THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Talking about roads, it's important to start by saying that I do love road trips. I love travelling to new cities and to places I've never been to. I love adventures, explorations and new discoveries, though I  don't get the chance to travel as often. However, this post is not about roads in the literal sense but that road we choose to travel on, that lead us right into our purpose, our calling and ministry. I call it "The road less traveled."

Passion vs Profession

To be real honest, my journey(for lack of a better word) has been one of its kind. Growing up, I knew I was supposed to write but I didn't have the courage to answer the call then. You see, I'm an accountant by training, an entrepreneur by passion and writing is my ministry; my highest calling.  After trying to juggle all these three for a couple of years to no avail, it reached a point in my life where I had to choose between the two: Profession vs Passion. I had to choose between a proven track record and the unknown. I had to choose between circumstance and creative choice. I had to choose between a regular paycheck and uncertainty. I had to choose between the road often taken and the road less traveled. I chose the latter. I chose passion because it's not about how many people approve my choice, but how much joy I receive from my decision. I chose passion because it's not how grand I can be compared to others but how deep I can grow into the person I long to be, to fulfill my inspirations, to share my ministry with the world  by impacting on people and leaving a legacy. I chose passion because it's what gives me peace, a calm heart and a refreshed mind. I chose passion because that's what wakes me in the morning. I chose passion because I had an unquenchable thirst deep down in my soul that couldn't be filled with anything other than love. 

Let's get this straight

I  met an ex-classmate a few months ago in a local coffee shop and after exchanging a few pleasantries, she asked me; "Did you get yourself a job or are you still writing?" You know, many people don't understand this, so let's get this straight; writing is not only a job, but a calling, a love affair, a work of art, it's that confidant, that imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon, while speaking(or it it writing?) your mind out. 

This is what I think:

The world needs doctors and accountants and engineers and pilots, but it also needs musicians, writers, footballers, poets, programmers, actors, farmers, athletes and photographers. Your ministry should  not only be a job, but a calling, and your heart and soul should be your number one employer.

We need writers to write great books so we can feed our souls. We need musicians to sing great songs that will entertain us and lift our spirits.  We need artists to stimulate our inner dormant passions. We need photographers to capture our special moments. The world needs you and me. Our ministry however unusual, counts!

It's not an easy road

In writing this, my hopes are that you realize that it's not an easy road but it's worth every step.You'll face more resistance than acceptance along the way. They'll chuckle at your ambition and passion. They'll tell you that passion doesn't pay, I'll tell you that the love for your calling will sustain you and eventually reward you. If you're endowed with hands, legs, a voice and mind that can venture into creative places, reach forth-that's your highest calling. In the end, they won't call you mad, they'll call you Authentic!

It's worth it! It's bliss! It's fulfilling!

As I'm writing this, it has not escaped my attention that I'm living my purpose. Dawn is breaking and the sun rays are streaming through my window as I write. The house is hushed and songs of praise and worship are playing in the background. The day looks promising! I feel renewed and at peace. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm enjoying every bit of the journey.

Searching deep within.

If you feel empty, no amount of water poured from the outside can feel your well. It has to come from within, from our underground springs and streams, and it's only passion that can pump our inner waters that can fill our souls to overflow.

Take a walk down the road less traveled.

Today, consider taking a leap of faith towards your authentic calling and aamh..thank me later! If you feel the need to throw a gift my way, Just a hint; I love books, flowers and road trips (A five day trip to the Mara isn't a bad idea-hint hint)

Stay authentic, or better still BE AUTHENTIC!

Won't you?

Sincerely Beccah

IT'S TIME TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT!

"Once I quit my job, I'll spend more time with my family."
"When I get married, I'll be happy."
"I'm waiting to make enough money."
"Once my wife turns thirty, I'll surprise her with her favorite dress."
"Once I complete this course, I'll spend more time with my friends."
"Come the end of July, when I graduate, I'll concentrate more on my passion."
"Once I retire, I will travel the world."

But  you're still employed, or single or studying. We are here! It's happening! It's real!

As of now, you can still carve out time from your busy schedule to spend with your family.
As of now, you can choose to be happy in your single-hood.
As of now, you can purpose to set aside fifteen minutes everyday to hone your passions.
As of now, you can set aside time in your downtime to travel the world

There is no someday, you know, there is only right now!
We need to focus our energy on improving the quality of the present reality instead of projecting all those improvements into the realm of someday.

Enough countdowns to Fridays and  D-days.
Enough hoping for the next semester, next chapter and next month.
Enough sitting tight for your soul mate while rehearsing all your lines.
Enough waiting for a massive turn around when your small daily inputs count for the ultimate change.

The present is here and it's all we've got. Enjoy the warmth of the sun while you still can. Enjoy the smile of your loved ones. Enjoy the downpour while it rains. Enjoy all the seasons of your life; For in teenage hood, you'll miss your childhood years of chasing after butterflies. In your twenties, you'll miss your teenage years of playing in the rain. In your forties, you'l miss your youthful zest and vigor. In your old age, you'll miss your years of parenting and raising a family.
May we live, love, laugh and learn,..in the moment! For in the years to come, all this will be a fragment of our memory.

So let us choose the present over distance potential in our minds.
Let us find joy in the now, not in the future unseen, and unrealized moments.
Let us love in the moment, not in the months up and coming.
Let us celebrate today's small feats instead of waiting for next years grand victories.
Today, let's put all our energy in the now and not in the future blurred illusions.

It's not enough to create a future of joy when your present is the opposite. What's holding back your joy at the moment? What assurance do you have that once you get what you want that your joy will be full?
Truth is, projecting too much what we want in our future will hurt the enjoyment of our present.
Let's stop all the rushing and chasing and ask ourselves; How can we experience, joy, fulfillment and total bliss in the moment?

For now, the moment is what really counts. Cheers to living, laughing, learning, loving and enjoying every bit the present moment has to offer!

MT. KILIMAMBOGO CHRONICLES

Mount Kilimambogo, as I know it  now, is not only a sight seeing spot but a fitness center. Reason being, there are not only panoramic sights and views along the way, but the terrain has also something to offer. Mt. Kilimambogo, which is situated at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is like a  moody lover who inspires emotional highs and lows. One minute it fills you with a rush of passion, the next you're full of furry.

We started our climb at around 1100hrs. As I chugged along, I couldn't hide my excitement. Clearly, I was all stoked up for the walk. The walk seemed to conjure up memories of the Matter Heart Run walks that I occasionally participate in; fun, pomp and adventure, while still supporting a noble cause. This walk was similar to it in a way; fun, adventure and most importantly, exercise while still at it(so I thought). However, I had no inkling whatsoever of the trail that was before us.

We weaved our way up the dusty murram road before we came to a steep, meandering ascent uphill which had rocky stones scattered in an ascending manner. The walk up was steep, strenuous and windy but manageable given the fact that our strength was still intact. In a span of about twenty minutes, the place had already shown me its beauty before treating me to it's tougher side.

We successfully surmounted the first climb and landed meticulously on the dusty murram road, just like skilled mountaineers-armed with our backpacks and water bottles. I felt so relieved to have conquered the first steep. We trudged on...our steps steady as ever!

Unbeknownst to me, the trek was only beginning. We had barely covered a kilometer and the total distance to the summit was approximately 12.6 kilometer uphill. For starters, I was not so keen on the distance covered. In fact, it didn't occur to me that it will be a rather tasking or challenging walk. I was expecting a leisurely kind of walk.

It was when I tackled the second sloppy terrain that I started taking note of the distance covered! A guard on standby assured us that we were not far off from the summit. In hindsight, his assurance was a tad bit true but it was well needed in that situation.

The trail was flanked on either side by indigenous trees and rocks. We stopped occasionally to soak in on the view below. As we snaked up hill, our loud banter was slowly replaced with heavy gasping. Our legs became heavier with each preceding step. After the second hour of climbing up the slope, I was really starting to feel like a dawdler. Other groups, in the spirit of team building waxed past me at an impressive speed. Their motivation somehow lifted our spirits, and we lumbered along at our slow speed and the road finally led us uphill to an expansive picnic ground.

It felt quite fulfilling to finally reach the summit. My excitement was however short-lived when I discovered there was no view point from the peak. Like seriously? We arranged our picnic baskets and had lunch amidst banter and conversation of the adventurous climb.

Fast forward to our descent down hill. Sweaters were tied nonchalantly round our waists and woebegone expressions were written all over our faces. My legs were quivering like twigs about to snap and our dust tinted canvas dragged on the road as we lumbered along the terrain. The terrain had literally sapped up my energy.We passed up a group of tourists taking photos and enjoying the scenery. Perhaps they had come to soak up a vestige of the bygone buffaloes that once inhabited the forest, or perhaps they'd just come to walk, like us. We stopped for some few minutes to enjoy the scenery before we continued.

Luckily, the walk downhill was not as challenging as uphill, We were at the foot of the mountain in record time, albeit the last ones. Truth is, I'm not as fit as my physique may suggest. More so, for a person who's never been to any strenuous hike, or even Ngong Hills, I gathered that I performed fairly well.

If I were to pick up one word to sum up my experience at Kilimambogo it'd be adventure. Every moment was vividly and intensely felt, albeit painfully. Thanks to the terrain, it earned me a bonus rest day and a remarkable life lesson; As we journey on with life, sometimes we have the urge and thoughts of giving up but we always have to set our eyes on the price. Giving up is not an option- Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up!

This tour re-ignited my wanderlust sate in so many different levels; Here's to more adventures in future. That's what life is all about, isn't it? Seizing new opportunities, doing things you won't normally do, being open to the accidental and surmounting obstacles.

        Photography; Courtesy of Joseph Mwai(Ediagrams Photography)

Thanks Joseph for capturing those moments. I guess they're called moments because they don't last very long!

Sincerely Beccah

STRATEGY: START WITH LOVE

"Do what you love. Love what you do. Do it for love. Do it with Love. Whatever you do, always start with Love."
-Anonymous-

Here, in five sentences is a profound psalm of life; the blue print to finding your purpose in life. Written more than a hundred years ago(I suppose), this wisdom is as relevant today as when it was penned. This is one of the  mantras that I live by. After pondering over the above lines one Sunday afternoon, I began to realize how important it is to be always guided by love. I came to understand and appreciate the fact that, our words and deeds are of no purpose unless they're out of love. The love we have towards our work, passions, talents and gifts not only illumines our life, but the lives of others around us, whether directly or indirectly.

That said, it's important to reflect upon those particular things we love doing because there in, lies our passion, which ultimately leads us right to our purpose. Finding your passion is about finding your authentic self; those things that light you up from the inside, those things that are closest to your heart, those things that bring out the best in you. In finding them, be what no one else can be. Go big! Go hard! Go all the way in! Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all, be passionate about it.

I believe there's nothing as fulfilling, purposeful and liberating as doing those things that we are passionate about.

A huge part of loving your passion is by giving it the respect it deserves. By respect, I mean giving it the required time and effort.We must  endeavor to carve  time out of our busy schedules to ignite our passions. It could be a routine you can practice, a chapter you can read, an article you can write, a recipe you can try, a kilometer you can run. You name it! Consistency is key!

Once you start pouring your energy into your passion, you'll most definitely be on your way to living your purpose.

 A story is told by the Chinese sage Chuang-Tzu of a man who forged swords for a maharaja. Despite his old age, his work was always carried out with exceptional precision and skill. One day, the maharaja asked the old man, "Is this your natural talent or is there a special technique that you use to create your remarkable results?" "It is concentration on the essentials." replied the sword- crafter. "I took to forging swords when I was twenty one years old, I did not care about anything else. If it was not a sword, I did not look at it or pay attention to it. Forging swords became my passion and my purpose. I took all the energy that I did not give in other directions and put it in the direction of my art. This is the secret to my mastery"

This story is so simple yet profound. May we always remember that talent and hard work are not synonymous but are conjoined.  May we always remember to put in the hours to ignite our passions and to spread love through out the world with our God-given gifts and talents.

Stay passionate. Won't you?

Sincerely Beccah.

MEDITATION FOR READERS, NON-READERS AND WOULD-BE READERS.

The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read
Mark Twain

There are three kinds of people; those who read, those who don't read and those who read too little. We don't have people who read too much because this is an impossible feat. How can you read too much when you only have twenty four hours a day that are barely enough?

Let's get this straight; when I talk about reading, I'm not talking about tweets, facebook updates and instagram memes. I'm basically talking about substantial reading for enrichment and nourishment.

When was the last time you read a book, or a substantial article? Does your reading habit center around tweets, facebook updates, instagram memes or instruction procedures on your new facial scrub package? If you are one of the countless people who don't have a habit of reading, you might be missing out:studies show that reading has numerous positive effects on your emotional, intellectual and psychological state of mind.

That said, we don't have any excuses whatsoever. Any time of the day is perfect for reading. Any place (Yes, any place, at least for me). Any excuse (It can be a daily mantra as simple as, learning something new everyday). There are no side effects for reading; nothing to lose but boredom and nothing to fear but papercuts.

It fills me with great joy to see someone sitted in a restaurant, a park or in transit, intrigued and fully occupied in a thrilling read. It tells you alot about that person. It says that this person loves to feed  their mind - with every page they turn, it turns them. Books turn us on to our passions and into pursuing our passions. Books turn us into intelligent beings; erudite, enlightened and knowledgeable people.

Anytime you read a book. you open up your thoughts to a different world. A world we are not accustomed to. Readers get an opportunity to sit on round tables with great minds, go on adventures, travel across continents and boundaries, meet interesting characters; learn their culture and fall in love with them. To a great degree, books give us the rare chance of learning from other people's experiences, failures and successes and how they surmounted their obstacles.

This is what I think;We should raise a generation that's dying of starvation, hungry for ideas which lay beneath these closed books. A generation that's desperate for information, thirsty for knowldege and hungry for wisdom. We are duty bound to influence our next generation and turn them on to the reading frequency.We are duty bound to invest in books, not only for ourselves but for our children as well.

It's motivating to know that everything we've ever read, loved, cherished and remembered is now part of our consciousness- forever engraved in our mind and soul.

Once you cultivate the habit of reading, you'll feel the way a warrior must feel after years of training; he might not remember the details of everything he learnt, but he knows how to strike when the time is right.

Keep reading or better still, start reading!

Sincerely Beccah.

I BELIEVE

This is my truth. Tell me yours
-Aneurin Bevan-

I believe

A daughter hearing the sad news of her dad's demise in a fatal car accident is tragedy, cracking your iPhone screen is not. Children not having the priviledge to have one meal in a day is an issue, going a day without lunch is not. Being born without limbs is a setback, suffering from a mild malaria flu is not. A family living everyday oblivous of what tomorrow might hold is doom, failure to seal that business deal is not.

I believe

The most beautiful woman in the room is the one full of God, life and character, not the one with a beautiful appearance and physique. 1 Peter 2:3-4 echoes the same and I quote; " 3.Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles or the wearing of gold, jewellery and fine clothes 4. Rather it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight". This verse is so simple, yet it convicted me deeply. Proverbs 31:30 echoes the same. What really stood out for me is the fact that inner beauty is unfading. Why then do we get caught up with our appearance? Most often than not, people value their looks alot, definetely more than their personality.

We often check in the mirror for stray hairs but don't look within for messy hearts and wasted potential.

I believe

Our prayers are heard even the ones that are composed of only tears. I've seen too many answered prayers to believe it is all coincidence. I've seen so many sunsets and sunrises, so many miracles to believe that there's a higher being. I believe in God. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and me. There's no formular for understanding, we were not called to understand but believe! We are called to trust.

I believe

That success is just not about achieving your dream title and status but it's about living a well balanced life; emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally and financially. Success is in finding the right balance. We should not loose ourselves, our family, friends and close acquintances in the quest of that status . 

I believe

There is always something to be thankful for. Amidst our ups and downs, our setbacks and comebacks, we can still choose to be thankful. We can still choose to see things from a different perspective. We can still choose to see the glass as half full instead of half empty. May we always be thankful for the nights that turned to day. For the friends who turned to family. For the dreams that turned to reality. For the battles we won on our knees. For the tests that turned to testimonies. For the mess that turned into a message, and for the trials that turned to triumphs. May we always stop and count our blessings.

I believe

The virtue of modesty isn't something that guides your dressing. It's more than what you wear. It's a lifestyle that permeates your conversations, your text messages, your posture and your mannerisms. It's not enough to be polite to your spouse and rude to the waiter. It's not enough to be helpful to your brother and mistreat your house help. It's not enough to be polite in the company of our church peers and to curse/swear in the company of our friends. Modesty is being empathetic of other people's feeling. Modesty is being caring rather than carefree. Modesty is in forgiving other than criticizing. Modesty is in loving other than fighting. Modesty is in building up other than breaking down. Modesty is in helping other than critcizing.

I believe

That our words and actions are of no substance unless they are out of love. My belief is that our purpose is to love one another and lead each other back to the cross. This is why we love, love; because it's what we were meant for. 1 Corinthians 14:13 states it clearly: "And now, these three things remain; Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love". God compells us to love one another because He is love.

I believe in dreams. Keep dreaming. Keep believing. Dreams come true.

Ps; Stay tuned for I BELIEVE part 2 coming up.

Sincerely Beccah.

24HOURS FRESH CANVAS EVERYDAY

A life well lived is the most exquisite work of art
-Erwin McManus-

I visited an art gallery last week, and while I was marveling at the great pieces of art, I couldn't help but wonder about the amount of work and mastery put in place so as to come up with those beautiful paintings. Most of the time we see the finished product: ready and polished, and we forget just how much has been put in place to achieve the seemingly perfect product.  I figured out that all great masterpieces are as a result of immense hard work, skill and mastery.

In that same token, life is likened to a work of art. Each of us is given a fresh canvas every 24 hours. We are given a chance to embrace the new. A chance to take a risk. A chance to take a plunge into life. A chance to paint the world we want to live. We have to appreciate the fact that our life is the highest form of art, and we are the artists. It's our role to color our life. The brush is in our hands, the water paint is beside us and the canvas is before us. It's entirely up to us to reach forth!

 I know you may be probably thinking that art only evolves among writers, musicians, painters and sculptors, but truth is, there is an artist in all of us regardless of our profession. Try contact that toddler you once were, and he/she will remind you how artistic you are.

Remember when you were a toddler and you were given a pack of crayons and a drawing sheet.You didn't second guess yourself. You set out. You believed in your instincts.You actually gave the artist in you a chance to shine. A chance to thrive. And shine you did! This is because you always came up with a masterpiece out of a box of crayons. When did we stop trusting our instincts?

Most of us feel secure when we it play safe. We prefer to stick to our comfort zones. We wear black for instance instead of the coral pink floral print brocade dress we glimpsed and passed up at the boutique. Yet it's precisely what stops us dead on our track when we see another lady rocking it. "Wow", we mumble as we pass her on the streets, "That looks fantastic." We also wonder how she knew it would. She probably didn't. She probably just took a leap in the dark and trusted her instincts. She trusted her own sense of style. 

It is important for us to know that we are creators. And everyday when we wake up, we hold the mantle in our hands. We have a chance to create the life we desire and yearn for.We have a chance to create a day full of joy or gloom. When was the last time you did something out of pure adventure? When was the last time you sailed the uncharted waters? When was the last time you tweaked your routine?

Let's say yes to new adventures. and come up with the best collection of art pieces in the gallery of our lives. It could be serving mushroom soup for dinner instead of meat stew.  It could be trading in the headband for a lovely chic up do that makes you feel elegant. It could be taking cappuccino instead of tea. It could be visiting the art gallery rather than the road trip. It could be horse riding rather than bike riding. Whatever you choose to do, kindly purpose to seize each and every hour of the 24 hours that we are freely granted everyday by our creator.

Stay artistic.

Sincerely Becca

xoxo

EMBRACING ELEGANCE

Simplicity is the keynote to all true elegance
-Coco Chanel-

We have all met her; that special woman who has a deep sense of self. She is charming to the ear, eye and mind. She is modest, calm, and collected. She sits, walks and talks gracefully. She listens with responsive eyes and smiles. She has this sweet spot that you can't quite put a finger on. She is ying and yang. She is an enigma. She charms and disturbs. She is poised. She is passionate.

These women seem to possess a deep and quite sense of self assurance. I'm always in deep awe of such women.

Good new is...You have it. I have it. We all have it. It's called elegance and this ancient beauty secret is available to all of us.We just need to go within and find our inner light. In truth, the elegant woman is every woman but she's never commonplace woman. Looking back at the insights of elegant women from back in time;

Audrey Hepburn says, "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades".
Coco Chanel says, "Elegance comes from being as beautiful inside as outside".
Maya Angelou says, "Elegance is not about being noticed, It's about being remembered".
I say, Elegance is a way of being that resonates with everything. It's about grace, repose, good manners, etiquette, simplicity, modesty and more. Elegance should not only dictate the way we dress or walk, but it should permeate our conversations, text messages, and mannerisms. It's compassion for others. It's how you make people feel. It's being sensitive to other people's needs.

Many people believe that elegance implies being a perfectionist. On the contrary, embracing elegance comes about as a result of striking the right note. Finding your bliss point. Your sweet spot. Just like good harmonious music; every note, every key should be right on point.I'm talking about some effortless repose coupled with modest behavior. Tough yet gentle, Strong yet vulnerable. Open yet mysterious. Feisty yet calm. It also resonates with how you cope with issues. Responding rather than reacting. Being firm but polite. Using euphemism rather than profane language. All this and more create the right tone that sets apart an elegant woman from the commonplace woman.

Elegance in personal style requires that  women major only in the classics; comfort, color, shape, fabric, value and appropriateness. Always keep your look uncluttered and comfortable. Comfort should be your number one rule of thumb. Keep the accessories minimal and subtle. Never wear two statement pieces in one look. Always remember to keep your look simple and effortless because simplicity is elegance.

This year, do purpose to embrace elegance in your everyday life. Act as if you are a woman with repose of the soul. Love genuinely. Be empathetic to peoples needs. Give generously. Smile. Complement someone. Look at your loved ones in the eye and tell them how you appreciate them. Indulge your senses. Surprise your mother with beautiful fresh flowers from the garden. Say please and thank you often. Always keep it simple.
See how you feel at the end of the day.

 Stay elegant always.

xoxo

BE-YOU-TIFUL

                                                     True beauty comes from within

Focusing on beauty; we often find ourselves caught up in stuff and in appearances that we form a misconception that this is it. We put so much emphasize on the outside stuff while so many of us are empty and void inside. We put across a facade.We think that with money and good looks we have it all and we forget there is much more.We forget that true beauty is skin deep. We forget that true beauty comes from within. We forget that the most beautiful things in the world can't be seen or even touched, but are felt within the heart.

Let's get this straight. I don't mean to say that outer beauty is irrelevant. Outer beauty is equally important as the inner beauty. But most important, let's strive to be beautiful inside out. I don't believe that expensive clothing, the right hairstyle and a good ride can alone make a person beautiful. But I do believe that the most beautiful and radiant person is the one full of God, love, life and character. Your personality and how you make others feel is 100% more important than your appearance. True beauty is from the inside out. True beauty is generosity of spirit. True beauty is a compassionate heart.

Let's stop for a minute and do some soul searching. We need to derive our confidence from our soul and not our body. Stop running for something so shallow, so vain, so materialistic because you're worth more. You're worth more than a couple of likes and half baked attention on instagram. You're worth more than inappropriate comments. You're worth more than unnecessary fame. You're a woman. You're a dream filled soul with ambition and purpose. Be the person that God assigned you to be. Search for your stride and forte till you find it.And finding, be what no one else can be.

There's no one out there who holds the title of the most beautiful person in the world(beauty queens notwithstanding). Attractiveness is simply an opinion. He may be a 10 on your scale, and a 2 on your best friends. There is no one kind of beautiful. There are billions and you are one of them. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Remember-The beautiful one was here, is here and will be here forever.(And you're one of them) Strive to be your own kind of beautiful, because you can only be the only you that's truly you on earth. I'm talking about embracing one's authentic beauty. I'm talking about embracing what makes you different. Always remember; What  makes you different, makes you beautiful. And when all is said and done, the real beauty secret is in finding our inner light. As we go within, searching for spiritual growth, peace of mind, love and serenity, we begin to blossom on the outside.

Stay Beyoutiful.

Sincerely Beccah

xoxo