The pearl writes...

  A letter to a 17-year-old me Dear Evey, Congratulations on turning 17, finishing high school, and waiting to join a reputable university. You have done well!  I know high school was such a fun experience for you: the life-long friends you have made, you excelled in whatever you put your mind to in your studies, the mantras you lived by: ‘ It is never that serious ’ and ‘ Que sera, sera ,’ got you through the difficult subjects, and beyond that, you had an exciting time discovering yourself through co-curricular activities like dancing. I should add that these mantras will change, eventually. Ha!  Evey, you have four months before joining University. Please hearken to this: Salvation is not what the church sold to you. Honey, I know you served in the Christian Union (CU) as the prayer secretary, but do not fool yourself that you are born again. I do not blame you, though. You just don’t understand the meaning of salvation, yet! All along, salvation was taught and explained as ‘praying

As I write my life story, I wear my heart on my sleeve and talk about my battle with an  identity crisis brought about by inferiority complex and poor self-image as well as my journey toward embracing my true identity and cultivating a healthier self-image.  Growing up I had a skin condition which resulted in rashes and pimples all over my body.  Herbal medicine was the craze and the self-professed herbal doctors recommended I take some green juice that was so bitter  and sour  that even s everal tablespoons of honey did nothing to sweeten it and with a smell so nauseating that accompanied it . Unknowingly this skin disease was taking a toll on my self-image and esteem.  During my high-school days, I had to take two vehicles; one to ferry me from my home town to a bus stop at Limuru and another from Limuru town to my high school. There's this one time as I was going back to school during Opening Day, I got off the bus at the Limuru stage and one man seated at the stage made an a

D ear younger self, Life is a journey so they say and every step is valuable. The beauty of life lies in living each step at a time.  I never thought I'd write a letter to you. Never crossed my mind.  What I  saw in my mind was a great future ahead for you. Not that it has died, but I never realized the process that would be involved.  I wish I was there early enough to share these words of wisdom with you. If only life were like a movie, I'd rewind and react scenes to make sure it better. But what would be its beauty?   Love yourself boy. Nobody will ever love you more than you can love yourself and you'll only love people to the extent you love yourself. Never wait for somebody to tell you that you're handsome, that you're loved, that you're able and capable. You have to constantly tell yourself that. Every morning as you dress, look into that mirror and tell yourself you're the best version of you. Treat yourself better. Take time out. Travel. Take yours

Hey you! It’s me [you 14years from now].To be honest, not so much of you has changed in me. Yes, we still laugh at everything and anything. It’s a peal of cackling laughter. Just in case you think, it’s not me, I have titled this letter leopard in the snow. Yes, it’s still one of my all-time favourite books(our reading cultures never stops). Another thing that has not changed, well I know you just shed off some serious 30Kgs, but trust me, I do not know where it’s going to come from, but the weight will be back. And you will have some serious curves to go with it, and you are going to enjoy every aspect of your body. Yes, our doughnut will still be there. I’m mentioning weight here, because before I forget: when you will meet a guy called William: Turn-down his advances. It won't end well, he will want you to lose the weight. Yes,  utakua kichwa ngumu, and you will choose your happiness over him. I’m only going to tell you about this one guy because it is the one friendship I

I came home today, leisurely walking after a long day at the office Glad that the day was over and looking forward to spending time with my babies I walk up to the gate and when the guard at the gate realizes it’s me he becomes frantic Seeing his expression changing I feel a pull in my tummy and the panic spreads right across my body Oh Lord thanks for your watchful eye and for being a protecting shield over our lives He stutters as he speaks and I ask is there a problem He narrates an accident that happened like 10 minutes ago My son was cycling in the compound inside our apartment block One of the neighbours had a gate to take to her rural home where she was building and kept it slanting on the wall, And just as our son was cycling the back of his bike hits the slanting gate And it comes down and falls on him Oh Lord thanks for your watchful eye and for being a protecting shield over our lives God has a special way of cushioning children even when a situation looks dire The guards da

  Hey Gal, You’re a grown-ass woman, it is unbelievable really, The big 3.0 is here. At 20, you wanted to get here so bad; it is amazing how time goes by so fast.  It’s not all bad being an adult, and all of the freedom that comes with it is even better than you imagined. The ability to go MIA on people and not explain why or getting home at 3 a.m without any cares: without mom asking what you’re doing; heading off on road trips with your husband; setting your own schedule to do what you want when you want. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I know you don’t regret how the younger you treated life but there are some things I wish you would have done differently. If only you had known then what you know now. I thought I should let you know through this word ensemble. Let us first start with your career choices. You were too proud and couldn’t take any startup job, I don’t mean it was bad to want the best for you but you should have started somewhere. Overlooking all that even th

Dear Baby, here beneath my heart, I thought that you might come today the timing just seemed right But the stars are out and the moon is high and sheepishly I wonder why I try to arrange the plans of God For now I know you will not come until the One who holds eternity rustles your soft cocoon and whispers in tones that I will not hear, It's time, precious gift, Now its time You looked so amazing, smiles so angelic  Fingers and feet so small yet so sweet You looked so small and fragile  You smile as you sleep and we wonder at the contents of your dreams Dreamy eyes and beautiful yawns Babies are amazing they bring everything in perspective and make you relinquish  what you thought was important  As your hand recoils around my index finger and holds so firmly Refusing to let go of my finger I wonder at what stirs in your heart We try different types of formula milk Until we establish the one you like As I delicately dry you after a bath and massage your small body I marvel at how wo