Happy 2018 folks. I have learnt major lessons in the past year. One of them is avoiding much talk of goals. When you talk about something a lot, rather than writing it down and laying a plan, you jinx yourself. Nah! Truth is, you get comfortable by the affirmations you get and forget to put in the real work.
Last year I had goals that I saw materialize. Top of the list was building my parents a rural home. It might not be the best of homes, but at least we have somewhere to call home. It also has running water. My 2017 new year post on Facebook, is evidence that you just have to step out in faith.
The one resolution that still captures my imagination is personal fitness. My right hand kept on wasting because I rarely use it. Surprisingly, I have gotten so used to it that I don’t see it as a big deal. Someone pointed out that I was getting worse by not attending physio therapy sessions. You see, physio is a long term process that I have been on and off several times. I went back for sessions due to the push from a caring friend. People need friends like these who will not just praise you but spur you to personal improvement. (Though sometimes I didn’t like you much). Thank you friend, you know yourself.
My first ever swimming lesson was in class six, and I did not like the lesson. We would be forced to jump into the pool without any training, swallow as much water as possible, and learn how to swim on your own. So traumatic. So much for public schools that had swimming pools. Ours was among the first ones in Eastlands, Nairobi.
Fast forward in 2010, when I went for my baptism at Nyayo Stadium, a group of paraplegic swimmers offered to train me for free. They wanted me to join the Kenyan paraplegic swimming team. Then I was busy with classes in uni. Again, Nah! If you really want something, you will make tome for it. (Just that way, a chance at greatness passed me by).
I finally had to pay for swimming lessons in 2017 and finished the lessons. I can now say that I know how to swim. Of surprise is that since I started swimming, my weight has been increasing. I was stuck at 55 Kg and below no matter what I ate. Is that a good thing? It’s a good thing because I started developing muscles.
How can I forget my maiden trip to the Coast. We had a staff retreat which was memorable thanks to my swimming skills. Thanks coach Peter, for being patient with me. I couldn’t have done it alone.
I also read more books and had lots of coffee dates by myself. I needed those to recharge. (Introverts will understand this better).
In conclusion, every castle started with a dream. Believe in those dreams enough to chase them. Always have a notebook to jot down your wildest dreams, no matter how stupid they seem. You never know when you will get the chance to implement it. Have a happy writing year.
Habakkuk 2:2 “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run”.