SOURCES OF WISDOM

SOURCES OF WISDOM

So this week I decided to share inspirational quotes. Since I was younger I have loved to collect quotes and share them. My favorite being Christian quotes.

 I even had a special place on the blackboard in school to share quotes, and the teachers did not mind.

No matter how your week has been so far may these quotes inspire you.

For more go to https://www.pinterest.com/miamaracreation/true-inspiration/

THIS IS WHO I AM

THIS IS WHO I AM

So my post this week is very personal

It is also very vulnerable, so I will share stuff that regularly people don’t know about me.

From my childhood I have had people being on my case about being too harsh or too strict or this or that. Whatever they feel they can say to help me “be better” or more “relatable” etc. To this day I can barely take a compliment because most of the time people prefer to point out the negative more than the positive. I don’t know why. I never really believe they are sincere and it’s hard. I can easily side with a negative situation than a positive one in my own life, but when it comes to other people I will see the light in their situation without reasonable doubt.

This has affected me my whole life and still does and often I have withdrawn from people because of this. If they only knew how hard I am on myself in the first place. Or how difficult it is to see the brighter side of things most of the time. I am actually a very introverted person and people think I am extroverted. People who have known me for a while know that I am generally a very private person and I keep to myself a lot. The only difference is that I have extroverted tendencies which is mainly when I want to get out of my head. [I am the weird person who goes to the beach when it’s empty, barely any people around. Not a fan of large crowds.]

I went through a phase where I had no friends especially when I was younger, a lot of acquaintances but really no friends. It hit me hard. I envied those around me who had BFF’s and went for sleep overs. I struggled to figure out what was generally the reason for it. Was I not a lovable person? Was there no one who saw me? Was there anyone who thought I was good enough? Do people really think that when I say things as it is [being blunt] I am out to hurt them?

Eventually I met the Love of my life Jesus Christ and the end of high school. I went to Him and asked Him, Lord, What is wrong with me? What do I need to do? What do I change? , How do I relate with people? The answer I got after ages of waiting was NOTHING. Not that God said nothing, I literally did not get an answer. SO this is what happened instead, God surrounded me with people who loved me and accepted me for who I am. No questions asked. How amazing is that?

Eventually whatever came out as something I needed to work on I worked on it. I learnt my ultimately that the only approval I need is God’s. That’s it. He made me like this so why am I trying to be something else? Who exactly do people want me to be like so they can be happy? Why am I trying to please them in the first place?

 I know generally I come off as tough but I see myself as principled. If I really stand firm on something, that’s it. As long as it doesn’t contradict the Word of God, it is generally difficult to get me to do something contrary. I have lost friendships because of this. I am not saying I am perfect I am just saying that I have very strong convictions. My convictions are what keep me firm in my faith. I finally found the One Who accepted me as I was no questions asked. I am still a working progress, yes, maybe my faults are more visible yes, the only thing is that I accept them probably even easily than I accept strengths.

Do me a favor, if I upset you tell me. If I hurt you tell me. If I am being over bearing tell me and also excuse my big sister tendencies. But also if I have been nice tell me, if I have done something right tell me. Maybe you will help my outlook in life, who knows.

Is it really fair to always point out faults in people? Criticizing them all the time? Even the worst people in the world have some good in them. Like Hitler was a frustrated artist believe it or not.

Anyways, my point is knowing who you are and accepting who you are is generally difficult and not everyone has the patience to deal with you. Eventually even the most patient person gets tired of hearing how bad they are. You should never change who you are for anyone but God. That is because He is the only one who can actually help you.

Hope this has been helpful.

I watched this video by Janette…ikz as she said her vows to her husband to be and I was so amazed at her. How vulnerable they were and very authentic as well. Very beautiful. She sounds like me in many ways. So I have copied the link, have a listen and hope it is inspirational.

Here is the link from a woman who practically echoed me in many ways. Enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBncGFCqEOA

LOVING THE BIRDS EYE VIEW: MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Ok before you all get carried away, no I did not climb a mountain. I am afraid of heights and I don’t like cold so that’s a combination of two elements you will not find me in. Maybe one without the other but no way both at the same time.

Either way a friend of mine did climb a mountain recently, it wasn’t her first climb either. For some reason when she did the first major one which is Mount Kenya we didn’t make a big deal out of it. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because it’s become a thing people do nowadays. But then she climbed Kilimanjaro, I wonder if it’s the pictures she shared but suddenly we are all in awe.

It also be that Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and maybe also that she was literally in the clouds at some point.

I don’t know if it’s her hardest climb but I know it wasn’t easy and I know how hard she worked to get there. I was classmates with this girl and now she talks about hiking boots and climbing gear and thinking of Everest as an ideal destination.

It’s almost like a person I just met recently. It’s amazing how experiences can change us.

 The Bible talks a lot about highs and lows and we never really want to work to get to the highs we just want to get there. It is a tough journey and needs a lot of preparation. And when we finally get there it is worth and all the pain and the toughness disappears as we embrace that moment.

I am still on my journey, not on a literal mountain [sometimes I wonder if I am on the right mountain] but I hope to someday find that joy that even when I do come down from the mountain I come back as a new person.

So I will end today with my first interview from my friend in her own words. Enjoy J

INTERVIEW

1 What can you tell us about yourself? [Who you are, what you do, etc.]

I’m a God lover, people lover (especially vulnerable ones), nature,
fitness and adventure enthusiast, animal (dog) person, books, Africa…,
Naturalista.
I work for the government in a humanitarian way. Hehehe…or Engineer
turned farmer, Agricultural problem solver

2 How did you start climbing mountains/hiking?

By chance as all things…Was invited by a good friend to Mt. Longonot,
it hurt like hell the first time…love at first sight

3 What made you love climbing/hiking?

The ‘being close to God’ feeling, the aloneness with your thoughts in
hiking, the pushing your body to certain unimaginable limits and
realizing you know nothing about it all

4 What have you learnt about yourself since you started this journey?

That though I think I can do it all by myself, I need people I trust
around me, to pull me up and help me down every once in a while.
That I can push my body to certain limits…sometimes it moves sometimes
it pushes back

5 What are the new habits you have adopted since you started?

Keeping a certain level of fitness, eating the right stuff. Frame of mind
Life is too short, need to make it count, sometimes all I think about
is how I can get better at this, and it makes life’s daily hustles to
kind of melt away

6 How have you grown as a person [character/ spiritual /physical etc.]

I don’t judge people as quickly anymore, God’s amazingness and
greatness, that He carries me and takes me through some dangerous
situations and hears me when I call, I can walk for way longer now

7 Would you recommend this experience to others? If so why?

Yes, it’s great for general wellbeing and it would be great to have
more people doing it, however it needs dedication, and the
satisfaction comes in enjoying and respecting the mountain, some may
get disappointed if their goals are different (I want to lose weight
only) and the level of pushing your physical limits can be too much to
some people

8 Who have you encountered since you started that you find inspiring?

Encountered physically, many people, men and women who live for the
mountain and their enthusiasm is up there. Resilient people who keep
walking no matter what
Nonphysical encounters, women mountaineers like Kit Des Lauriers and
Hilaree O’Neill who do this for a living and also have families really
inspire me…if I grow I want to do what they do
The Jimmy Chins and others who are really good at what they do
(Inspire me to put out my best every time I do something)

9 Who else do you hike/climb with and how has it changed your relationship?

I hike with a close friend of mine Clare. Pain brings people together but
hiking allows us to know each other through various situations. We are
definitely closer coz we spend so much time together doing it and know
that we have each other’s backs.


10 If there was one thing you could do if money was not an issue what
would it be?

Train to be a really good mountaineer, ensure that I do a couple of
impressive peaks, open a climbing/ mountaineering school and be on
mountains a lot…

11 What inspirational thing would you share to other African believers?

God has put so much potential within us all we need to do is tap into
it. We need to break out of our comfort zones as scary as it may seem
and find Him in every place or situation He has placed us. In other
words, wake up every morning in awe of His Majesty

12 Favorite moment while at the bottom of a mountain?

Before I start…Can’t wait to see how far my body can go…
After I finish…Wow, I did that…

13 Favorite moment while on top of the mountain?

How small the world seems from here…I don’t believe I made it this
far…I’m alive!

14 Any regrets?

That I didn’t start this earlier

15 Favorite scripture?

For now, John 16:33  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world

THIS IS MY AFRICA

THIS IS MY AFRICA

I DREAMED OF AFRICA

So this week I did something interesting I watched 2 movies based on 2 European women who lived in Kenya. That is OUT OF AFRICA starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford I DREAMED OF AFRICA starring Kim Bassinger and Vincent Perez

OUT OF AFRICA

What these two movies have in common is that for once there is an African country portrayed in some sort of positive light. It shows Kenya as a place of adventure and evokes passion in some way. I understand why there was a great number of tourists visiting Kenya after the release of such movies. They were way more refreshing than some of the other movies released about Africa for sure.

OUT OF AFRICA

OUT OF AFRICA

OUT OF AFRICA

I DREAMED OF AFRICA

I DREAMED OF AFRICA

However for some reason some people think that all there is to Kenya and yet places like where Meryl Streep’s character Karen is now a very upmarket neighbourhood, and the places they’d hunt is full of housing and many other developments.

My point is that there is a fixation sometimes that the only thing good about Africa is wildlife and Safari and the people are generally bad and cannot be trusted. Because when movies are made about people in Africa it’s always about poverty and violence.

OUT OF AFRICA

OUT OF AFRICA

OUT OF AFRICA

When I watched OUT OF AFRICA I finally got to see a piece of Kenyan History I had only read about in school or heard from my parents. It was interesting to see Muthaiga as a gentleman’s club. It was interesting to see that it took hours to get from place to place because the main mode of transport was horses. It was also interesting to see that the Kenyans were minding their own business and sharing the land with foreigners. It was pretty much harmony until World War 1. That is when Great Britain took over Kenya officially. Then all the drama started.

When you are thrown out of your home, and taken to a place that you can barely survive, yes you will definitely not take that lightly.

Anyways, it was a good movie and I did learn a lot about pre-colonial Kenya.

I DREAMED OF AFRICA was more about post-colonial Kenya in the 70’s. There is still some element of Adventure and Safari. I have always wondered what people do in remote areas like Laikipia, but when I saw the movie it clicked.

This movie highlighted a lot of the poaching issues in the area. It’s interesting that in OUT OF AFRICA, there was some level of hunting but it was a sport for the foreigners but when you watch I DREAMED OF AFRICA it has gotten out of hand and mainly the locals are to blame.

What I know about people in Africa is that we are basically in survival mode, especially since our way of life changed from what it was traditionally till now. We got lost in transition. It’s pretty hard to change cultures if it wasn’t originally a part of you. We are judged harshly by the West for a lot of the things they started here themselves.

Not saying all they brought was bad, but a lot of the bad that plagues us is as a result of Colonialism. Our traditional cultures were very stable. Again not all the practices were good but we were very community based.

I would like to see more positive movies about Africa in the future. If I see another civil war movie, I will scream. There is more to Africa than war and famine and corruption. 

I picked the pictures this week that would portray a more positive side of Africa with different sceneries to end my post. This is a celebration of my continent and how we still arise above our challenges to better our lives.