My dear friends today I thought we take sometime to look at work environments and how they can affect our performance. When I say work environment, this includes those studying in different institutions, those working in different offices and departments and every kind of environment you find yourself in where you have to interact with people.
I have titled today’s discussion “Forces of Gravity at Work” what I mean is working in an environment where colleagues are pulling you down. How do I mean pulling you down, I mean working with people who are happy to see your downfall and not your success. People who try their best to block you in whatever you do, those who do their best to hide information from you because they want to be the best, this is the kind of environment that I am talking about.
After having attended a workshop involving African women scientists in Sweden and Europe and hearing their stories about their journey to success I could not help it but write this article. It was sad and at the same interesting to see how far these women have come with their struggle to fit in a society where they stand out as “different”. A society which had judged them by their background (where they come from) and not qualification, how did these women manage to stand out and fight this “force of gravity”?
Hearing their stories, one would see that most of these women while trying to integrate in the societies where they find themselves in; they have not forgotten where they come from (home countries). Most of these women are doing projects which are supporting and benefiting their societies at home and also working in the countries where they currently find themselves to the benefit of these countries.
It's not only women who are facing these kind of challenges, there are also a lot of men who have found themselves in such kind of environments where coworkers be it in research, or in industry are pulling them down. It happens sometimes that even bosses are the ones who pull down their own subordinates trying to block them from developing a better career.
My dear friends my discussion here is that you should never be discouraged by those people who are trying to pull you down. One thing you have to know is that each one of us has potential to thrive and achieve the best. Work hard where ever you are no matter what people around you are saying or think, no matter how much they try to pull you down, keep your head above the water. You have potential and you can achieve the best.
I wish you all the best as you ponder on this discussion and know that you can get your dreams and be the best.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Thanks for your comment Dee Dee, it sheds more light to what true friendship is all about.
Today I had some other thoughts which I thought we could share, this thought is also a result of my day to day observations.
Walking around the streets in the city where I find myself in currently, I cant help to notice some people very humbly dressed, with a face reflecting their line of thoughts "NO HOPE". They move around with all they have, they dont have a home, they dont have savings, all they have they carry it with them. To them they take life "a day at a time".
At the same time I cant help to notice those people who have their life going well, everything almost in place, they have a job, a steady income at the end of the month, a home and you can add on to the list. The interesting thing with this group of people is that they live life in plans of "in five years time I will....." or "in ten years time..."
I thought we centre our discussion on the question, which of the two categories of people really live by hope?
It is funny to note that the people who reflect the line "NO HOPE" are the ones who really live by hope, they hope to see the next day, they hope to find food for the day, they hope to meet someone who will smile at them and brighten their day. Even though it seems like all hope is lost in their lives, they still live hoping for a better day.
On the other hand the group which seems to have it all worked out, mostly live with lots of uncertainity. Their lives are filled with the question "what if...." In this case there is nothing like hope all there is is I have to work hard so that the "what if.." I just thought about should not happen.
Life is very interesting these are just two extremes of people but all in all, how do we take life ourselves? I believe no matter what ones status is, we ought to be grateful and thankful for each new day. There are so many things that can happen not even in a day but in a split second which can turn our lives upside down.
I urge you my friends instead of spending time complaining about what we dont have, let us look back at what we have and be thankful for it.
It is always "ONE DAY AT A TIME". We may have five year, 10 year even a 100years plan, but it all takes a day at a time to be accomplished.
I hope to hear your views on life as pertaining to the things discussed above.
All the best.Until next time, remember life is always one day at a time, it can never go any faster or slower!
Today I had some other thoughts which I thought we could share, this thought is also a result of my day to day observations.
Walking around the streets in the city where I find myself in currently, I cant help to notice some people very humbly dressed, with a face reflecting their line of thoughts "NO HOPE". They move around with all they have, they dont have a home, they dont have savings, all they have they carry it with them. To them they take life "a day at a time".
At the same time I cant help to notice those people who have their life going well, everything almost in place, they have a job, a steady income at the end of the month, a home and you can add on to the list. The interesting thing with this group of people is that they live life in plans of "in five years time I will....." or "in ten years time..."
I thought we centre our discussion on the question, which of the two categories of people really live by hope?
It is funny to note that the people who reflect the line "NO HOPE" are the ones who really live by hope, they hope to see the next day, they hope to find food for the day, they hope to meet someone who will smile at them and brighten their day. Even though it seems like all hope is lost in their lives, they still live hoping for a better day.
On the other hand the group which seems to have it all worked out, mostly live with lots of uncertainity. Their lives are filled with the question "what if...." In this case there is nothing like hope all there is is I have to work hard so that the "what if.." I just thought about should not happen.
Life is very interesting these are just two extremes of people but all in all, how do we take life ourselves? I believe no matter what ones status is, we ought to be grateful and thankful for each new day. There are so many things that can happen not even in a day but in a split second which can turn our lives upside down.
I urge you my friends instead of spending time complaining about what we dont have, let us look back at what we have and be thankful for it.
It is always "ONE DAY AT A TIME". We may have five year, 10 year even a 100years plan, but it all takes a day at a time to be accomplished.
I hope to hear your views on life as pertaining to the things discussed above.
All the best.Until next time, remember life is always one day at a time, it can never go any faster or slower!
Sunday, 14 September 2008
The Reason Why!
For the past weeks I have been thinking a lot about the reason why certain things are the way they are. I have been walking in different streets and meeting different people from all walks of life. Some people looked happy, others well dressed and others looked sad and blown down by the winds of life.
This made me ponder a bit on what is the meaning of life and why some people seem to have it good and others not, why others seem to be always on the down side of life while others are soaring high and happy.
These thoughts also led me to think about friendships. I was asking the question who is my friend, how much can I invest in a friendship, and how much can I trust my friend?
Thinking about these questions, I have seen that there are so many unanswered questions in life which everyone tries to address in their own different way that seems right and appropriate. Solutions to these qustions may be good for a certain group of people and not for others.
This led me into thinking of the saying “life is not fair”, is life indeed not fair? Is there something we can do to make it fair?
Are friends really forever, or they are only for a certain period? How can one know who is a true friend? Can one ever have a true friend? Is there anything as a true friend?
I believe there are many different answers that can be given to the different questions I have posed here.
Which ever the case, I think it is possible to have a true friend as long as one is willing to invest in the friendship.
As for the question “is life fair”? Well there are a lot of challenges in our world and in the human mind and eye; it is difficult t say that life is fair.
I would love to hear your views on this topic.
Until next time stay blessed and as you think about yourselves, think about others as well.
This made me ponder a bit on what is the meaning of life and why some people seem to have it good and others not, why others seem to be always on the down side of life while others are soaring high and happy.
These thoughts also led me to think about friendships. I was asking the question who is my friend, how much can I invest in a friendship, and how much can I trust my friend?
Thinking about these questions, I have seen that there are so many unanswered questions in life which everyone tries to address in their own different way that seems right and appropriate. Solutions to these qustions may be good for a certain group of people and not for others.
This led me into thinking of the saying “life is not fair”, is life indeed not fair? Is there something we can do to make it fair?
Are friends really forever, or they are only for a certain period? How can one know who is a true friend? Can one ever have a true friend? Is there anything as a true friend?
I believe there are many different answers that can be given to the different questions I have posed here.
Which ever the case, I think it is possible to have a true friend as long as one is willing to invest in the friendship.
As for the question “is life fair”? Well there are a lot of challenges in our world and in the human mind and eye; it is difficult t say that life is fair.
I would love to hear your views on this topic.
Until next time stay blessed and as you think about yourselves, think about others as well.
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
OUR FATHER
Every child’s behaviour most of the times reflects their background. Each and every caring family, teach their children while young principles pertaining to life. If this child is understanding and obedient, the child will take up whatever the parents have taught him or her and utilise them in their day to day life.
Whether it is good or bad, a child will also take on the behaviour of the parents. Let’s say if the child’s parents are drunkards, or are constantly fighting in the house, the child will see nothing wrong in drinking or fighting, because that is what his parents do. In the same way, if the parents are well behaved, the child will also grow up into a well behaved chap unless he or she decides on their own to go astray.
So is our relationship with our Heavenly father. God wants us to take up all what He has done and keeps on doing everyday as life lessons that will carry us through in life. He is our model just as parents are to their children.
Let us look back to where we belong, if we are children of God are we following what He has taught us or we are on the disobedient side. Jesus Christ set an Example for us in his life here on earth. He is the first born of all creation let us follow His footsteps. God wants us to grow in His likeness for in His likeness He created us
Stay Blessed
Whether it is good or bad, a child will also take on the behaviour of the parents. Let’s say if the child’s parents are drunkards, or are constantly fighting in the house, the child will see nothing wrong in drinking or fighting, because that is what his parents do. In the same way, if the parents are well behaved, the child will also grow up into a well behaved chap unless he or she decides on their own to go astray.
So is our relationship with our Heavenly father. God wants us to take up all what He has done and keeps on doing everyday as life lessons that will carry us through in life. He is our model just as parents are to their children.
Let us look back to where we belong, if we are children of God are we following what He has taught us or we are on the disobedient side. Jesus Christ set an Example for us in his life here on earth. He is the first born of all creation let us follow His footsteps. God wants us to grow in His likeness for in His likeness He created us
Stay Blessed
Friday, 8 August 2008
LESSONS IN LIFE
Hello friends, this week I have had some interesting encounters which have taught me a few life lessons which I thought I share with you.
I will share them to you in the form of a story so you can follow exactly what happened.
Two days ago as I was on my way to work, I got on a bus and the bus driver leaned to talk to me as I was just getting on the bus. Mind you the society where I find myself living here, is one where rarely people talk to each other be it on a bus stop, in the bus, in the cafe or anywhere. It's a society where everyone minds their own business and are never bothered about the person next to them or next door. So with this mentality, the gesture of the bus driver talking to me made me think, "has my ticket expired?" or "what is he up to?". Whilst I was still trying to sort the questions in my mind, the driver asked me a question which took me offguard. He said to me "have you used this bus route before?" I answered "yes I have", then he continued " could you please direct me which way I have to go from here because I am confused and the map I have is old." I thought for a second, he must be joking, then I answered him and explained to him how he has to drive to get to the last stop which was also my stop. I noticed as he continued driving that he was telling the truth he did not know where he was going and all he was doing was trusting the directions I gave him that he, will take me and the rest of the passengers in the bus to our right destination.
This story taught me one big lesson "Never assume". Honestly I had all reason to assume that a bus driver knows it all when it comes to directions. Here he is driving the bus all around the city why should he ask me for directions. I realised how much I may have hurt or not been of help to so many people because I assumed they knew what they were doing or where they were going.
Friends it is very easy for us to fall into the "assumption trap", let us be cautious of ourselves that we do not miss an opportunity to help someone or let someone end up in trouble because we assumed they knew.
Another interesting twist to the story was that the bus driver trusted me when I told him which direction he should drive. Trust is an important virtue in life, if we have to survive in this world we have to trust atleast in a few people otherwise nothing will work. No man is an island, we all need someone to stand by us or walk along with us whichever direction we are taking in life. Sometimes even if the future seems bleak let us trust as the bus driver did.
Another lesson I got from this story is humility. Can you imagine how humbling it must have been for the bus driver to ask for directions from a passenger? I am sure he should have been thinking about it for a long time and he was prepared for whatever reaction he was going to get from the person he was going to ask for the directions. But he did it anyway.
Sometimes life demands that we humble ourselves in order to get to what we need or what we want to achieve. Can you imagine if this bus driver did not humble himself to ask?
I wish you a great a nd blessed weekend as you ponder on this story.
Until next time, God Bless
I will share them to you in the form of a story so you can follow exactly what happened.
Two days ago as I was on my way to work, I got on a bus and the bus driver leaned to talk to me as I was just getting on the bus. Mind you the society where I find myself living here, is one where rarely people talk to each other be it on a bus stop, in the bus, in the cafe or anywhere. It's a society where everyone minds their own business and are never bothered about the person next to them or next door. So with this mentality, the gesture of the bus driver talking to me made me think, "has my ticket expired?" or "what is he up to?". Whilst I was still trying to sort the questions in my mind, the driver asked me a question which took me offguard. He said to me "have you used this bus route before?" I answered "yes I have", then he continued " could you please direct me which way I have to go from here because I am confused and the map I have is old." I thought for a second, he must be joking, then I answered him and explained to him how he has to drive to get to the last stop which was also my stop. I noticed as he continued driving that he was telling the truth he did not know where he was going and all he was doing was trusting the directions I gave him that he, will take me and the rest of the passengers in the bus to our right destination.
This story taught me one big lesson "Never assume". Honestly I had all reason to assume that a bus driver knows it all when it comes to directions. Here he is driving the bus all around the city why should he ask me for directions. I realised how much I may have hurt or not been of help to so many people because I assumed they knew what they were doing or where they were going.
Friends it is very easy for us to fall into the "assumption trap", let us be cautious of ourselves that we do not miss an opportunity to help someone or let someone end up in trouble because we assumed they knew.
Another interesting twist to the story was that the bus driver trusted me when I told him which direction he should drive. Trust is an important virtue in life, if we have to survive in this world we have to trust atleast in a few people otherwise nothing will work. No man is an island, we all need someone to stand by us or walk along with us whichever direction we are taking in life. Sometimes even if the future seems bleak let us trust as the bus driver did.
Another lesson I got from this story is humility. Can you imagine how humbling it must have been for the bus driver to ask for directions from a passenger? I am sure he should have been thinking about it for a long time and he was prepared for whatever reaction he was going to get from the person he was going to ask for the directions. But he did it anyway.
Sometimes life demands that we humble ourselves in order to get to what we need or what we want to achieve. Can you imagine if this bus driver did not humble himself to ask?
I wish you a great a nd blessed weekend as you ponder on this story.
Until next time, God Bless
Thursday, 17 July 2008
PROVERBS!
HAHAHAAHA lero tiyendera tiphunzitsane mikuluwiko...
OOps! I started writing in Chichewa, that is just because I am so excited to share some proverbs that one of my friends sent me.
As you know it is a long running tradition in Africa and other countries in Asia that people/adults use proverbs to teach some of life's big or great lessons as well as pump wisdom into the younger generation. Proverbs have also been used as forms of expression where the person who is being told should figure out on their own what message is being relayed to them.
So here are some of the proverbs from Africa that made me laugh this week.
I hope you will enjoy reading them and trying to figure out what they mean.
The country where each proverb originates has been indicated at the end of each proverb.
When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all
beehives" - ( Kenya ).
"The man who marries a beautiful woman, and the farmer who grows corn by the roadside have the same problem" - Ethiopia .
"A short man is not a boy" – Nigeria
"No matter how hot your anger is, it cannot cook yam" - Nigeria .
"An old lady feels uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb" - Ghana.
"The same sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay" - Niger.
"If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there" - Uganda
"There's no virgin in a maternity ward" - Cameroon.
I hope you enjoyed reading the proverbs as much as I did.
Until next time ....Dzimvere mu mtolo!
OOps! I started writing in Chichewa, that is just because I am so excited to share some proverbs that one of my friends sent me.
As you know it is a long running tradition in Africa and other countries in Asia that people/adults use proverbs to teach some of life's big or great lessons as well as pump wisdom into the younger generation. Proverbs have also been used as forms of expression where the person who is being told should figure out on their own what message is being relayed to them.
So here are some of the proverbs from Africa that made me laugh this week.
I hope you will enjoy reading them and trying to figure out what they mean.
The country where each proverb originates has been indicated at the end of each proverb.
When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all
beehives" - ( Kenya ).
"The man who marries a beautiful woman, and the farmer who grows corn by the roadside have the same problem" - Ethiopia .
"A short man is not a boy" – Nigeria
"No matter how hot your anger is, it cannot cook yam" - Nigeria .
"An old lady feels uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb" - Ghana.
"The same sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay" - Niger.
"If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there" - Uganda
"There's no virgin in a maternity ward" - Cameroon.
I hope you enjoyed reading the proverbs as much as I did.
Until next time ....Dzimvere mu mtolo!
Thursday, 10 July 2008
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Hello friends, today I was listening to the very first recording of the songs from our first album which me and my sister Carol recorded at Transworld radio it gave me fond memories that I thought I could share with you.
The project to record the album "Ablaze Kuyaka" started in a very simple manner where my parents first encouraged us that if we want to record our music they would willingly support us.
To get the ball rolling I spoke with Peter K, he was working for Scripture Union, in Area14 , in Lilongwe by that time. He was also leading the "scripture union band" ( I dont remember if the band had another name) and together we rehearsed and recorded the first 10 track album "ABLAZE KUYAKA".
I write today to say THANK YOU, to all the guys who were there to support me and my sister Carol when we recorded this album. Peter K, you were so instrumental in putting up the whole band and sparing your time to help us record the album. Believe you me by then I had no clue of what goes on during the recording and everything that follows but Peter K took us through. I would like also to thank all the members of the Scripture union band at that time (1999), who tirelessly worked with us and even survived the overnight recording at Transworld radio studio in Lilongwe. Dingi J, I appreciate your time and the beautiful tenor that you put in the songs. My sister Carol, you were the best soprano you sang through all the songs tirelessly. And to the one who was doing the recording at Transworld radio (sorry I forgot your name), thanks a million, this was the beginning of a life long commitment to serve God through music and you played a big part.
Many thanks to my parents for the encouragement to me and Carol and providing transport and food to the rest of the band during the recording and shouldering all the expenses during the recording of the album.
Above all thanks to God almighty for all he has done and taking me where I am today with my music career.
Some people may be wondering why I am sharing this, I am writing this because it is important to remember those who have helped you to be where you are today, and also to appreciate how far you have come from.
To be where you are today, remember there is a place and time WHERE IT ALL STARTED! Dont forget where it all started!
Many blessings
The project to record the album "Ablaze Kuyaka" started in a very simple manner where my parents first encouraged us that if we want to record our music they would willingly support us.
To get the ball rolling I spoke with Peter K, he was working for Scripture Union, in Area14 , in Lilongwe by that time. He was also leading the "scripture union band" ( I dont remember if the band had another name) and together we rehearsed and recorded the first 10 track album "ABLAZE KUYAKA".
I write today to say THANK YOU, to all the guys who were there to support me and my sister Carol when we recorded this album. Peter K, you were so instrumental in putting up the whole band and sparing your time to help us record the album. Believe you me by then I had no clue of what goes on during the recording and everything that follows but Peter K took us through. I would like also to thank all the members of the Scripture union band at that time (1999), who tirelessly worked with us and even survived the overnight recording at Transworld radio studio in Lilongwe. Dingi J, I appreciate your time and the beautiful tenor that you put in the songs. My sister Carol, you were the best soprano you sang through all the songs tirelessly. And to the one who was doing the recording at Transworld radio (sorry I forgot your name), thanks a million, this was the beginning of a life long commitment to serve God through music and you played a big part.
Many thanks to my parents for the encouragement to me and Carol and providing transport and food to the rest of the band during the recording and shouldering all the expenses during the recording of the album.
Above all thanks to God almighty for all he has done and taking me where I am today with my music career.
Some people may be wondering why I am sharing this, I am writing this because it is important to remember those who have helped you to be where you are today, and also to appreciate how far you have come from.
To be where you are today, remember there is a place and time WHERE IT ALL STARTED! Dont forget where it all started!
Many blessings
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