Normal Obedience.

I think my mentor Mwihaki will be very proud of me. This is the fourth year in a row that I am putting down my word of the year. Since 2017 I have had a word to guide my thoughts and actions throughout the year. Being a scatter brain has led me off track many times along the way but then something would happen that would remind me of my word, and I’d revert to factory settings. So yes, I’d like my word of the year to act like factory settings on a device so that it’s the place we operate from.

I have found my word of the year to be like a Pin location on Google Maps. When I take a wrong turn, it notifies me and quickly works out an alternative route to my destination. In 2017 my word was POSITIVE ACTION. I needed to get out of the downward spiral fueled by my negative mindset. I had to do something. That word led to the birth of this blog. Writing and sharing my random thoughts has been very therapeutic and has made my halftime transition easier. Realizing that many of us are going through midlife struggles comforted me and encouraged me to keep writing.

My 2018 word was, SIMPLE. Turning 40 has made me desire a simple existence. I have an internal resistance to complicated relationships, situations and transactions. This word helped me work harder at getting out of debt which I am slowly doing. The good book advises us to owe no man anything apart from the debt of love. That’s my ultimate goal thanks to my word of 2018.

Last year my word was DEFINING. I felt 2019 was going to unfold in many ways. It was the fifth year of my 40s, so I called it the year of the bamboo. That’s because once you plant a bamboo it grows underground for five years then breaks ground in year five and keeps growing for the rest of its life. During my personal AGM in December, I struggled to confirm if the bamboo had indeed broken above ground. I was looking for (and expecting) a visible and tangible confirmation like a job in public service.

That did not happen. However, looking closer I realized I had firsthand experience of the downside of public service. This was after appointment to a sports board. I have gained some wisdom since then that clearly confirmed I was not ready for the kind of job I was praying for. Folks sometimes it’s good to thank God for unanswered prayers. Not answering some prayers we make may be the best answer we receive. I suppose the bamboo will continue growing even this year. That experience and a few others in 2019 have contributed to my word of 2020.

And the word is NORMAL OBEDIENCE. Last year’s happenings made me feel like there are many things unfolding or about to unfold that would culminate in the full disclosure of my purpose for the next forty years of my life. As clues popped up, I got more excited and restless. The risk here is that I may start manufacturing answers to my prayers instead of waiting. We’ve often heard that good things come to those who wait. I started thinking that better things (or gooder things as my son would say) come to those who harakisha the waiting.

I now feel that I need to apply the brakes on the momentum lest I overspeed and miss the right turning to my pin location. The google maps (God for me) will reroute me for sure but why waste that time finding a new route. That’s where obedience comes in. I call it normal obedience because I feel like this year, I simply need to just do my ordinary daily tasks well. I need to focus more on the task at hand and less on the overall picture. That way the complete picture will appear sooner and clearer. I will also be more prepared for my one thing when its time.

As a result, I am upping my game in being more intentional in how I spend my time but also following through on commitments I make. Folks, maybe if we approached our kawaida daily chores like eating, sleeping, going to work, gym (we’re still in January so gyms are fairly full he he) with an attitude of increased excellence and commitment then our lifetime goal may get closer and clearer.

I pray that I don’t go off track much this year from my word so that I can truly live. Nevertheless, I will not be hard on myself when I do because it’s better to try and fail, than fail to try. What’s you word for this year folks?