Stuck in a Box?

Yesterday as I was walking home I had one of those moments of deep thought. I was thinking about fear, doubt, indecision and all those things that come to you when you’re supposed to do something that is to some extent out of your comfort zone. It’s like we have as part of our factory settings that function called “FEAR”. This leads you to lack belief in whatever you’re engaging in, doubt that you’ll be able to go through it or even do it, and indecision, you can’t seem to know which direction to take, what to do.

I think this function incapacitates you for a moment. If you allow it, it could be for a life time. It’s like you’re stuck in a box and you think how there’s no life outside it. Or rather how will you manage life outside that box that you’re oh so used to? It’s already comfortable, it’s enough. Then why go ahead and try out something that doesn’t necessarily promise you the comfort of this box? Many of us live inside that box, we do everything in our ability to convince ourselves that that box is all we need and anything past that is not that necessary. But is that the case really?

We humans were born curious but also inherently fearful of things both known and unknown. It’s good when you fear God, but bad when the fear hinders you from exploring your curiosity. It’s that curiosity that will tell you, “that box is growing too small for you” or “there’s something called ‘claustrophobia’ and that box could be the cause”. You know those things that will make you do everything in your ability to want to get out of that box. This box, it’s just not a box. Just think of all those things that you think of or imagine of doing and they make you cringe even at the thought of it. It could be anything.

For instance, the thought of starting my thesis gave me the total creeps. I wondered about the topic, where I will get the research stuff, how I will write it up, how I will defend it, how I will do the questionnaires, how I will analyze them and finally how I’ll defend the final thesis. It was all about the why’s, where’s and how’s. Surprisingly, I am past half the trouble. I tell you the fear is real, up until you remove the doubt and make that decision that gets you out of your comfort zone and work at make those things work for you. That’s just one example. There are so many others things or situations that still get me thinking, “hmmm, how will I even do that or how will I get there.”

Are you stuck in a box and wondering how you could ever kick yourself out of it? Just do it, Nike couldn’t have said it better. Outside the box will at some point become inside the box once you adapt to it. You build comfort over time. Then you’re at your curious stage once again, where you get bigger than the box. It’s a vicious cycle.

I highly doubt there’s a point someone will be completely at peace in their comfort zone, even at the point of self-actualization (recall Maslow’s hierarchy of needs). We’re always looking for more successful, more satisfying, more and more things. Your wanting list grows exponentially. If that’s the case, is it fit to be called a comfort zone? It doesn’t seem so comfortable after all, because even when we think it is, we’re yearning for more comfort as we chase what’s outside our box.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Your State House

We spent 9th April 2013, following up on the presidential inauguration process for those of us who weren’t able to attend it physically. Well, because we didn’t receive V.I.P invitation cards…lol. Truth be told though, there’s no way I would squeeze my way into the crowd to watch it and the media has ensured that the whole event was being aired live. I think you even get to witness it better when watching it from the comfort of your couch. You can switch channels when a boring choir comes on or when there’s a delay in arrivals, better yet snooze then wake up for the speeches or go grab some snacks in the kitchen you get what I mean. All the same, a historical moment that will go down the books happened. So it’s a date worth remembering. Also, for the sake of your kids, you’ll probably have to narrate this story sometime in future.

On a non-serious note depends on how you look at it I like that our president and vice presidents are eloquent. You know, very convincing, audible, precise and most of all young and hip aka “the dynamic duo”. There will be no more cringing during national or informal speeches. Is it just me or did you ever have moments of “I don’t know what you’ll say next, but please be subtle” when Kibaki made informal speeches. I know they were humorous and all, but I think I’m kind of relieved. I don’t have to wonder anymore how he converses with dignitaries and the likes. Things that keep you up at night…ha ha!

Source: Outgoing President Mwai Kibaki hands over instruments of Power and Authority (the Commander-in-chief’s ceremonial sword and the constitution) to President Uhuru Kenyatta during the State Installation of the 4th President of Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi.

We saw the new president-elect being sworn in as Hon. His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and the Deputy President William Ruto. I’m happy that this finally came to be. It had been a long time coming. With so many doubts and unsurities along the way we were able to come to an agreement of who deserves what. I guess fair trial in the end. I wasn’t also so sure about how everything will turn out but since inception I had prayed for the best outcome and for a peaceful election. I didn’t know who was the best presidential candidate, we all had our opinions and a choice of 8. As you know, for each person, their opinions rules and politics is pretty sensitive. If there’s one discussion I didn’t enjoy, it’s that of politics. I hated the analysts on T.V. too I don’t know why the bring them on. They didn’t help my judgement in any way, the debates on the other hand really did.

I’m glad that whole politics things especially in regard to elections is over. Who’s with me here? Now we can deal with more pertinent matters. Like how to make better our economy, fix things. The new government has made promises, many promises. The frameworks, the policies, but most of all the reforms. I am one of those hopeful Kenyans. I want to see and experience how all these promises will be executed and how they will involve the common mwananchi who doesn’t have links in the government while at it.

Congratulations Kenyans for a job well done and for the bright future ahead of us.

As Uhuru enters the national State House he already did, also enter your own State House and run with it. Yours is not the actual presidential State House *quips* with the a million and one rooms, I mean the proverbial one. You’re the president of your life. I don’t know where in the bible it says but I’ve definitely seen it and read it. That God gave you dominion over your life (the power and the authority to govern and control it). So even as we wait and expect the government to develop the country, they will probably play their role in doing so, I believe. But they will not come to you as an individual and develop you. You have to do it yourself. You have to work harder than ever, you have to push yourself to the limits.

Nothing comes easy. You want a good life? You have to chase it. It’s that girl who plays “hard to get” or that man who’s not akin to commitment. Quite slippery, but it can be caught eventually.

If you think about it critically, even the president worked quite hard to get to where he is. His team mates worked even harder to make sure that they get him to where he is. So we are no exception. The reforms they’ll make will create opportunities for us, which will mean that someone has to take them on. Opportunities are like a gold mine, do nothing and nothing will come off them. It will just be land like any other. Do something and you’ll have gold and other minerals at your disposal. Dig deeper and deeper until it becomes the opportunities become something tangible, that have a positive effect in your life.

I’m also not too sure how this will go for me as well but I am all macho. Let me start thinking how I can develop my personal and professional life via this opportunities. LOL, definitely not the babies one at least for now, they said free maternity in public hospitals and free laptops for class 1 kids in public schools. I foresee a baby boom next year. Wololo, there’s more to babies than that don’t be deceived. Don’t forget to analyse some of these opportunities before taking them up. All the best while at it and God bless Kenya!

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Living or Surviving?

F.H.L

I was just wondering at what point do we stop living and start surviving? Yeah, we are alive as long as we’re breathing, moving or doing something that signifies the presence of life. Of course I don’t mean that kind of living. I mean the kind where you are content with who you are, what you’re doing, the people that surround you and you have something to look forward to. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we do that we don’t realize these things. We think just because we wake up, do our normal routines and maybe one or two new or not-so-new things in the day, we’re living it. Sometimes at the end of the day you would look back and you wonder how the day has come to an end and nothing has changed about you, within you or around you. It’s like time flies, but funny enough it doesn’t because apparently we are all given 24hrs in a day. That’s equality at its best. I mean for the person who does nothing all day and the president of America.

I won’t even deny that am one of those people. One of those people who complains time is flying and at the end of the day I can’t quite account for it. It’s probably all chalked out on some board somewhere. I doubt even the person or angel handling my board… Oh wait a minute, I diverse just a little. I somehow, well you know everyone has a kid in them you don’t?, the kid in me thinks the angels have a kick-ass time up there betting on how our lives will go. Like draw a routine then place bets if they’ll change and such like things. The things the mind thinks. Any how, back to surviving. Sometimes we just survive by the day.

But hey again,  this stuff seems harder than rocket science I say. Managing your life is actually harder than any course work or job you’re given (aye or nay?…I could be saying my own things). I’m not one to say when to stop surviving and start living. But I think the source of living is a pinch of faith, sprinkle of hope, some sacrifice and  a cup full of love. We don’t have everything we want, neither are we also in most cases where we would like to be for one reason or another. But what makes you think you can’t get there?

It’s in the lack of faith and in the loss of hope that makes us think that we’re not good enough or we don’t have what we need or we won’t get there (where we want to be). In actual sense, you actually can and you’re good enough. It’s just in the change of our attitude. To learn not to be belittled by what we don’t have but instead let what we don’t have be our drive.

In my honest opinion, I don’t even think living means doing new things per se. Sometimes we’re not in a position to change our situation at that particular time because of certain limitations. However, you could delimit them by incorporating something in your routine that makes you feel satisfied with yourself. You know what I mean? Something that makes you feel like you’ve not wasted a whole day. Something that will or could contribute towards your tomorrow. Start living. Surviving means that there’s nothing you’re looking forward to, so there’s nothing you’re really working for. You’re just doing it because you have to for your survivals sake. You’re complacent where you are and with what you have, you don’t look beyond. Your fuel has run out and that spark has fizzled out. Stop Surviving.

Start Living. Stop Surviving

ION, here’s my 2 proposal yes 2 defense story.

The other day I was doing my proposal and boy is that thing not easy. I had to defend it in the end to get approval to move on to data collection and analysis so that I can finish my thesis *someone say an AMEN*.  Well, I was scheduled for a defense, dates and all. I’ve never been to one before and I had never gotten the opportunity to attend one. So I wasn’t sure how one gets grilled and all. I had done my proposal to the “best of my ability”. “” because I really hadn’t. Then I went to the defense room and I was grilled…a good one. People are grilled, they make you look and feel like, “that’s all you did?”, “where is this, where is that…”. The corrections were quite a couple, so I was asked to go work on them and come back to re-defend a few weeks later.

Crushed and feeling like maybe am not so bright after all, okay that’s my ego talking. You know how failing in something feels. It’s not the best feeling in the world. Then I thought wait a minute, I’ve not failed, it’s a freaking re-defense! It’s basically a second time to shine and prove to my lecturers I accept mistakes, I can work on correcting them and I can produce something really good. I decided I will do my research, follow-up with my sources of study and work with my supervisors. All this time with a bucket full of hope and faith not the sprinkles and pinches I was talking about earlier. Of course a few sacrifices here and there and viola, I passed my re-defense *ego boost* but it doesn’t end there. I still have so much work to do, but I know I’ll manage for sure. I can see myself at my graduation party (if I choose to have) doing that speech…lol.

Thanking God for that and thats it’s FRIDAY! This week just needed to end. It’s been a long one, up and down but totally worth all the efforts. I am grateful. But does this up and down ever end anyway? The weekend is jam-packed, but it’s the weekend. I think the gist is in the name, end makes you want to heave a sigh of relief.

Signing ~~~ *Kawi*

 

The Human Side

I was perusing through my twitter and Facebook timeline earlier in the day just to catch up with current news and know what’s going with the people around and not so around me. You know, kind of like that lap of honour the watchman takes in the estate every so often, sometimes to make sure that everything and everyone is secure, then other time just to get the estate gossip first-hand.

At some point, I found myself laughing at what I was doing because from a few updates and photos I get to find out so much about different people. Like this person got married, got a baby, broke up, is having a rough day or an amazing day, is dating someone among other things.  From those updates, you want to dig just a bit deeper to know when that happened, what’s been going on, who are those other people, do I know them, if not just maybe I can get a sneak peek of who they are.

All this while, that is none of my business. I mean, it shall not add any value to my life if I knew how an acquaintance is progressing, whether he/she is happy, sad, dating, expecting. Unless of course it’s something that requires complements, sympathy or my contribution, otherwise, I’m just being nosy trying to satisfy the ever-growing curiosity.

That’s just the social sites, how about the magazines we buy every month to read someone’s story. Or for those of us who don’t buy because we have them at the salon and we spend the entire time reading about other people, what they’ve been through, what they are going through, how they live and what they do. For those who are not curious readers. I can bet you can find yourself getting updates on people through conversation, not necessarily people you know, it could be people you probably know by proxy or even some you don’t know at all and whose information you don’t necessarily need, but sure does sound interesting or you can relate to in one way or another.

I then figured that the essence of all these social tools both off-line and on-line  is to enable us to show our human side. The vulnerable side that we so much want to hide but feels better when let it out or when we see that we are not alone in certain situations. To some extent the social bit is like a survival tactic in a world that’s sometimes so technical and mechanical.

Even after this thought, I wouldn’t want to stop being curious or knowing things that sometimes I have no business knowing. I could learn something from it *perfect excuse*. However, I will equate social tools to a buffet that offers a choice of delicious dishes. It’s now my role to decide what I’ll serve on my plate, how much of it, how I’ll chew it and how much time I’ll spend on that meal. For example I choose Facebook, I’ll go through my timeline but be smart enough not to become “mouse happy” and click away into people’s profiles/pictures I don’t know or snoop into an update.

I think knowing is good, we were born curious and wanting to be all-knowing. However, sometimes we get greedy and what to know everything even the irrelevant (unimportant) which in turn takes up the time that could be used to do other important things *says this pointing to self*. Strive to know what you think will give you a competitive edge, build you as an individual, enable you to help/minister/inspire someone else and so on, at least something with a purpose, but if it’s knowing just for *poking your nose* purposes you’re allowed to judge yourself … very harshly*wink*

Our most precious human gift: The wonder of curiosity. The insatiable thirst to know more about what we know … and to speculate about what we don’t — and to explore this vast realm. ~ David Bin

 

Valentines Day 

Now that it’s tomorrow, what will guys be up to? Just looking at my previous Feb 14th posts (here and here) and the three things that  stand out are:

• I was single
• I did believe in love, the love that the bible describes in 1st Corinthians 13
• The day was just another day in the life of Kawi

This time round, let’s see what’s changed about that:

• I am not single, we’re double trouble *woop woop*
• I definitely still strongly believe in love, the same kind of love. Plus my “guinea pig” to experiment it on…lol
• I don’t intend on making a big deal out of the day, never have. Buuut, am not one to refuse anything special that comes my way in any form or gesture and vice versa.

Happy Hump Day Comrades and Pre-Valentines Day just in case I get caught up tomorrow.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Bin It or Keep It?

Is the question! Holding some sort of “value” towards things? Not because your mother gave it to you, neither was the first gift from the boyfriend or your baby sister or friend hand-made it for you for your birthday. I’m talking of some random item that you prefer to keep just because you don’t want to let go of it. You keep imagining that it will be of use some time later or you could just keep them just because. Sometimes it actually make sense why you would want to keep something, other times it just doesn’t, like when you’re the only one who sees the importance of that thing you are holding on so much on to.

• Like you buy new bed sheets and instead of getting rid of the old ones that are not of much use, you still keep them because they will could be of use later. Of course they are not useless, they will come to be of use some time in future as you say. Maybe when all your sheets are wet or you have many visitors and they all need extra bedding.
• You could also have shoes that are worn out or you’ve outgrown. However, you decide to keep them for your own reason because they are of no much use since you can’t wear them. It just feels good seeing them stacked on your shoe rack, while they could be looking better on someone else’s feet or in the bin.

Well in both cases, you’ve found an excuse to keep the item. Keeping the old bed sheets makes so much sense if you put it that way, but why don’t you think that you’ll buy other bed sheets should a point come where you need extras? Limiting yourself and your abilities in future maybe? They are easily replaceable, why insist on keeping the old ones? The shoes, that doesn’t make sense at all, once they’re worn out or you’ve outgrown them, that’s it for them. Keeping them in the rack doesn’t repair them or make them expand in size.

That my dear friends, is how we pile up our clutter. That’s how I pile up my clutter. By getting new things and still insisting on keeping the old ones. When I saw that, I was like maybe I’ll be holding something and going through those questions and majority wins. I should have an answer column with the options of “bin it” or “keep it”.

I know the old has been nice and served you well (or not), but you can’t keep holding on to it because it’s reached its expiry point in your life. You have to work into making your present and future beautiful and uncluttered by things from your past. In case you were looking for ways to make your house a bit neater, this could be the secret they’ve all been keeping from you.

Well, that’s more or less the only way to go about it. The less clutter, the more beautiful and less complicated it is. So, if you’re like me, LET’S DO THIS. Ps: I’m already on it *wink*. Happy Holidays! For those working like me again, have a breezy week.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Beating Ugly Days

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? *bites lip and awaits response anxiously*

Not such a fair response today, says the mirror, you look hideous! Ha ha, don’t we all have those days that you just feel unattractive. Like if you could avoid all human contact and just land on your desk work all day and drop back to your house, that would be awesome.

It always starts once your alarm rings and you have to drag yourself out of bed. Jump into the shower before your brain suggests other things like, snoozing and sleeping a little more like a boss. Then you’re out of the shower and you’re trying to figure out what to wear but it looks like your wardrobe has a malfunction and out of the tonnes of clothes you own, none seems right for the day. Looking at the mirror, your hair is a mess, there’s a surprise zit on your forehead or nose, it could be small but at that point it looks HUGE. More like Gollum’s ugly for those who have watched Lord of the rings, when he says, “My precious”…lol, yuck!

You feel me though, it happens. How to get over such days? I actually figured that day out. Once you realize that that’s what you’re going through, it’s not a sickness but a feeling that’s bound to disappear, you’re good to go. At least you can be sure to try turn it around at some point in the day. Here are some of the tips that I have :

Dressing:

Wear a combination you have worn before. Something that looked good on you once upon a time, that made you look and feel beautiful. You need to have that attire prepared in advance for such days or if not, you should’ve crammed it. That’s not the day to explore the attires you have in your wardrobe, because with that feeling you could just choose the most hideous clothes for real.

Confidence:

Raise your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being high confidence to about an 8. Because you really need it, should someone tell you something that would lower your esteem, your tank is still full of esteem. Yes, it’s an ugly day, but that doesn’t mean your confidence has also rioted, make sure it’s on full tank. You are still you, live it up!

Conversations:

Engage in conversations that make you forget how you feel or think you look. Talk about other pressing issues, it could be political, social, economic, technical anything that doesn’t involve you and your current feelings. You could just drag someone else into your ditch if you go on about your feelings.

Thoughts:

You’re beautiful even in your ugly days, you pretty much look the same as the other days just that on this day your hormones are telling you lies. So get off your pity party and re-direct your  thoughts to other sectors of your life where they are needed. Think happy thoughts (like seriously).

Activities:

Laugh, walk, talk, read, work, eat, write e.t.c. Basically do things that distract your thoughts. That keep you away from thinking how damned you are or how bad your day is. Avoid negative energies by all means, stay positive.

Mirror:

Please still look at the mirror. Make sure you’re clean and smelling fresh, clothes are all intact and well-fitting ( just because it zips doesn’t mean it fits…lol) had to put that line somewhere. Hair is well-combed, body is oiled, you know the usual. You’ll be surprised that only you thinks that you’re ugly on that day. That’s the day you get random complements of how nice you look.

Compliments:

Appreciate them, don’t doubt them. If someone tells you you look good, it’s because you look good. Believe them. Don’t also miss out on a chance to tell someone else they look good or they have something nice when they do. Compliments have a way of making someone feel good about themselves. This one could be your good deed of the day.

These are just but a few ways to handle your “ugly days”, they don’t last long. Its life is as short as how fast you snap yourself out of your cranky mood.

It’s Thursday, that day if you haven’t said your thank you’s or been truthful you get the chance to. Give thanks and be truthful to yourself and to others. While at it, have a Thrilling Thursday.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Say It, Don’t Jinx It!

Call me superstitious or NOT, because am not (I don’t fear black cats *cheeky grin* okay yikes! Just lied, they creep the hell-out-of me) but I have always had this thing with jinxing exciting moments. Like say you are in an extremely happy mood just because maybe someone is making you happy or you’re expecting something to come through and it’s not been confirmed or you’re eagerly waiting for an event that’s yet to come but you want to keep those exciting things at hush hush, so that you don’t jinx it.

Jinxing it in this case, is the exact opposite of what you’re experiencing or expecting happening. Like you becoming sad for whatever reason, or the thing you’re expecting gets turned down or the event is just a miss. Basically, a spoiler to the good things. So I got to thinking about it at some point, very critically I must say *cough*, in the hope that it sounds scholarly, why would I think that saying what am feeling or expecting be a jinx. If anything, what you confess with your mouth somehow becomes because your heart listens and your mind acts upon it. So if you avoid saying the nice things you are feeling, expecting and desiring, then your heart and mind listen and act upon your thoughts and that’s how you give room for the worst.

There’s was this evening I was beyond happy, you know the kind where everything is  extremely funny with the full laughing to rib aches and tears at every word uttered. Then I don’t know how this happened, but in my mind I was questioning it and was like, “am too happy, I just hope the next level is still happy.” I was even going to mention it, I think on twitter (I mean that’s where it feels like you’re shouting at the rooftop when you’re in the comfort of your couch), but I was like nooo, I’ll jinx it. To my surprise, in not so long, something just dampened my moods, must’ve been a disagreement or something. But I hadn’t even said it *sob* I just thought it. Well a thought is also a confession, apparently. Now I figure.

You jinx it when you don’t say it! You thinking that something will turn out the worst should you say it is being pessimist O_O. No, I didn’t read this anywhere, it’s just a thought process. So to be positive and bring forth positive outcomes during moments and situations:

Say It, Don’t Jinx It!

In short, what am trying to say is don’t question your happiness, you deserve every bit of it. Even when it’s challenged or taken away, always try to get it back for its yours to have, own and flaunt! Have a Terrific Tuesday and be more than blessed *wink*. It’s CAT week, let me dash off to read, wish me luck now. Okay bye, for now!

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Special’ove’ize

Of late, for some not so strange reason I’ve been trying to figure out what I my specialty is or what is it I love … on my blog that is. I basically write anything and everything that comes on mind. So when someone asks me what my blog is about, I say just that “anything and everything”. I mean it’s not solely about fashion, travels, poetry, food, photography, name it, because I’m pretty sure in the many posts I have, there’s something on each *facepalm*

Then it all takes me back to when I had just finished high-school and it was time to go to campus. How many (feel like saying *by a show of hands* I wish this was a talk of sorts) knew what they wanted to do right after their O-Levels? Personally I didn’t. I was made to go to Strathmore University to do a Diploma in Business Information Technology (DBIT) because my dad didn’t want me hanging around the hood (this was revealed to me later on in life). Then after finishing that one, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do and there was an opportunity of continuation. Such that my DBIT was to act as my 1st year in Bachelor in Business Information Technology (BBIT).

I thought that was pretty cool, that’s minus one year, so I’ll have 3 years of Grad school. As you can see, without much struggle and thought I just got into the Business and IT world. Then I worked hard at it and bore my fruits at the end of it. I then started working and while at it, I was still trying to discover what I want to specialize in. What is it I enjoy doing? This because I came to realize that business and IT is so broad. Slowly while working in my first job, I discovered what I don’t like and what I don’t want to be. Then I was lucky enough to move from my first job and into a second one, where I discovered what I love and what I want to be. Hence, my third and my future ones. Now, I can specialize, I can distinguish between what I don’t like and what I love. That’s what I am up to.

Better, how you generalize all your boys who are friends, they are all the same at the same level. Then comes a time you lay your eyes on this one guy that sweeps you off your feet *swoon* and you special’ove’ize on him, because you want to be in with him for the long haul. So with my blog, I’m still at the general stage, where I am trying almost everything out. So far, I see myself getting inclined to “Life Lessons”, I love writing out my stories in parables and in a way anyone can relate and learn from them. I just need to figure an interesting way to bring it out, so that I can make you enjoy them as well. You know how we say “customer is king”, y’all super readers are my customers.

“For the love of what you do, what you want to be, where you want to be or who you want to be with, your world somehow comes together at some point to help you specialize in it, that’s what I call special’ove’izing.” ~ Kawi

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Playing Games

Ever noticed how a game is never that serious one until you’re on the winning end and you’re thinking, “Who’s the man now? I got this!”

First let’s start with a short prayer,

“Dear God, thank you for creating gamers or people who think up of games, it’s through their abilities that they make our rather boring moments turn into moments of fun by helping us keep our minds occupied. Amen.”

Games have been there since time in memorial, since the “peek-a-boo, “gabu gabu *insert childish tone here*” days in your early years, when you recognize people and things then giggle and murmur something that no one really understood but it got them happy and all smiles and laughs. I mean it was the only way that could keep us away from thinking that it’s time to cry about nothing in particular. Pretty sure we were all those kids, just like kittens and how a string is enough distraction and fun to keep it going and be happy with the world at that point in time.

Just tying to bring out the importance of games and how they are just part of us. Angry birds, fruit ninja e.t.c (mobile and p.c games), filling in puzzles (mind games), monopoly, chess (board games), x&o’s, start & stop (paper games), poker(card games)? As I go about playing my games, there’s sometimes I find myself just playing just because am looking for way to pass time, give me some adrenaline rush because I am in the lows or just to beat someone at it, set a record or reach some level. There’s so many reasons why you I would be found on one of these.

Like recently I was playing this game, fruit ninja, one of my current favorites and trust me to drag others into it. I have played it over and over since I discovered it, but to be honest, the only reason I play it is solely because it is fun and I always wanted to set a new record. But then what? So with time, while we were rushing to set records and see who’s getting the high scores. We figure, oh well…something I hadn’t quite thought of yet (I guess once I got bored of the game, I was eventually going to think of it). That there must be an aim got this game. Like, what are we playing towards. Of course in the same spirit, we went searching and we came across things that needed to be unlocked and others to be purchased so that you can get better backgrounds and super blades…who would have known? Of course not me, it was with the help of someone else. Someone who thought a game shouldn’t be played aimlessly. I, on the other hand was just thinking I’m slashing through fruits and gaining points.

Now, at least I have an idea what am playing towards as I slash those fruits and gain points. I’m still looking for ways to gain extra cash to buy some armors or new stuff I have unlocked to give me more leverage and opportunity to score more points. The game makes more sense. You can sense the excitement huh.

There are so many things that we take up in our lives and treat them the we play our games. Without an aim or a purpose, you just do it because you want to look cool, pass time or keep busy. We have a reason why we take up various activities or why we do what we do and when we do, but even if you have a reason, do you realize that if you do something aimlessly then there’s nothing you’re really set to achieve in the long run. You just satisfy your short-term desires and then what? It gets boring or unachievable and you want to move on to the next one. It becomes a cycle and that becomes the story. Been there a couple of times, actually more than a couple of times to stress on the emphasis of how much. That there is the purpose of having an aim in whatever it is you do, it stops becoming a cycle and things don’t get boring because now you know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and you have milestones to achieve every time.

Sometimes, you cannot figure it all out on yourself, so someone else helps out. Similar to when you play games with your mates, you don’t have all the fun alone, you share with others. Get to identify new tactics, stunts, new revelations on how to do stuff. Others open you up, they make you think outside the box and help utilize your resources (abilities) in the best ways possible.

Playing games now becomes less of a joke and more of something that’s mind boggling, something you do with an aim, something more fun! You’ll realize this when playing monopoly and you want to invest some houses or hotels on that purple street next to the ‘GO’ but someone else grabs the property or when playing scrabble and your mate is on those triple word scores, or in chess when your opponent pulls a ‘check mate’ on you…lol.

Bottom line, games give life more meaning and less boredom. So we should take advantage of it,  live through it, involve others in our lives where possible and have fun while at it. After all it’s through games that we foster the mindset that allows creativity to grow no? So the next time someone tells you playing games is nothing but a waste of time, you have a supporting document courtesy of me *thank me now*.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

#ihatequotes

You know the quotes we hate are those that clearly outlay our weaknesses to rest of the world. You feel like it’s literally undressing you and you just want to cover yourself up because it’s a tad bit embarrassing. I mean in front of all my mates??? That’s just uncool. So you just read through the quote and pass by it like it didn’t exist. Worse, if you read it and decide to analyse it and it’s there throwing daggers at you, like you, ‘yeah, you ain’t got that or you ain’t doing that right’…cringe!

Do you have any of those? Here is one of mine,

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”

Am not one to show people I need them, although I actually do am human…lol so in most cases, most if not all of my friends don’t also show me that they need me. Am thinking it’s a sort of ‘I do you, you do me’ kind of thing. Every time I see that quote up there, this fact always hits me hard. I don’t go breaking people’s walls, because I don’t know how to insist on things, on people or anything that makes me look like am desperate for attention. If I try once and you put me off, am the kind that goes back to my shell. So in the same spirit, I put up my walls and don’t really expect anyone to break them.

#ihatethisquote because it puts a spotlight on my awkward trait. It also acts as my opener, it makes me think of this other side of me that I mostly avoid.  Like one of those things I haven’t managed to do yet and am still working at doing it. I can bet that’s the reason we hate some quotes. That in as much as they inspire you, you haven’t been able to apply it or you know you’re far away from getting there. You even find yourself asking if the people who share these quotes even do that? guilty as charged. There are so many things I say here, that I don’t do, but I have figured out that they are the key to many other things and I aspire to do them some day if not now. I guess so is the case of the quotists .

Hey, but there’s hope people. I still love me my quotes and hate me some. Just because I hate some quotes, doesn’t mean that I won’t try. After all it’s all about trying, failing then starting all over again. You just never know.

 

Happens to be Thursday, that day if you have forgotten to be thankful and truthful throughout the week, it gives you a chance. Good day good people’s.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*