HUMBLE BEGINNINGS STILL COUNT

Dear Love…

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Opportunities are meant to make us learn and become better. They are a platform for learning; until you meet an animal called comparison.

Lately life has shown me how we are so engrossed in becoming people’s success story and forget our path.We now follow products and ‘great personalities’ who have made us feel useless.

It is very easy to be taught about life and emotional development by 19 year olds’ and forget about the old and wise men and women. I have fallen victim so many times in comparing myself with my peers who have for some reason ‘figured their life out’. Aaah Life…(sigh) can be so complex at times.

At 22, I don’t have it figured out as i had expected. I still live in my parents house, still interning and doing mundane tasks just to make a name for myself. I still have people who take advantage of my naivety and lack of great skills. It always feel like a repeat mode. You know… Sleep- Grind- Repeat.

It can be depressing when you see your peers winning global awards that make you question your existence.It feels like you are in a crumbling makeshift.

I was however reminded by a wise man that we are all important in every stage of life that we are in. It doesn’t really matter, which position you hold; just give it your best. Success begins in humble beginnings.

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Now I know that I have to fight the animal called comparison and focus on being better at my humble beginnings. Guess that’s what being a young person is all about; Learning from the ground up.

Share and like this post to friends who have felt like they need constant validation to who they are. Remind them that they are the best thing the world is looking forward to meet. Do not forget to give it a thumbs up by clapping and following Val Inspired for more inspiring stories.

FAILING IS SUCCESS

DEAR LOVE…

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I have no experience with wisdom. It has failed me more times as I succeed. Even in my aura of knowledge, I still admit I am a bigger failure at life. I crush, get up and fall again. That does not mean I cannot smile when somebody makes my day. That does not mean I do not have happy moments in my life. On the contrary, I learn every day to master my emotions; despite being an over-emotional superwoman.

There was no promise of a life of roses. There was no promise of a ride on chariots. There was only a promise of hope in the midst of pain, and a hand that will never leave you in the thorn of roses.

Now I accept that I will fail as much as I succeed. I will hurt but get back on my feet. I will lie on the thorny brush, but it shall not hurt. I will ride on chariots and strike down the snakes on the roadside; because those considered as failed elements have the best success stories

CRIME OF PASSION

The crisp dark night could not wipe out the depression on her face. She could barely notice the glittering marquees at the alley. All she wanted to do was to run, but where to? The person she ever trusted had threatened her and vowed to kill her if she ever thought of leaving.

This is a story of an ordinary girl who fell in love with an ordinary guy. She was 19, he was 30(but his looks said 40). He was a crackerjack mechanic but she knew him to be a manager at ABX companies. Wendy was drunk in love. Her innocence gave her away.

Anyone who cared for her irked the idea of her running away with the man they knew little about. No one could stop her decisions however because she was an adult according to the law.

Wendy took the route to freedom without responsibility and went to live with the love of her life. Few months into the relationship was heaven and amazing. They lived in a bedsitter but it was just fine. When Markez came home late, it was okay. After all, he was hustling for the both of them. When he complained about her dressing, it was okay because he was looking out for her. But when he started abusing her emotionally and degrading her, it raised an eyebrow.

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Six months down the line, we see a battered Wendy. Her beauty could still be seen underneath the ugly scars. She was not allowed to work, study or visit anyone she knew. Her only work was to cook and entertain his drunk friends. Failure to do so would be met by tough repercussions; sleep outside or face whipping depending on his moods.

Wendy had been innocent, unworldly and a romantic. Now she was 18 years old and living a horror film.

DEAR LOVE…

 

Dear LOVE…

The journey to success is not easy I must say. I have read books of encouragement which go by so many phrases.

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Oh Love… I followed the steps blindly and to the latter for that matter. I have taken lemon in the morning, took a cold shower too ( even though I dread it), written a journal consistently and followed the 48 laws of power and became obsessed with success.

Not realizing that I was following other peoples ambitions and missing meaning in life. Truth is love… there is no guide to success. There is no one way to success like we are meant to believe. Whether you are on a t-shirt or a killer dress, one finds success story differently. Some find theirs on trash, others on gold. Some while sitted, some while grinding.

I guess the biggest mistake we ever made was following the mantra that success is the same.

DEAR LOVE…

Dear Love…
I know I said I would climb every mountain and swim every ocean for you. I know I waited every 1000 years for you. I mean, how that is possible blows my mind. I promised that I would not make you cry or sad in your lifetime.
Guess what love… life somehow happened and work and family responsibilities among other ‘ands’. You became busy, I became busier.

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Flashback five years ago when Safaricom was generous with our teenagehood. We could wake up at 10 pm and sleep at 6 am so that we could chat and talk without limitations of airtime. Our only worry was getting caught by momma if she walked by the room and found you laughing hysterically at the middle of the night alone. We were never busy for each other because, in two weeks’ time, we knew that we would be back to school, where our conversations would only continue in our thoughts.
Fast forward and now we are here.

Starting a hustle prone life, struggling to survive. This is where things get complicated. Where forever meant a long time but now it means needing space two months into a relationship. At one point we knew what we wanted, but now we struggle every day knowing who we are.

We become complicated, preoccupied with the dreams we chase, work that takes almost half our day and so on and so forth. You say hi today, I answer back the following day (majorly because I fell asleep while texting you). Two steps back and forth.
Truth is love, we are growing and love is complex yet simple. It moves from the witty remarks to the words that make you feel u la la and becomes complex when a future with you is involved. It becomes a story of commitment which is hard to come by these days. It meets a new family, babies, social events, parents meetings, joint accounts and many other menial jobs couples get themselves into. When responsibility is involved, extra emotions are involved too; and even the small things matter.

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When I said I’d climb every mountain for you, I lied. I would climb every mountain with you. This journey needs a helping hand. I would swim every ocean with you; because every ocean has a dipped end and you would need some pulling when you are drowning. Even with our busy complicated, needing space kind of life- truth is, Love exists and it should not die because we chose other things first.

DEAR LOVE

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Dear Love…

It has been a while since I wrote to you.  Life after school became messier than expected. I encountered a few hitches that made me lazy to write and share my thoughts with you. And as a resolution, I decided to try again the journey of scribing. New Year comes with unrealistic resolutions I must say. Like having to vow and constantly lie to yourself that you will have your figure trimmed while you feed yourself the same amount of junk you eat. Or like planning to buy your own car when you sleep for ten hours. Rather sticking to an unhealthy relationship while you cling to it.

I just hope love, that you will not be exposed to unrealistic goals and resolutions that will not see a day. Do not struggle with living people’s dreams, dear. It will only suck the life from you.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember, what peace may be in silence. New Year comes with new strengths. With valour, your past pains will disappear slowly. Be of courage as the year takes its course.

On the way, we will struggle with politicians who will want a pay rise, Chinese debts, economic pressures, harsh living conditions, arrogant and spiteful people and painful ordeals. We will also have the best days ever, friends who will crack us up, amazing opportunities and happy ever after.

When you feel like giving up love, just get to your knees and pray. Let the bad times not take away your beautiful smile. Pray and God will help you get back up. He listens and will always dry those tears away.

Start the year with resilience and strive to be the achiever that you are. Do not be swallowed by resolutions that will make you anxious. Just be you!!!