What do you want to be remembered for?

September was quite an awful month for Kenya. Various incidents occurred forcing one to reflect on the meaning of life. Over the weekend, I lost 3 friends and the most painful was my girl Careen. She was such a lovely person, kind at heart, big smile on the face, ready to help whenever you needed her- fantastic person, really fantastic… Her death really scared me, how can you speak one day to someone and the next, they are gone?  Being such a lovely person, Careen will be forever remembered in our hearts. She left a permanent legacy. She was not rich, did not have a car but she will forever be remembered. Love you girl, May your soul rests in peace.

Careen death made me reflect on a number of things especially what I wanted to be remembered for. 

Do I want to be remembered as someone who has helped many?- YES;

Someone who was kind hearted, prayerful?-again YES;

Someone who has made a difference in the lives of others?-DEFINETLY YES.

What have I done to make this happen? I asked myself.

From Monday to Friday I work from 830am to 5oopm. On Saturday, I have so many things to do, so many people to meet that I get lost in time and end up never fully doing what I had planned to. Sunday is my family day, no matter what there is to do, I would rather stay with my family and enjoy my day with them even if it is just to watch a movie. I do pay my tithe at the end of the month and do some charity work but is it really enough?

I reflected some more on my conversations with others, whether with colleagues, friends or well you name it…, the type of conversation we indulge in, our day to day actions, the way we live…

To understand better what I am driving at, you need to know me. I am TERRIFIED of death, for this reason; I don’t even try to read the Book of Revelation- too scary and therefore I am good to go with anything that will help me get closer to heaven. Let’s face it, the only reason we are scared of death is because we don’t know where we will go once we die. If I was assured of Heaven, why would I choose to stay here on earth? Really? Anyway, back to my reflection.

Whether you are a student, an employee/er or jobless, you spend quite a considerable amount of your time with others and the things you do or say could influence them.  

Why not influence others positively? (Take a min to reflect on how you will do that)

You speak all the time while not speak words of encouragement/life changing words?  

Instead of gossiping and cursing, why not bless someone?

The way you behave, your actions say a lot about who you are/ who you are trying to be, why not be more 

careful when you act next time and positively impact others?

Instead of showing the middle finger, why not smile with someone?

You probably work or interact with someone who you don’t like, why not try to be the bigger person, bless them and buy them a card/ a gift?

Many people use social media (facebook, twitter and so forth) to share their thought and how many times are those updates purely sexual, mocking, nagging when they could quote the Bible once in a while and influence their readers?

Having a bad day? Why not force yourself and smile and believe everything will be just fine? By smiling, you become less stress and influence the person next to you; problems will always be there but your reaction towards them makes the difference.

I love listening to RnB or Lingala but I try as much as I can not to do so before going to Church because well, the mind works in an amazing way. When I listen to Lingala and go to church, I find myself murmuring to Fally Ipupa songs during the sermon and before i know it, I start to shake my head, my feet and well you get the picture… so why not listen once in a while to some Gospel songs and be influenced by the words.?

Nowadays, people spend so much time listening to Joel Osteen and his inspiring words because we want to be inspired. Who wouldn’t, in such a confusing world? If you are indeed in need of such, what about the person next to you? Why don’t you influence him/her with what you have learned?

I am not asking you to become a Nun or Priest but simply become more conscious and considerate with your words, actions and hopefully be remembered for something positive when you are gone. Time to influence other people!