As always when the year comes to an end, it s time to evaluate one’s self…failures, successes, achievements, acquaintances made, those lost and whatnot. Its cliché yes but I know no better timely scope with which to gauge with. Weeks are too short…months appear too frequently and birthdays are far too drunk and unruly for any kind of straight thought. Besides, end of years give us an opportunity to meet up with most of family and whether we say it or not, rejoice in those you’ve surpassed and bitch about those who have surpassed you.
2011 went by pretty fast and was probably one of my most exciting years (after that year I lost my virginity and the one I moved out). It’s been the year with most responsibilities, not quite the most fun but a good amount of it too. I lost and made tones of money. I lost a few and made a new bunch of friends. I partied in Kampala, froze in Karen and glared my eyes out in Tahiti. I had lunch in my balcony, shagged in a bus, got drugged in my living room and puked in someone’s bed in kahawa sukari.
All in all the experiences were wide and vast and cannot all be generally discussed in one or 79 articles. I’ll break them down to the most significant topics, lessons if you will, that have made the most influence in my life in that past year…their order is not necessarily in importance but what comes to mind first.
Responsibility
What I said in the last phrase does not apply to this because I do put responsibility first as matter of importance. This word simplified means being morally accountable for one’s behavior or act. Now, my father passed away this year and I felt absolutely nothing. At least not in regards of him being my father. As a matter of fact the only time I have used the term father in reference to him was in writing (not to him) and when referring to him to a person who didn’t know his name.
The reason I felt nothing is not because I am a feeling-less bastard who does not feel sad when people die (also I am) but its because other than a sperm or two, the guy made no other mentionable contribution to my life. And it’s not him alone, a bunch of fathers or would be fathers are walking around not taking responsibility for their children and pregnancies and its repugnant.
Being responsible can also be taken to mean being the primary cause of something and so be blamed or credited for it. In my humble opinion this is what being a man is all about. In whatever you do whether in business or pleasure, to be able to take blame (because credit is easy to take) is of utmost importance. To take responsibility of a problem and be able to take a problem solving direction with it is the best lesson I have learnt this year.
Friendship
Blood is over-rated…there I said it. Growing up I used to adore my family; cousins especially. I thought they were the coolest people on the planet and perhaps they are but my opinion has since changed. To be honest I now prefer my iPod to most of them. At least my iPod has never snaked on me when I was in trouble, snitched on me when I got away with it, spoken behind my back or let me down when I most needed its help or time.
This year I have come to know the true meaning of friendship from a bunch of guys (mwajijua) that I wouldn’t trade the world for. I read somewhere that true friendship is not so much about the help but the confidence that should you ever need the help it will be there. Now my friends provide it with no questions or conditions. There are guys that have been with me through some hard times this year and we’ve equally had our good times (the good more than quadrupled the bad though). I can only hope that they are able to say the same about me. And to them a toast to the New Year!
Love
There is nothing much to say about this. 2011 has not been the most romantic year for me. I lost a person who has been constant in my life since 2007 and not to death but to life. The last days with her were special and although I doubt it’ll ever be the same again am appreciative of the memories and they’ll stay with me forever.
And not to get me wrong, the year has been full of on and off romances…and although only one was special enough to write home about, I’d like to tell the rest that it wasn’t them it was me…hehehheh.
Now the one that was actually special enough to note had its fair share of obstacles that I do not want to discuss out of the fear of jinxing or over-rating it.
If philandering counts as love then this has been my year. I do not want to say much to this effect because the worst kind of snitching is self snitching and my mom might one day read this but say halo to the “chipo chairman” *all bow*
Money
I love money. I love money very much. I have seen people in restaurants and bars hustle the waitress over ten shillings…now I don’t love money that way. I suppose it’s not money I love but the concept of money. The comfort, confidence and security of having sufficient to meet your needs brings.
I have a very simple life plan and it involves two things basically 1.eat enough to stay alive and 2. Make a lot of money. I have issues with authority and for the last two years or so I have been endlessly working and thinking of ways to avoid employment and so far so good. I have not in my whole life made as much money as I did in 2011 thanks to a certain dear girl called the game court and am sure I’ll surpass this in the coming year.
My 21st
Forgive my vanity but I take my birthdays very seriously. (And if you are reading this someone who knows themselves am actually mad at you not because of what you think but because you forgot my birthday and I know you know this).
I turned 21 this year and am told I can now drink legally anywhere in the world. It was good and I was grateful for the wishes and the gifts. Perhaps the most impact this specific birthday made was that four people (all older than me) told me they look up to me and that I’d inspired them. This was humbling and very encouraging and I hope that I can be able to inspire them more in the future and them me.
Now of course the celebrations were not short of merry making and that weekend in Naivasha was like nothing I have experienced before. To the new friends I made (and who I up to date regret making) you all are great and immensely stupid. Thank you very much Ivy Wagara, Ivy Kibe , Gillian, Muchi, Austoh, Danny and Machete for making my birthday what it was.
In conclusion am all too grateful to all the people and events that made an impression and affected my life both negatively and positively.
A Happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 to all for you out there.
And hey, you only live once so stop and be a bit careless; have a little fun. In the words of Steve Jobs…live hungry, live foolish.
Also I have no new year resolutions…still waiting kuiba za watu.
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