What mama never told you…

Intro

There were survival nuggets planted in us as children. I am sure some of you have encountered phrases like “don’t talk to/accept anything from strangers” and even towards adulthood, the phrases evolved to “this is your life; avoid group mentality.” In our adulthood, these nuggets have become increasingly scarce in certain instances and more plentiful in others. In the scarcity, I assumed maybe the conditions and times had changed, which is justifiable, as they are not relatable and totally left us “unequipped.”

Let me take you back a bit.

In Kikuyu, Mama… Maitu is derived from Ma… itu, our truth. That’s where the origin of our truth comes from. Over time, we are forced to find our truth by questioning what we have learned. However, she will still be your reference point as she will continue to be your mother, never aging or changing.

So, then we have to search for our truth eventually. You’ll be damned if you choose to be lazy in this part of your life. The adulting phase has no blueprint per se; you just wing it until you get it right, and survive while at it. If you are here, in this phase, or just over the age of 18, then this is what your mother never told you.

1. You will second-guess every decision you make until you are satisfied that it was the best decision you could have made. This applies to all aspects of your life.

I did this with my first job as an engineer. Let me tell you, every day I woke up asking myself if this is it. Is this what it actually entails? Is this all there is? If there is more, how do you explore and be able to settle for your professional calling? More than a year down the line, I am still facing more questions, but at this age, it’s my resilience and tenacity that matter. That is what molds your decisions into tangible results.

2. You will learn that humans, you, are constantly evolving.

The things you loved a year ago have just stopped being them. The people you could spend weekends with are just strangers. We are allowed to evolve, choose a different path, be in another season, and do what makes us happy. It doesn’t mean you loathe any of it. It means your priorities have shifted and your energy is better focused on them. It may be a painful process at first, but it is necessary for growth. There is nothing worse than doing the same thing as before and expecting different results.

3. The world is operating on a faulty balance, but you get what you deserve.

To continue …