Promise me more…

“I, too, have done my damndest
to kiss and touch and bless
and now I, too, am through with it all
and am simply like the rest” – Barry Taylor I, Too

We all have big dreams. We all want to do something about it. We are all probably up to something then stumbled upon this post.

From when I can remember someone has been promising me one thing or the other with a utopian reward.

“The right one has not been born yet…” “Your business will still work after you are done with your course…” “Finish the exam then we can go for ice-cream…”

Apparently, it will all work out if you do as it pleases this guy, these people… for them it is not the perfect time. For you, you just can’t get rid of the itch. It is obvious where am getting to. You choose your path. But wait there is more…

Promises; promises.

There has not been a shortage of free thinkers (shout out Dr. Stockmann). Every day I hear how people want to change the world with this initiative, reform and leadership. They all promise me the perfect world. Where my starving brother in Turkana and uptown sister will talk about their days in paradise. As long as I vote them in or offer them my friendship.

Thomas Moore proposed the utopian idea some time back. His logic seems radical and idealistic at the moment. The ideals will be easily accepted by any person struggling to make ends meet. But what of the rich that have gotten comfortable. We all know that people don’t find it easy to change. It takes time and effort… it’s sticky and messy. So how do we expect them to change?

Well we don’t… that’s the trick.

“Serikali! Serikali!”

We shan’t beg. We shan’t cry. What is our goal? To be comfortable too… you don’t need to own the whole of Central to be happy. All you need is a happy family, with all their basic needs met. It is violent to not do that for your family.

“All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue.” Plato.

Once the goal is set. Be creative. The beauty of a capitalistic economy is that anyone can get themselves out of the mud.

So get your hands in the mud. Get dirty and build something from it. (Guess which movie that is from… 🙂 )

So if they can get to the top; so can you…

I would not wait for promises that are 50/50. I’ll get on my feet; and do it myself because this is the perfect time.

5 Ways To Make Sure You Have Victories Each Day

We have gotten ourselves out the rut and gotten things rolling. Life is moving forward. In this busy world we live in we need to come up with easier ways on how to deal with monotony… how do you prevent yourself from getting back to another routine?

We’re going to share with you what I believe has worked for me this far.

+1 Be extremely ambitious

Very obvious it seems but not really. We need to find something that challenges us. Something that requires you to set goals. “Unrealistic goals” they call them.

I need to be able to read ‘A Feast for Crows‘ by the end of the week. As an example.

Why? How can you came up with innovative ideas if your goals remain constant?

+2 Make a list of interesting things you can do

There is a lot happening. Your boss, friend and family want a slice of your 24 hours. Remember those are your 24 hours. So make a funny list of what you would want to accomplish for yourself. Not necessarily changing your life; but putting a smile on your face…

This list made me smile…

+3 Support a charity or join a business

The reason anything exists is to solve a problem. This has lead to many innovations like the air plane to solve traveling issues.

The sooner you join a cause the faster ideas to improve or solve the problem arise.

+4 Do a pilot

We do not encourage risky behaviour without a safety net. For some it works out. But for most people unproven solutions don’t work out so well…

So try it out. Adjust and move on. You’ll find the best mix. And the mix will work for you.

+5 Ignore the hater

There will always be people that do not understand. If they are not offering constructive criticism don’t listen.

When they complain. Ask them to offer an alternative and listen for their answers… 🙂

Much love,
Steja.

Are You Getting It On?

It’s a bit late for this; however, let me comment about this issue. This is a special request from one of our followers… your wish is my command.

Via http://www.hercampus.com/

So on 18th Feb this year, our dear president Uhuru Kenyatta initiated a global campaign that is meant to curb HIV prevalence in Kenya. The president was adamant that safe s3x education is the best tool against this dodgy virus.

In Africa, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death. Our ladies are the ones mostly affected.

So the ALL IN initiative is meant to avail children with condoms… now this caught my eye.

Linda Wanyam, head of Austereo, was frustrated that maternity leave was affecting her business. So the solution? Deploy the condom jar in the office. She encourages people to regularly have sex with condoms.

This might seem odd but isn’t it the same as what the initiative is doing? Soon my 13 year old relatives will be asking if am packing…

NHS has been promoting condom for children as well… with the slogan: Get it on. Does it mean that we have officially thrown the towel on underage sex? I get that HIV infections are not reducing as fast as in other groups but it seems as though we are encouraging it…

I’m no economist but it seems easier to invest in wider access to HIV testing. It has been proven in UK to be a very effective tool in reducing the prevalence of HIV infection.

I also believe highly in the ABCCC prevention plan: practice abstinence, be in monogamous relationships, demand condom use, be conscious of your HIV status, or insist that male partners be circumcised.

As mentioned, the individuals highly affected are the ladies. This prevention plan mentioned may not work among women where gender roles impair their ability to negotiate especially for the first C.

In this world we live in, we find all sorts of errors that can not be justified. According to this report, and a few conversations, I was shocked to realise that some ladies opt to live for the moment. They tend to have multiple s3xual partners to make ends meet. So this means, economically we need a better support system for women and mostly single mothers.

This cuts arose all genders. There is a pressure, especially among the adolescents, to engage in this art from your peers. Now, when is the right time? That is a question only you can answer, though, such a decision should not be made under desperation.

Via imgkid.com

You have HIV.

I have HIV.

HIV is not the problem of those that have it in their blood streams. It is our problem as long as it is still looming. Create awareness, learn more about it and get tested even if you are not s3xually active yet. It is up to us the youths to come up with other solutions to this pandemic.

With no single solution for preventing HIV infection, I’m glad the president is doing something.

Much Love,
Steja.

Unlock The 7 Chakras

Those of you who have watched the series of Avatar will probably relate to this article so much better, but if you have not, it’s OK, I will explain from scratch. 🙂

via trendvee.com

Everyone has an invisible energy system called chakras. The word chakra means energy disc, vortex or wheel.

There are seven energy stations positioned from the base of your spine to the top of your head. It is therefore important to understand the nature of our energy system and how to support yourself in maintaining vital life-force energy, otherwise known as “chi” in Chinese.

This invisible energy system flows energy on pathways or meridians and the meridians have multiple pressure points that are means of working with the energy to keep it flowing which is actually the basis of acupressure, acupuncture and reflexology.
When your energy is leaking, weak, or frozen you feel depleted, heavy and even stuck! When you are energy-depleted and challenged, it is more difficult to manage your emotions, think positive thoughts, stay healthy and attract harmony into your life.

Well guys, it’s this simple:

I know this is not something Africans take particular interest to but it does help.

You could take time out and visualize. Here, you visualize a premeditated scenario and outcome, and infusing this outcome with emotions, you can program your subconscious mind to achieve otherwise impossible feats.

You could also heal your chakras by meditation. People use meditation to enter an alternate state of mind for enhanced relaxation, clarity, healing, and intuition and to unblock each of their 7 Chakras from the level of the subconscious.

You could also heal your chakras by a method that is actually becoming quite popular in Africa which is YOGA, yes; simple yoga which is not only tones of fun, but also energizes your lymph system, lowers your blood pressure, and elegantly connects your body with your energetic and spiritual nature.

There are also other ways to heal your chakras like rapid eye technology and crystal healing but I see no purpose of going further into those since let’s face it, you may never get to use them. Or probably you will… let us know…

You don’t have to spiral into depression and a feeling of self-helplessness, the power to your happiness and well-being lies with you. Work at healing a chakra a time and it will help you see how beautiful life actually is, and I speak from personal experience.

Though I do have to warn you, not all chakras are easy to open. For some, you will need to first accept you have a problem and it will require you to face your fears and take risks head-on because it’s like a battle with yourself but really, it’s not that hard to tame that mammoth in your head.

Those of you who have been sick at some point (especially with terminal illnesses), know how critical it is to stay positive because if you fill your head with negativity, you deteriorate really fast so keeping your chakras open helps in the healing. And some of you, who feel ill, may just be experiencing issues with your chakras which are closed or weak so your subconscious mind portrays it as illness.

This is a different point of view to wellness but bottom line is, stay positive and love yourself.

Love and positivity,

Steja.

Want to Get Unstuck?

Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?
― L.M. Montgomery

The sun rises the same each day. But never at the same time. Innovation and seeking ventures is the highlight of each entrepreneur. And their psychology is beyond the discussion here.

However, we would like to argue that everyone can be an entrepreneur without starting a business. Well, not really an entrepreneur in the strictest form, but rather in its risk management docket. It might seem farfetched but happier people are more likely better at risk management.

It is quite remarkable to think that happier people are those that choose, on a daily basis, to take on new activities. To rise differently.

Even though, I write all this I can’t be self-righteous and suggest that I do new activities each day. That I’m adventurous on a daily basis. I actually struggle with trying new things. Unfortunately, it is hard wired in my brain and stuff.

Moreover, studies have shown that our fear of new things is based on our need to distant ourselves from failure in whichever respect. Through history, all the new revolutionary ideas were embraced by generations that followed; for example, we can consider Galileo. We mentioned this in our jazz post that it is a trend to adopt the old and make it new.

So how can we try out new things with a new positive face? (I should have posted on a Monday)

1. Where am I?

A car has a handbrake that lets the car roll downhill if you release it. Similarly, habits have a particular trigger that sends us all on a behaviour.

So it’s up to us to identify the triggers to our habitual activities.

When do you drink excessively? After a long week at the office? After a big fight with the SO? Or with a particular group of buddies?

Same applies to habits of some benefit. We can develop patterns that give up space to develop ourselves. So when can I work out? After a long day at the office? Before? Or like me knew my brother comes from school?

This triggers remind you that something is to happen. But what about positive behaviour?

2. A cookie for a glass of water

It is 12 a.m. I should probably be a sleep. Allowing for my body to rejuvenate itself (I love this process, but not this venue). However, I’m awake staring at the large yoghurt pack and packet of Oreos. Yoghurt is healthy right? I’m hungry, right? No, not really. I have spent a lot of my time avoiding simple sugars from ice-creams, chocolate and pancakes… I’ve avoided this for weeks now.

I will not describe the embarrassment on my face after the clearing the oreos packets.

Well this is just how it happens. I strained my willpower. Unfortunately, my willpower ran out. And this happens naturally. Our willpower is like the fuel in your car. At some point it gets depleted.

So to milk as much from our willpower one has to realise that it does not hurt to take an Oreo per day, I recommend it. Actually, just like we cannot begin eating solid food immediately our first teeth appear. We have a weaning process. This allows us to get accustomed to the new environment.

So small rewards don’t hurt the process they accelerate it. So as I write this I am enjoying my glass of water than my box of cookies…

3. Train the O’ willpower

The army spends a lot of time training the cadets on the value of self-discipline. Training involves sacrifice.

This can be done easily by organising your goal in small operational objectives.

Imagine you have the goal to lose weight. Being specific 10kgs in 2 months. It cannot be done if the thought is 5kgs in the next month. Break it down to getting the workouts done before the end of the day.

Walk 10 minutes each day. Soon it will be 20 minutes at the end of the month you will be running for half an hour… Soon that weight will be shying off… 🙂

4. Repeat. Repeat? Was that the order?

Practice makes perfect. It takes 40 hours to gain a new skill. It can only come with time and repetition.

The degree of automaticity will increase exponentially with time.

No one can be a rally driver on the first go…

The sun rises the same each day. But never at the same time. So should you. You should rise with new ambitions every day with the same objectives. Anyway let us know what you think…

Much Love,
Steja.

Why Jazz Goes Beyond The Music

Yesterday, Nairobi celebrated its second jazz international festival courtesy of Safaricom. The people turned up in large masses but for most, it was really for the social buzz of it, not for the love of jazz. For this reason, I have decided to share my love and passion for this genre of music and hopefully, demonstrate that this is not a lullaby type of music but a beautiful culture, a fusion of instruments that give a perfect tune. Especially, jazz rap.

For well over a century now, jazz has been the chameleon of American music. It has incorporated elements from classical, Latin, world, funk and R&B. The very meaning of the word ‘jazz’ suggests that in order for it to be such, the music must swing, among other criteria. In some regards this could be true, but I would like to argue that jazz represents just a portion of the broader landscape of African-American music.

The use of categories and names of styles is unavoidable, but I feel that at times the process of labeling music restricts us as musicians, writers and listeners from recognizing the connections between sub-genres of music. I believe jazz means has a deeper meaning…

One act I would gladly give a standing ovation is Soweto Kinch. This young lad has blended jazz and hip-hop so well, it looks like they were made for each other. His free-style on the mic is so easy to the ears. Research further proves the connection between the two. Culturally, socially, and musically the two share more in common than some would acknowledge. 

From the 1960s up to today, jazz and hip-hop continue to borrow and experiment with each other. They both contain elements of improvisation; in hip-hop, free styling and DJing represent this, while in jazz much of the exchange between musicians is improvised. So a big- up to Soweto Kinch for daring to venture where very few would, jazz rap.

In the late 80s, this beautiful subgenre was exploding with a message as diverse as the people on earth. Positivity and African-American improvement being some of the themes. It was a way of integrating the old with the new, as per Guru. 1

I believe the subgenre by itself gives us something to look forward to. It allows us to link what appears obsolete to what is mainstream. By doing so we move with the times and improve of the quality of the music.

So this means we can look for innovation in the past. Yes, even the analogue (I’m laughing harder than I should).

One thing was obvious from this jazz festival. Jazz is a strong way of expression of emotion. It especially conveys love so well. So if you are looking for romance, jazz is the way to go. It also brings people together so well with messages of peace, that we are all really just one people, for example Jonathan Butler mostly sings of unity past racial segregation.

Much love,
Steja.

Footnotes:
1. Williams J.A., 2010. The Journal of Musicology. Vol. 27. No. 4. 435 – 459.

THE MOUSE MENTALITY

I thought a moral would be passed by the following story:

Once there was a mouse who lived in a forest.He would go out from time to time to look for food and clothes and come back home in the evening. One day as he was running errands around the woods,he saw something dreadful.A mouse torn into pieces in a cat’s mouth!That cat happened to see the little mouse peeping and decided to chase it as well.The mouse ran off,as fast as he could and by a mere streak of luck,found a way into his house and hid.

“Oh my,”he said,”I almost died out there!Now cats have started creeping into our territory.I have to find a way to fend for myself.Without being in danger of death!”

So the mouse creeped stealthily,in the deep of the forest,and went into a smoking hut.He approached o witch-doctor and told him pf his serous problem.

“So what do you want me to do for you?”The witch-doctor asked.

“Make me a cat sir,so that I don’t have to worry about being killed by one!”

And poof! He became a cat.He was so happy,he could hardly wait to get out.He ran around getting his food,and clothes,and went back home,undisturbed. He had a good night’s rest.

However,one day as he was walking around the area,he saw a cat being mauled by a dog!He knew that he would be the next victim .So he had to act fast.He ran back home and hid.Early the next morning,he went to the witch-doctor and explained to him what was wrong with him,again.

“Please sir,make me a dog,so that I don’t have to worry about being killed by one!”

And poof! He became a dog.He moved houses now and went into the drier parts of the forest,where he could get food fit for a dog his size(he had to be big and scary,see).When he finally moved in,he decided to take a lazy stroll around the neighbourhood to familiarize himself with the fields.

Suddenly,a leopard fell right before his path.

“Oh no!You can’t eat me,leopard!”He yelped.

“Fool!You are the most delicious dish on my menu,and you happen to be right on time for dinner!”Leopard said,licking his lips

The mouse-turned-dog now ran as fast as he could into his house and hid there,until the leopard gave up and left.

Early the next morning,he went to his witch-doctor and explained his bigger problem.

“So what do we do now?”The witch-doctor asked.

“Please,Make me a leopard,sir,so that I don’t have to worry about being killed by one!”

And poof! He became a leopard.He walked out of the hut,his head held high.He was king now.Unstoppable.

The next month,as he was going about his duties,he happened to find a nicely skinned gazelle.

“It looks so good,”He mumbled to himself as he approached.

Just as he was about to pounce on the gazelle,he heard gun shots.

“Poachers!”He yelled,running past them as fast as he possibly could.

As he ran,he saw his leopard friend,the one who almost ate him,when he was a dog.He lay on the grass,dead and skinned,

The leopard ran into the witch-doctor’s hut again, frustrated as ever.

“What now?!”The witch-doctor was now irritated by the mouse-turned-leopard’s behaviour.

“I’m sorry.But please sir,make me a poacher,so that I don’t have to worry about being killed by one!”

The witch-doctor paused now.He had a tear in his eye.

“What’s wrong,sir?”

“You,”He continued,”I thought that by changing you into these various forms,you would somehow be able to find coping mechanisms.But now I know your problem.”

“What is it?”

“You still have the mentality you had when you were a mouse.”

How many times do you suffer from “mouse mentality”?

You are elevated from a situation of hurt and pain,and you STILL see the negative in your present situation?

You are jobless.You get a job. You start saying that you aren’t paid enough.You get promoted and get a salary raise.You complain that your bosses are doing less work than you.You become the boss.You complain that the company’s policies are obsolete .You change some of the policies.You now complain about the governments taxation rates affecting implementations of some policies.NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH.

I have also been there,these are constant struggles,so I can identify.

But we all have to learn that it doesn’t matter if we are mice or poachers.If our minds are not geared to find and chase the positive,we will never see the sun’s beams from the keyhole.If we don’t grow from our previous states,we will be forever stuck in the mouse’s mind,when in the leopard’s body.

So,what do you chose..Outer change or inner progress?

Don’t be that mouse.

Have a nice day,y’all,
Love,Jackie.

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