure of businesses as well as institutions in the country has made the days to drag on end. I can hardly wait to get back to normalcy that once were. However, what I do know for sure right now, is that personal hygiene has gone a notch higher. Who would have thought that you would step out to run a few errands & when you come back to the hood you have to thoroughly disinfect yourself & wash your clothes like as if you are exorcising  possession by demons.

We may find it difficult to close a business for 3/4 weeks or a couple of months, but it is more difficult to close a casket of a loved one or someone close to you for eternity. On that note, social distancing has to be the new normal, washing your hands thoroughly the common routine (sanitize if possible) & get home in got time (we still need you tomorrow).

Anyway, enough with the days that have been & let us brace ourselves for the days to come. For we are a strong people & you my friend have a colourful life ahead awaiting you to seize it. Have you lost hope? Do the walls around you seem like as if they are closing in around you? Do you feel stressed? Are you feeling drained with no more energy to move on? Are you having more questions than answers? Is the light at the end of the tunnel seem far away? 

Well, this should not make you feel like a social outcast or having lost your marbles (going crazy), believe me you are normal. Life has a way of making things look so dark & grey you wonder where is that ray of sunshine. You need to know that you are blessed & highly favored. You are your own cheerleader in this life & if you want change it must start with you as the initiator. 

Whenever you wake up in the morning & you are whole, be grateful for that is not something to be taken for granted. We move in life in the direction that we are meant to be going but it has & will never be easy. You want to achieve that goal or attain that dream that will put your name or reputation on the map but be assured that obstacles or barriers will emerge like a phoenix from the ashes.

You may not anticipate the pit falls but one way or the other something will always try to block your path to your destiny. The obstacle could manifest itself as the lack of finances, your disbelieving family, lack of sufficient or missing of opportunities, back stabbing by a colleague or friend, internal work politics & so forth. Do not fret for you have got this. When you believe in yourself there is nothing in this world which is out of your reach.

You will not like it that the road that you are on, seems to be full of all manner of twists & turn. Remember that if you decide to take a short cut in life, this my friend will be short lived. Nothing, acquired or achieved through dubious means last forever. Take an example of those who steal like our politicians or the robbers that invade our homes. Their lives are either halted by a prison term (to some extent) or cut short by a lead bullet. This is your choice to make as what direction you want yours to take.

Always remember that you are the author of your own book, each chapter is dependent on you as you pen off your ambitions & dreams. When you take life head on, there is no door that you can't open & no window you won't be able to close. 

"You will never reach your destination if you stop & throw stones at every dog that barks".

YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN YOU THINK.

Hi everyone, I know it is that grim time of the year where we are all wondering what is up with this COVID-19 which has become the greatest menace of the day. I am guessing you had envisioned that the year 2020 was going to be your year of greatness. It had started of on beautiful high note & lo and behold disaster struck like a thief in the dark night & you are uncertain of the days to come.

Everywhere you turn, the world is being set on fire by yet another infected victim who has fallen prey to the icy clenching fingers of this horrendous pandemic that is swiping the whole globe like the black death. Questions are popping in your head, "am I safe, how will the future look like, how will I survive, is there a way out, will I still have a job after this......" 

I can't answer these questions for you but what I can tell you is that I will pray for you & hope that you shall all comply with the directives of that have been given by the government for your sake. In other news, be grateful that you are still alive, breathing, in sound state of mind (to some extent), in the company of what/with those whom you love & vice versa, healthy & so forth. 

The world may be glum as of right now but the sun will still shine in the morning for all of us. We often wonder to our selves when we are tackling our everyday living, is this what I really deserve or that which I am to get? I will give you an example, you are at your new place of work which you applied for but what you get is not what you had hoped/dreamed of. 

You get to be at a lower level than what you had applied for yet you are fully qualified. You were misled to believe that you will get what you are meant for but alas here you are with a different role than advertised, Depressed, stressed, angered & even confused as you wonder do I pack & leave or do I stay & forge on wards. This is part of life's questions that you need to answer on your own time, after taking the time to contemplate about it.

How will you strike the balance of knowing your worth & that which is being given to you. When we go for job interviews a question that never misses being asked is, "how much do you expect us to pay you for this position?" Many of us are at that moment left thinking do I say what I really want or do I just go with the flow so as to secure the job opportunity.

Look I may not be the oracle of life or having had the privilege of eating a piece of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden but what I am sure of is that is more to life than we see. We are on a journey travelling on different paths to a particular destination, wondering to our selves what is in store for us. The say that the journey of a thousand miles (loosely converted to sixteen thousand kilometers) starts with a single step. 

My friend that first step in life in the right direction depends on where you are right now in life. You have had several success stories here & there about "from rags to riches". I have had to question myself on a daily basis, how come others who I was on the same level have surpassed me & have achieved their greatness yet I am stuck on the same lane.

I push & shove to get the best out of myself but every turn I take, am pushed further down between the proverbial rock & hard place. I try to push my academic limits but my way out is not coming. I applied for the so called good jobs only to find out that within the organization someone else had already being given the same.

I nearly lost hope crying out loud at night, frustrated & questioning the very meaning of this life, saying to myself this is not the end of the road. I am meant for much more & there is a bigger picture than what I am seeing. I wondered to myself is it that I am not lucky or was it that I was meant to be a complete failure with no hope in sight.

I learned one thing, that I should make the most of what I have & keep my standards high. I should never settle for anything less than I am worth or capable of achieving. I do understand this is difficult to stand by considering the tough economical, psychological & social times that have been & are still in existence.

However, one thing you learn pretty quick is that life has more in store for you than you can imagine. If you opt to be comfortable with what is offered to you, you will never escape from your comfort zone. You will be stuck in the same bus ride all along, missing on what could have been the better opportunity of your life. You need to stop short-changing yourself & thinking that you were only meant for what is there.

As a parting short, it is said that music is food for the soul. You can listen to the song by Hart the Band ft Cedo - El Shaddai (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO9fP9me6JQ). I hope this song cheers you up! 

Stay safe!

MY VOICE, MY CHOICE.

Life itself should be the first wonder of the world. How we wake up each morning at the cry of the alarm & later on drag our feet back home in the evening is not automatic. It is a gift that we don’t appreciate enough to understand its true meaning as we take each day that we are alive for granted. We are but mere mortals living each day by the grace & will given to us. Why would you want to weigh yourself down like the beast of burden?

Why do we fight tooth & nail when called out en masse by our political/local leaders when they want to make a move in the hierarchy. Our government this days fails us at each & every turn. You ask yourself the question, "is it time I alight from this world". The phrase is usually thrown casually here & there like a playing card in Swahili. However, the reality of it is far more scary than can be fathomed.

I have had the privilege of watching a short documentary on YouTube titled "inspector fisi". This is a documentary about how, we have officers in the disciplined forces reaping from the sweat of local citizens. They take bribes here & there without any fear or favor as long as their bellies are filled like the whale that swallowed Jonah. This documentary tries to highlight the dangers on the roads in our beloved country due to the impunity of the supposed law enforcers.

The reality is that a few coins or notes exchange hands on our roads while we are on transit & if it is a rogue driver in a public service vehicle the passengers are at his/her mercy. Later on in the news you will hear that a number of people have been killed all because of a reckless, carefree, money minded, self-centered individual who sees people as sack of potatoes being transported from the farm to the market. Do not let yourself become a static in this world!

There is something that I noted from all the video clips put together in the documentary to show how money was being taken from the normal mwananchi and ending up in the pockets of this officers. As stated by the narrator in the documentary the videos were taken by individuals who were tired of the continued frustration of extortion by the powers that be & wanted to expose this minions of destruction to the world. There was an officer who bluntly said, "our work is to eat your money, while we control traffic"

"if you are blindly loyal to me, then you are just acting like a crony of mine. If you say you admire me because of the principles for which I stand, I understand that, but then you also have the right to call me to the carpet when you think am falling short". Jamie Dimon".

If you look back at our country, during the election periods the worst one being the year 2007. The explosion of violence was so extreme that the humanity lines had become blurred & the tribal lines became boldly marked. Yet all along we had being living as brothers & sisters in a nation identified of its togetherness. What made it all change?

This is the time you all need to wake up from deep slumber like snow white & realize you are the change that you desire. Do not let your local leader make you a martyr for his/her own interest. Think about, if you are given Kshs.200 or maybe Kshs.1,000 how long will it last you, a few hours or a day or a week? We have allowed ourselves to be contented with the way things are run around us, to the extent that when lives are lost it is deemed a normal day like any other.

Let me ask you. Why do we allow ourselves to be used like tools in a garden shed for someone's selfish interest? (you don't have to answer me, but think about it). You become like a puppet to obey without question when orders/directions are given. Some will say, "well the little am given helps in one way or another". I will still ask, are you comfortable receiving blood money or to you money is money as it is still legal tender?

I am tired of seeing senseless deaths all around, turning on the local news can make you sick to the very pits of your stomach. Anyway, am no activist but I believe that we need to understand that when we stand with one voice, there is nothing that can't be achieved. If we take a stand & say no to those abusing power we can make our country go far. When the opportunity comes, I have taken it upon myself to say it as it is. When I see wrong being done, fear has to find elsewhere to reside but not within me. This is the time for "kusema na kutenda".

My request & prayer is that we need to understand that we don't need to fight & hate each other for the benefit of those in/with power. Let me ask you, when teargas is thrown & you are there getting all teary do the politicians/local leaders stay around with you to inhale the burning, choking fumes or they quickly enter their 4x4 vehicles & scamper away to safety?

You need to rise up to the occasion & think how can I build my nation, my beloved country with love & not hate, with sweat & not drops of blood.

"You are not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it". Malcom X

EMPTY DEBES MAKE THE LOUDEST NOISE.

When we (yes you are also included) were growing up you were told you need/have to be number one in class (ama mtasema hiyo ni stori yangu). The recognized professions at the time were a doctor, lawyer or an engineer anything else was recognized as the rest. There was a lot which was expected of us, we had to become like so & so who was known by name or reputation.

This now became our drive that we needed to excel & get that reputation that puts our name on the map. However, we were never told that when you grow up that the task ahead is no easy fete. The lie of how colourful it is, was not equated to the harsh reality that you shall no longer enjoy the sweet slumber of the morning. 

I am guessing that a good number of you wake up you so early to get to work. You have to rise before the cock crows (Haaa! do cocks still exist in this modern times really). Your are up by 4/5/6am in the wee hours dashing out like a mad person so as to beat the traffic which is never ending unless it is the December holidays. Then in the evening you return in the cover of darkness, like a thief.

Anyway there you are trying to make it in life. Let me tell you, as many of you have had the privilege of facing life head on in the pursuit of that success. The journey as you can all attest is not easy. It is full of tears, sweat, sleepless nights, ups, downs, heart aches & so on. 'Adulting' is no joke & attaining success requires consistency & persistence. 

We all desire to have that one dream, as a friend of mine said, "to sleep & money just comes in". There are those who seem to have an overflow of finances that make you wonder is it that they have subscribed to the "illuminati" movement or they discovered the "cave of wonders" filled with gold & all manner of shiny jewels.

There are times I wonder, what is the meaning of life? Why am I really on this earth? You wake up every day in the morning, hoping & praying that the day will end with coin in your pocket. All the while, the world is doing push ups waiting to traumatize you with unceremonious punches, you go back home all drained & lost wondering is this a hallucination or someone pulling strings in your life. 

There you are pushing deal after deal, chasing a client or two, promises are made but nothing tangible materializes but vanishes like dust. You still at the door step of your house wondering, "who has turned the tides against me/is it that I am cursed destined to suffer forever?" Why is nothing not coming through? Let me tell you, it requires a lot of patience to get to where you desire. Take the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Robin Sharma, Les Brown the list is endless.

I have had the privilege of talking to the older generation. Yearning to take a sweet sip of the knowledge & understanding of how they got their wealth, the power, the businesses, the properties & so on. One thing became quite clear that they pushed through the raging storms. They visualized their dream & against all odds never gave up even when things got thick like glue to make them materialize. Also, they exercise humility which I can tell you for free is not easy thing to do (I have tried it & I am still a work in progress).

If you look at the current generation, publicity is the in thing. You eat sumptuous meals at a fancy restaurant the whole world has to get a quick peek through your phone lens. You get that promotion at work, you announce to the whole bar & declare, "drinks on me". You buy a new car, the estate will not sleep. You hit the financial jack pot, no jewelry will stay on the shop shelf (I have nothing against celebrating don't get me wrong) & so forth. 

Success in whichever form it takes in your life is meant to come in a way that it speaks for itself. You are meant to sit back & let it rise to the occasion just like Shaka Zulu in his era.

"When you build in silence, they don't know what to attack"

THE KEY TO HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHIN.

It is indeed true that joy comes in the morning but at what cost? Can we truly stand by this this phrase, with the way this days you wake up in the morning & it is so cold you wonder is this a sign to resign deeper into the warmth of the duvees & boldly proclaim, "sio lazima niamuke" loosely translated to "it is not a must to wake up". It is at that time your mind all of a sudden jolts you with a reminder of adulthood & the responsibilities that are involuntarily attached to it that you opt to drag yourself from slumber. 

When we walk down the streets/road, smiles are plastered on ones lips you wonder is there no misery/pain/sorrow in this world(I am not saying it is a bad thing)? Why are we so obsessed with what the world thinks of us that we forget we should be the center of our own happiness? Indeed, the pursuit of happiness is easier said than done.

Just 3 weeks shy from now, history was made by one famous runner of the 1:59 challenge like no other I have ever witnessed. Did you see the finish(it is on replay in my mind)? I was left clutching the edge of my seat anticipating & waiting eagerly to see the great fete this legend will achieve. A tear settled on my lower eye lid when at last he crossed that line, an emotional moment is what it was. 

The smile the history maker had, made colossal global impact to all who witnessed this greatness. I can visualize after the run how people on the streets are thumping their chests like a gorilla feeling all motivated, the adrenaline showing you that you can claw through thick mud without breaking a sweat. Feeling like there is nothing which you can't achieve,and repeatedly saying, "no human is limited". 

The way he pushed himself to the finish line & the support he got from all who were there (inclusive of the pacesetters) could make anyone weep (to tell the truth my eyes on that day were watery). Did you know that the gloomy gray sky can deprive the sun of its joyous moments to shine bright across the land but that does not mean that it has stopped shining.

We are meant to be happy souls as we interact with one other, be it when alone or in the multitude of people. I asked a friend what she deemed happiness is all about & she said it is the having the fulfillment of being loved, appreciated & accomplishing what she has set her mind to. This I found quite interesting, considering that most would center on the worldly materials.

Do you remember aladdin(yes the animation), when he took the flying carpet, floating around without a care in the world (the current generation x wont understand who this is). He found his own joy by what he did. Or iike in the lion king, where Timon & Pumba go all crazy with all manner of songs together with Simba & my all time favorite song, was "Hakuna Matata".

The lyrics were quite tongue catching, "Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries, for the rest of your days. It's our problem free philosophy. Hakuna Matata!" (dare you say we can't learn from animations). This song is so catchy that you can find yourself howling inside a car or while walking singing along to the sweet tunes (aibu kando).

We all define happiness differently & mind you we all make it work in our on unique ways. Others happiness is ignited by being with family, eating good food, hanging out with friends, helping others, getting intimate,travelling & so forth. I want you to know, (yes you the one reading this) that you are the one who makes the difference in your life. One thing I have learned from great people is that you have the ability to create the spark in your own life.

One of my all time favorite motivational speaker's Les Brown is one who stands by the words, "I am blessed & highly favored". It is short & simple sentence but it bears a lot of weight. He also says, "making things happen in your life requires faith, it an ability to believe that is unshakable, regardless of your circumstances". We may worry as to why life is so messy, but I will urge you to remember every breath that you take is a gift like no other & that can be one simple reason to be happy.

We should not let the world define for you what it deems as happiness. An example that is always there is that money can buy happiness. I will not deny it to some extent but what about those who don't have it, how do they get their happiness. All am saying is that when you are on your journey of seeking out happiness remember that it all starts with you. Even a sip from a mug of steaming hot well brewed coffee/tea or a cold drink can put a smile on your lips.

THE LOOSE TONGUE.

Hello, I am hoping that you woke up well(if not that you are off to a good night rest). It is yet another fabulous day, with the sun rising & gracing the horizon bringing with it promises of new tidings. A new dawn has been gifted to us, don't take it for granted. The birds are singing in the air, the wind is whistling by with a slight touch sending shivers down your spine. Where did we go right in this times to be alive?

The tongue is deemed to be the most deadliest weapon that one possesses. What comes out of your mouth has no way of being shoved back in. Hence once you blurt out that which is from the heart there is no rewind button to shove it back down your throat. This is a fair warning, when you are about to open your mouth, think deeply do I really need to say it to him/her/them (is it really necessary to speak or silence will suffice).

It is a known fact that most times we create more of a mess by our words when we opt to colour the world with our unrefined statements. We as a people have a weakness of being talkers instead of doers. We may feel that we have said that which will sooth the heart but find out that our actions are contrary. "I am sorry", one of the most difficult words to say when wrong. A promise of doing better next time, but is still followed with the same deeds thereafter.

When we are on the verge of achieving a goal in life, be it at the work place, in the home, with colleagues/friends/family we fall short by not walking the talk. It is therefore our burden to go beyond the common norm of just saying it shall be done & moving forward & getting it done. If you do not strategize on the course you want to take in life, you shall wander around aimlessly like a vagabond with no clue as to where you shall head.

We make plans for how we shall work hard to get that promotion, how we shall marry at a favorable age, how we shall propose to the right lady(if I say girl I may be lynched), how we shall make our first million(I am seeing wheels turning on this one), how we shall own that house, how we shall make it in life e.t.c. All these hows are well & good, but the real question is what action will occasion this to become a reality?

Is it that we shall continue to be slaves of the sweet tongue unleashing promises that do not have head or tail. Or shall it be a moment where we shall say enough is enough, it is now time to get the tools to get the work done? Or you shall be like Julius Caesar who caused the rise of the roman empire? Or like Judas Iscariot the betrayer who through his tongue wanted to ruin the path of Christ? Ladies & gentlemen (if there are any among you) the choice is yours.

It is high time, you get on your knee & propose to that lady you have been wanting to commit to, work the hours (in a smart way) to rise up the ranks & stop being lazy saying "it was not meant for me", start pouring the stones to build that dream house (after getting that piece of land), start saving as much as you can get to have that cash reserve & so on. It is a brand new day for you to follow through with your promises, don't let them be just sweet nothingness without substance.

When you wake up each day, ask yourself, "where do I want to be today? Do I still want to be stuck in the hours of yesterday or is today the day I move a step forward". As Les Brown says, "you must be willing to do the things others won't do, in order to have the things tomorrow others don't have." Don't fear the consequences of something not working out, as Les Brown also said, "when life knocks you down, try landing on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up." 

I will conclude by saying this,

"The sweet nectar of life is revealed upon the discovery of the eureka moment. You are the still voice of reasoning echoing in your substratum. Your deep thoughts twisting & turning like the vines which are creeping their way through the cracks in the wall looking for support. In the wake of the Spartans the famed Greece warriors they chose to act instead of wasting words. They conquered & defeated those in the city of Athens. A victory well earned & revered by many. In all you do match your words with your actions".

TIP THE GLASS JUST A LITTLE BIT.

"No Wahala"  this is Nigerian slang meaning "No Problem". Why would I quote that, well for starters let me first go to my childhood days. Do you all remember the lion king (yes the animation/cartoon). Timon & Pumba a globally known pair for their catchy phrase, "hakuna matata" which is swahili meaning, "no worries". Eeeeh, you thought I was all grown up &, only watching serious programmes on TV, you will be surprised what this eyes have seen.

Please don't mind me, am not trying to bombard you with quotes of old. Now, before I begin let me ask, how have you been? How has your week been so far? Is the year taking you politely? Anything new or eventful happen? Why am I asking all this, maybe it is because I have nothing else to do or maybe, just maybe I am just nosy or concerned (who knows). Anyway enough of that, now back to this merry adventure of the day. 

We have this human desire of having plenty, be it money in the bank, cars in the garage, the colourful job, the  palatial home & so forth. We are a people of varying nature, in which we have our own set goals which we aim to conquer. Whenever, we are asked where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years in a more informal session like a social gathering among our peers. Most times we would say, "I desire in that time to own a mansion, driving several guzzlers, a fat bank account, a well paying job e.t.c.

This is the plight of we the people, aiming for the sky hoping to land on the moon (so I have heard). We are so engrossed on getting the rich quick so as to make a name for ourselves. No one in his/her right mind would want to continue living in the same state they are in now or better yet to improve it. Each day that you have been graciously given you should endeavor to make your life better but in a principled manner.

In the pursuit of happiness we easily get selective amnesia as to what is our true goal/direction in life, blinded by the earthly materials. We want to rush past those who have surpassed us in achieving it all by taking every short cut possible. Day in, day out, we plot, scheme, plan like in Alibaba & the forty thieves as to how we shall "make it in life". Admiring lustfully like the greedy hyena at the buffet before us wanting it all for ourselves.

We live in a society of "rub my back, I rub yours". We make it our mission to be a force to be reckoned with when chasing the big dream, stepping on the toes of those whom we find along the way not caring how many bridges we burn. How easy it is to forget that "mpanda ngazi hushuka" this is to mean "he/she who climb's a ladder (eventually) descends".  Greed begets greed & eventually it brings one to his/her knees.

On a daily basis in the news headlines, our country has been wrecked of how billions have been stolen/looted by those with itchy fingers that can't get enough. What a sad state of affairs that has now become the norm to fill one's pocket with coins jingling & not of its belonging. Is it too much to ask each & every one of us to work smart & hard for that which is meant for you & be grateful that which you have sweated for?

"Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible".

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.