Jacky's Corner

The other day I caught myself thinking about how differently I speak to strangers versus how I speak to my friends. With strangers, I’m confident I’ll say, “That wasn’t right,” or “Maybe try this instead.” But with friends, it’s like my voice softens or disappears. I tiptoe. I look for the “right” moment. Sometimes, I say nothing at all. I’ve started to wonder why. Maybe it’s fear, fear of hurting them, fear of losing the friendship, or even fear of being judged. And yet, if I care about someone, shouldn’t I also care enough to gently tell them the truth? Recently, I’ve been learning some approaches that feel less intimidating. For example: ·        Ask first: “Would you like my thoughts on this?” gives your friend a choice and prepares them. ·        Frame it as care, not criticism: Begin with “I’m sharing this because I value you and want to see you thrive…” ·        Use gentle questi...

  Over the weekend, I found myself once again getting worked up about something that has been happening for months. I usually reach the gym early, around 5:10, ready to start. But my coach insists that my workout begins at 5:30. That 15–20 minutes of waiting always gets under my skin. I keep asking for my set so I can start and finish on time, but the response is often slow or brushed off. By 6:00, I need to leave. That’s non-negotiable for me. At first, I thought the solution was to keep talking to the coach, reminding him of my situation. For a year, I did that. Nothing changed. So the real question became: why was I still getting frustrated every single time? The answer, I realized, is that I value structure and time discipline. When those are not respected, I feel dismissed. But the gym also gives me convenience it’s close by, its free since the coach is paid for by the institution and I can be in and out in an hour. So maybe the cost of that convenience is dealing with a c...

  Sometimes we think making money only means hustling harder or adding new income streams. But over the years, I’ve learned that saving smartly can be just as powerful sometimes even more freeing than chasing after a side hustle. Let me share three small but life-changing examples. Makeup Magic . A few years ago, I was tired of sitting in salons for hours, paying good money, and wasting even more time. I thought, why not learn this skill myself ? I invested UGX 250,000 in a short class, and since then, I’ve never looked back. With a tiny makeup kit my go-to jewellery are gold and silver for that subtle elegance I can be ready in under 30 minutes. I look fabulous, save transport costs, and most importantly, I save time. And the more I practice, the better I get. That one decision has saved me countless shillings and hours. Quality Over Quantity . Once upon a time, I was the queen of downtown shopping cheap shoes, quick buys, lots of repairs. But I realized something: buying ch...

  Sometimes change doesn’t announce itself with loud fanfare. It happens quietly, almost un noticeably, until one day you look around and realize something has shifted. That is exactly how I felt recently when I noticed a subtle but powerful change in Kampala. Several years ago, when I worked in the city and took a commuter taxi home, the most common roadside snacks were simple, crunchy treats: roasted maize, groundnuts, hard corns, banana crisps, and potato crisps. They were tasty, affordable, and easy to munch on through an hour of traffic. For as little as 500 or 1,000 shillings, you had your fill. But let’s be honest they were not the healthiest habits to indulge in every single day. Fast forward to now, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Instead of the familiar boxes of crisps and biscuits, I am seeing more baskets filled with fruits. Apples, oranges, mangoes, bananas, even grapes and blueberries, are now making their way through the same traffic lanes. To me, this is mor...