Jacky's Corner

  I didn’t know that just doing my thing quietly, simply could actually move people. A while back, I started exploring what financial independence really means. One thing that kept coming up was protecting your assets, no matter how small. So I decided to get a will. It took about two months signatories, witnesses, signatures, sealed and done. When I told someone I really admire, their jaw literally dropped. “Can you imagine? I’ve been talking about this will of mine for years… and here you are, already done!” A few weeks later, they told me theirs was finally sorted too. That made me smile. Then not long after, I was chatting with a colleague about land how it’s one of the better investments you can make. I wasn’t giving advice, just sharing my journey. Then, casually, they said, “Yeah, I’ve also bought some land now. I’m wrapping up the process.” I didn’t expect that, but it felt good knowing that just living my life had nudged them forward. And one that really got me was...

  This month has been one of those where I felt both stretched and centered challenged, yet proud. It reminded me of just how important it is to walk with boundaries in one hand and love in the other. First up: my cousin's birthday. I’d budgeted a reasonable amount for a gift, nothing too extravagant, just a heartfelt token of celebration. But he had his eyes set on something four times the cost. For a moment, I felt that familiar tug the one that says, "Just top up, prove your love, make the sacrifice." But this time, I paused. I calmly shared my budget and offered three options: he could use what I had and top up, we could find something else within the budget, or he could shop around for a better deal. He picked the first option, and it was a win-win. He got his dream gift, and I got to stay on track. Even better, I left that moment feeling proud not just because I stayed within budget, but because our relationship held space for honesty, clarity, and care. Later...

  This month, it became increasingly clear that I might be a bit of an alien at least in spirit. The first hint came at the gym. Our workouts are scheduled for 5 PM, but somehow we never start before 5:45. One day, as I arrived (on time, naturally), the coach chuckled and said, “The way you keep time, someone would think you’re not African.” Then came the fruit incident. In an effort to eat more fruit daily, I started laying it out on my desk where I could see it all day. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But in sight into the stomach. It works. A colleague saw my fruity little display and laughed: “Why are you acting like you're in Europe? Relax, you're in Africa. That’s for white people.” The final blow came from my loyal water flask. Every morning, I place it on my desk and make sure it’s empty by day’s end. Hydration is self-care, and my skin has never looked better. But one office visitor found this strange: “Why are you drinking all that water like a mzungu? You thi...

  A long time ago, I was taking driving lessons from my mother God bless her courage. She kept chanting “Speed controlee!” every five seconds while gripping the dashboard like we were in a Fast & Furious audition. I, on the other hand, was chasing the thrill the breeze, the power, the promise of freedom behind the wheel. Then boom. I kissed another car. No one was hurt, thank goodness. We settled it right there like grown-ups. But I was shaken. The fear crept in fast. That night I toyed with the idea of giving up maybe I was just meant for Uber and boda bodas. Maybe the driving life wasn’t for me. But the next day, I got back in the driver’s seat fearing that if I hesitated my practise lessons would end there and then. Two voices were in my head. One whispered, “Keep going or fear wins.” The other reminded me of our old neighbour who stopped driving after a minor accident. She let her husband take over and she never reclaimed that freedom. I didn’t want that and w ...