If It Worked Then, It Still Works Now

For someone who hasn’t paid her cable subscription for over nine months, the last week of October gave me a reality check, if it worked then, it still works now.

The Freedom That Made Us Forget
Over the months, I’ve received countless calls from my cable provider with tempting offers, but I ignored them all. Some days, I’d pick up and hang up the moment I realized who was calling. Other times, not wanting to sound rude, I’d say, “She (me) isn’t here,” and end the call politely.

You see, we all crave power and control, and that’s exactly what the internet gave us.
The power to pause a movie and answer a call.
The flexibility to continue where we left off.
The joy of skipping commercials, or not having any at all.
The freedom from watching the same movie several times a week (I watched Monster-in-Law three times this week!).
That’s how most of us drifted away from cable. These days, the only time we sit still and watch something from beginning to end is at the cinema.

When Cable Became a “House Help Thing”
The last time I paid for a cable subscription was when my mom came to visit.
And, if we’re being honest, in most households with internet access, cable stays on only because the house-help or relatives want to catch their favorite daily or weekly local shows.
You may ask, what about the kids?
Well, they’re glued to their tablets watching YouTube, Netflix, or playing games.

Cable Tried to Catch Up But We’d Moved On
Some cable providers tried to meet us where we are by offering streaming services on mobile and desktop.
A great idea, truly.
But if you’re not a football fanatic, that gesture probably didn’t move you much.

Then Came October 29th
When our world stood still, we went back to our first love.
When we needed real-time updates about what was happening in our country, we turned to our decoders.
I, for one, was glued to Al Jazeera for coverage.

A Familiar Companion
For me, one particular cable provider was just that, a familiar companion from the early 2000s, when the lowest bundle cost $60, to today, when it’s as low as TZS 27,500.
We’ve truly come a long way.

Lesson Learned

Don’t ignore what worked years ago. Get yourself a cable subscription, you never know when you’ll need it again.

Rewiring Your Patterns

Do you ever find yourself subconsciously repeating patterns that no longer serve you?

Are you truly aware of who you are—and who you are meant to become?

At the end of each day, do you pause to take inventory of your life, your relationships, your work, your marriage, your choices?

How often do you recognize that some habits or thoughts are tied to an old version of yourself—an outdated paradigm holding you back from your future?

It’s time to shift.

It’s time to rewire your mind, your patterns, your way of life.

When you allow yourself to ACCEPT the process of rewiring, you open the door to a new paradigm—one that aligns with your purpose, your vision, your destiny.

Step into it boldly.

Walk in your rightful path.

Embrace the New You.

XOXO Mamatembo Safari

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

This is exactly what you think it is, another cliche of a title. But wait, there is a catch. You see, sometimes what doesn’t kill you makes you wiser. December was one of those holiday seasons when I got to have a very slow two weeks. I struggled when my life slowed down. It felt odd being so busy, then all of a sudden everything slowed down. 

 To slow down, I worked on my arts and crafts. I made handmade earrings, bracelets, and I made a box from scratch. It was a good me-time that I needed.

Come January, I had a work trip that I needed very much. Traveling to different parts of Tanzania before delving into the busy bee work life. 

It took me falling ill for me to slow down again. My body knew I needed the break, but I cared about my work more. My body chose to say no. I felt like my body was defeating me, but little did I know, my body was telling me to slow down. 

So eventually, I listened. I worked from home, I allowed myself to have afternoon naps. I allowed my cousin to take care of me. I agreed to drink soups and whatever healthy meal I was advised to so that I can feel better. This is when I realized, even though I hated staying home, taking naps in the afternoon, or even eating healthy. I need all that for the next chapter of my life.

My body told me to slow down, because I kept pushing. My body was telling me it’s okay to slow things down, overworking doesn’t mean more happiness, more money or more joy. I am glad I listened to my body and I am now stronger because of it.

Random Acts of Kindness

It’s only Wednesday, yet this week feels like Friday every single day. It’s the kind of week where you just want to wake up at 9 a.m. because your body and mind are already on Saturday.

Unfortunately for us adults, there are reports to write, deadlines to meet, clients to satisfy, colleagues to collaborate with, and other stakeholders to align with.

Today, I found myself working from home—which I managed to do until 11 a.m., when the power went out. Left with a dying laptop and no internet, I had no choice but to drive to the office. Once there, I continued working while dealing with calls that required my immediate attention.

Demands were coming from every corner. I felt overwhelmed.In response, I retreated to my “hiding place”—silence—and agreed to everything being said. I had no energy left to argue, even if I knew I was in the right. My responses were: Okay. Sawa. I will do that. It’s fine. To the person on the other end, they must have been happy to avoid the feisty version of me, at least for once. But internally, I was one negative reaction away from bursting into tears.I felt emotional. No, it wasn’t that time of the month. It was just another day in the life of an adult.

Later, I went to my person, ready to collapse into silence without saying a word. I needed a hug. I needed peace. Seeing how distressed I was, he bought me a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of cake to cheer me up.That simple act of kindness changed my mood. It made me realize that sometimes, all we need is someone who says, I see what you’re going through. I have my own struggles too, but let me take a few moments to make your day better.