I have spent so much time trying to look like others and have not invested enough time in knowing myself. Hard to believe, right? But it’s true. If I had known myself the way I do today, I would have probably done so much more. But what does it mean to ‘know yourself’ or rather to know how different you are from others? 

We are usually concerned about moving from one day to the next, one week to the next. At times, we don’t even bother to ask ourselves why we are doing whatever we are doing. It’s just about getting on with life. Days turn into weeks, into months, into years. The danger for many is that life has lost meaning; it is made up of tedious chores, showing up, and at times living for the moment. In the extreme, it becomes ‘…but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage. And then it is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’ (Shakespeare in Macbeth). Most often, we have no plan, even for the day or a list of things we want to accomplish in a week. We are just empty. Many at times we are sort of surprised by the changing seasons when they occur- ah, it’s winter already, or it’s summer. We are never ready; days seem to be moving faster than we anticipated. It is what it is, I often hear some say.

It is said that ‘if you dwell with a lame man, you will learn how to limp’. Way back when I was a young boy, my father (may his soul rest in peace), would ask that I accompany him to a ‘job’. Yes ‘job’ that’s what he called it. He was an electrician by training and outside of his formal Monday to Friday would make connections for new houses, and repair electrical gadgets, especially stoves. Now and again, a client from the suburbs would give him an old stove after buying a brand one. My father would repair the furnace and resell it at a decent profit. He would explain the Math to me with such pride. My mother always used to complain that he sold the best stoves and yet we didn’t have a reliable one. All I remember is that after my father died we always used to have stove problems. But I have digressed. Let me come back.

Beyond winning

Earlier I taught you about a life beyond money. When they tell me about the importance of money, I always say first there was God then money. Don’t confuse that order, please. Quickly. Today I want to teach you about a life well lived- beyond winning. The school system and other sports have socialised us to always consider winning. Becoming first in class, first in a race, etc. What if I told you that life is more than that?

Run to where you are celebrated

You will soon realise that not everyone will like you, despite all your good intentions. This is a universal law. So don’t let it bother you at all. Where you sense opposition, intolerance, or even a hostile atmosphere I recommend that you move on. Quickly. Good intentions are not always perceived as such by many. They may think you are angling for something, that you are deceiving them, that there is something for you. That may hurt, but as I said this happens to many of us.

The Temptations of Power

Last week was a bit difficult for all of us. Seeing you not feeling well and unable to go to school was a bit too much for me. Anyways Ruby provided some comic relief during the ride to school as she always does. 

Stay in your lane

I am a firm believer in benchmarking. This is an important undertaking- it helps one glean from best practices and make necessary adjustments where needed. The past five years have mostly been about building- physical buildings and institutions. It has not been easy, though. There has always been that voice that challenges you and makes you have second thoughts if you are the right person for the task. My approach has always entailed continuous learning. I never position myself as an expert in anything but a student. That posture has helped me keep gleaning from what others are doing and learning from the best that there is.