On the trail…

Tags

ESSPIN, Joel OKomoli, VSO, Yola

I learnt of acceptance to a placement in Nigeria around November 2006 and immediately got invited to go through pre-departure preparations and training. This turned out to be the most exciting period of my life owing to the high expectations from family and friends. I had not worked abroad before and this was going to be a significant shift career wise.

When I applied to VSO, I knew it would be like any other job except the prospects of travelling abroad but when I attended the first training christened “Preparing for Change” my expectations rose higher and I realized I will be in for a long haul to prosperity. Changing environment was a definite motivation but also the fact that I loved travelling and working with communities was a plus. I began my journey on the 15th of February 2007 that took me to Abuja through Lagos. The culture shock is something to write about, but the warm reception from all especially the VSO staff was ecstatic.

After a week of ICT of course there was that grand visit to Calabar, one town that I must visit again in my happy life. Four more days of ICT and I hit the trail to Yola, the capital of Adamawa State in the Northeast Region of Nigeria. It is also known as The Land of Beauty. I arrived as an IT specialist cum trainer at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) but I was transformed gradually to a system administrator, data manager and procurement officer. The roles were all linked in a way that was effective and convenient for the delivery of IT services and training. I had a team of fourteen men and women that I still adore today. I learnt so much about working in diverse teams and with people with varied skills. My approach to administrative work and civil service went through 360 degree turn because I realized inter-personal relationships is not what people write on CVs but that very practical application of objectivity, positive attitude and loyalty to a cause. In my years later as a volunteer in Bangladesh and Namibia these attributes enabled me overcome immense obstacles and endure difficult situations with the ease and calmness of a seventy-year old.

The ESSPIN project in Nigeria took root while I was in Yola and part of the activities that fed into its approval and eventual implementation was the annual school census and training of data clerks in three UBE Boards of Kano, Kaduna and Kwara States. Adamawa State participated as a control case. A standard platform is now in place for all states to feed in and draw from in terms performance rating, resource allocation, teacher training and facility improvement. In addition we have 21 model schools (maybe 25 by now) well equipped and the heart of which is a state of the art computer laboratory complete with a mini-server and LAN for sharing amongst the schools in the LGA. This project is managed by the EMIS Unit and is unique to Adamawa State. It is a concept that I pray will be replicated throughout the whole of Nigeria.

I left Nigeria in November 2009 after extending my placement for six months. I am proud of the work that we did in Adamawa State including advocacy meetings for ‘the education of the girl child’ in Maiha, Lamurde and Jada Local Government Areas (LGAs). I know the meetings re-visited the cultural constraints and burden on the girl child, the nomadic/pastoralist way of life, poverty, the issue of dowry and early marriages (educated girls disappear in the towns without fetching any dowry or even honour to their parents). These stories continue to inspire me and I saw a strong image of the African man completely in defense of their culture. I felt very proud to be associated with the community especially in Maiha and to suggest very softly, a blend of their practices with western education in order to improve the quality of life and alleviate poverty.

Today I sit behind my desk at VSO Jitolee with pride and character as a Volunteer and Programme Advisor charged with managing prospective volunteers and in particular those heading to Nigeria, Cameroon, Bangladesh and Vanuatu. My role is both administrative and programmatic as we work in specific goal areas, covering both recruitment and posting of volunteers. My IT and project management skills come in handy in this paperless office but my volunteering experience is like the ice cream sundae dessert after that tasty meal. It is like the tempering needed on professional skills and qualifications. I take every opportunity to learn a bit more and boast about my Nigerian experience. Occasionally I show up at functions with my expensive agbadas (because they are many) but most important to encourage and motivate those planning to volunteer to take that leap in the dark. There will be no regrets and in place of lost opportunity there will be many opportunities to choose from. To build a career takes all manner of risks and volunteering is one of the most worthy risks because the impact on the volunteer will be fulfilling and that impact on the beneficiary (the ones whose lives you touched, the ones you trained and mentored, etc) will be for a lifetime.

Volunteering has taken me to five different countries with unique cultures and warm people. I have many friends around the globe including those who served at the same time with me and we maintain a huge network for professional and personal support. I hope my new job at VSO will be even more refreshing and enriching in terms career growth. I look forward to seeing a world without poverty where every individual belongs and lives in dignity.

Keeping the Faith

The year 2013 started on a high note, in my professional and personal life. Decisions that have been difficult to make in the past came seamlessly through and of course I lay still over New Year’s Day waiting to take up a new appointment. It was a secret known only to my two confidants. It is a year that is promising and I trust the Lord there will be more reasons to rejoice. I have my eyes on a big project which by God’s Special Grace will come to pass and a dozen of other small ones. The most exciting bit is the promise to meet my long standing dream; to complete my house in my rural home and finalize my Masters degree. Those two stand out like sore thumbs in my life and I would be happy to write them off my things-to-do list.

I have come to the realization that God’s time is the best. It is difficult to excel in life but it is possible. It is easy to get discouraged but it can be controlled. It is possible to lose faith but you can reclaim it, nurture it once more and grow in fullness of time to give a testimony that will inspire millions to achieve their own dreams.

Life stops when we stop dreaming. Hope fades when we lose faith. Those are the things dear in this life because they shape our thoughts, define our ambition and paint our future. Plans emanate from the faith we keep and the dreams we dream. Well executed plans bring us to the promised land.. a land of plenty flowing with milk and honey. Translated into our own situations this might imply a happy marriage, a fat bank account, a generous retirement package, a healthy body and mind. My dear brothers and sisters this is my prayer for you all in the New Year 2013.

God bless you!

Waiting in Vain…

Tags

appointment

Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the pool, but no angel came, or came not for him; yet, thinking it to be his only chance, he waited still, and knew not that there was One near him whose word could heal him in a moment. Many are in the same plight: they are waiting for some singular emotion, remarkable impression, or celestial vision; they wait in vain and watch for nought.

As we all wait, for the magic stick, appointment letter, Mr Right, Miss Angel and so on.. lets remember there is One right before our eyes! Be blessed

When the tap runs dry…

Tags

Joel, Kunene, Taps

Life has ways of educating us, nurturing patience and humility in us. You must have at one point or the other experienced the bathroom shower drying up, or the kitchen tap just fizzling out. These times are kind of desperate not necessarily critical but take one close to the cliff. Especially when your bill is paid or guests are coming. Anger wells up and most times we are left saying a swear word or even cursing. This is the kind of stuff life is made of. Unexpectedly, supplies run out, money runs out, time runs out or even opportunity.
I marvel at coincidences sometimes, especially those annoying ones. While driving on the highway the road is clear until it is time to overtake! Then a vehicle suddenly appears from the opposite direction. You are walking to the bus stop and from afar you can see it is full of buses queuing. As soon as you arrive they all disappear in different directions and now you have got to wait. A friend of mine recently said that life is a puzzle, it keeps locking and with some mistakes you keep it clear and moving. A colleague I joined in some far away land used to work so hard and committed to every deadline until he discovered no one else was doing it. They even used to tease him saying “don’t take life so seriously, it will soon expire”.
Planning is a very important thing to do at work and at home. When the unexpected happens it is possible that there is some damage to health, reputation or property but the fact that you were prepared means that reconstruction is faster and easier. You pick up bits and pieces and start again, even if it involves taking a new direction, moving to another town or having to give up something or/for someone. This blog was written in the office of the social worker in Outjo District Hospital. On the wall there is a poster saying “sometimes we have to give up something to make others happy..”. Now that is a big problem. However much we do it, there is always another person who is angered by the same action. So my query then would be, what is the use of emotions in this life? Feelings in animals are non-existent. It’s jungle law, survival for the fittest and every man for his food or food for his enemy. The animal kingdom has not been completely wiped out despite all this so I wonder why as humans we are pre-occupied with preserving lives or emotions for that matter.
I think it is just a disguised misdemeanour, some selfish moves disguised as friendship. You look out there and show me any one person offering help in private or in darkness. It is all public show and kick back situation. I think because we all fear something called disappointment. Nothing will come out of the effort, no reward and no thanks. Animals on the other hand don’t hope for such. They just go on. If a baby cannot fly, they are just pushed over the cliff and they will fly. If the enemy came calling, the older ones first play safe then fight back. Humans are the exact opposite, parents want to do things for their children; women want to understand the minds of their men and everyone wants to know what lies across the river before crossing. Just cross, what is there is there and if it is good we rejoice. If it isn’t then we move on. Simple! Yeah, but it is never that simple.
So let’s take life as it comes. Whenever there is work we do it and finish. Whenever there is money, we don’t finish we save it. Whenever you are through with the tap, turn it off. When you are done with the light, turn it off. Whenever you have a chance, give up your seat for the elderly. Say hello to the man in the bus, he could be planning evil and a single word will distract him. In the event that the tap runs dry, don’t worry. It will be ok. When the monies run out, don’t panic keep your mind open and opportunity will arise to make more. When the music stops, relax breathe in and start going home. (Dedicated to volunteers in the Kunene Region)

The Heart of A Teacher

An excerpt from Heart of a Teacher by Paula Fox

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary’s School in Morris, Minnesota. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, he had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving. “Thank you for correcting me, Sister!” I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day. One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher’s mistake. I looked at Mark and said, “If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!” It wasn’t ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, “Mark is talking again.” I hadn’t asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark’s desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark’s desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, “Thank you for correcting me, Sister.” At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it, Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the “new math,” he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn’t feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, “Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend.” That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday, I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. “Really?” I heard whispered. “I never knew that meant anything to anyone!” “I didn’t know others liked me so much.” No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again. That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip, the weather, my experiences in general. There was a lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply said, “Dad?” My father cleared his throat as he usually did before saying something important. “The Eklunds called last night,” he began. “Really?” I said. “I haven’t heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is.” Dad responded quietly. “Mark was killed in Vietnam,” he said. “The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend.” To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark. I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, “Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me.” The church was packed with Mark’s friends. Chuck’s sister sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. “Were you Mark’s math teacher?” he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. “Mark talked about you a lot,” he said. After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates headed to Chuck’s farmhouse for lunch. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. “We want to show you something,” his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.” Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.” Mark’s classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. I keep it in the top drawer of my desk at home.” Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.” “I have mine too,” Marilyn said. “It’s in my diary.” Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry this with me at all times,” Vicki said without batting an eyelash. “I think we all saved our lists.” That’s when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don’t know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

To read more or subscribe you can send an email to Simpletruths@newsletter.simpletruths.com

Break the Glass Ceiling

An expedition into Kaoko Land

As you may have already heard, I am a volunteer again! I am very serious in this business of volunteering because like a birthday present, it is a surprise package. No amount of preparation will ever enable you to know everything. There will always be a surprise often pleasant but other times catastrophic. Before leaving home, I did the usual thing which is to pack two large bags and stuff in everything I might or might not need.  Set with approximately thirty kilograms of luggage I left for Nairobi to collect my ticket and disappear for another nine months eternity. Then the inevitable happened. My visa delayed! Those who have experienced this situation must be laughing through this blog but it wasn’t funny at all. For me it was a mental torture. I needed a mask on my face to cover all the anxiety and sometimes anger when the all familiar questions popped up. Like “When are you leaving…. When is your flight… when will you come back.. aargh I am not gone yet” would be the fierce response. Good for me I also managed to cut down my luggage significantly to less than 19 kgs.

But that is history now and I am almost enjoying myself in the famous Kaoko land. I said almost because I am still clearing some ground for full enjoyment. I am doing very poorly with the local language because a lot of people here speak very good English but I haven’t given up yet. I still hope to equip myself with that very important tool of human relations. I first set foot here on the 3^rd of October 2011 way after six pm after a journey that lasted close to eight hours. Neat roads running through wildlife conservancies, national parks and private ranches is what I noticed. Well planned towns and significantly low population inhabiting them can be seen as you plunge further north.

Opuwo is one of the main towns in the Kunene region of Namibia. It is close to the border with Angola and is largely dry(see photo). It is home to the Himba community, the Herero and a host of others I am yet to know how to pronounce. The communities live very far apart and are nomadic pastoralists. Culture is profound and dress code is zero, I mean near zero. I don’t know how you feel when you sit by the pool side and watch people trying to bare as much skin as possible to the sun. Is it fun? Well in Kaoko land we have little time for designer costumes and the colour effect. Like I said the dress is minimum and any part covered is on a need-to-cover basis. Everything else is left bare. The colour is brown and this is red ochre that is rubbed on the skin to make it healthy and shiny. Trust me, the sight is super-fantasy. I want to live like that, and all the time I wish I was born here. Its wild, its hot and its good. I am now contemplating dropping my Chakma name, the one I was given in Bangladesh but since my girlfriend is still Chakma, I will wait until we get married or she gives me the sack.

You see, I also have to find myself a Himba girlfriend, I don’t think I will go for Herero because they put on horns, which is a bad omen in my community. The problem is I can’t speak any of the languages yet so I will continue to occupy myself with the work at the Regional health directorate with hope that things will soon work out. One of the main tasks is maintenance of IT equipment and the other is training. This is the kind of work that fulfils me and makes me a good person because I offer service. When I am in the village back in Kenya I am a bad guy because I serve very few people instead I have everybody entertaining or serving me. So I want serve enough people here before I return to my home. Hopefully all the computers will be in good working condition and probably there will be somebody well trained to take care of things when I am gone. This does not include my girlfriend, of course, if I do get one, because I will bring her home with me. Watch this space….     

Knowledge box_Comment if you want.

Fact or Fiction: You will not be able to experience life in Namibia any more as a VSO Volunteer, the door has closed.

Coincidence: The two last volunteers to arrive in Namibia within the auspices of VSO are both male, and both have ‘Joel’ as their first names.

When the going gets tough…

Tags

Kunene

A common adage says “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. It seems the good colonel of Libya the late Muamar Gadafi (His soul RIP) missed the lesson, or probably was trying to be the smart one out. The world over there is a wind of change, a strong one in the Arab world and it was unnecessary to put up such resistance. I know we hold different world views about life but one thing that is clear or even obvious is the fact that if we can’t be part of change, then change will definitely trample us underfoot.
The environment we live in defines the circumstances we face. Most often we choose to be students of our environment or the masters. In a situation where we are the ultimate victors it is easy to develop arrogance and disregard of popular opinion. In my view however, this is a luxury we cannot afford as leaders. As seen in the past, heroes have turned villains and hunters have turned into the hunted. Leaders must continuously asses and evaluate their contribution in the people process. This process demands progression and service, when the reverse happens then there is revolt. It is naive to imagine that we are the best or will always be. In saying this, in fact, I am alluding to an earlier blog in which I discussed would-be leaders and important traits inherent in them. I like to think there is always someone better than us, socially, economically, physically, academically or even politically as the case may be. The onus is on the individual to identify any such persons and learn from them, be with them or hand over to them. Some wise man once said, the best way to live life is to re-invent ourselves each single day! Give up what we don’t need, make others happy, take time off and experience change.
Potential
A leader must identify potential within them and potential in others. This includes the potential in the opponent or business rival. By so doing, we build acceptance and develop strategies to counter such energy. In fact, if done well it is possible to use it to our advantage. Like a wheel that is turning, what goes around comes around and it is smart to anticipate and plan accordingly. The underlying factors for such current are often obvious to everyone except the principals in the mix, those subjects. Many politicians, for instance, surround themselves with informers and supporters who gradually become sycophants effectively locking out reason and fairness. It is little wonder some very smart personalities have joined politics and become some of the worst rulers. With abundance of academic prowess and genuine intellect, they invest in tyranny, corruption and mudslinging to disguise their egoistic failures and muzzle independent opinion.
Volunteers
I think leaders must remain true to their identities. Recognize change and embrace it. They should renew their subscription daily to reason and fairness in all undertakings since by virtue of their positions they are constantly under scrutiny. Once a leader begins to pursue a narrow insensitive agenda, they begin their descent from the throne. As a VSO volunteer, I always feel close to the community I live in. Sometimes even closer than program office or government officials. I feel volunteers are leaders in their own right. While they may not yield political power, social power and high esteem confronts us everywhere and all the time. Most often, you will have a place to sit even in big meetings, you will have a slot to make a presentation or deliver a speech. I feel change is fast gripping the volunteering world and choices that existed previously are gradually disappearing. As a matter of fact, volunteering will soon be mandatory for certain careers as you already know. Volunteering enhances the learning process and like in all other processes occasionally we encounter failure or difficulties. Such drawbacks must not only be over looked but should be used as stepping stones towards a successful career. This blog is dedicated to all the volunteers out there who continue to change lives, standing with marginalized and disadvantaged communities. Every end of the day I think of the many volunteers that confront serious challenges far from home as if it is the only option in life, confronting segregation, withstanding extreme temperatures, daring to advocate for the voiceless and the alienated. I know that change begins with volunteering and that, change works its way to our environment but most importantly into us. We are that change.
Written from Opuwo, Kunene Region of Namibia.

Viva Joel… viva Khagrachhari

In K-Town I discovered peace, hope, love, commitment, simple living and spirituality in the most natural form. Welcome to Khagrachhari and the CHT in general! You tire so much on the bus ride but you can’t afford to sleep because the ascent up the hills is dramatic and sometimes scary. The driver and his assistant will keep you awake one on the honk and the other yelling some incorrigibles. But as the journey progresses you understand their communication which is related to oncoming traffic.

 

After 6-7 hours the town finally springs to view on a sudden valley that is surrounded by hills upon hills. Green paddy fields, bamboo and coconut jungle vegetation smoothens your view before you encounter a town bustling with activity, a people so friendly, so alike that you will need days to begin to identify the faces. This is where I spent six months as an IT volunteer at ALO one of the re-known NGOs in the area working with jhum farmers and vulnerable groups. They implement projects in Sustainable agriculture, education, water and sanitation. It is an organization that sheltered me, tempered my anger and nurtured my desire to remain in development work.

 

One of my biggest challenges working as a volunteer in Bangladesh is the extreme weather and inadequate power supply. Work is well planned but implementation is very poor and costs rise as a result of postponement. Lack of power encourages enterprises to relocate to the bigger towns making the rural – urban migration worse. Labour becomes expensive and commodity prices keep rising. Meanwhile, far-flung towns are underserved. Security and restriction of movement for foreigners has been another concern but things are fast changing and in the next five years, Bangladesh will never be the same. Democratic space is opening up and the people have a voice.

 

My high moment in Bangladesh was the annual conference 2011. VSO staff and volunteers converged in Bandarban for two days of experience sharing, programme reviews and the launch of the new logo, unveiled in royal blue. The staff broke ranks and sat around tables to share meals and opinion. Theatre was high and the crowning moment was a cultural night on the hill top. Troupes from various communities entertained guests with song and dance. I made a promise to return and try the bamboo dance, soon.

 

My only regret about development work here is that wonderful short term projects with direct impact to the community are sacrificed on the altar of sustainability. Projects that need not be carried out except for their immediate impact are promptly trashed denying the youth, especially, an opportunity to partner and explore other avenues of social transformation. It is my hope that the ICS programme will raise the antennae on model villages, enhance service to the elderly and promote social inclusion.

 

God bless Bangladesh. God bless us all.

12 Rules I Live By

1. I go to bed and get up at the same time 7 days per week (9pm and 5am.) I do not deviate from this schedule unless it is due to an important work or social function.  I stick to a diet of whole, natural foods, avoid caffeine after 1pm, and avoid alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime.
2. I write for at least 60 minutes first thing every morning.
3. I do not check email before 9am.
4. I do not talk on the phone unless it is a schedule interview or conference call.
5. I create a to-do list at the end of every workday and I follow that to-do list starting first thing the next morning. I also perform my daily readings at the end of every workday, and I write in a gratitude journal.

   I am thankful everyday for identifying my mission and what I wanted to do with my life at such a young age.

6. I do not engage in confrontations with anyone, in-person or online. This is a waste of time and energy.

   If I have caused harm, I apologize and fix the situation.

   However, if someone simply doesn’t like something I have done or something that I do or disagrees with me, that is fine, but I’m not going to get into an argument about it.

   For any confrontation-like situation, I simply take a deep breath, relax, breathe out, and re-focus my efforts back on my work and goals.

7. I am guided by these two phrases:

   a) “Nothing matters.” – By this, I mean that arguing on the internet changes nothing…I can only work towards the major, massive goals that I have set for my life…that I have a vision of helping others, and there is no time to let petty arguments stand in the way.

   b) “It will all be over soon.” – This servers me in both good times and in bad.

   In hard times, such as bad days, troubled times, or intense physical effort or discomfort, I know that it will all be over soon. A small amount of suffering now will be forgotten later when I will enjoy the rewards of my work.

   And in good times, I will remember that life is short, and I must make things count now, and no matter how good things are going I must never let myself become soft and lazy, because I have too much to accomplish in such a short time.

8. Everything that happens to me – good and bad – is my personal responsibility. I blame no one but myself. These are the choices I’ve made – this is the life I’m living.

   I will accept the consequences of my actions.

9. I will not stop until I have helped 1 Million men and women transform their lives – physically, financially, or emotionally.
10. I will not be the person I don’t want to be. I will not be petty, jealous, or envious, or give in to any other of those lazy emotions.

    I will not gossip or speak badly of others, no matter who I am with or what environment I am in. I will not be negative when it is easier to be positive. I will not hurt others when it is possible to help.

    I will know the temptations, situations and environments in life that I must avoid, and I will, in fact, avoid them, even if it means loosening relationships with others who “live” in those environments. It’s my life and that matters more than what other people think of me.

11. “I will always keep the child within me alive.” – Frank McKinney.

    I will laugh everyday. That’s not hard when you have the friends.

12. “I will write with honesty and feeling.” – Ted Nicholas.

I’ve long since giving up caring about how others choose to judge me. What matters more than other’s opinions is the number of people that I can help.

I know that every week you make decisions that leave you full of guilt and remorse, but on the other hand you also make decisions that you know are correct – even though they are difficult to make.

As a result of making more correct decisions, you’ll move closer to your goals and suffer less frustration. Life will be simpler once you start adhering to your own personal philosophies – and not worrying about what others think.

With honesty and feeling,

Craig Ballantyne
Editor
Early to Rise (www.earlytorise.com)

This I try over and over and as you can see… life ain’t a slow progress!

A second chance

The first time you set out to accomplish a task, there is an unusual surge of energy, talent or interest which quickly fades or multiplies depending on whether your goals are met or not. It is the time to look your best or to be your best. Most often this has had profound impact on the impression we make.. no wonder phrases like “Love at first sight”, “It was the best of all”, “It will never be the same” or “first and last” came into existence.

Visiting a place first time comes with such satisfaction, enthusiasm and adventure. We identify with nature, blend with the environment and beg to stay a little longer. It is funny then one must be prepared when living home for long periods of time. You need time to decide how much garbage to carry or which of the garbage! You go through tones of personal effects, music and other accessories to make up your mind. Thank God in this palmtop age, only your computer would do.

A friend once said, ‘Life is like the Arabic Language’ it can only be written backwards and understood from the end to the beginning. It is therefore indicative when you meet an old acquaintance that you tend to discuss what happened last before moving on to older stuff. If it’s a new friend, you won’t discover the important stuff until so much later. Stand up comedians make us laugh with their satire because they take this a step further, they take the current events into the future with creative variation.

Grandma.. you can walk

All said and done, life is still kind to us. It always gives us a second chance, a chance to smile again, to go again, to fail again and to start all over again. These are the thoughts roving my mind when I attended a friend’s wedding. I was curious about her inspiration, the hope they had in each other that they had decided to commit. And make it all known. Society here has a way of reinforcing its laws, other people call it conservative but the outcome or motives justify the action.

Talukder Daughter

It’s gonna be a tough week but I already prayed to God that all my friends will have it bearable. More so if you are reading this. God bless you and give you the strength to rise each time with smile and the determination to forge ahead, to be a good person and to bless others. Take care.