Rising Star

Dear Diary, Today, i am reminded of a friend who used and still tells me how wrapped up I am in peoples opinion about me. He usually says "The problem with you Brendah is that you mind a lot about what people will say about what you that you risk your whole life being lived by them." May be, i did not understand it then. Lately, I have been thinking a lot  about that statement. How many times have I stopped myself from doing something i wanted to do so much because of the 'so called' people who, I assume, are looking at me to criticize me and point a finger at me and say "Surely, not you Brendah. We expect so much from you." While carrying out a profile interview about any person who has made it in life, the last question they are usually asked goes like this "If you were given another chance to live, would you have done things differently." If i was to be asked that question today, I would say 'Yes'. I would have done things differen

Dear Diary, Since i started making sense of the world, i have noticed one neglected but very important thing in life. Call it influence from our African culture but i commend the Ugandan culture for, at least, trying to practice it publicly. Dear Diary, i am talking of  Public Display of Affection or PDA. It does not matter how macho or strong of character we are, it does not matter what the African culture has dictated to us, men and women need to be shown love and affection. While i was studying in Uganda, i was shocked to be told that hugging and sometimes a little peck is a common thing to them. Not so in Kenya! You can imagine my discomfort when every time i would meet my classmates, male or female, they would give me a bear hug. With time, i got used to it and even felt comfortable and liked it. It made me feel warm and appreciated. It affirmed my value as a human being. At least, through the hugs, i was being told, 'we know you', 'we know your value'. It gr

Dear Diary, I have never felt like this before, in fact, i do not remember ever feeling like this before. It is the worst feeling and i wouldn't want to go through it again. It almost felt like the universe had conspired against me. You see, Dear Diary,in the last few days, i have lost my convictions, my zest for life and everything that used to make me tick. It feels like i am surrounded by a deep darkness or like i have been thrown in a very dark abyss. Dear Diary, my house, which has always been my source comfort has rejected me, the job i love has turned its back on me. Some of the friends i treasure seem not to bring any light in this darkness, prayer has ceased to comfort me and church has lost its edge. Dear Diary, for the past four days i took time off work, friends and the world and i have cried to God, yes, literal crying to God because i could not find words to express the feeling in my heart; a heart-wrenching feeling. It almost felt like my heart was being remo

I never said that I would give you silver or gold or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold, But i did say, you'd never walk through this world alone. And I did say, don't make this world your home. I didn't say that fear wouldn't find you in the night, or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight, But I did say, I'd be right there by your side. And I did say, I'll always help you fight. 'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep, My grace will be sufficient in every time of need, My love will be the anchor that you can hold on to. This is the promise. This is the promise, I've made to you.' I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you, or that the world around you wouldn't see you as a fool, But i did say, like Me, that you'll surely be despised. And I did say, My ways confound the wise. I didn't say you'd never taste the bitter kiss of death or have