Being True To Myself

For as long as I can remember, my parents always wanted me to be a doctor. I guess this must have been something common at around my high school years because I was not the only one who's parents wanted them to be a doctor. Even after making the grade, I went against my parents wishes and took on a different career.

Over time I have also seen similar situations whereby individuals end up doing things to fulfil other peoples expectation. And when they do so they not only end up unhappy because it was not their passion.

This past month my elder brother, who also lives abroad, completed building his own house at a farm that he had bought. Now the attention has been shifted to me and most of my relatives are asking when we (myself and wife) will do the same like everyone else who lives abroad.

Unlike other Kenyans in the diaspora who are busy putting up structures all over the country, it has never been our intention to do the same because it has never been my style to do what everyone else is doing. Instead I prefer to do things that I'm passionate about. Right now, most of my energies are focused in starting my own business. I want to try my hand at something different to what I do or studied in college.

A lot of the people who know me have asked me why I am doing something novel that others have not tried doing. My answer is always the same. I don't have to do what other people are doing and it doesn't have to be within my comfort zone.

Right now it feels like deja vu all over again. Doing something new and something fresh. This reminds me of when I was an undergrad. Someone recruited me to do something novel which went on to be a success and their are now many imitations out there.

I may be doing something improbable or even something that will fail but I am not worried about failing. I may lose the money that I have invested but I will still be happy that I tried despite the loss.