Jacky's Corner

This week got me thinking about how I handle situations at work, especially when I feel disappointed or let down by people I work with. There was a situation involving our support team that had been on my mind for a while. Their contract had come to an end, and although we knew this was happening, I found myself disappointed by how things unfolded afterwards. We had a review covering work they had previously supported, and during that period, they were not available to provide the kind of support I had expected. There was no real check-in or effort to help us navigate the process. I understood that their contract had ended, but I also felt that, given the working relationship we had built and the work they had supported, there could have been a better sense of continuity. I felt unsupported, particularly because having that team alongside us during reviews had become part of how we worked. When the contract was eventually renewed and they returned, I realised I was still carrying that ...

  If you had told me seven years ago that I would forget an important outfit on graduation day and laugh about it, I probably would have asked what sort of nonsense you were talking about. But that is exactly what happened this weekend. My family and I were heading to a graduation ceremony. I had done my makeup, prepared myself, and was ready for the day. Then came the discovery: I had forgotten the dress I intended to wear. Naturally, someone suggested buying another one. My immediate question was, why? I had another dress with me. It might not have been my first choice, but I was certainly not going to the graduation naked! More importantly, buying an expensive outfit I had not budgeted for simply because I had forgotten one at home did not make financial sense. It reminded me of a lesson from The Richest Man in Babylon : live within your means. Having money available does not mean every unexpected inconvenience deserves an immediate purchase.Thankfully, my mother came to the r...

This weekend, my mother and I decided to surprise a family member who was about to celebrate a great achievement. We planned a special dinner, carefully selected some of his favourite foods, cooked, organized everything, and looked forward to celebrating him before the busy day. There was just one small problem: our guest of honour never showed up. We waited, made plans around his expected arrival, and eventually received a message explaining that his plans had changed. Just like that, our carefully prepared surprise had no audience. There we were, staring at a dinner intended for someone else, wondering what to do next. My first instinct was to feel annoyed. After all, we had put in time, effort, and thought. Surely, that counted for something? But then I caught myself. Had I actually told him about the surprise? No. Had he promised to attend a special dinner? Not exactly. I had created an expectation in my mind and was now disappointed that reality had failed to follow my script....

  This weekend, I was reminded that sometimes people are carrying far more than we realize. While volunteering, a lady shared part of her story with me. She spoke about her marriage, the constant threats of being abandoned, the financial responsibilities she carries, and the emotional weight of living with someone she feels is unwilling to change. I sat there listening, wondering what you are supposed to do when someone tells you that home, the very place they should find peace, has become a source of distress. You listen, you offer a few words, perhaps you pray together, and then what? You watch them return to the same environment that is hurting them. It made me wonder: Have we forgotten how to disagree without destroying each other ?  Why has threatening to leave, belittling someone, or reaching for the one thing that will hurt them most become part of how we handle conflict? Whatever happened to resolving disagreements without making the other person question their worth o...

  For almost three years, there has been a small wastepaper basket in a particular corner of our office. It is one of those things you barely notice. People pass by, drop their tissues or small pieces of paper, and keep moving. Then, recently, someone moved it. Nothing dramatic happened. The basket simply moved from its usual spot. But for the next few weeks, I watched something fascinating happen. People continued walking to the exact spot where the basket used to be and dropping their rubbish there. Week one, I understood it. Maybe they hadn't noticed. Week two, I was becoming curious. Week three, I was honestly wondering, “Do you people have eyes?” 😂 The basket was quite distinct. It was pink. The corner was now very clearly empty. Yet people would walk up, drop the rubbish, and continue on their way as though the basket was still there. It has been about two months now, and occasionally I still find something lying in that corner. The good thing is that the rubbish is reducing...

  A friend and I recently had an interesting conversation about birthdays. Someone we know had apparently started keeping track of the people who remembered her birthday, the people who called, and those who gave her gifts. At first, I thought, “Isn't that a little too transactional?” If I have the means to give someone a gift, why should I stop simply because they didn't give me one? Sometimes people have money. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes they remember. Sometimes life gets in the way. But then another thought came up.What happens when it isn't just one birthday? What if I consistently remember yours, choose something thoughtful, call you and make an effort, while year after year you barely acknowledge mine? At what point does generosity stop feeling like generosity and start feeling like something I am doing in a relationship that isn't really meeting me halfway? I don't think friendship needs a perfect 50/50 balance. People go through different seasons. O...