Posts Tagged ‘#lessons #talent #coolness’
For every person in the world who loves to write, there is another who does not understand the passion behind the action. They’ll watch a writer at their craft, and wonder what it is that compels them to write, when they themselves don’t feel the draw.
True writers do so because they love to write. It’s as simple as that. There’s no greater comfort than to express themselves through the written word. Some use it as a way to sort through their feelings, others use it to lessen the pressure of pent up emotion. Then there’s the ones who play Cheekybingo
or exercise to feel better. Writing is an outlet. For all writers though, it’s a way to feel, even for the smallest amount of time, like they’ve accomplished something.
A tweep and blogger called @EGichomo has began a blog, and by extension, a reading appreciation campaign called My 5 Links. A blogger basically shares a lists of his/her own 5 posts in 5 pre-determined categories. They then nominate 5 other bloggers to do the same. So far @EdGicovi @Wamathai and @Woozie_M have tagged me.
Therefore in keeping with my crazy fear of ‘chain mail curses’ *ahem*, here goes nothing…
My Most Popular Post:
This is a tough one because I gauge a post’s popularity by (of course) comment love etc but also by the feedback that I get outside of the blog. By that measure, One day I wrote for the LA Times Magazine ranks the highest. As the title suggests, one day I did write for these very cool guys. It was really short, 30 words but getting my byline in a major publication was humbling and a huge pat on the back. And when I met the band members after and they said how happy they were with the ka-review I was satisfied that I had indeed ‘told their tale’ in a fitting manner, 30 words notwithstanding.
Post that Didn’t Get The Attention It Deserved
For selfish reasons I have decided to thrust my list of Best.Beloved.Books up in your faces because my birthday, August 30th is exactly 30 days away! Ha! And also to highlight the fact that literature has that amazing quality of ‘ever freshness’ and longevity. The written word shall never die and shall never run out of style. It will continue to heal, mend or break (where need be) and I just want to share once more some of the books that have stayed with me over the years….Also the birthday thing 
Post Whose Success Surprised Me
I can vividly recall the day I wrote this. I was in my office with some free time on my hands and on the final leg of a break up. I’d just gotten around reading The Little Prince, a gift from a wonderful friend of mine when I opened a Word doc and just started writing this silly little story. The result was Twinkle & Shine, my first, and honest to God, unwittingly written children’ story. I though it was a silly little post but people actually liked it! I’m glad. Interestingly, making the illustrations was the fun and therapeutic bit.
My Most Controversial Post
Ha! That’s an easy pick. Sweetie my %$#@^&* was me and my maddest! It caused trouble that post, but in the aftermath I still stand by my words. I hope they reached the right ears.
Post I Am Most Proud Of
Quick info bit. This blog is now 1 year and 6 days old. Yaaay.The truth is, for years I hated the idea of blogging. I thought it was too self-absorbing and very confusing (to a great extend both remain true) however, I have come to enjoy it immensely. The post I am most proud of is my first one Hello World which until I dug up from my archives I had assumed I had saved as ‘M.A.P’ *face palm*. Thanks to the hidden hand of Fate that led Buddha Blaze and Wamathai enter my life that one year and probably 2 weeks ago, I have a place to share my wacky thoughts over the Interwebs. Reading through that post again reminds me of how far I have come and all the enthusiasm, fear and love I still hold in my heart.
Thank you for being witnesses of My Ambitions and Perspectives.
I hereby tag
@anyixbaby
@soul_fool
@wambuiwairua
@edwinbaru
@wanjikumwaurah
I’m very particular about titles and keeping things professional in the work place. Sure, I kid around with my bosses, clients and carry-on with my colleagues but I always know my place and I expect the people I deal with to do the same.
Ha! Maybe I should have begun by stating why I do so. It’s simple; I’m a big believer in being courteous and respectful to others-regardless of rank. And, that one must always realize that work relationships are delicate things.
Also, I always have it in me to fight being put into certain ‘boxes’, you know the ‘did she or didn’t she get here by merit and hard work?’ Sure, one should not listen to the whispers out there but if you start from the very beginning being capable and having a good track record it will certainly speak for you.
Ok , enough with the digressing, the reason I am going on and on about ‘work relations’ and ‘respect’ is because a male colleague who repeatedly calls me ‘sweetie’ and ‘sweetheart’ went too far yesterday when I reminded him to stop. The first time he’d said it was over the phone as he tried to convince me to help him out with some work.
I told him, ‘dude, if you want me to help you, you don’t have to call me sweetheart, simply ask.’ But when he said it a second time on another phone call of the same nature, I took it upon myself to remind him when we met the next day.
That as when he said, ‘Kwani you are gay? Only gay people don’t like to be called sweetie.’
*hold up, wait a minute!*
Fighting the urge to punch his face, I very calmly told him that no, I was not gay only that I have boundaries and do not like to have colleagues call me ‘sweetie’. He seemed unmoved.
See, here’s the thing I am a glutton for compliments and love cute terms of endearment. Hell, I have a cold right now and feel like an ogre crashing about the office dressed in pajamas! Do I want to hear the world shower me with flowery words and get all buddy-buddy with every Tom, Dick and Harry? Sure, why not? But please, please, please NOT work colleagues and certainly not those who automatically assume that turning down a ‘cutesy’ title makes you gay.
I expect that some may think, girl lighten up, its harmless. Well, it isn’t to me. Call me paranoid, prudish or whatever but in my ears that ‘sweetie’ was loaded with* for lack of more accurate terms other than ‘ninis’ and the inability to describe gut-feeling* presumptions, sexism and it was a little condescending.
It was!
In any case, there are SO many ways to spin this stupid thing this one man said, but I will leave it at that because I don’t want to stereotype. Mind you, this is my second experience with such a Neanderthal and I have just cause to rant but thankfully I have met far more gentlemen in my time to believe that all men are such duds.
However, *a word of caution to this tale* I’d like to kindly request men (and women) to listen to the words that come out of an individual’s lips. If he/she has reservations about something will you bloody pay attention? Also, if perhaps calling a person ‘sweetie’ is supposed to be A. a precursor to wanting to take things further, perhaps out of the work place, make sure that the attention is welcome B. you are just chummy and are like that, darling *wink, wink* it’s about time you realize that not everybody is!