Nairobi to London; Appreciating those Inspiring Moments.
When I left Kenya, I had mixed reactions. As the car I rode sped from my house to the airport, the desire to remain almost overrode the need to leave. I looked at the expressway and the businesses along Mombasa road and connected with the very life I was used to.
Now I had to fathom the fact that I had to leave. It had become too comfortable staying where I was used to. By all means, staying wasn’t an option as the desire to make a change and impact this world needed to be met. Not that I wouldn’t make that mark while in Kenya, nay, the point was that sometimes we need to be inspired from without to spark the inspiration from within.
Once in the UK, life had to get going. I don’t want to go so much into the narrative of point-to-point movement but rather I want to concentrate on this one guy I met who gave me the impression of a world we need to have if we are to achieve the objectives of humanity; seeing as people are people first.
I am talking about the guy who came to pick me up from the airport. Before I met, I wondered what type of person was coming to meet me up. The impression this person was going to have on me meant whether I would wear excitement throughout my stay or not.
The guy was fairly old. At one point, he bent down to tie his shoelaces and complained of back issues given his age. We clicked right away. He started by playing the tour guide around the place. I noted right away that appreciating the guidance was of paramount importance.
Only late I came to understand that the British culture is deeply embedded in order and respect. He went on to show me where the queen was laid to rest and other historic places in the UK. He carefully drove me to my destination and in between gave me the unsaid code of operation to guide me as I slowly settled in.
He played the father figure I needed to have in this place. Once we arrived at my place of abode, he alighted and gave me a few of the honest things people don’t say about how I am to make the best of my stay in the UK. He asked me to do my best in my undertakings.
One thing I would remember for a long time to come is the point that excellence always pays. Not that this was the first time I was hearing this, nay, but this time it carried a lot of weight than usual. The person telling me this had it in him to make sure that I became more than even I wanted to be.
He wished me well and reminded me about the people back at home. He told me not to forget the and that they will need to see me whole the next time they see. He went on to explain that I don’t need to waste my life in any way but rather build it to the best I can because this is the time I got.
It is interesting to remember that this was a person I had not met before. We had just met and he took it upon himself to motivate me. Let me say that before this, we came across another purely new person to him and he didn’t take much time to give them these nuggets of wisdom he was giving me.
It wasn’t by chance that this happened. It was a way of our roads crossing so that I have the opportunity to write to you and everybody out that it doesn’t hurt to be good to other people. Inspiring others is the best thing perhaps we can give them.
I can assure you that I haven’t been the same since then. I never take it lightly when I come across someone who wishes me well randomly or systematically. I get inspired by the small things. And this encounter with this guy will remain with me for as long as I can.
I have thus promised myself to be an inspiration to others. Not selectively in any way but rather to all humanity. It will not matter whether the person comes from Europe or Asia or America or Africa. My mission is to touch one person at a time as much as possible.
If we can all make this our mission irrespective of our areas of profession or level of education or whatever the circumstances, we can make this world a better place. I hope this inspires you to be the better version of yourself and make others the better version of themselves.
