BELOW GROUND LEVEL

Yup that’s the status quo right now in my past one week. Unexplainable moments of extreme depressive nature lasting 5-10mins, then am back upbeat and bouncy! Someone care to explain?

If I were a psychologist, which I am far from being, I would self diagnose myself with D.E.C.S which is Drastic Environmental Change Syndrome - a subtle condition that happens when you take up some major change in your life such as change jobs, relationships, location, lifestyle, get married, have a child, sell your car et al.

So as we speak right now, I have just emerged from a densely depressing morning which after lunch has changed to me even noticing that the sun is out.

Disclaimer: The writer might not be in a sane frame of mind.

FREEBIE SYNDROME MUST END

Now to some people this discussion might border on sacrilegious - but I do know the power of a freebie, I am after all a Kenyan and did work in the advertising industry. Trust me those two factors combined could make me go anywhere and do anything on the pretext of saving money and being ‘pampered’ by client. Freebies unto themselves are no entirely bad, but it’s the addiction to it that might just hamper the development of basic things in this here our country.’

Take for instance the upcoming Kenya vs Namibia game in September, if I were to tell you that KFF is giving away 100 free tickets there would be enough people clamming to get those tickets, when in fact however they only cost 300/- for VIP and 100/- for the watus. But were I to ask that you pay for the tickets, I would be sure to get some smart reply that football in Kenya is substandard and you wouldn’t want to be caught dead supporting what the KFF stands for in terms of corruption or some sob story that would suit your fancy. Yet you will gladly wear or have a sticker emblazoned “Najivunia kuwa mkenya.”

I was in a random conversation sometime back where someone said that they would rather watch New Zealand vs SA on DSTV than go for the Kenya vs Uganda Elgon Cup meet that was happening on the very same day. Asked for his reason it was that he would rather watch a high quality game. I don’t begrudge this fellow for wanting the best things in life but watching tri-nations on DSTV and Football Premiership on GTV won’t in the long run boost the moral of our athletes, pushing them to go even further. But he didn’t fail to mention that given a freebie he would have attended. My actual problem is that 1) the guy had such an opinion 2) he was comfortable spreading the word and 3) likely to influence a younger generation of individuals who would take up the same mentality and continue to create a culture of apathy as far as supporting our sports people, artists et al goes.

On another note I did enjoy watching the Olympics in Beijing, esp appreciated Team Kenya and all they did to perform at their best and make us proud.  I was especially moved when Samuel Kamau Wanjiru stepped into the stadium for his last lap of the marathon, and his smile and the pride in his eyes; and how because of him we got to hear the Kenyan anthem at the closing ceremony - which am sure was being watched by everyone around the world. Kudos to our heros.

CLOSING A CYCLE

“Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.” Closing a cycle by Paulo Coelho

There was a book I read once a long time ago that discussed having Solitude vs being lonely and it taught me a great deal on grieving. There is an assumption that we should only grieve when something dies but in actuality we are meant to grieve when we leave a place, person or thing… when the seasons change in our lives, when we break up, move on and build a fresh. It’s at these points in our lives that the thread of our souls have suddenly snapped from their attachments to other souls and we need to give our souls souls a moment to move on.

Despite reading that book and trying to live a life of letting go it still remains a struggle on my part to understand what the quote above says. That I should never do anything expecting something… it just brings about frustration and disappointment. Two things I am very familiar with. Yet the struggle continues.

INSPIRING STORY OF IDPs

It’s very very rare for me to get any sort of inspiration from the news let along a Daily newspaper; esp. since I haven’t read or watched news in a long while ever since the elections started at the end of last year. But reading paid off today when I came across this story of the hard work & great minds that some Kenyans have. Kudos to them and shame on the government. Clearly instead of waiting for ’serikali’ to do something for you… do it yourself! My only question is… why isn’t this piece of news on the front pages?

Internal refugees buy land

Posted Monday, August 11 2008 at 17:45

Tired of waiting for any meaningful assistance from the Government, 150 internal refugees have pooled resources and bought a two-and-a-half-acre plot at Maai Mahiu.

Each of the refugees was given Sh10,000 by the Government. From this amount, they contributed Sh4,000 each towards the purchase of the land.

They have now left Naivasha for the semi-arid Maai Mahiu plains to start an uncertain future, hoping that the Government will keep its promise to give them building materials and food.

“We put our heads together and decided to buy something tangible since we realised the money would be of little help if spent individually,” said the group’s spokesman Mohamed Ngugi.

They came up with the idea after realising that the Government was not resettling them.

Some of them have already moved with their tents to the plot, eager to start a life afresh after more than eight months in crowded camps.

The Jikaze Town Self-Help Group consists of people who were engaged in different businesses prior to the post-election violence.

Elsewhere, two MPs from the Mount Kenya region have criticised the Government over delays in resettling internal refugees.

Mathira MP Ephraim Maina and his Igembe counterpart Mtoithia Mithiaru described as peanuts the Sh400 million set aside in this year’s budget for resettlement.

The lawmakers said the figure shows that the Government was not serious about the whole issue resettling the victims. They said they would soon table a motion in Parliament in a bid to have more funds allocated for resettlement.

Top left column, Provincial News, p. 3. The Daily Nation.

NO STOPPING FOR BUSES & MATATUS…

It is to be noted that Nairobians’ have continued being the same despite the post election skirmishes that happened at the beginning of the year and the positive economic growth that has started to pick up only recently.  Granted that there might be new CCTV s monitoring our CBD streets and traffic lights that are managing to keep the jams at bay; but we remain the same with our stubborn ways of doing things and our very special sense of humor.

There is a sign on Uhuru Highway (as you drive to Westlands from the University of Nairobi round about) that clearly & expressly reads “No stopping for buses & matatus” (or something of that nature) afterwhich the Nairobi City Council logo is proudly displayed.

Yet everyday Nairobians gather under the sign, craning their necks in anticipation of a matatu that would be plying the route to Westlands/Kangemi/Uthiru/Kinoo et al would stop to fill up their allowed 14-seater capacity. Usually if one such public means vehicle does stop it only has space for one person or at most two. Meaning that the patient, well dressed & seemingly well mannered crowd under the explicit sign all over sudden scrumble - even managing to push the conductor out of the way to get those few coveted seats. Once inside the passenger straightens their clothing - that came almost came apart; and gingerly places his/her bag on their laps, proceeding to blend into the facade of “A Nairobian calmly headed to work” that adorns all the other passengers.

I was part of the melay today morning and as I sat at the one of the window seats of the City Hopper that risked all to stop to collect us, I saw the sign once more and giggled to myself… I know not of another city that I would want to spend my morning rush hour in…

NEW HOME…

I tell you honestly the morning after the farewell at Ogilvy, I woke up in tears & manage to cry a good part of the morning.  After a hearty breakfast at Hongs, I went & used the gift voucher that I got to buy a TV afterwhich my heart was alright, vividly sunny and I was ready for the new life ahead.

So here I am in my new office, with new workmates & definately very new and more challenging responsibilities and I realize I couldn’t ask for more. I feel blessed esp because a part of my brain that for a while remained dormant is up and running, sadly 24/7.

I’ll keep you posted on my new adventures.

THAT WAS TOUGH…

…saying goodbye to the place that has been a home away from home for the passed couple of years. It’s amazing how I grew attached to those red walls…

FAREWELL OGILVY…

It has been real…

…I say that with every element in my being about my time here in Ogilvy. I have learned from everyone & every moment. Whether it was the fun/crazy O-bar /Christmas party moments or the tough, nerve wrecking, “you can go faint!” and pull-my-hair-out deadline/pitch moments – I have always taken something positive with me.

If I have not shown my appreciation to those who taught, guided, challenged, and stretched me beyond my capabilities…. if I have not shown my appreciation for the friendships that I have been blessed to know in my time here… I am indeed apologetic & I take this opportunity to say thank you and I ask God keep our friendship(s) on a positive path of growth.

I hate the word farewell mainly because the world is such a small place and we are bound to bump into each other at some point - so I’d rather say see you again some time.

I leave you with this thought, “It’s necessary to take risks, and to follow certain paths whilst abandoning others. If you try to follow every possible path you will end up following none. Face your path with courage; don’t be scared of people’s criticism - and, above all, don’t let yourself get paralyzed by your own criticism. No one is able to choose without fear…” Collection of quotes from the book Brida by Paulo Coelho (acclaimed author of The Alchemist).

FORGIVENESS & FAMILY…

Despite being a bit tired today morning I realize that the fatigue is all worth it as yesterday we had a homecoming in our family that was indeed a blessing from God. My mother’s oldest brother’s daughter (lol very very African statement) returned home after many years to reunite with her father & his family. It is a very very long story as to why there was that lapse in time but yesterday that all faded away as we shared food & drinks, interesting stories, old pictures & new ones over a nice Sunday afternoon. I learned a key thing about forgiveness… it’s never too late to do so and with family… the earlier the better… now I have new cousins!

I’M LOOSING IT!!!!?!?!?!

Wow! Here I thought the month of June was packed with activities! My phone is off the hook literary with meeting here, bash there and can you make it everywhere. Not that I don’t appreciate it, I do just that my little mind has been resting for so long it now has to hit the ground running on catching up with the social life it was once used to pre-ogilvy (harsh but true).

Anyway tomorrow is a harambee for my late Aunt Grace who was in I.C.U for Six days in Nbi hospital… basically the bill is too high for the family to handle alone. So this is an appeal that if you can make it to All Saints Cathedral Rm No.1 at 5.30pm on Friday the 18.07.08 to help with anything you can it will be much appreciated

Meanwhile today I FINALLY got my very own brand new Mac. laptop that has cost me an arm & a leg but since I’m leaving the luxury of using office computers it’s time I sort myself & Indigo Design out and get serious equipment.

So apart from the packed weekend, the harambee challenge and sorting out my exit strategy my mind is running at 100km/hr and I can’t seem to get a hold of. The worst thing about leaving is that I am no longer an active member of RedFlag the CSR arm of the office… there were some good projects coming up this year and I was oh so looking forward to being a part of all that.

But the good thing with having a heart is that it can beat any where..