Adored leadership.

My plea in leadership and serving a leadership role in the society pressured me as much, to find a leadership niche and a perfect gap to serve. My heart echoes humanity, I resolved to signing in as a member of The Red Cross Society in Mombasa. It didn't take long and off I was, very active and most seen around, human resource, physically being around, name it! So days passed on and I realised you could actually vie for various seats in the youth committee. I thought I should, I would be of some good. So days passed, fortunate enough I moved crowds and went unopposed. Alas! This had been smoothened for me. I didn't have to campaign nor instigate anyone against an opponent.

In my two months, with the new title, I would be really amazed with the county manager at Mombasa. He was a humble man, down to earth, hardworking and most of all outgoing. Apart from the title, nothing from his face or rather his personality will make you guess he is of such big title, the overall top role. It got me amazed, nowadays such positions are taken advantage of by many, for their own gains, thereafter take a big belly home, with rangerovers and land cruisers. I guess Mombasa is the most privileged of all the branches RedCross has. His immense support for the staff and volunteers is evident, even when you are new, it would not at all take you so long to notice what type of a leader he is. The first time I got referred to his office, I was as frail. Surprisingly this ended as soon as I got in.

Making me more comfortable he was like;

   "Do you listen to arabic music, am a big fan!"

It was such a small comment but enough to get the ice broken. This is the man! Off I was with my talks and the plans I had that needed advise and I left like it was the most important conversation of the week. I was amazed! In age, in career, in education he was far much higher but you wouldn't know. Like a common man, not even a father but an elder brother advised me on clear directions. I can guess I was groomed.

Then what actually got my jaws dropping was this day, so recent that I couldn't resist putting this down. It was one of the errands in the Ramadhan programme and orphanage visits in Likoni at Little Angels Orphanage. Apart from assisting in planning and mobilising resources he actually set off together with the volunteers to touch an orphans soul. He got a family too, during Ramadhan everyone wants to break their fasts with their kins at home, his daughters would need him around, if they trip in eating or staining a drop, dad would be there to wipe it off, even for a Sunday. And the wife, who would be pleased with him enjoying delicacies wonderfully made, but here he is, serving the young souls, laughing out with the few staff who attended and creating rapport with the volunteers.

This is what I read recently in a friend's blog. She called it servant leadership. Now servants with examples and roles. I would evidently see this. It was not at all theoretical. Most, I like the fact that he would seat around with the youth committee like he is with his peers, give him documents to sign at any convenience just so he serves his following. If I wouldn't be guided by this, then am so doomed to destruction. Completely. Then the day we went to the market, in office wear. We strolled around the muddy place, at a point even got rained on. It was a vegetable shopping for some kids' orphanage in Bamburi. There are many youths at the branch, many staff under him he could send, but this was actually a leader. He is in the management part of the team, but serves governance too.

We are most honoured, one friend would sing everyday. Am actually quoting him on this,

Rajab inspires me everyday, I wish you people see other managers, he is one of a kind, down to earth, lives like others, very less of a boss.

It will never be enough said, but we celebrate our county manager as the best, most we could do is accord him the support and the little help we could give. It is priceless.

"Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others."
John Maxwell.

It doesn't cost a penny.

After a tiresome week, I decided to buy a novel, a second hand novel precisely. The most famous street in Mombasa that sells such, just close to The General Post Office. Books are always perfect ways to spend my weekends, flip over the redolent pages delighted by the sweet scents and moved by the lyrical words in perfect prose by favourite authors. I walked down with the type of liveliness and vigour. My first stop was at this guy who looked so welcoming. He offered me a seat and in no while traced one. Heartbeat, by Danielle Steel. Steel is always a sweetheart, you wouldn't blink an eye till you done, then wish it would continue to infinity. And Beyond. Maybe.

I would exhaust all seating positions, take all sips and never get bored. In no time we bargained prices, hard earned money. But I guess haggling makes businesses sweeter. Am so stubborn in this, or get feminine once or twice. Lady charms and a whole 40% off. Am sure he would not want me back, or face away when he sees me. Hahaha! What mattered most is I got the book all to myself!

So I walk around. Simply buying time, the evening snarl-up is a big bore. I get to Alexander shops and roses call me. They insist I go. The sight of roses is always a therapy. Luckily it was an evening offer for the ladies. Such a kind lass I would think.

"Ma'am, just pick any three. Its a Friday for you!"

With no second thoughts, I picked two and added a third little one on my way out. I got courteous with smiles, much obliged, then off I left for home. On my way back I wouldn't stop thinking, my weekend was made already, am much elated from the inside. My day was really made, but again, as happy as I was, I would still think of what I just received from the two interactions. They were so much on getting my happiness fattening up, less on theirs. Then it perfectly dawns, I don't know there struggles, I don't understand their pain but indirectly mine was taken care of. Who doesn't know what a good book does to the reader? Or rather how roses mean to a lady, to the decor and to the mind.

Then its clear, the sacrifices people make for other's happiness cannot be defined. They could be burning inside, tearing up with demons untold but still give the best they could. For someone's happiness. For an acquaintance's joy. They would rather pinch themselves hard, but dust up and get smiles on faces. The little gesture someone shows, could show how they're really deficient of what they give. The little they got, could also be all they got, just to see you smile, to see you light up. I would remember my late close one who made sure am to the fill then she would eat. I never realised till she was gone. On realisation that such people are very rare. I learn to appreciate the small kind gesture anyone shows. A smile is also something. A hug is another. Such things heal painful wounds, hard times get smoother. Moments will then have meaning.

Without sacrifice, we would have nothing. For the perks of it all, good gets back to us some day, but that doesn't mean you lose yourself in pleasing others. How you touch and speak a soul calms, brings meaning and translates the strong passionate personalities. It doesn't cost a shilling, but it indeed pays more, and pays alot. Great achievement is usually borne of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness.

Live it best.

The meaning of life is not so defined, not really clear. One of the words that could be explained for a whole day and nothing gets clear. What we make out of it matters most. Life drives one and many senses in our hearts, but, what one really chooses to make out of it has of great importance. We do not live by ourselves, either way, we need each other for co-existence and ease in our lives. Our days are better spent with others. Not just any other, but ones who just make it better and more promising.

It is not a smooth road, though the gift of life is the best. From the little struggles, small hustles and big challenges we face, from it comes better us, improved versions of who we were before. Challenges refine us for the best. It's never promised to be simple and all a smooth road but the bumps, the strong winds, and a not so clear fog ahead moves us for the risk. The world heals from us, the young sweet souls take from what we do and the elderly expect too much. If they got through to where they are at the moment, why not us? They would frequently question. Forgetting that times are different, things change. Really fast. You would not even realise they have. From a glimpse, life flows, too busy forgetting more about our cultures or rather what gets us deeply involved most is the West and the time change. Not so bad. Either way, the Swahili say that he is a slave, the one who abandons his culture. Very true. We got to deal with it or it deals with us.

It is amazing how people get celebrated immediately they pass away. Recent deaths will bear me witness. Our own particular legend, Mohamed Ali. From a keen note, I would really admire his articles from journals, youtube videos and stay inspired. Or rather, live through to what he said or see him do. The value of people, the love of his religion and nurturing of life is what he's celebrated for, let alone the passion he got for his career. Mention of it, it's of much joy doing what you love, what really gets you up in the morning like it is the best you could ever do. Each day inspires itself. Such things are the little boosts that complement life and success.

Nothing is of much importance than being an icon, than living and knowing that it's not all for yourself. It counts on you for you and for others. It doesn't mean you have to rip yourself into pieces to keep others whole. Still, you are a priority before anyone. Live in the present and make it beautiful, you will still live even after you are gone and forgotten by face. Live the life you love. Live the life you admire. Live the life that's of good. Live it best.