Ngomisto's Blog

Change

ngomisto — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:34:14 +0000

Following last years American race to the white house, everyone by now must be familiar with the word ‘change’ if not the whole phrase’ change has come to America”, coined by the then president-elect of the United States, Barrack Obama. Good. I wasn’t feeling like explaining the word, leave alone the phrase. And this is not about Obama either. I think we have heard enough of the man too. I don’t know what this excerpt is going to turn out to be when am done with it, but I can tell you one thing, this very sentence in which the word excerpt shows up twice, is going to be of some sort of relevance by the time am done.
Every once in a while we all have to make some changes in our lives. If not, we have to accommodate some which are either made for us or happen around us. To be honest with you, I don’t like changes, especially those that I have to accommodate. I like being in my comfort zone, which takes me quite a while to get into. I don’t like trying out new stuff, products or even meeting new people. This is for various and reasonable reasons, none of which have anything to do with me not liking where I find myself after making these changes or trying out these new products. I tried out banana juice when I was just used to apple juice. Now I can’t live without banana juice and I don’t want to give up apple juice either. It’s quite expensive. I tried conscious reggae music when I was just used to banging Tupac on my tape deck, and now I can’t tell what comes before the other. Sometimes I listen to both of them simultaneously just so I can appease both spirits. There was a time when chat rooms were something close to the idea of aliens to me, they didn’t exist. And now, well, now am just trying to detach myself from a leeching behavior that cost me a lot of time not to mention a lot of money and earned me the name’chatmaster’’. Most of you should be addicts too; it’s how I met you if you know what I mean.
As you can see I am not a stranger to changes. Contrary to what I said earlier about me not liking changes, it would appear as if I adore them. Now the above listed changes may seem petty but try finding banana juice in a place which predominantly grows apples. Plus if you find out that banana juice isn’t all that healthy. Or try convincing your apple juice dealer that you have gone bananas. He is bound to go bananas too, though for his case, not by choice. And it’s not fair putting someone out of business. He has family to feed. Petty as they may appear, changes may have long lasting if not lifelong effects on you and the people around you. Still that doesn’t excuse their absence in our lives. Changes are uncomfortable, disturbing, annoying, inevitable and above all quite vital. Changes we make and those made for us.
How often do you meet people you haven’t met in a while and you hear them say’ gosh, you haven’t changed’’? Now, if you are like me back then when I used to loathe change, you greet this with a grin that spreads from one ear to the other. If you, like me back then used to do everything you can to avoid change. Including changing. But if you are like the new me, a person embracing change and movement, then you do feel like placing a well spread slap across their face and tell them to observe closely. Can’t they see that your at least hairline has receded a few millimeters back? Nobody stays the same. Be it emotionally, physically or any other area in your life. Good or bad, chosen or laid upon, carefully calculated or surprisingly there, change is going to show up at your doorstep.
Whatever change you make in your life, whichever area it maybe, one thing is clear, it has to be noticed. Biblically, you don’t light a lamp and place it under a table. No, you let it shine and serve its purpose. If not, your change is futile. And since when talking about change, futility has no place, then we say your change is destructive. But supposing you can’t stand a lot of light when the lamp is lit? What do you do? Do you walk out? Maybe get some shades? Could be. Whatever you do, you’d be dealing with it.

It’s the same with the changes imposed upon us, we have to deal with them and find a way of getting something positive out of them. And you may find yourself walking away from friends or vice versa, you may walk alone for a while, you may cry, fly or go through the valley of the shadow of death, but after all is said and done, its you as the final product that counts. How do you come out? How do you stand out? Are you broken, tattered and worn out? Or are you strong, stable and still standing? The choice is yours. And most of the time when you set out to conquer new heights and rise up to various challenges, you have no idea what the end result is going to be, just like when I started out writing this passage here. What I started out to do, is not quite what it came out to be, at least not exactly. But, I started and now am done.

Living it out

ngomisto — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:13:24 +0000

‘’I read a note saying that when I was born everyone was all smiles while I cried, so I should live my life in such a way that when I die, everyone will be crying while am all smiles. And as my time winds up, I realize how true this happens to be’’. ‘’These are the words of a man who lived long time ago’’, said my grandfather, as he narrated one of his numerous tales. The tale went to report on this mans life and how he always tried to what is right and what is good, despite how hard this would at times prove to be.

Despite a life laced with stints in captivity, separation from family and friends, trials and tribulations of all kind, he turned out to be one of the most respected figures, not only in his hometown, but beyond the boarders as well. Across the seas and the deepest valleys, his name echoed back and fourth. People gathered to discuss his achievements, beliefs, dreams and actions. They spoke his life whenever they had something to say. Truly he was a great man. Not perfect, but great.

He buried many, lost some to wars, diseases and plagues of various types. And of course some fell victim to time. Some just walked away. Yet he never lost heart. He got discouraged alright. At times he even wanted to give up. But he never lost his will. He was tempted to quit, to forget and to compromise just like everyone else around him. He fell down just like we would all do, but he never stayed there. He got right up, dusted himself and moved on. Sometimes it took long, but he always did it, as soon as he could.

Due to captivity, he often got separated from his family and friends. Sometimes for so long that it wasn’t easy relying on their faith. Still he believed in himself and fought for the cause. When he got a chance to exercise revenge, he let his enemies go. Forgave them and charged them to do what is right. Many fell off with the masses reaching out for vengeance. Not him.

‘’It’s not easy existing’’, said my grandfather as he started to wind up. ‘’Life can throw hurdles at you left, right and center, not to mention what would happen when you turn around, which you shouldnt. These barriers will fluctuate your walk, placing your talk under scrutiny. Especially when you start out to do something new. They will doubt, discourage and downplay your efforts to get ahead. They will be like, is he for real? Does he really think he is going to pull it off? Who does he think he is? And this can be discouraging, damaging and pain rendering. But for one who is true to himself, for one who believes in himself and in that which he set out to do, these obstacles should only serve the same purpose as the steps of a ladder that will get you higher, assuming that’s your goal in life. And as time unwinds, it unveils new challenges, new struggles and new goals. And whichever way you tackle your life, live it out, so that just like the old man, you can one day utter these words,’’ And as my times winds up, I realize how true this happens to be’’. Of course with a smile on your face.

Afro-???????????

ngomisto — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:37:09 +0000

The other day while reading an article in an african courier magazine, i came accross the term Afro-Czech, used ofcourse to refer Africans residing in the Czech republic. It got me thinking about what other such terms would be circulating around. We already have Afro-Americans. So what would be next? Afro-English sounded corny and lame to me so i dropped it immediately and moved on. Afro-Swedes sounded quite ok to me, though not so easy on the tongue. How about if you came from Hungary? Afro-Hunger? Afro-Hungry? Not bad if you ask me. I kept on playing with a few titles such as Afro-polish, Afro-Holl, Afro-Belgy, Afro-French and so on. It wasn’t until i asked myself what Africans in Germany would call themselves that i decided to discard the whole Afro idea. We just plains africans. For who wants to be called Afro-Germs?

400 million for ECK?

ngomisto — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:54:21 +0000

Is anyone else angered by the send off package the ECK officials are getting? I mean 400 million of the taxpayers money should be used to send of a band we are better off calling thieves? After mismanaging the last general elections that brought about the termination of over 1000 kenyans lives, the goverment still found it necessary pay them? Don’t we ever learn? Why are we paying them for work not done? Who is paying for the lives lost for their recklessness(even though not entirely responsible for what took place)?
And as if that was’nt enough, they still get distributed to other posts, ECK having being disbanded. This just isn’t fair at all. This is the government most of you voted in. Or is it? We are fond of wasting funds on meaningless issues and then looking out for handsout from countries that manage their funds well. Am i paranoid or is there something wrong right? Let me know what you think.

Hello world!

ngomisto — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:53:00 +0000

Hello World!! The task is at hand, lets do this.