The Battle is Real

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“Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:31-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭128:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a note to self kinda day. As I try to reflect on my weaknesses and strengths, I try to see what areas have I been fighting from gaining understanding and what areas I have allowed to be corrected and I have gained understanding. You see, life is too short - indeed, but that saying should mean I need to get understanding and have things done the right way (now) so that my tomorrow will be painless (and not how the world chooses to interpret - life is short hence go ahead and make a mess of your spiritual walk by doing foolish things) even though this is not said in so many words but you kinda get the insinuation from the saying. 

The older I get, the more I see just how much we think we know but we really don’t.

One topic I have been hearing alot lately is not to be anxious about anything. You see, sometimes we want what we wan’t and that can mean we tend to be anxious about life because we want things to happen the way we want them to happen. As I continue to learn to TRUST in God, it also means I have to surrender and boy oh boy - who knew kususa sio kuachilia/kusalimisha?! Life is correcting me and all I can say is LORD - Have your way! 

Your way over who I am, where I have to be, what I have to do. Don’t get me wrong, don’t give up on your dream to own a mansion in Mbezi, but first ask if that’s in God’s will. And it may be in His will for you if He sees there’s nothing wring with you owning a mansion, but then His plan may be for you to get an apartment for rent in Kariakoo, or get any other type of accommodation in Kariakoo. Your duty will be to be obedient to that. But coming from a personal experience - it’s not easy to surrender it all. You have to be very obedient to agree to God’s will and plan over your life. To agree to live in an apartment when an hour drive will get you to your mansion. Then that’s when you’ll discover PRIDE has everything to do with your failure to be obedient and to fully surrender!

Everything at your fingertip

When I graduated in India and had to come back home, I was already used to having access to a lot things online and the transition wasn’t as easy because I expected everything to be at my fingertip (online) but a lot of things weren’t. knowing where to get things hassle-free is a good thing. Imagine this, you have your phone/tablet/laptop and you want to know where to find a nice evening gown for a wedding next weekend, you go to Directory.co.tz and you search for evening gowns or boutiques and VOILA! there’s a list of all the shops that will have the service and goods you are looking for. 

You see, the reason I struggled is because I wanted to get internship at a law firm (I didn’t have any one specific in mind), so I went on Google and I only saw a few ’big’ law firms that had websites.  But I also knew I would get more practice working for small to medium sized firms - unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found online. You can imagine my frustration. A friend then advised me to go to Posta, walk around various streets and see what I’ll find and drop my CV. I did this one time and gave up! Because I walked a lot that day, and some law firms were in buildings but had no signage outside so there was no way of finding out unless I asked around. That was very exhausting. 

That was back in 2012, if you tell me now that I have to walk around and find places and things in 2019...you won’t be doing me justice! The same applies to anyone who has a job and a life. Where do you get the time to go around the city to search for offices that will give you the services you need? And how sure are you that you will not be walking into scam of an office? Don’t forget the money factor - you’ll need fuel to drive around looking for things. 

Having an all in one service is what we need, everything at our fingertips. You might say there is social media and sure that’s another way to finding things - but I guarantee you, unless you know a genuine business and it’s social media handle - you stand a chance of finding scam businesses on social media and wasting your precious time. Have you ever tried searching for things on social media and you either get nothing? Then you use hashtags only to come across posts from all over the world? That happened to me! 

When I wanted to buy my car, instead of taking bajajis to various car dealerships (coz it was expensive) I went on social media and searched for Toyota Rav4 - I found more than what I was looking for, it was a dead-end. So, I gave up, and bused around to the dealerships. Having access to a site that has a list of businesses - genuine if I may add, is like having our very own Google but for business and services that are within our limits. Let’s say you want to buy a car so you search for Toyota Crown for sale, you’ll find all possible results for sellers in TANZANIA, and that’s very important because  it saves you time and money. 

Sometimes people get lucky and come across exactly what they are looking for and it turn out to be a genuine business without going online or driving around searching. For instance, when my folks were about to buy their car - Mom came across EnhanceAuto Tanzania showroom in Mikocheni as she drove heading to town, and the car they wanted was right by the gate, and that worked out well for them. But we can’t always be that lucky. And scams are real! 

I applaud businesses that think ahead and consider being listed on directory sites because they see the importance of being easily accessible to clients, but also they build trust. If you have your business listed, it first of all makes me think you really mean business, which means you’ll have a phone number that will allow me to call you and ask questions before I step into your office. Not only that, you can’t be listed if your business is a scam - so  it helps me trust your business. I think the best thing about being listed on the Tanzania business directory, as a  business, you stand a chance of getting international clientele! Most people from other parts of world search for things online, make calls etc. If a tourist is trying to find a safari company, unless he knows someone in Tanzania to inquire about things, he or she will first go online, look up for options, write emails or make calls and make a deal. So why limit your business on paper? Business cards or local ads are good and all, but you need more than that if you want to expand your business horizon. Personally, I’ve been tracking plots for sale on Directory.co.tz, once I find something within my price range - it’s a done deal!

Business, Technology And the Older Generation

I am faced with a question of why do a lot of  women feel the need to stick to one thing and not think outside of the box when it comes to business ideas? Someone I know keeps talking about getting into a business that either involves a boutique, a phone business, or cosmetics in Tanzania. I can very well understand that these are the things she likes and spends her finances on, and also because a lot of women she knows are also in these similar businesses. But it makes no sense to get into something JUST BECAUSE!

I have several times advised her not to try any of those businesses, instead, either get into agriculture or not do any business at all. I say this because, if you can't see yourself making above the bare minimum, then you are not qualified for the business. Lack of knowledge of what you need to do to get a step ahead in your revenues is a big challenge. Not having creative ideas on how your business can stand out from the rest or reach a wider target is again another challenge to the business and your finances. 

The point I always make to her is, there are plenty of shops and perhaps 70% or more of  in Tanzania selling cosmetics, phones, or clothes, what guarantees you that yours will have more customers than the next shop? And this I say because we are not talking about a 20 or 30 year old lady who wants to open a 'talk of the town' shop with great marketing ideas, using social media to promote her business, getting international connections to make imports easy on her, or cater to celebs to get fame for her business. This is an older person with ideas of (1) have a capital, (2) have a sales lady, (3) get a good location and (4) import goods from a country where things are affordable and viola! money will come flooding in. 

In this day and age, where everything needs extraordinary to succeed, how can we still have the old age mentality? Or even worse, not think of a need to get education on what we want to invest our money/time in? Is there any hope for the older generation in this era where technology is what might give you an edge? 

I do not say this to hate but to have a genuine understanding of why people think being a next shop on a busy street will guarantee financial success. I say this because I tried doing a boutique business, and for the most part, most of my clients were from other regions and I had to ship items to them, thanks to social media and good bus services. Will this be something that an older person can do? Or must one hire a marketing guru for a business that has capital close to what a marketing expert might require for a year's retainer to help the business grow? will that be worth it?

Banking story part 2

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I wrote a post about banking last week and it gave me the courage to go to my bank and get me some schooling about credit cards. I still have no idea why America needs people to have credit cards. I understand the importance of being looked at as trustworthy in paying debts and all, but why do I need to put myself in a tempting situation in the first place? 

But then looking at how life works here, having a credit card is perhaps the best option considering there aren’t as many people around that I can ask for loans when a financial hiccup happens. There are situations that just require you to pay for things upfront and urgently and you have to have the funds! Knowing you have a steady paycheck every two weeks (if you actually work your hours - pray you don’t get sick or face an emergency situation and miss work), having a credit card is not so bad because you can pay off the debt. The only challenge for most of us is to have financial literacy about wants vs. needs and how to save and invest. 

I would not mind living in a credit card free world, like in Bongo, but then again an actual physical credit card and money transfered to your bank account as mkopo wa kuboresha biashara, are all the same. A debt is a debt in whatever form or shape it comes in and it has to be paid. 

Cheers to me learning about credit cards.

Why Do We Have To Grieve

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Grieving is an interesting state in our lives. I wish we didn’t have to go through the stages of grieving, or better yet, not lose anything at all. I am capable of writing a long post in 5 minutes (or ten if you count the extra 5 minutes of proofreading and making corrections), but until this day, I have not been able to write about losing my Dad. I hate crying and when I write about him I tend to cry. I am not a private person nor am I out there trying to share pictures and stories about my parents, because the one thing that I love and hold dear are my parents. There is a level of love that you feel for someone that you want to selfishly keep to yourself and the only way people will know how you genuinely feel about those people is the way you talk about them or think about them, and are able and willing to do things for them. And my parents are a sacred relationship for me. A mix of good, bad and everything in between. 

I hate grieving because it makes me question my faith, it makes me question the meaning of life and everything we are striving for - I mean, what’s the point of it all? Why live, go to school, work hard, fall in love, only to die at the end of the day and be missed by those closest to you? Why do people have to die? Is death really necessary? 

I grieved a two year relationship last year and allowed myself to heal. I grieved a job, I grieved my life, I grieved my plans, I grieved my future because I hate living in the unknown. This year, I entered 2019 with not making a single resolution because what’s the point of making plans when God has His own? And this He proved to be true. As I was opening my heart again to accept life and maybe start making plans, He took my Dad away. And so I GRIEVE! 

I have questions that no one should dare to give me answers to because no one knows jack! No one knows why things happen the way they do so no one has the right to say anything. Life and death is a mystery and there’s nothing we can do about it. 

I read online on how to grieve and I’ve done it all, gone back to nature and took pictures to distract myself, gone to church and cried my eyes out, listened to party songs to boost my mood, and yet I at night I cry. 

The sad thing about grief is that, nothing is interesting anymore. Not a person that once sparkled your life, not good news about someone being engaged, pregnant or having a new job, nothing is fascinating anymore, it’s all a big nothing. Then I hear sad news about people losing loved ones, I feel sorry for them, but my heart says they are better off to be done with life’s uncertainty. They are better of being with God than having to fight temptation everyday, lose hope, lose faith and stand a chance to lose their salvation. I don’t know who has it better, them or us! And someday, us will be among them.

Someday though, maybe someday we’ll know the “Because” behind every “Why”, but until then, our minds are full of unanswered questions and only heaven has all the answers - just like a real estate data bank. 

Mathew 7:1-29

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:1-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/mat.7.1-29.esv