Count your Blessings!

 Ever felt like life is a bunch full of bitter herbs and all you can do is to choose the least bitter? Well that was my day today. In my book of records I’d note it as one of my worst days….but was it? My day started on a low note; too much pressure at work and family issues.

It seems like everything I touched or encountered was sent to make my day gloomy. I was so focused on all the things that were not working and thanks to this I had terrible headache. Well after a long day and a night of insomnia; I have had the opportunity to analyze my day with a clear mind.

I just remembered last Sunday’s sermon with resounding clarity. Faith does not shield me from challenges it just helps me to stand and face them. And as the old adage goes…when life gives lemons make lemonades. That is to say whatever challenge life throws at you make the best out of it or at least learn something! And here are my lessons today.

I have decided to count my blessings as the good old hymn says. First, I woke up in the morning! This is the first blessing, that God gave me breath and an opportunity to enjoy life regardless the hurdles. When I woke in the morning, the first thing I did was to think about the source of my stress, yet I had a brilliant reason to jump out of bed, rejoice and usher my day with a positive spirit. 

Second, I had good health. Just because you woke up doesn’t guarantee you’ll get out of that bed! And here is another blessing I forgot to count. A friend of mine called me asking for me to help mobilize guys to urgently donate blood for a friend. This shook me out of my pity partying mood! I realized that good health is a gift that I need to be thankful about. Someone somewhere is in a hospital bed praying not for riches but for health.

Third, I had a job! Well this is one blessing that my fellow employee would agree we take for granted. I remember the days when I was searching for a job; I would wake up so early and pray to God to give me a job. I even promised myself that I would work so hard that my employer would never regret!

While sometime job pressure may take toil on your emotional well-being, it is important to appreciate the challenges it presents. There is nothing in life that does not have a flip side, even the roses that are a culmination of beauty and love have thorns and they sting too!

Well if you list your blessings and count them one by one, you’ll be surprised at how rich you are. As the saying go, your attitude determines your altitude! It is not the challenges that count but your state of mind. While I would have made my day productive, I focused on the negatives instead of the positives that were all over staring at me.

Life is what you make it. If you sulk at it will definitely sulk back at you! Ask me, I have learnt from experience! From now henceforth I purpose to have a positive mind. I pray God for the wisdom to change the things that I can and to adapt positively to the things that are not within my power to change. 

I count my blessing this morning…..there are so many things on that list that will bring a smile to my face. Thanks to my insomnia…I hereby make my lemonades!

Dancing to the Beats without a Sound

I choose not to place "DIS", in my ability.

-- Robert M. Hensel

The story about a blind hairdresser Salvin Okinda Mandu on your story at Citizen T.V proves that disability is not inability. I watch in dismay as the blind lady does an impeccable job with her hands; you can only know that she is blind when told. 

 

It is evident from the satisfied customers that though she is blind she does their hair in way that most seeing hairdresser may not. I am amazed at how she separates the hair, makes beautiful braids without assistance. This reminds me that the disabled have gifting and talents that leaves the ‘normal’ in awe!

Salvin Okinda displays a positive attitude despite the fact that she may never be an astronaut, her childhood dream that was cut short 8 years ago when she became blind. Her story demonstrates that it all lies in the attitude rather than physical abilities.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
-- Scott Hamilton 

 

Watching Salvin’s story I am taken back to our visit to Machakos School for the Deaf.

It’s a Saturday morning. I wake up to the sound of birds chirping and bright light beaming through my window. I remember I have to drop some clothes and food to my friend so that she can go ahead with them to Machakos.

Today we visit Machakos School for the deaf. This is a visit that a group of friends from JCC visit annually. Though I’ll be joining them later I am excited as this is the first time I’ll make this trip. 

At 12:30 noon, I head to town to take a Matatu to Machakos town. In town, the procession paying the last respect to Nobel Peace Laureate, Prof. Wangari Mathai is making its final journey. I join hundreds of Kenyans lined up on the streets to pay my last respect to a Kenyan heroine, who laid down her life to fight for a greener Kenya and the world at large.

Back to my journey, I am joined by my friends at railways stage. We board a Matatu to Machakos and the exciting journey begins. In approximately one and half hours we are in Machakos town.

It’s a stretch of about 20 minutes to the school. We brave the scorching sun, and finally get to the school tired and hungry. We arrive just in time to be served with a delicious meal courtesy of Mrs. Dorcas Mutinda, a teacher and the champion of our visit.

Rejuvenated, we are briefed of the program for the afternoon. We are taken for a school tour to see the development projects of the school such as a fish pond.

Back to the hall; we are received a by excited children. I have always thought a room full of the deaf will really be quiet. Contrary to my belief; the children are as jovial and noisy as any other child.

It is amazing to see them discuss us in sign language. Though I may not understand the language, it is clear in their world there are no secrets. They discuss their feelings openly contrary to us who can talk for we would discuss in hushed tones.

We are welcomed by jubilation and treated to a variety of dances. The welcome will forever leave a mark in my heart as the teacher explains that the children get excited because some of them are never visited. To these children; our presence is enough, it is a sign that someone out there cares.

The guests are treated to a famous Kamba dance known as kilumi.

Adorned with purple and white attires with paint marking on their faces; the Kilumi dancers of Machakos school for the deaf electrify the hall. It is amazing to see their seamless coordination; with smiles on their face they follow the leader who with a whisker directs every move.

The dancers who have performed to the president in state house are extraordinary. They dance to the beats of Kithembe drum as if they can hear the sound. How they are able to respond to the beats that they have never heard is a wonder!

As if not enough, we are also entertained by a group of young men who exhibits the trendy break dance moves. They mix their moves with humor and the audience cannot get enough as we laugh our hearts out.

All these are performance from children who are completely or partially deaf. They take to stride their physical challenge and turn it around to execute their talents in a way that some of us in the room could not.

The deaf have every capability that any other child has if not more. It is painful that some of them have been rejected by their parents and the society at large. As teacher Dorcas Mutinda explains, most of the children in the hall are dumped by their parents in the school as they are not able to accept that their children’s condition.

For most parents; a deaf child is as a result of a curse, and the society does not make it any easier for them. 

As the speeches are made it is clear that this is the best decision we could have ever made. The teachers and students thank us for the love that we have shown to the pupils by making a trip to Machakos School for the deaf.

The day comes to an end and I wish that we could extend. It has been a major experience for me. I now really understand the deaf and I make a mental note to learn sign language. My friend suggests that sign language should be taught in our schools and I cannot agree more.

This experience reminds me of the story of the humming bird as told by the late Prof. Wangari Mathai. In her story she calls for every person to do their part and we can all make a better world. I plan to do my part; learn sign language and mobilize more people for the next visit.

Hope: The Breath of Life

Hold my hand....walk with me, til I see a ray of hope.

For many years October has been a month like any other. Though declared as the Breast Cancer Awareness month...it has never struck a deeper meaning in me like it has in 2011. 

Early this year, my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer in its second stage. I remember vividly the fun we had preparing for the coming of her baby. Shopping was the norm, and we would not pass tiny baby clothes without stopping. So you can imagine the excitement when the news came through that it's a baby girl.

The next day we streamed into the hospital to shower the baby girl with our blessings and love. As usual our two friends outdid each other in buying the biggest congratulation card to the mother. And we truly had fun! One of us had achieved a milestone...and we had all the plans set for beautiful times ahead.

A week later, I am feeling unwell. I decide to go to Meridian hospital in Buru Buru for a check up. The doctor assures me that its nothing serious, but asks me to rest, and resume work the following day. I think to myself, what a better way to rest than spend time with the beautiful new born baby.

I decide to call my friend and inform her of my visit. I make the call, I am excited...I will see baby Azmina.
Instead of her usual excited voice, her husband answers. I am surprised as this had never happened! Her husband continues to break news that my mind refuses to grasp. He informs me that she is getting ready for an operation. shocked and disoriented, I disconnect the call. I call up a close girlfriend to find out what the problem is.

I am devastated by the news. My friend has breast cancer! I am confused, how can she have cancer? To me cancer was an illness I read about on papers. All this time, I am walking up and down Buru, oblivious of where I am going. Tears sting my eyes, and my heart aches for my friend. I am awaken from my trail of thoughts by a conductor who asks me if I am okay.

It takes time to compose myself; I call her back to wish her the best and my prayers. She receives the call and all she asks me to do is pray for her. When I get home, I go down on my knees and say a prayer for my friend. At her trying moment, she did not ask for much, she only asked for a prayer.

It has been a long journey. Her recovery from the operation, her battle with chemo, and her bravery spirit throughout radiotherapy sessions. And one thing that I have learnt is that cancer is not a death sentence!

During this trying moments, I have come to appreciate the gift of friendship. It is during this time that we learnt how to laugh, to make every moment count, and to dance our way out of worry. We have spent more time together; we have cooked, attended support group sessions, and even danced to the beats of life. And most of all, the experience has made me realize the power of positive thinking.

If you have a friend battling with cancer; support, love, and offer them positive thinking. While cancer is not a death sentence, it does not come without challenges! As a friend you can only hold their hands, walk with them, til you see a ray of hope!

Over the last few months, cancer stopped being a distant disease to me! I now know that anyone can be affected and it is a high time that we all create awareness in our own ways. Do self examination, teach someone, and leave the people around you more informed about cancer than they were before.

Hope is the breath of life....we can lose anything else in life but the moment we lose hope, we die! If you know anyone battling with cancer, become a constant source of hope. If you're battling with cancer, refuse to lose hope.

And in this month of October, say a prayer for someone battling with cancer. I personally pray for my friend and others to receive complete healing from our God for He is well able.

Have a hopeful day!

Take the First Step

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.

 I came across a book titled 'Screw It, Let's Do It' written by Richard Branson. My first reaction to the title was 'okay' but as I read the book the title made more sense to me. In this book, Richard Branson shares one of his underlying principle to success- Just do it!

A renown business man, Richard seems to have fun in everything he does. He believes in working hard and playing hard as well. But what stroke a cord with me in this book is the simple way of starting things. If you have a dream, or you want to start something, Just Do It, as Richard says.

Just Do It! Sounds simple doesn't it? Well if it were that simple, we would have the greatest inventions on the earth. If people were to share their dreams, you'd be surprised of the many solutions we would have to the problems we grapple with today.

Someone said that the graveyard is the wealthiest place. People die with ideas due to the fear of failure. As I look back into my life, there are many times that I have had brilliant ideas, but the fear of failure could not let me. While starting a thing, or sharing your idea may attract critics, think of the possibility of success instead of failure.

As I write this, my brother who was running for a post in campus called me with disappointment in his voice. "I fell short with nine votes." he says. I try to make him look at the bright side of things. He hadn't failed. He was able to convince all the other people to vote for him, that's not easy! He also learnt a thing or two about campaigns.And most of all, he now knows he can be, and is a leader!

So if you have an idea, just do it. If it doesn't work, discover other ways the idea can work.
Once you believe in what you're doing and have a plan to achieve it. Keep at it, do not be swayed.

Thomas Edison an inventor of the light bulb, made 1000 attempts with no success. When asked by a reporter how he felt about failing a thousand times, he answered, "I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."

think about it, if Edison gave up at the tenth step, would we have the light bulb today? This is a simple lesson for many inventors out there. Don't give up! Take the first step, and a long the way, have fun as you make your thousand steps.

This is my first step in this journey! Bon Voyage!