YOU WILL MAKE IT

Tough times make or break. The former defines great men and women around the globe while the later belongs to those who panic and give in whenever they are hard-hit.  The indefatigable spirit and never-say-die attitude amidst the insurmountable challenges and hardships are the floodgates to success in life and yes indeed in all endeavors.

Think of that bare-footed school girl in some part of Rift Valley, running away from forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), think of the drought-ravaged child in Turkana, think of the jigger-infested feet of a school-going child in Central Kenya, think of that child in some part of Eastern Kenya where getting water is a challenge, think of that child in the slums of Nairobi where nothing is guaranteed , think of that youth in the Coastal side where drugs are ravaging the lives. All of them have a belief that tomorrow will be good and free from the troubles of today. Hope, persistence and strong will are the words.

It is said that the darkest hour is the one immediately before dawn and yes indeed this is so true. But wait a minute, it I sat this hour when the make or break comes in. Tough hearts and spirits make it but the feeble and not so strong hearts break. This is the reality of the world. On empty stomachs when pangs of hunger bite and threaten to take away the last bit of energy in you, when you literally come to an end and darkness gloom your life and all you can see is apocalypse, when at school you cannot attend classes because you have never paid a coin, when you are forced to forgo exams and wait for you next chance. When in the university campus you feel like hating yourself because you lack the basic necessities and cannot enjoy eerie like the affluent students do, when your life seems to be forever laden with problems and constant need. When as the sadists say, you live in a life of permanent crisis and lack defines your lifestyle. These are when that indefatigable inner you should always count and lift you up. Take a consolation and realize that your life was meant to shine and be good. These problems are only shaping you to be stronger and equally prepared to mix it with life when the going gets tough and pain turns excruciating. Take heart and make the hard step, you are slowly but surely marching on to your success.

That which does not kill you definitely makes you stronger. In life, hard times call for strong heart, determination and the will that that ‘I will make it’ must reverberate in your heart. This is the definition of strong character and personality. Hard, tough and bad times never last a lifetime, but character and personality does. The heat of the moment should not let you into regrettable actions, like disappearing into anti-social vices. Whenever you seek refuge in these vices simply because you have problems and seemingly insurmountable ones for your already over-burdened heart and strength, you are handing victory to the pangs of your tormentor. Soon or later, you will have to deal with the double-tragedy of trying to rescue yourself from this comforter-turned-tormentor. Your conscience and heart are haunted by the heated decisions that you took. Your peace of mind and spirit slowly but surely fades away. That is when reality sets in and you realize that you must unloosen yourself from your captive, who once offered you solace. To men, the captive might be alcohol, bhang and all sorts of hard drugs while to women, the tormentor might be sex-for-money, alcohol and other forms of hard drugs.

Whenever you take refuge in these anti-social vices simply because life is being harsh on you, then soon or later, regrets must set in. Questions like, why did let myself into this? Is this what my life was meant to be? Does my spouse know that am slowly dying deep inside? What happens when my family, friends and close circles know of what   I am doing? Should I end my life? Should I seek help and support before it is too late? These are the last strokes that definitely break the camel’s back. Psychological loss of this fight is imminent and if not checked, the bitter end is a must.

From rags to riches, ashes to glory, go the storylines of successful people who at a point in time, had all their hopes, dreams and goals staring into the fire of destruction and hopelessness. But character, strong will and personality took them past these.

When gloom, hopelessness and disillusionment cloud your path, there is always some light to illuminate the way. There are so many who were in worse and deplorable situations, yet they held on and fought the fight. You too can do it. Take heart; take on your fears, nightmares and all hurdles that threaten your dreams, hopes and aspirations