SEEK AND SPARK

For my non-Kenyan friends, “usiguse murima” loosely translates to “don’t touch the mountain.” It’s a phrase that recently sparked national conversation and debate in Kenya, thanks to a certain Deputy President whose passionate defense of “the mountain” became his calling card—and, ironically, his downfall. Accused of tribalism and labeled a “tribal chief” rather than a national leader, his values (or the perception of them) came under sharp scrutiny. The gusto with which he guarded the mountain earned him applause from some and ire from others. Ultimately, it landed him in hot water, costing him his position. As I watched this political drama unfold, I couldn’t help but reflect: What values do our leaders actually live by? And more importantly, what values do I live by? The truth is, values drive our behavior and character whether or not we’re conscious of them. They’re like an unspoken signature that defines how we’re perceived—and remembered. Just as the Deputy President'...

  In my last post , I took you through the loops and stitches that have reawakened my creativity. Rediscovering my passions has been thrilling and humbling, as I learned to create anew with yarn and a hook. Now, as I think about what it means to grow intentionally, I realize that purpose isn’t just about what we create—it’s also about what we nurture . So here’s where this journey takes an unexpected twist: what if we thought about building our purpose and dreams the way we grow a garden? A few months back, I stumbled upon something that made me consider this connection—joining Arobaini Sacco ( Savings and Credit Cooperative ). It might sound slightly different from crocheting or storytelling, but stay with me! Imagine your purpose as a garden. It starts with a single seed, an idea, or maybe a tiny hope for a brighter future. But just like any garden, purpose needs care. It needs fertile soil, water, sunlight, and a bit of attention every day. Now, think about your garden ...

This year, I took a leap into the world of crocheting, and it has been nothing short of transformative. As I've learned to create beautiful patterns and intricate stitches, I've also uncovered a deeper sense of creativity within myself. Each loop and knot serves as a reminder of the beauty of expression and the power of art in my life. As I mentioned in my previous blog ,  the journey toward discovering purpose requires a lot of introspection and self-exploration. During my usual moments of reflection, I found myself revisiting the times when I felt most creative. I spent a significant part of my childhood in boarding school, where I discovered my talents and love for the creative arts. I excelled in music, drama, storytelling—basically, anything that encouraged me to step outside of myself and become something new. I’m grateful that my teachers quickly identified, nurtured, and encouraged my gifts. In fact, I remember a primary school teacher who often said, “Zinma, make sur...

It's interesting the kind of information you'll come across when doing a random search on the internet. The other day I googled "How to discover your passion" and I was shocked at how much information and "tests" are out there. But one site that piqued my interest was " ClarityofFire.com ". There's a quiz on this page that helps you discover and combine your career and passion to help you live an energized, fulfilling, and inspiring life. Few people have this privilege. Many grapple with not only finding their true passion and living by it, but balancing whatever they do to earn a living with what they need to do to satisfy them.  At the end of the quiz, you receive a detailed description of the kind of person you are out of these four categories;  Firestarter , T ribe member ,  Side-hustler , and  Thriver . Turns out I'm a firestarter! Needless to say, as I went through the description, I wanted to retake the test. And I did. I'm still...