What Is YOUR Driving Force In Life?

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“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it fearlessly.” 

~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth and Being Free 

My cousin just asked me; "It seems you deeply feel what you write or support, what do you think motivates you or triggers you? Is it an experience you had? Or an ideal you dream of? Or to make sense of life and find purpose. I don't know what I'm asking, perhaps I'm asking you what makes some people active and others passive... Why are some leaders, others followers and yet others neither. I guess, all one can do is theorize... But it all boils down to me again asking, what is your particular driving force?"

I ended up writing her an essay. At first I didn't know what to say, but I think it's a question I needed to answer for myself too. So thank you for asking Achai. I thought it was worth sharing (or maybe not. but either way, it might help one person out there so here goes it)

"Is it an experience you had? Or an ideal you dream of? Or to make sense of life and find purpose."

^^^ All the above. I think we are all born leaders. Some embrace it, others don't. Leadership I think, takes courage, it takes eliminating fear and having a cause. As my friend put it, "when you have a cause, you don't fear". Thing is, it takes hard work, it's a learning curve. You can't speak from mere opinion or just write from mere opinion. You make informed choices, but to do that, you have to refer to the great men that lived before you(wisdom). Read widely and read on all sorts of theories(knowledge). 

Today our generation is blessed, we have the internet. We can travel from just behind our computers, learn a lot, visit places and the best part about it, as yet another friend once put it to me, it is the "cheapest and safest way to travel - the power of browsing". It means taking anything at face value is an option. We don't have to take what we see on the t.v or others' opinions as facts. We have the choice of learning more, and then forming our own judgements. That however is the harder path. To sit and spend hours reading different theories, learning new things, listening to different people instead of watching twerk videos, or posting them for that matter or sitting to watch celebrities and other people to simply judge their lifestyles without any particular message(hating). The latter is the easier option. It's worthless and it doesn't take hard work because judging, is easier than understanding.

I personally don't consider myself a leader(in terms of changing the world leadership), and not a follower either. I'm just that person who thinks/knows life is greater than me and that there's so much more that I don't know. So as I slowly learn, I share that, hoping that someone too can learn from it(or perhaps correct and teach me otherwise).

When it comes to my drive, it is all the lives I could potentially change, simply from the life i'm blessed with. I know change begins with one and if I can lend a voice to someone, give food to another or simply educate someone from the little I know, then why not? After all, life's purpose is unknown, but one thing is certain, if you leave it better than you found it, whatever little or big a difference you've made, then you can say you have done something for humanity. 

And all this, I have learnt from my father. Now he's a leader, no doubt. And for that i'm thankful. Because he's taught me values and principles all the riches in the world can never buy. So I can't say I understand life or my drive precisely, but i've just decided to lead a 'good' life(whatever that means). Do good unto others and just be human. I might err sometimes, but at the end of the day, to err is to man, what matters most is usually the intention behind our mistakes. They should just be that; mistakes. Not self-centred, maliciously driven intents. 

*** I guess my point for sharing this is just to let you all know, we have a choice. Ignorance might be bliss, but it does more harm than good. Have that thirst for knowledge and that thirst to learn, that it actually scares you how insignificantly significant you are in this life(just accept that, it made sense in my head :p) We are ALL born leaders, some just embrace it, while others ignore it. And we are, everyday leaders, sometimes we just don't see it(watch the clip below) So, what is YOUR driving force in life? *** 

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When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Sh*t Gold

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"Stop waiting for the money, keep doing your dream and what makes you happy and the money should only be the bonus of your goal, not the goal itself" 

~ Peter Moll 

I was skyping with my sister yesterday when my mom came in and asked me to skype her on her account when I was done with my sister so we could talk. I finished skyping my sister and called my mum and within those few moments, she had received a phone call that changed her jovial mood. 

“Sanna a very bad thing just happened. Uncle Kuol has been killed in South Sudan. They ambushed the car and along with other colleagues, he was killed. We’ll talk later ok?”, she said. 

At this point her webcam was not on but from her breaking voice I could feel her pain and literally hear her wipe away her tears as she told me this crying… I didn’t know what to say. This was my uncle too but my pain was not even half as much the pain she was feeling (still is), from losing a brother. So before she hang up, trying to hold back my own tears, in a low voice I uttered the words “I’m sorry. Love you”. I knew this wouldn’t change anything or help the situation but I had to say something, anything. 

My sister called me back shortly after; “Has mom told you what happened?” she asked me crying. And I told her she had and she went on “Oh my God, I don’t know what to do. Mum is just crying so much and I really don’t know what to do” and she started crying some more. 

I also didn’t know what to do. How do I tell my sister to do that which even I didn’t know how? I wished I were home. I was cursing the distance between us and the fact that I couldn’t be there to help my mom through this time. Then I stopped to ask myself, what more could I have done if I was there? It’s not like I had a magic wand to wipe away all the tears, or make the pain all go away. It is at this point that I realized all we need to do for those who have lost someone dear is just be there for them because they need to be allowed to grieve. 

“Just be there for her. Be strong and don’t cry, be her comfort”, I told my sister. 

Now my sister is one strong person. I am not even half as strong as this girl so I knew she could do it. As for my mom, I know she’ll be okay. She’s the strongest person I know (one day I will tell you guys her story. Nothing like you’ve ever heard). I mean who else do you know that can cook a whole goat all by herself? Lol 

Yeah, I’m actually serious. Back in the day when the Naivasha peace talks for Sudan were ongoing, we’d have visitors come home everyday, and everyday a goat would be slaughtered. I was too young to help (apart from frying the onions) and my dad had to keep the visitors company (though once in a while he’d come in to help cut the meat. haha). So yeah, my mom would be in the kitchen all alone cooking since we didn’t have a house help at that particular time because they all ended up not working out (my mom’s a perfectionist. Some didn’t clean parts of the house, which annoyed her and even after she asked they still didn’t and others would take a couple of things from the house here and there so she preferred to do everything on her own). At the end of the day, all the meat would be served in all kind of dishes on the table right on time. When I say all, I mean ALL! Apart from the parts of the goat like the legs and head which would later make for great soup the next day. Talk of super woman. 

Okay I’m sorry, I drifted away there, but my point is, my mum is ONE HEAVEN OF A WOMAN so I know this too shall pass. Now on to the point of this blog post… 

I was talking to my friend Sam the other day about how men bravely put themselves in harms way just to stand by what they believe in, and he told me this, “when you have a cause, you don’t fear”. Dr. John Garang had a vision for Sudan, and it didn’t matter if it meant living on the edge, he fought for what he believed in, and to this day he is remembered for just that; the man who stood strong and never compromised his principles. My Uncle Kuol Adol, was a Paramount chief of Abyei. Yesterday he died coming from a meeting where it was the Abyei question that was being discussed. He died for a cause, not in vain. Generations to come will remember him for his struggles for the people of South Sudan. They will remember him too, as the man who stood strong and never compromised his principles. 

The difference between men like my uncle Kuol Adol and those like Omar El Bashir, is that men like my uncle, are remembered through out history as men driven by their passion to work for the people. They fight for a free world and fight with integrity. Men like Hitler, are remembered as men who were driven by their passion for power. Morally corrupt men who care nothing about humanity but for power. Omar El Bashir and his forces may have succeeded in taking my Uncles life, but in our hearts, he lives on as the great man he was. Today we curse his death but celebrate the life he lived. Tomorrow, we’ll celebrate Bashir’s death and curse the life he lived. And that ladies and gentlemen, is the difference between great men, and despicable ones. 

My father told me one thing the other day, “Don’t be in a rush for material wealth.” And that “Integrity is the highest of values and principles. You should never be corrupt. Corruption doesn't mean just financially but morally too.” 

These words, held a lot of meaning for me at the time, but today, they hold even deeper meaning. Through my Uncles death, I have learnt that living for a cause is much meaningful than power. Power corrupts, the more that is your goal, the more integrity you lose. I have decided not to be mad and bitter because of this, but paint those lemons handed to me by life, gold. My uncle's death is something I can't change... But how I deal with it and what I learn from it, is something I have total control of. My lesson from all this, is, as my father put it, to never be in a rush for material wealth. Because, that will come in it’s time, but it shall never be my goal. 

My goal in this life shall be to serve people, speak out for the feeble, march for the weak, be the voice for the voiceless and shun immorality. In the words of Charlie Chaplin, “I’m sorry but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black men, white…” because “… in this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone” and I know “… the way of life can be free and beautiful”. So I never want to lose that way but instead, bring others to that realisation too. 

Thank you Uncle Kuol Adol firstly, on behalf of Sudan for dedicating your life to liberating your people, and secondly, but definitely not least, for a lesson well taught through the life you lived and may you rest in eternal peace. With much love. xx

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Elevating the Youth #ForwardMoving

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"I will be allowed to call myself successful because success is about the change you bring to other people’s lives, it’s not about the number of zeros written on your pay check." 

~ Francis Okongo Kinyanjui

Going down my newsfeed on FaceBook is usually an emotional journey. 

Sometimes I see things that make me happy, 

... others make me laugh so hard, 

... some make me really sad, 

via Planet Website

... once in a while I come across those ignorant posts that make me want to scream and knock some sense into someone but I say my ooh-saa's, breathe in and out, and keep scrolling... or sometimes I can't help but leave a comment,

via My Science Academy 

(Yes I support gay rights in case you are wondering because "I might not be the same, but that's NOT IMPORTANT, no freedom till we're equal. DAMN RIGHT I SUPPORT IT" ~ Macklemore)

... and most times I am inspired,

Yesterday I came across this young man who inspired me profoundly, there's so much I could say about him(though I don't actually know him personally) but i'll let his work speak for him. Reading through his site, I could feel the honesty in his words. So I hope this inspires you, like it did me, to make a difference somewhere, anywhere! And I hope you will support him in his great cause because it's not about how much you give, but the intention with which you give the little that you have/can.

The "Kibera Kids Tennis and Sports Project" is an initiative started by a young man called Francis Okongo Kinyanjui to empower and encourage positivity amongst the youth by providing a better platform for growth away from drugs & crime, among many more issues affecting the youth today, especially in marginalised areas like Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya (Africa's 2nd largest slum), through sports. The goal at hand being to raise 800,000 Kenyan shillings to build tennis courts at the heart of the Kibera slums.

"I am bringing the youth factor into this initiative and encouraging the more privileged youth to help the underprivileged youth by setting up a youth to youth support programme. I consider this opportunity my greatest achievement because sports helped me become a leader and I want to help others become leaders too because when you pass through a window of opportunity your not going to slam it shut behind you, but instead reach out and pull the rest of your community through-that's what leadership is about . I have not only been able to find ways to bring people together and convince them to work jointly to positively change lives in our community, but I have been able to promote peace through social integration because the aim of building these courts is not only to train these children on tennis but to teach them life skills as well. Sports not only opens up opportunities such as scholarships and chances for individuals to further enhance their education but it additionally creates a connection between players whether or not you speak the same language or are of a different racial or ethnic group. It shows us that we are all equal and that is the message I hope to spread through my online and face to face marketing. I know that I have been empowered with a chance to create systems that will constantly benefit my community for decades and I have been accredited with a chance give these kids hope, a chance to change their lives for the better, and ultimately, a chance to slay these beasts that have haunted my country for years on end causing Drug use, Poverty and Xenophobia. At last, utopia is now in the horizon."

What I loved most about this project is his perception and understanding of success,

"I am passionate about this project because I know that this court won’t only be there for a term or two, No, It will be there for years to come-etched in the earth. year after year, It will open up windows of opportunities for these Kids and years from now-I can promise you, I will look back at that court and think, ‘I was a part of this’, Years from now I will watch those Kids go off to University and I will say, ‘I was a part of this’, and Years from now, when hundreds of crowds contently embrace these leaders of the future in honour, I will shout enthusiastically, ‘I was a part of this’. I will be allowed to call myself successful because success is about the change you bring to other people’s lives, it’s not about the number of zeros written on your pay check."

For someone to have such conviction, compassion and so much humanity in them at sixteen, is simply admirable and truly inspiring and deserves all our support. So right now, stop for a moment and in all honesty, ask yourself, "what am I doing to make an impact in the world?" and as you figure that out, check out Francis' site here: THE KIBERA KIDS TENNIS AND SPORTS PROJECT, read & learn more about the project, find out how you can be of assistance, BE of that assistance and you too, will one day look back and say, ‘I was a part of this’...

Remember: You are never too young or too old and there's never a wrong time; every minute, is a chance for you to make a difference. "Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do" ~ Steve Jobs

#YouthOnTheRise

#WHATWHAT?! :) 

Happy Easter guys! Stay blessed, stay safe & DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE! 

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