Peel That Onion.

I often hang around the streets of Linkedin and Instagram. I’m keen on growing my photography so I advertise on Instagram and also to see what other folks are doing in that space. I have learned a lot from these platforms. Linkedin is the suit and tie of social media. It’s for serious folks who want to grow their careers and position for opportunities. I wasn’t an avid user of social media in my first half. Now it has been key in building my second-half career. I check my pages regularly for new information that may propel me forward. I even had to take photos in a suit and tie just to update my profile. My buddy Mike told me that I won’t be taken seriously in checked shirts, ka sweater, and a boyish smile. I reluctantly agreed and I’m glad I did. I now look like I can use a downpayment for work and not rush to Masai Mara to photograph animals. Though I can’t wait for July to go shoot the migration.

Through social media, I have received surprising reactions from folks who find it strange that I pivoted to areas of interest that were unrelated to the event business that I was known for a long time. I’m glad to have invested in coaching. I enjoy it thoroughly and it aligns with my gifts, interests, and personal mission statement. Photography is a childhood hobby that gives me great satisfaction. It’s my excuse to escape into the wild open spaces. Writing, I started as a way to release the steam of my mid-life awakening. I have grown to love it and recently got validated big time when the editor of Msafiri, the KQ inflight magazine asked me to contribute two articles for their April edition (http://msafirimag.com/ page 16 and 60-65). Yaani ati now you can fly Kenya Airways and find my stories in their magazine. Kweli the universe does make space when you decide to move. Enjoying the journey so far. I’m sure it will pay off big time sooner rather than later.

This week I read a long post from one of my new friends on LinkedIn. I have known this guy by seeing him flying high in corporate Kenya. We got to chat last year when we shared a panel discussion on transitions at a silver fox event. Really cool guy. No wonder he is a DJ. Yes, you read that right. DJ Forrest is his name. He plays the music I love, oldskool. If you know you know. It’s an age thing hehe. He stepped out from just mixing in his house and is now playing with the big boys in town. I bet he feels much younger and is at his happiest when spinning those wheels of steel. I wonder if he was concerned that coming out of the closet with this passion would damage his reputation, especially having been in top corporate for a long time. Was he scared? I’ll ask him when we meet next.

I was encouraged by Andrew’s move to peel another layer of his life and share it with us. I feel less lonely now on my photography journey which is my DJ equivalent. Folks, doing one thing all your life is like reading only one chapter of a book. Many other chapters remain unread yet may be more fun and interesting than chapter one.  That’s why I subscribe to a portfolio lifestyle. Where we do several things well and they all feed off each other to make us one happy lot.

Covid did its thing for some as far as unearthing hidden talents goes. But many of us still hide mad skills and passions because we are afraid of looking silly or what people will say. I’ve been out there doing what I love for some time. I can assure you that most people envy someone living authentically with less regard for image and perceptions. Im sure DJ Forrest will agree. Freeing ourselves of society’s opinions and expectations is a good step towards peeling off layers of our lives to find out what lies beneath.

Sir God was fair when he created us because we have clues that direct us to what we love and are good at. Those passions, skills, interests plus experience gained on the fourth floor is the cash we have been given to spend on this earth so that we leave it better than we found it. Sadly many of us get to the end of life with our talent account still full or hardly spent. To me, this is a double tragedy because, unlike material wealth that can be passed on, inborn wealth dies with us if we don’t live it and leave it behind.

Folks, start peeling your onions while you still can. Even if the peeling brings tears to your eyes as onions do, they will be tears of joy in this case and we will be happy you shared those layers with us. I prefer those machozis compared to crying that you exited this life with your talents still in you. Be the light and light the path for others to live fully just like DJ Forrest is doing. As Amanda Gorman reminds us, “There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it”