LESSONS FROM A DUCK!

As a little girl and even as I was growing up I always enjoyed  visiting my grandmother who lives about 4 hours from our home. Save for meeting her and meeting my uncles and cousins, theres one other major reason i used to love going there.

Her shamba which was quite big used to be surrounded by one of the biggest rivers in Kirinyaga County, Thiba River.  I looooved going to the river and looked for every opportunity to fetch water just to get my legs in water. But other than swimming my cousins and I had this other hobby , watching ducks swim!

I didn't know who these ducks belonged to all I know is that they spent a good time swimming and enjoying in water. I used to admire how they literally sat on water looking so cool,calm and in control,as if they had no problem in the world oh and I loved their black and white suits;   thinking back in our lives.

Today is Monday everyone is in their white and black suits looking all good,lively and hopeful for new week. Its easy to look at someone and admire their appearance and think they are doing well in life. It's ok give a compliment to somebody😊!

But someone told me that many times we only know what we see which is where many times we make mistakes. He told me though a duck looks very peaceful like its enjoying life and as if its in control of the  water what happens underneath water is what keeps it in this admirable position. Inside the water is tireless steering and paddling for it to stay afloat and on top. This is what we dont know just by looking at it or just by looking at people. Because underneath the smile,the laughter, the suits underneath what you see everyone is fighting some battle in life, some don't know what to do,some are in pain , some are crying , some are trying to beat deadlines, some have just lost a loved one name it! This is what I have learnt in life:

1. Endevour to be of help to someone first even when it looks like its them who can help you. This is an act of kindness and it makes someone feel thought of and special it also raises your profile to them.

2. Yea give that compliment. It raises self-esteem and makes people like and be at ease with you!

3. Share a sweet or a banana. No matter how small what you have is share it. It puts a smile on someones face.

One kind word to someone today will save a life and no matter what you are going through you will live a happy life! Have a very happy day

WAIT, LISTEN, LEARN

It has been said, "Patience is a virtue" and "good things come to those who wait." Do you get annoyed when things don't happen fast enough? Do you tap your foot impatiently or keep looking at your watch when waiting on line?

You are not alone. I am the kind of person who   plans my mind. I like to  calculate how much time I'll  spend

 on the ATM, how fast I'll take my lunch and how fast I'll get home. In fact people have told me that I speak fast and I walk fast. I believe them! Literally almost everything  I do  I like to do it fast and get onto something else. In my life, I don't plan for  eventualities or  delay I have no time for them.

It just so seems life doesn't always  get this fact right. Because many are  the times I  find myself in situations where I  have  to  wait or get delayed and this disorients  my plans, my mind. Things don't always happen as I plan and that's life. The good book tells me that 'many are the plans of men but God has the final say' . Well, am  not sure that's my favorite scripture 😊 ;and I don't want to delve into a topic called 'waiting on God' its a loooong story!

Delays do happen in our lives and sometimes they are what we call setbacks they tend to enslave us in a situation or at a place. Someone told me that when life throws lemons to you make lemonades out of them.

Here are some lessons I have learnt:

1. When you find yourself in a situation that is a delay first of all accept you are in that situation. It will be easy to deal with it from a point of acceptance but don't settle there!

2.Survey the situation at this time you realize you are constrained at a certain position you maybe stuck in traffic 😞 or have a puncture but remember you got yourself there. Think some steps back find out if you could have remedied the situation before it happened you will be wiser tomorrow.

3. If there's really nothing you can do at that point just sit back, relax have some coffee,read a book, sing a song enjoy the moment I have written part of this piece in traffic on Waiyaki Way because sometimes the only thing you can do in life is wait, observe, listen, learn!!

From potential to impact!

We have been told enough times that we have potential to do anything and that that potential is limitless. I do not have better words to insist this to you again but I want to bring a little scenario.

Consider a rock on a mountain top. At this point I want to say one of my hobbies is mountain climbing and in my quest to climb mountains I have also climbed rocks. For all ye climbers there is nothing that  is more scary and nerve wrecking than to step on a rock on your way up or down and the rock shakes or to hold onto a rock for support and it shakes. Why? Because there is no telling what could happen if it breaks loose on you! I have always marveled everytime I visit the mountainous Muranga county looking at people build their houses almost at the bottom of big rocks on sloppy terrains. What if the rocks breaks loose what would be the impact?

There is nothing that sets a person dignity so high than the ability to impact and everyone of us is looking for a chance to have an impact somewhere! When the rock is just seated at a high place its harmless until it gets into motion. Impact is potential in motion!

Many times we are usually seated and all comfortable in our dreams and ideas and intentions. A dream is something that you want to have because you do not have it. For you to have something you've never had you have to do something you've never done! This is the rule of life and here are some good points to impact:

1. No one speaks about a stationery rock. It gets noticed when it gets into motion. Likewise its until you act on your idea or dreams until you get in motion that you get noticed!

2. A rock falls downwards! Yea, that's the only way it can stand on its own. If you want to build a lasting dream you have to build it from the ground up. You have to get your hands dirty you have to start humbly!

3. The greater the fall, the greater the sound of it, the greater the foundation and the more the impact. The more deliberate and desperate you are to achieving your dreams  will  surprise you at the impact.

4. Sometimes its a push that makes the rock fall. That's what we all need sometimes a little push. Have you lost a job, a deal or a good amount of money, it may feel devastating right but that's a good push to pursuing other things in life. When you have been pushed to the edge there are only two options you can either fall or fly what would you rather?

Have a very impactful day!!!😊