Things Not Seen

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise..."
- Hebrews 11:39

* * *

My friend and neighbor, John K. died on Friday afternoon, November 11. And when I heard the news about 6:30pm that evening, I was devastated. Yes, he had been unwell for a while. Yes, he had in the past recovered from worse afflictions and bounced back to good health. It was however, different this time around.

* * *

The Bible calls us to hope. To persevere, and have faith in things not seen..

"They were living by faith when they died," Scripture tells us. "They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on Earth."

This is how President Obama began his remarks in Eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney who among others, was gunned down in a mass shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.

* * *

John died of meningitis.

In worldly, materialistic terms, he died at the worst possible time. Having known the guy for more than a decade, this year was to be his best.

He had recently built a very nice house but had only occupied it for less than a month. For the first time in years, the guy had good cash running into some million shillings in the bank. He was looking at very steady, recurrent income for years to come.

All the planning and execution of grand plans that the guy had made in the last two or three years was only now beginning to bear fruit. In our view, 'huyu jamaa sasa alikuwa amefika.'

But all that was not to be.

* * *

Speaking with my sister about John's death, we explored the place of hope and making long-term plans when death can - in an instant - take it all away. Winni opined that much as there are no guarantees that we'll see another day, we each have a reason to hope. And to willfully do good things that will most likely benefit others.

The thing about not knowing when one will die is what makes life pretty interesting.

We know of people who have given up on life and extravagantly spent up all their money with the belief that they'll die in a few years... Only to live for decades in self-afflicted misery.
We also know of people who pass on at the prime of their career, or just after seemingly 'making it' in life.

This is because each one of us is subject to his or her own timeline in this life. In my view, much of what we do in this life is in fact meant to benefit us for a while, and others for much longer.

* * *
 
I have this poem that I make sure to share soon after I make a new friend:

"Each day is a new beginning,
Another chance to learn more about ourselves,
And to care more about others."

It is true that life offers no guarantees. But we can shape an uncertain future through our words and deeds. We can ensure we continue to have an impact after we die. We can continue to live for years if we seize the day and selflessly do things that will, long after we are gone, benefit others. 

The time value of Money

 

One of the things I love to do, and invariably envisage when engaging others, is "adding value."
Interacting in ways that make a difference, have meaning and add value is what I consider key aspects of my life's work. Hopefully, a life well lived.

But what is value?
Value is basically the usefulness, worth or importance of something.

* * *

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about value, and how it is related to both time and money.
Thing is, life in the modern world revolves around making and then spending money. In some cases, there's a bit of managing money in between making and spending it.

And since money is a store of value, many of us have got to a point where we value nearly everything in terms of money. Only that it isn't entirely possible. But that's beside the point.

My focus today is the time value of money.

* * *

There are several ways of looking at this:

The first one, and the easiest and most useful way is how a single human being who only has 24 hours in a day, can get so many things done within that same time that s/he isn't able to do alone.

How this is done is by using the time resource of others. And this is what is at the core of employment, where one commits his or her time (in addition to other resources such as skills and effort) and in return, gets compensated/renumerated (wages or more commonly, salary).
In this way, labor becomes a key factor of production which can be multiplied many times over through addition of people. The sum total of this is measured as man-hours.

A second one is the effect passage of time has on the value of money. And I'll give an example:
About a dozen years ago, I contracted someone to make for me several windows and doors. I have so far used six of those windows in the house I currently occupy. Four windows still remain in storage, and will likely be used to build a new house.

Earlier this year, I decided I needed two new windows in a smaller size than what I already have in storage. Upon enquiry, I realized that those smaller windows now cost more than twice what I paid in 2010. And worse, the metal used to make such windows these days is of a lighter gauge (poorer quality).
In short, the amount of money I used acquiring those ten windows a dozen years ago is not enough to buy five windows today.

The economic term for this is inflation. That over time, money loses value. It is for this reason that storing money in the bank in a savings account or under the mattress in the form of notes and coins is a very bad idea.
Most of the things money can buy today, the same amount of cash cannot buy in the future.

But there is yet another way of looking at this.

* * *

Using the same example of my windows in storage, they haven't changed one bit and can still be used to build a house. The same goes for any construction material e.g. sand, ballast, stones that does not degrade over time. Cement is obviously an exception, since it contains active ingredients whose viability is only guaranteed for about 90 days... I digress.

The point here is that buying construction materials or storing money in terms of items that do not degrade is not an end in and of itself. Stagnation is no value addition.
Suppose what I did was build a house that then got occupied by tenants. Or a shop from which I would be selling things at a profit. Or a store that I would be leasing out...

There is an opportunity cost arising from merely storing items of value without putting them to good use. Gainful use. In other words, the time value of money is increased significantly when things acquired using money are in turn used to make more money.

Using the analogy of an airplane in the sky, it not only takes having a pilot in the cockpit to fly that plane. The pilot has to be doing the right things for that plane to fly.

So, with the time - which cannot be stored nor recovered once it passes - we each have each day, are you merely storing value, or actively adding value?

* * *

Having a brand new computer is no guarantee for a bright future in sales. One has to seize the day, starting today. At least we have a much easier time in that we can linearly and serially plan our time unlike Dr Manhattan for whom everything happens right now!

 

 

 

Whose Mistake was it?

While working outdoors this past weekend, I listened to a podcast episode that really changed how I view both myself and others.

For a long time, I thought I had a clear understanding of why human beings (including me) have particularly irrational tendencies. In particular, on matters where mistakes have been made or where firmly-held beliefs are challenged.

I had, or so I thought, gained substantial insights from such books and talks as:

• The Person and the Situation
• Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds
  
• Why We make Bad Decisions
• The Righteous Mind
• Decide Already 

And there's always more to read as far as taking charge of our irrational tendencies goes... You can get the entire book here.

* * *

From mid 2021, I started reading Mistakes Were Made (But not by Me) and this opened up a whole new understanding on such important things as confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance and justifying our mistakes..

And as of last week when I listened to the Mindscape podcast episode featuring Carol Tavris, I realize there is so much more to learn and unlearn, especially about ourselves.

 

* * *

We're truly on a roll about podcasts this Walkabout Wednesday. After all, the truth is out there... isn't it?  Yeah, human logic is so twisted, you have no idea.

* * *

Results are Your Only Reality

 

We are used to seeing inspirational quotes like the one above. But a week ago today, I came across a meme on Twitter. Below a pretty interesting graphic of someone doing tedious work, the caption was: 

"Your kids will not benefit from your struggles, but from your successes." 

* * *

That has inspired this week's Walkabout Wednesday.

I won't add much to the aforementioned caption, other than share something else that resonates very well with that insight. This is from one of my top three all-time favorite books: How to Win in the Coming Jua Kali Boom by Samuel M. Wamae.

This book is a highly recommend read as the author provides practical guidelines and steps towards self determination and gainful enterprise for an individual in an African setting. Specifically, in Kenya.

Following is the final chapter on Results:

* * *

We have all grown up praising struggle and effort. A key message in schools is that 'Hard Work Pays.' But I think there is no reward that emanates from merely putting in effort.

It is a bit contrarian to say this, but people get rewarded for had work bears great results. Not just working hard. And it is for this reason that being innovative and effective make a whole lot of difference.

Because there is great reward in efficient effort. That is what we now need to believe on this journey of life. 

 

* * *

How the End Begins

Two years ago tomorrow, in the middle of the day, Mamimami breathed her last.

When she first woke up that Tuesday morning, made the day's plans and proceeded to go about her work, she had no idea she wouldn't see the end of that day.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 was her last.

***

When I woke up at 04:40 today morning, I listened to 'If Today was Your Last Day' by Nickelback and 'Running Out of Days' by 3 Doors Down.

This song by Nickelback has some pretty deep lyrics. Here's the first few lines:

 

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last? 

 

As for 'Running Out of Days,' consider the following:

 

There's too much work and I'm spent
There's too much pressure and I admit
I got no time to move ahead
Have you heard one thing that I've said
And all these little things in life they all create this haze
There's too many things to get done, and I'm running out of days
And I can't last here for so long
I feel this current it's so strong
It gets me further down the line
It gets me closer to the line 

We are all running out of days and one day will turn out to be the last for each one of us. 

But how does the end begin?

* * *

 

'The Tail End' is an interesting post on 'Wait But Why.' Tim Urban breaks down a person's lifetime into weeks and then days and it becomes increasingly clear that as far as death is concerned, each new day lived  brings a person closer to the end of life at the rate of 86400 seconds every 24 hours.

Towards the end of the post is an interesting insight: 

despite not being at the end of your life, you may very well be nearing the end of your time with some of the most important people in your life.

This sheds light on how we never really know when we do something or see someone for the very last time. An end is always beginning...

 

But this also applies to change. For something new to start, something old must come to an end. A change of habits involves dropping old ones and adopting new ones. One has to be bold and determined to break away from the allure of comfort zones.

On a personal level, I have been procrastinating writing certain books but it has got to a point where I elected to drop whatever distractions and excuses I have been using to not commit to my stated objectives.

Today marks the beginning of the end for interactions that are not worthwhile or don't add value, the beginning of the end for things I have needlessly held on to. It is when laziness, doubt, procrastination and negligence starts to end.

And for starters, you can see all this in action for yourself at 'Complit Weekly Tales.' where each week, I am posting exciting new stories from books I'm writing, including my High School and University memoirs.

 

* * *

We all know that when it is closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. So starting today, are you gonna walk a different road?

Understanding Our Choices and Decisions

 Well, this will be a quick one. 

Back in June 2016, we published a post about understanding our choices. It prominently features content from The Matrix Reloaded movie, plus some highlights from BBC Radio's 'In Our Time' and a TED Talk by Barry Schwartz.

We live in a world where we are actively encouraged to make decisions. In fact, there is a psychology of choice, whose focus is making easier decisions.

* * *

We have revisited that post in view of the new 'Walkabout Weekly Digest' podcast from Complit Communications.

In the second episode of the podcast, we shall explore a better understanding of our choices and decisions. S01E02: Understanding Our Choices and Decisions will be available on Sunday, March 13.

* * * 

Every once in a while, we get a chance to walk a different road, or to sing our own song. No matter how difficult or easy it is to make such decisions, it all starts with making that initial move...

The Thing About Expectations

There is a lot to say about expectations. Everyone seems to have an opinion. I'm about to tell you mine.

 

 

But first...

Did you know that starting this month, The Walkabout Weekly Digest podcast will be available on your favorite podcast app? Catch new episodes every Sunday starting March 06, 2022. For now, listen on Spotify to the Walkabout Weekly Digest trailer:

 

* * * 

Lao Tzu will tell you to act without expectation. According to William Shakespeare, expectation is the root of all heartache. On the other hand, Sylvia Plath writes that if you expect nothing from somebody, you are never disappointed. But according to Sam Walton, high expectations are the key to everything. Eli Khamarov's take is that the best things in life are unexpected - because they were no expectations.

All this is very likely to get one quite confused!

 

* * *

So what is writer Mandy Hale's take?

When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be.

If you think the above is interesting, this is what American author Louise Hay does:

I let go of all expectations. People, places and things are free to be themselves, and I am free to be me.

I find this fascinating. 

 

* * *

 

On my birthday in July 2009, I wrote this post about expectations. The thing about life is that we cannot go about with zero expectations about anything. It is a human and natural thing to do. And whereas the expectation is just the beginning, it is the unexpected that changes our lives.

Earlier in oday's post, I indicated I'll share my opinion about expectations. Well, that is something I've elected to do in the first episode of the Walkabout Weekly Digest on Sunday, March 06. Not here, not now.

Meanwhile, listen to the podcast intro and let us know what you think.

* * *

The only constant in life is change. You'll often find yourself going backwards and then forwards in this life. And that is no twisted logic. So much as things change, we all change as well...

Introducing The Walkabout Weekly Digest podcast

Hello and happy new month... Yay! We're now onto the third month of March. 2021 was quite a year, inundated with challenges and a whole lot of things going on. But that we are now here means that we gainfully appropriated the opportunities the past 365 days presented.

2021 may be gone, but it is a year that we can look back at and build on as we aspire to even greater achievement.

* * * 

The Walkabout started way back in March 2009 with this very first post. Inspired by this scene in the S04E11 episode of LOST titled 'Cabin Fever', it was and continues to be a journey of Insight, Inspiration and Self Discovery. That was more than a decade ago.

 

 

 

 

12 years later, we have elected to take a truly exciting, refreshing approach to this enduring journey. In addition to the delightful reads you've come to love on the blog, you'll now listen to a podcast from  The Walkabout.

Welcome to Walkabout Weekly Digest

Yes. Beginning this month, we shall now present for your listening pleasure, a podcast that will in just a few minutes, distill much of what we usually post on The Walkabout.

In addition, the Walkabout Weekly Digest will feature additional content than would normally be included in a blog post. The first episode comes your way on Sunday, March 06 and we plan on releasing an episode every week thereafter. 

Listen to the Walkabout Weekly Digest podcast intro on Spotify or click below to listen directly on this page:

 

 

 

* * *

Admittedly, there is a bit of a learning curve as we delve into this new multimedia world of podcasting, but we do have the courage to change. It makes no sense to keep on waiting on the word to change when we can learn on the job and still have an impact. We shall get better at it as we get along. In under a week from now, we hit the ground running and we won't stop believin'...